Chapter 12

Kurtis made his way out of the church and back to his motorbike. It was still by Parc de Lune. He opened the file in his hand as he leaned against his bike.

Zak made notes on some of the photos he took.

There were a lot of photos of how Eckhardt moved around outside the Louvre and at Werner von Croy's apartment. Then there were photos of him and Bouchard meeting at Parc de Lune.

Wonder what Eckhardt was doing at the Louvre.

Kurtis looked at the note under the photos. "Eckhardt is close to finding the first Obscura painting. Have to find a way to stop him."

Oh, Zak, what would you have done?

Kurtis shook his head and focused on the notes in the photos of Eckhard at Werner's apartment."Eckhard hired a man a few weeks ago to find and locate all five Obscura paintings. It seems Werner is closing in on the first one. But something is bothering the old man."

Werner might have learned the truth of Eckhardt's plan.

There were two notes between the last photos of the men.

"Bouchard can't get out of this, even if he wants to. His men, friends, and family have been put on target by Eckhardt's right-hand man. Karel."

Kurtis frowned. He knew that name. His training all those years came back in a flash. His father used to say that Karel was the true enemy.

What did father mean?

Kurtis moved to the next note and gasped. "We have a Nephilim among us. He could shapeshift into anyone I meet. Must be careful."

Wait, what.

Kurtis couldn't believe what he just read and quickly placed the file in his backpack, jumping onto his motorbike and speeding back to his hotel.

I need to make a plan before I visit Rennes. I'll have to be careful who I talk to.

Lara made her way up the stairs and found herself inside a church. It was no longer a house of worship but a gym, the equipment scattered in the hall with a boxing ring in the middle.

Two men inside the ring bounced on their heels.

I wonder if they know what's going on around here.

Lara went over to the ring but got stopped by a big muscular African man.

The trainer, I'm guessing.

"Hey lady, stay away from the ring," he said.

"Nice watch," Lara said, eyeing the golden watch strapped to his right.

"What?"

"I bet I can choose the best fighter for your fancy golden watch."

"You have two hundred euros?"

"Yes?"

"You're on, lady."

"So what are their names?"

"One with headgear is Charl. One with the tattoos is Zak."

"My money's on Zak."

There's something about his tattoos I've seen before.

The trainer turned to the boxers. "Hey, you two, the lady here wants a bet."

"Be glad I didn't throw in your golden chain too," she said.

"Don't push your luck," he said.

Charl goes in for a punch into Zak's right. But he moved too fast for him. Zak turned and hit Charl in the face, making him take some steps back. He threw another punch at Zak. But with no luck again, getting smashed into the ground.

"Here take it," the trainer said, giving Lara the golden watch.

Zak came out of the ring and approached her as the trainer went to check on Charl.

"Hey, why did you bet on me?" Zak asked, looking the woman up and down.

"You look like a guy who has the information I need."

"Oh really, what sort of information, miss."

"Do you know Bouchard?"

"That's not a question you just ask anyone, miss. Bouchard isn't someone to mess with."

"Neither am I," Lara said. "So what do you know?"

Zak looked back at the trainer and his partner, sighing at Lara.

"Today is not my day," he mumbled. "Look, this isn't a good place to talk about Bouchard."

"So when can I talk to you?"

"Meet me at Cafe Metro in three hours and then we'll talk," he said. "Please, just watch your back."

"Sure. See you then."

Kurtis walked through the streets of the ghetto. He'd left his hotel half an hour ago and was on his way to Rennes. He walked past the Le Serpent Rouge, and across the street he saw a young woman at the corner, dressed in black with a shiny red jacket, smoking.

As he passed her, he could hear her call out to him.

"Hi, sweet thing, haven't seen you in these parts before," she said, coming closer.

"Just looking for Rennes?"

She sighed as she stopped inches away."Rennes' pawnshop is over there."

She pointed at the shop.

Eckhardt entered the building, his men heading his way.

Kurtis quickly grabbed her and pushed her into a nearby alley, keeping her mouth shut with his hand.

