Chapter Five

Gregory O'Malley studied the empty dining hall before him, pondering the information Peter had told him over the phone, information he'd gotten from Benjamin Gates. The Scottish Rite's home base, in spite of its name, was somewhere in the Carolinas, and all parties agreed that the secret hidden where he stood at the present was far older than that, and for the most part, they all agreed that the Howe family was involved. Granted, he knew the Howes personally, and it seemed to him, at least at the time, as if they were clueless. "It must've all changed now," he whispered.

In O'Malley's mind, it didn't take a rocket scientist to figure out that news of Nathaniel's death had spread like wildfire, and the implications were far-reaching, though it required a little more thought to determine exactly how and why.

He took a few steps down the hall, and they echoed in the stillness. For a moment, he thought he heard another pair of footsteps, but they stopped as soon as he did. He took a few more steps, and the same thing happened. "Don't think I don't know you're here," he called. There were a few more footsteps, and he turned to face the intruder.

"Don't think I can't find you," he said. From his voice alone, O'Malley could easily tell that this man was American, and he was here on a mission.

"You think I guard something, something in this very building. Here's the trouble, though. You're quite mistaken, and I assure you, whatever you seek, all you'll find here is another clue."

"I hardly find that reassuring."

"You have resources, I'm sure, given that you're the most powerful man in the free world. It's only that you won't find anything here."

"I don't believe you."

"I'm not asking you to believe me. I'm telling you the truth, and you have to live with that, as shameful as this is to you."

"Hardly shameful," the man said as he took a few more steps forward, into better lighting, giving O'Malley a perfect view of one of the most famous faces in news media. "More of a hindrance, really." He swung his arm, and the back of his hand connected hard with the side of O'Malley's head.

NTNT

"Well, it's just that I'm in the middle of some really complicated family mess and they need me here," Tanya said in an American accent. "It's nothing against you, personally."

"Glad to hear it," her boss said over the phone. "Now, about next-"

"Haven't you just heard a single word I said? We've already been over this. I quit."

"Well, why didn't you just say so?"

"I did, but you were too busy oogling at this mental image you have of me naked."

"How'd you know I have one?"

"Just remember that I quit, and that's all you need to know." She snapped her phone shut and sighed. "Dumbass," she muttered, switching back to the British accent she was born and raised with. "Glad that's over."

"So, it sounds like that went well," Ian said, taking a seat next to Tanya on the sofa. She tossed her phone onto the coffee table. "It did go well, didn't it?"

"I hate that guy."

"Well, as I understand it, you never have to see him again."

"I don't. Have to see him, I mean."

"Good. He sounds like a real jerk."

"Alright, so that's the matter of my job out of the way, and you're going to London soon. After your meeting, do you think you can stop by Freemasons' Hall on Great Queen Street, London WC2B 5AZ?"

"Of course. I can stop by and see what I find. I might have to sneak in, but I can do it."

"Alright. That's that taken care of, and it might really be our answer. I hope it is. I really want this to be over."

"It will be, someday."

"Oh, don't you sound certain."

"I am."

Tanya sighed and rolled her eyes. Ian was such a strange person to be a sister to, but she tried her best anyway. Besides, Ian was busy seeing Shaw's ghost. At least, knowing that, she didn't feel like the crazy one. "So," she said, "Shaw's ghost protects you or something?"

"I assume so, given that twice now he's intervened in situations which posed hazardous to my life."

"He must care about you if he can't move on without you."

"It could be a very short time before that happens, or it could be very long, depending on what happens between now and when we get to the end of this."

"True."

She turned her gaze toward him and studied his profile. "You don't look so well."

"It could be that I'm a little tired. This hunt took about as much out of me as it has out of you."

"But, may I remind you, you're not the one that had the vision and are currently wondering when it's going to happen again."

"Are you that fearful that you'll lapse into an alternate state?"

"Yes."

He slipped his arm around her shoulders and squeezed gently. "It's going to be alright."

"Stop saying that when you clearly know it's not."

"I only say it because I know everything will be fine. Why else would I do such a thing?"

"You're my brother. I could think of numerous reasons, and most of them are to spite me."

"Is that how you feel about me?"

"How else should I feel?"

"That depends on who you ask. Different people have different relationships with their siblings."

"I know my relationship with you is very interesting." Ian laughed softly and bowed his head, turning his eyes toward the carpet. Tanya shoved him playfully and messed with his hair. "You know I'm right."

"Shut up," he said, albeit halfheartedly.

"I'm still right."

"That doesn't mean I'm going to let you rub it in my face, and you know it."

"Whatever." After a moment, she added, "I'm still right."