The sunlight turned the inside of his eyelids a light brown as Murphy sighed and he felt a cool tingle moving through him while someone moved their fingers along his groin. He stayed still as the fingers moved up to his left hip then the fingers moved up his side. The fingers slid down across his lower chest as he made a deep sigh and he smiled.
"You awake?" Louisa whispered as she kissed his left shoulder and he moved to rest on his back. She snuggled against him while Murphy wrapped his left arm around her and she placed her head on the center of his chest.
"Mornin'," grumbled in her ear and she slid her fingers down to his navel. He moved her hand up as he kissed her knuckles and Louisa listened to the gentle thrumming of his heartbeat. "Any luck figurein' out th'connection between th'murals an' th'paintin's and what's goin' on?"
"Nope," she said and he shivered as her hair moved over his skin when she shook her head. "All I see is you and Connor."
"Maybe Da was right an' you have t'see beyond us."
"I've tried everything I can think of. If I had that image thing we saw in Maggie's uncle's office, I could enlarge the photos or maybe remove your images from them."
"You can do that?"
"Yeah, I can."
"Maybe we'll find the final piece of the puzzle when Connor an' I check out th'Clerics' base."
"Do you know where it is?"
"Aye," he said with a nod. She carefully climbed on top of him as Murphy held her against him and she slid her hands under his shoulders. His fingers moved up and down her back as she moaned and he grinned. She moved closer, kissing him, and she felt his fingers moving through her hair. She lightly wiggled on him when Murphy held her against him and he rolled her onto her back. He saw the look in her eyes when he kissed her and he gently nuzzled her neck.
"Hey, are you two up?!" came from behind the door as Murphy turned to look at the door and he sighed. He carefully climbed off of her as Murphy got out of bed and she admired how nice his naked bottom looked. Murphy opened the door as he looked at Connor while Connor scanned him with his eyes and Connor smirked. "Uh, were you about t'take a shower?"
"No, I just woke up."
"You're not th'only one," he said and Murphy looked down. Murphy closed the door when he turned to find Louisa behind him and she had a smug look on her face.
"Wanna take a shower?" she asked. He took her hand as they headed for the bathroom and he closed the door behind them.
Dublin Police Department
The doors opened while Margaret, Jessie and Louisa walked toward the security desk and the police officer behind the desk looked at them. Margaret showed the police officer her identification as he nodded and, after they were scanned, she led Louisa and Jessie down the hallway. She pushed the call button as the doors opened and they walked in the elevator car. The doors closed as she pushed the button then she folded her hands in front of her.
"Now, which group are we here to talk about?" Jessie asked.
"It's the Clerics," Margaret said.
"What are the odds they think the police is involved?"
"I believe it might be high."
"At least the guys will find the last photograph," Louisa said and Margaret noticed the look on her face.
"Is there something wrong?"
"I still haven't figured out how they are all connected besides the prayer."
"What do you need?"
"I need that image thing we saw in your uncle's office."
Margaret nodded as the doors opened and they walked down the hallway. Margaret noticed the looks the people gave her as the sound of her high heels clicking on the tile floor followed them down the hallway and she gave them an ice-cold stare. Jessie and Louisa just looked straight ahead as they followed her and Margaret opened the door. They walked in the squad room as they headed for the Chief Superintendent's office and she opened the door.
"Good morning," Chief Superintendent Michael Shane said while he stood up and he scanned them with his eyes.
"Good morning. I am Margaret Stone and these are my assistants," Margaret said. They shook hands as he pointed with his hand for them to sit down and they sat on the chairs in front of the desk. He sat back down as he smoothed out his suit jacket and she glanced at the file folder on the desk. "I take it that is the file on the Cleric case."
"Aye, it is. But I still don't understand why Interpol is interested in the death of gang members," Michael said as he slid the file folder toward her.
"These so-called gang members are connected to a string of deaths which occurred not only here, but in England and America," Maggie explained as she picked up the file folder then she opened the file folder to look at the information. "Has there been any retaliation against the police after the deaths occurred?"
"Oddly enough, no. It's like they simply vanished."
"Or they have gone into hiding."
"Why would they do that?"
'We believe the Clerics might have had a sponsor."
"A sponsor?"
"Yes. According to our latest information, the groups connected to the Clerics had sponsors and we believe it is this sponsor who is doing the actual killings."
"May I ask why?"
"We believe whoever this is believes they have betrayed them," she said as she handed the file folder to Jessie. Jessie looked at the information when she noticed the photograph of the painting of Connor and Murphy and she showed the photograph to Louisa.