"Please don't scream. Trust me. Those men are trouble."

She nodded as Kurtis waited for their footsteps to fade in the other direction.

Kurtis made sure they were gone before he focused on the woman in front of him.

"Look I know you have questions, but it's better if you don't know."

"Listen, I've worked in this place for years now. I know who the trouble-makers around here are."

He looked at her with a frown.

Right because you prostitutes sleep with anyone.

"What do you know?"

"Why should I tell you?"

"Because I'll pay you for the information," Kurtis said, taking out some money.

"Look, the old bat who entered Rennes is a regular around here. He's been seeing Bouchard before trouble's closed the place down."

"What trouble?"

"Lost some of his best people. Very messy business. Made him nervous. And that's saying something."

"Rennes?"

"Rennes sells him weapons and more. I have no idea what."

"And you know the old bat?"

"Didn't sleep with him if that's what you're hinting at. But I slept with that strong man, Gunderson, and found out that the old bat is looking for some kind of painting."

Bingo. Eckhardt really won't stop until he has those paintings.

"Anything else?"

"Only that the old bat has a meeting tonight before they break into the Louvre." She sighed. "That's all I know."

"More than enough for me, thanks," he said, handing her the cash.

They made sure the coast was clear before coming out of hiding. Kurtis looked at the building where Rennes' pawnshop is and saw Lara Croft entering.

Oh no, Eckhardt is there and she's going in without a clue.

As Kurtis started walking closer, he ducked behind a pillar when he saw Eckhardt coming out. He listened in on his conversation with Gunderson who came out of nowhere.

"Master."

"Rennes has been dealt with. I left a boom for Miss Croft." Eckhardt laughs. "If she's as good as Werner said, she'll get out of there without a scratch."

"And the Lux knight?"

"We have captured him in Turkey," Eckhardt answered.

Kurtis leaned against the wall as he heard that. He knew that could only have been William.

Brother, I'll be coming for you, I promise.

Kurtis closed his eyes and tried to think of another plan. Looking around the corner, he saw them moving away from the building.

I'll wait at the back for Miss Croft then.

After talking to the Willowtree Herbalist and having no luck in getting information from him, Lara stood before Rennes' pawnshop.

I hope he can help with what I need.

Lara entered the building and encountered an old man coming out of the shop. He bumped against her shoulder as he left.

Rude much.

Lara went through the doors of the shop with the passport in hand. But when she entered, she saw the counter blown apart.

What happened here?

Lara headed into the back room, finding Rennes on the floor dead with a strange symbol scrawled in blood on the floor.

That's the same symbol in Werner's apartment.

Lara searched Rennes' body, finding his wallet. As she opened it up, a small piece of paper fell. Finding a code on the paper, she glanced at the vault and tried the code on the keypad. Not long after entering the code, the vault door opened.

Well, that worked.

Inside the vault, Lara found items intended for Werner. A map of the archaeological dig, a map of the sewers around the Louvre, two guns, a Dart Ssand K2 Impactor, and ammo for both, plus some explosives.

Lara smiled as she started picking up the stuff and placing them in a backpack she found.

This is everything I need.

When she picked the last item up, she heard a click, and the door behind her slammed shut. She gasped, scrambling for a switch to open the door.

I don't have time for this.

She found a panel and pried it open to reveal a switch. Upon pressing it, the door hinged open and Lara ran out. She saw something in the corner sticking out behind a shelf. A bomb.

Lara dashed to the trapdoor, glancing back at the bomb.

One minute.

Lara jumped down the hole, racing through the tunnel. Explosions donged behind her as fire swamped the walls.

The flames licked her back as leaped toward the bright light at the end of the tunnel. Her jacket sizzled with fire, the heat kissing her back. She rolled over the concrete, putting the fire out.

Lara lay on her back, staring at the clouds.

That was too close.

Hearing noise over the canal, Lara looked over to see the stranger again crouching on his knees, smoking a cigarette. He got up, threw the cigarette away, and walked off with a smirk on his face.