The Riddle (A James Acton Thriller, Book #11) by J Robert Kennedy Read Free Book Online Page B

father
had thought moving was the best option.
    But moving
meant change, and people feared change. They feared the unknown, preferring the
familiarity of their own misery rather than the uncertainty a new beginning
would bring.
    So the
wisdom of the Buddha had been sought.
    And all
along, his father had been right.
    Trust
in yourself.
    He
smiled, every muscle in his body relaxing as everything became clear. His
father had been right all along, his greatness and wisdom as a leader
reaffirmed by the Buddha. He looked down at his reflection again and wondered
if the Buddha’s message extended to him.
    It
must.
    He rose,
his body chilled to the bone, his shivers unnoticed as he rushed back to share
the revelation with his friend as the sun began its rapid descent in the west,
the trees casting long shadows across the stream and the ruins of his home.
    Something
snapped in the forest to his right.
    And he
gasped.
     
     

 
     

    Daewoo Hanoi Hotel, Hanoi, Vietnam
Present Day
     
    James Acton stepped out of the car, the museum emblem on the side
granting them access to the main entrance valet parking area. He helped Laura
then Mai out as they were immediately approached by several deceptively
uniformed police officers, the police in Vietnam merely an extension of the
military.
    Something
was said in Vietnamese.
    “They
want to see our identification,” translated Mai, producing her ID with a
shaking hand. Acton reached into his shirt pocket, producing his passport as
did Laura.
    “American?”
asked the officer in a thick accent.
    Acton
nodded. “I am. My wife is British.”
    Words
were shouted and a more senior man appeared who could apparently speak more
English. “I am Major Yin. You are an American?” he asked.
    “Yes.”
    “What is
your business in our country?”
    “We were
invited by your National Museum of History to view some of their artifacts.
We’re both archeologists—university professors.”
    “Archeologists?”
The man’s eyes narrowed then understanding dawned. “Ahh, like Indiana Jones!”
    Acton
smiled, nodding. “Nothing so exciting, I assure you.”
    If
only that were true! At lease we haven’t encountered Nazis yet.
    “You are
staying at this hotel?”
    “Yes.”
    Yin
nodded at Mai and said something in Vietnamese.
    “She’s
our guide from the museum,” said Laura. “We’ve invited her to join us for
dinner.”
    “You
were at the museum?”
    Acton
felt his heart rate ratchet up. “Yes.”
    “Did you
see the shooting?”
    A moment
long debate of whether or not to lie ended with a decision to tell the truth.
“Yes. We were questioned by Captain Nguyen and released. He said we might be
questioned further later.”
    Yin
nodded, waving over one of his men. He handed them their passports, snapped an
order and the man disappeared. “We’re just going to confirm you are a guest of
the hotel and verify your visas.”
    “Of
course,” smiled Acton, already resolving to get on a plane as soon as possible
and get the hell out of the country. “May we wait inside?”
    Yin
snapped his fingers and took a piece of paper from one of the others. He held
up the now familiar picture of Niner. “Have you seen this man?”
    Acton
shook his head. “No.”
    “But you
saw the shooting?”
    “Yes, but
he wasn’t the shooter.”
    Yin’s
lips pursed and Acton immediately flicked through half a dozen better responses
than the truth, none of which would have been lies. Yin flipped the photo
around, looking at it, then turned it back toward Laura. “And do you agree with
your husband?”
    “I
didn’t get much of a look,” replied Laura. “I was trying not to get shot.”
    Smart
woman!
    Acton
assumed the same question was barked at poor Mai who the police seemed to have
no compunction against intimidating. She shook her head, spitting out a
response that didn’t please the man.
    “None of
us had much of an opportunity to see anything,” said Laura. “We were too busy
ducking.”
    “Yet
your