Alicia Myles 2 - Crusader's Gold by David Leadbeater Read Free Book Online Page B

was then that Crouch’s eye caught on a flash of color. “The Doge of Venice,” he said carefully. “That could be it.”
    “What?” Naz asked, squinting toward the top row.
    “A glass pane quietly dedicated to Dandolo near his tomb doesn’t seem too out of place now does it?” Crouch murmured.
    “Quietly?” Caitlyn questioned.
    “It would have to be,” Naz said. “Otherwise later generations would smash it. What are you seeing, Michael?”
    “I’m thinking of the coat of arms of the Republic of Venice in Dandolo’s day and the colors therein,” Crouch said. “And I’m seeing them right at the very top there, dead center.”
    Naz inhaled swiftly. “Looking toward the Hippodrome, a pane of deep red and yellow with the lion symbol. That has to be it.”
    “But what does it portray?” Caitlyn squinted hard. “I can’t make out the figures.”
    Crouch removed his cellphone and held it up, focusing the lens but still blending perfectly with the hundreds of visitors all around. Taking his time he snapped several photos, careful not to stick to the same area. A few minutes later he was staring at the screen, blowing the most relevant picture up to full size as Caitlyn and Naz looked on.
    “What do you see?” Alicia asked, curious despite her apparent indifferences.
    “I see a male holding—” Crouch squinted. “Two items. I also see a miniature city perhaps? And, four horses. I definitely see four horses!”
    “And the male,” Naz breathed. “Look closer. Though small it is a man of strength holding up a key in one hand and a cup in the other. It is a depiction of the Hercules Tarentum. It is the statue as Lysippos sculpted it.”
    “And the city?” Healey asked.
    “Where else?” Crouch smiled. “It is unmistakably Venice.”

NINE
     
     
    Alicia’s elation was short-lived.
    When Kenzie’s now familiar face momentarily materialized out of the surrounding throng she knew their time inside the Hagia Sophia was up. She also knew that their new antagonist could not possibly be carrying any serious weapons. The entrances, halls and exits of the ancient church might appear antiquated but they were actually crammed full of the latest detection devices. Alicia signaled a hasty retreat and the team pulled together, drifting toward the nearest exit.
    Kenzie must have caught on immediately, because she emerged from the crowd with her unattractive entourage. “I know you found something,” she called across the busy space between them. “Just tell me what it was.”
    Alicia waved the others by, her and Russo trailing. Tourists milled all around. Within seconds Kenzie was tapping at Alicia’s heels, leaning in to whisper into her ear. “Gloves are coming off real soon, bitch. You people are not going to know what hit you.”
    Alicia thought about all she had overcome and accomplished during the past few years and laughed. Kenzie’s threat might not be an empty one but it was spoken with such outlandish bravado, such egotistical belief. Alicia’s laugh only served to pour fuel onto the fire.
    Kenzie slammed the bottom of her foot onto the back of Alicia’s thigh, causing a jolt of flame to travel from the point of impact to her brain. Alicia pulled up abruptly, spinning to face the Israeli.
    “You wanna eat the floor, sweetheart? Just say the word and I’ll put you down in front of all these people and their cameras.”
    “Put me down then, bitch. If you—”
    “Amen, motherfucker.” Alicia struck before the woman completed her sentence, a jab to the solar plexus and the throat. The first struck true, the second was deflected even as Kenzie doubled over, a sign that proved she’d at least gone through intensive training. Alicia stepped back, then brought a knee into Kenzie’s head as her backup moved in.
    At any other time, in any other place, soldiers and mercenaries might have backed off, remembered where they were and what they were doing. But not today. A challenge had been thrown down