"Not again," Louisa thought as she looked at the nude form of her husband and she tried hard not to smile.
"Excuse me," Louisa said as she used her Irish accent. "Did they find any writing near this?"
She showed Michael the photograph of the mural and he looked at the photograph.
"Aye, they did," Michael said with a nod.
"What did the writing say?"
"'For Thee, My Lord, for Thee'."
"Thank you," she said and she looked at the photograph.
"Is there anything else I can help you with?" he asked as he looked at Margaret.
"No, but we will be in touch if we need your assistance," Margaret said as they stood and Michael shook her hand. Margaret led Louisa and Jessie to the door as she opened the door and they left the room. They headed down the hallway as she glanced at Louisa and she noticed the puzzled look on her face. "What's wrong?"
"It's the photograph," Louisa said.
"What about it?"
"Connor and Murphy… Their chests are bleeding."
"What?" Margaret asked as she stopped and Louisa opened the file folder. She showed her the photograph as Margaret looked at painting of Connor and Murphy and she saw what looked like bullet holes at the center of their chests. The blood trailed down to their stomachs and she felt a cold chill move through her.
"Are you alright?" Jessie asked. Margaret walked away from them as they looked at each other then they quickly walked after her.
"Are you sure this is where those Cleric guys live?" Connor asked while they stood on the stone path and they looked at the old church. The building was made of weathered stone with a thatch roof with holes in spots and the stain glass windows were cracked or broken.
"Aye," Murphy said as the cold air moved through his hair. They headed for the dark wood doors and rust coated the iron door handles.
"It doesn't look like anyone's been here fer a long time," Connor said while he looked at the weeds and long grass and he reached for the iron door handle. He pulled on the iron door handle as the hinges screeched and they slid down the gasmasks. They walked inside as Murphy turned the flashlight on and they headed inside. The dim light shimmered in the darkness as they looked at the sleeping bags, backpacks, pillows and blankets and plastic bottles of water and Connor looked up at the holes in the thatch roof. He could just hear a low creaking sound as some straw fell from the rafters and Connor looked at Murphy. "I don't like th'look of that roof."
"Then we better make this quick."
They searched the room when Connor found papers in several file folders on the alter as he picked up the file folders and he slid the file folders into the inner pocket of his black Navy pea coat.
"Over here," Murphy said when he found the painting on the wall behind the alter and Connor walked to him. They looked at the painting as Murphy rolled his eyes and Connor frowned.
"Are we bleedin'?"
"Aye, it looks like it."
"An' we're naked."
"At least this time we don't look like somethin' off the cover of a romance novel."
"How do you know what one looks like?"
"Lou reads them sometimes."
"Right. She reads them."
Growling, Murphy punched Connor upper right arm and Connor laughed. Murphy removed the cellphone from his jeans pocket as he took photographs of the painting then the words and he placed the camera back into his jeans pocket. They headed for the door when a loud cracking sound filled the room and Connor looked up.
"Shit!" he shouted as the thatch roof started falling toward them and the twins ran for the door. Thatch, dust and wood fell around them as they dived out of the doorway and they rolled onto the ground. Dust, straw and thatch flew out of the doorway as they laid on their backs and Connor glanced at Murphy. "You ok?"
"Aye," Murphy said, getting to his feet and he dusted the thatch, straw and dust out of his hair. Connor dusted himself off as they headed down the stone path and the wind blew through their hair.
Unknown location
Jordan heard the heavy footsteps as she carefully stood and she heard a soft chuckle.
"Eagar to see me, are you?" the low voice asked.
"Is he alright? Mister Stone, I mean?" she asked.
"Yes, he's fine. Well, after we got him breathing again."
"What have you done to him?!"
She regretted the stern tone in her voice as she heard a sigh then she felt the long fingers touching her left cheek and she braced herself for whatever came next.
"There is no need to tense up. I am not going to harm you," the low voice said as she felt the thumb move along her jawline.
"I do apologize. I am just concerned with his safety."
"I still do not understand why. Not after what he has done to us."
"I don't understand."
"You really don't remember?"
She heard the hurt and anger in the voice as she sighed then she lowered her head.
"If you are who I think you are, I do remember. I just can't believe it."
"You can't believe what he did it or that I am here?"
"Both."
