The Timekeeper Conspiracy (TimeWars 2)

The Timekeeper Conspiracy

"The stakes are high, Your Eminence," said Taylor. "I need to protect myself."

"Very well," said Richelieu, after a moment's thought. "I will write you a carte blanche. The moment you have those studs in your possession, you will let me know."

"But, of course, Your Eminence."

The cardinal finished writing, then stood and put on his hat and began pulling on his gloves.

"I do not know why," he said, "but it makes me very nervous to deal with you, Milady. I am never entirely certain whom you serve."

"Why, only you, Your Eminence."

"If I believed that, then I would be a fool, indeed. Our interests seem to be allied for the moment, Milady. For the moment. Take care that we do not start working at cross purposes. I am France, Milady, and at this point in history, France cannot afford to be forgiving. See that you remember that."

"Who am I to go against the course of history, Your Eminence?"

Richelieu regarded Milady steadily. "Yes. Quite. Good day to you, Milady."

"Good day, Your Eminence."

Delaney awoke to find a knife held across his throat.

"If I was a terrorist, you'd be dead," said Mongoose. He was dressed as a cleaning woman in a shapeless dress, heavy shoes, and gray wig.

"You look ridiculous," Delaney said. "How did you get in? Oh, of course, these are your rooms, you have a key." He sat up slowly and groaned. "Oh, my head."

"You really think the Timekeepers would need a key?" said Mongoose. "Besides, you left the door open. Not even unlocked, for God's sakes, open. I would at least have thought that you'd be able to hold your liquor. You're a mess."

He went over to the bed where Lucas slept, dead to the world, and slapped him across the face several times.

"Come on, Priest, wake up, I haven't got all day.”

Lucas shot up out of bed, making a grab, but the agent threw him on the floor.

"Commandos," he said, scornfully. "What a joke."

"Mongoose!" Lucas said, getting up unsteadily. "What the hell?"

Both men were still dressed, having fallen into bed fully clothed after a night of heavy drinking. D'Artagnan had insisted upon their meeting the other musketeers and celebrating.

"I take it that the musketeers drank you under the table last night," Mongoose said.

"Actually, D'Artagnan, Aramis, and Porthos were unconscious when we left," said Lucas, rinsing his face off with water from a bowl beside his bed. "Athos was still going strong. He seems to have had lots of experience."

"We saw Buckingham last night," said Finn. "In fact, we helped D'Artagnan save him from-"

"I know all about it, I was there," said Mongoose.

"So it was you!" said Lucas.

"If you're referring to the man killed by the laser, no, it wasn't me," the agent said. "It was a man named Freytag. A real nasty customer with a rather impressive record. I got a good look at him through my scope."

"A terrorist?" said Finn. "Why didn't you take him out?"

"A better question might be why didn't he take you out? He had a clear shot at both of you and it's a cinch he made you. French cavaliers don't usually know karate. You guys are about as subtle as a cavalry charge."

"I don't know what you're complaining about," said Lucas. "Wasn't that the general idea, using us to lure the terrorists out into the open?"