She felt strong arms moving around her as she was moved against something solid and she started sobbing. She heard a soft hushing sound as the long fingers moved through her hair and she sighed. She then felt the strong arms pick her up as whoever it was started walking and she wondered where they were going. A soft thudding sound filled the darkness when she heard a low click and a sliver of light entered the darkness. She closed her eyes as the light turned the inside of her eyes to turn a light brown and they started moving again. She slowly opened her eyes as she looked at the blurry hallway then she looked at whoever was carrying her. She blinked her eyes a few times as the blurry face she was looking at became clearer and her eyes widened. She didn't know she was screaming until her ears started ringing then the world faded into the darkness.
Dublin
The soft pinging filled the room as the doors to the elevator opened and Connor and Murphy walked in the room. Margaret stood as she walked around the couch and Jessie and Louisa walked down the hallway.
"Did you find anything?" Margaret asked. She noticed the dust and straw on their black Navy pea coats as Connor removed the file folders from the inside pocket and he handed the file folders to her.
"Why are you covered in straw?" Jessie asked. Connor told them what happened at the church and Margaret opened the first file folder.
"Go take a shower," Margaret said as she walked to the dining table and she sat down. The twins looked at each other then they shrugged and they headed down the hallway.
Murphy walked in the bedroom when he removed the black Navy pea coat and he was slightly startled when Louisa took his coat. She placed the black Navy pea coat on the chair when she walked to him and he gave her a pleased look. She started undressing him as he leaned in for a kiss and she kissed him. After Murphy was undressed, she took his hand and they headed for the bathroom.
Margaret read the file when she felt like she was being watched and she looked up to see Connor standing near the table. He was only wearing a towel as he held out his left hand and she stood, took his hand and he led her down the hallway.
In one bathroom, steam rose around them while Connor sighed while Margaret washed his hair and, in the other bathroom, Murphy washed Louisa's back and she leaned her forehead against his shoulder. The twins closed their eyes as they sent out a silent prayer of thanks for God giving them their soulmates and they smiled.
After the showers were done and they got dressed, Margaret sat at the dining table while Jessie, Louisa and the twins sat near her and Margaret had copies of the photographs in front of her. She looked at the images as she frowned and Louisa stood, walking to her.
"See anything?" Louisa asked.
"No," Margaret said with a sigh. Margaret stood as she started pacing and Louisa sat on Murphy's lap. Margaret thought about the last image of Connor and Murphy and the blood trailing down their chests caused a cold shiver to move through her.
"Why deny it? Your parents. Jonathan. Connor. Murphy. Romeo. Everyone you love dies and it is always your fault."
"No, it isn't," she whispered after she had walked to the bookcase and she looked at the books. She knew which one opened the armory, but it was the blue book with the odd white lettering which caught her eyes. She moved the blue book with the fingertip of her left and a soft hum filled the air.
"Christ!" Connor said while the top of the dining table rose into the air, flipped over then settled back down on the table legs.
"Lord's name," Murphy warned then he grinned as he looked at the surface of the table and Margaret walked back to the dining table. "Fuck, I love this shit."
Margaret tapped the top of the table as a blue light appeared and they looked at the screen. She tapped her fingers on the keyboard when a blue light shimmered and she read the information.
"I will be right back," Margaret said. They watched her head down the hallway then she returned a few minutes later with the photographs of the other paintings, the murals and the words and she handed the photographs to Jessie.
"What are you gonna do?" Connor asked.
"I am going to scan these photographs."
Margaret placed the first photograph on the screen as the blue light flared and the image of Connor and Murphy appeared over the table. She typed on the keyboard and the image remained after she removed the photograph. She scanned the remaining six photographs while the others looked at the images and Louisa titled her head to one side. Louisa lightly tapped the images as the images enlarged and she blinked her eyes a few times.
"Look beyond the image," Louisa whispered.
"I beg your pardon?"
"That is something Noah told me."
"Noah?"
"Our Da," Connor said.
"Isn't he dead?"
"Aye."
"Never mind that," Murphy said while he got up and he walked to Louisa. He slid his arms around her as Louisa looked at the images and he placed his chin on her left shoulder. "Take yer time."
Louisa concentrated when she realized something and she reached back to card Murphy's hair.
"I need the photographs of the prayer," Louisa said. Margaret typed on the keyboard as the images of the prayer appeared and Louisa look at Murphy. He arched his eyebrows up from the puzzled look on her face and she sighed. "Say the prayer one line at a time."
"And Shepherds we shall be," Murphy said and Louisa looked at the images. She moved one of the images to the right and she noticed the photograph which corresponded with the words moved over the image and she looked at Connor.
"For Thee, My Lord, for Thee," Connor said. She moved the image next to the first image and the photograph which corresponded with the words moved over the image.
"Power hath descended forth from Thy hand," Murphy said. She moved the image next to the second image and the photograph which corresponded with the words moved over the image.
"That our feet may swiftly carry out Thy command," Connor said. She moved the image next to the third image and the photograph which corresponded with the words moved over the image.
"So we shall flow a river forth to Thee," Murphy said. She moved the image next to the fourth image and the photograph which corresponded with the words moved over the image.
"And teeming with souls shall it ever be," Connor said. She moved the image next to the fifth image and the photograph which corresponded with the words moved over the image.
"In Nomine Patris, et Filii, et Spiritus Sancti," the twins said together. She moved the image next to the sixth image and the photograph which corresponded with the words moved over the image.
They looked at the images as Louisa scanned the images with her eyes and Murphy kissed the side of her head.
"Look pass the image," she repeated then she looked at Margaret. "Can you remove Connor, Murphy and Rocco from the images?"
Margaret typed on the keyboard when the images of Connor, Murphy and Rocco vanished and they looked at the images.
"Does that look like a city?" Jessie asked as she frowned.
"Aye, it does," Murphy said.
"Why were we standin' in front of a city?" Connor asked.
"More to the point. Why is there a city behind you?" Margaret asked as she typed on the keyboard.
"And why was it spread out over seven locations?" Louisa asked.
"Maybe it's somewhere we're supposed t'go," Connor said.
"Then why kill those people off?" Jessie asked.
"I think you might be right and they were killed because they angered their sponsor," Margaret said.
"We do know the Reapers were working for your uncle."
"Maybe the other groups weren't pullin' their weight an' that's why they were killed," Murphy said.
Nodding, Margaret looked at the screen while the images moved quickly over the screen then the images stopped and she looked at the information.
"That can't be right," Margaret whispered.
"What did you find?" Connor asked while he walked to her and he slid his arms around her waist.
"This is Cairo."
"We're supposed t'go t'Cairo?" Murphy asked.
"Either that or someone is trying to tell us something."
Connor held his wife as his mind replayed some of their conversation then he remembered something and he puffed out a breath of air.
"I think they're tryin' t'remind you of summat," he said and Margaret frowned, looking at him.
"Remind me of something?"
"Think. When was th'last time you were in Cairo?"
"The last time was a month before I broke you two out of Hoag Maximum Security Prison."
"Did anything important happen there?" Louisa asked.
"No."
Louisa looked at the images again while she tapped her finger on the images to enlarge them and she frowned when she saw what looked like a car in front of one of the buildings.
"What is this?" Louisa asked and she pointed at the car.
"It's a car, Lou," Murphy teased and she lightly elbowed him in the stomach.
Margaret moved Connor away from her then she walked to them as she looked at the image and she tapped the image to bring the car closer. She saw flames surrounding the car and coming out of the window and she felt her heart slamming in her chest. She sat down on the chair and Connor quickly walked to the chair.
"Maggie?" he asked with concern in his voice and she looked at him.
"Do you remember what I told you about Jonathan?" she asked with a quiver to her voice.
"Aye, I do."
"Who's Jonathan?" Louisa asked.
Margaret explained as they looked at the image of the burning car and Connor knelt by the chair. He took her right hand as he wrapped their fingers together and she squeezed his fingers.
"That bastard," Murphy growled while he let go of Louisa then he started pacing and Connor felt waves of anger coming off his twin.
"I agree," Margaret said.
"But how did guys like the Reapers know about Cairo?" Jessie asked.
"I have no idea."
"Your uncle didn't tell them?"
"No. It was a highly classified mission."
"Can you think of anyone else who would have known about it?"
Margaret thought for a few seconds while Murphy knelt down by the other side of the chair and he placed his hand on top of her left hand. She wrapped their fingers together as she saw the concern in the twins' eyes and she smiled. She suddenly remembered something as she took her hands back, stood and she typed on the keyboard.
"There was someone else," she said as she looked at the screen and a photograph appeared on the screen.
"Who is that?" Louisa asked.
"This is Jordan Lane."
"She was in Cairo?" Connor asked.
"Yes, she was only a rookie agent at the time and Cairo was her first case. Jonathan and I had to basically teach her what to do as we went along."
"What happened to her?" Louisa asked.
"After Cairo, she was reassigned."
"Where was she reassigned?" Jessie asked.
"Not where, but to who," Margaret said and they gave her a confused look. "She became my uncle's assistant."
"Why would he do that?" Murphy asked.
"I have no idea."
"Do you think she's tryin' to send you a message?" Connor asked.
"If she is, I have no idea what she's trying to tell me," Margaret said while she looked at Jordan's image and the blue light shimmered around the image.