“A problem. But not insurmountable.”

“You wanted Malone to act. You just didn’t know how to get him to do it.”

“I won’t deny that this is something of an opportunity.”

“You son of a bitch,” she spat out.

“Look, Stephanie. Haddad wanted to disappear. He trusted Malone. The Israelis, the Saudis, and even the Palestinians all thought Haddad died in the blast. So we did what the man wanted, then backed off the whole idea, moved on to other things. But now everyone’s interest is piqued again and we want Haddad.”

She wasn’t going to allow him any satisfaction. “And what about whoever else may be after him?”

“I’ll handle them as any politician would.”

Green’s countenance darkened with anger. “You’re going to make a deal?”

“It’s the way of the world.”

She had to learn more. “What could possibly be found in two-thousand-year-old documents? And that’s assuming the manuscripts survived, which is unlikely.”

Daley cast her a sideways glance. She realized that he’d come to keep her and Green from interfering-so maybe he’d throw them a bone.

“The Septuagint.”

She found it hard to conceal her puzzlement.

“I’m no expert,” Daley said, “but from what I’ve been told, a couple of hundred years before Christ, scholars at the Library of Alexandria translated the Hebrew Scriptures, our Old Testament, into Greek. A big deal for the day. That translation is all we know of the original Hebrew text, since it’s gone. Haddad claimed that the translation, and all the others that followed, were fundamentally flawed. He said the errors changed everything, and he could prove it.”

“So what?” she asked. “How would that change anything?”

“That, I can’t say.”

“Can’t or won’t?”

“In this instance, they’re the same thing.”

“He has remembered His covenant forever,” Green whispered, “the word which He commanded to a thousand generations, the covenant which He made with Abraham, and His oath to Isaac. Then He confirmed it to Jacob for a statute, to Israel as an everlasting covenant, saying, ”To you I will give the land of Canaan as the portion of your inheritance.“”

She saw that the words genuinely moved the man.

“An important promise,” Green said. “One of many in the Old Testament.”

“So you see our interest?”

Green nodded. “I see the point, but I question its ability to be proven.”

She didn’t grasp that, either, but wanted to know, “What are you doing, Larry? Chasing phantoms? This is crazy.”

“I assure you, it’s not.”

The implications quickly became real. Malone had been right to chastise her. She should have immediately told him about the breach. And now his son was in jeopardy, thanks to the U.S. government, which apparently was willing to sacrifice the boy.

“Stephanie,” Daley said, “I know that look. What are you planning?”

No way she was telling this demon anything. So she drank the dregs of humiliation, smiled, and said, “Precisely what you want, Larry. Absolutely nothing.”

COPENHAGEN

12:15 PM

DOMINICK SABRE KNEW THAT THE NEXT HOUR WOULD BE critical. He’d already watched on the Copenhagen television stations as the shooting at Kronborg Slot was reported. Which meant Malone and his ex-wife were now on the move. He’d finally heard from the man he’d dispatched to the castle and was glad he’d followed orders.

He checked his watch, then stepped from the front parlor to the back bedroom where Gary Malone was being held. They’d managed to take the boy at school, using official credentials and tough talk, all supposedly in the name of the U.S. government. Within two hours they’d left Atlanta on a charter flight. Pam Malone was approached while they were en route and told precisely what to do. All reports painted her as a difficult woman, but a photo and thoughts of harm coming to her son had ensured that she’d do exactly what they wanted.

He opened the bedroom door and crafted a smile on his face. “Wanted to let you know that we heard from your dad.”

The boy was perched by the window reading a book. Yesterday he’d asked for several volumes, which Sabre had obtained. The young face brightened at the news about his father. “He okay?”

“Doing fine. And he was grateful we had you with us. Your mom is with him, too.”

“Mom is here?”

“Another team brought her over.”

“That’s a first. She’s never been here.” The boy paused. “Her and my dad don’t get along.”

Knowing about Malone’s marital history, he sensed something. “Why’s that?”

“Divorce. They haven’t lived together in a long time.”

“That hard on you?”

Gary seemed to consider the inquiry. He was tall for his age, lanky, with a head of auburn hair. Cotton Malone was a study in contrast. Fair-skinned, thick-limbed, light-haired. Try as he might, Sabre could find nothing of the father in the boy’s face or countenance.

“It’d be better if they were together. But I understand why they’re not.”

“Good you understand. You have a level head.”

Gary smiled. “That’s what my dad always says. You know him?”

“Oh, yes. We’ve worked together for years.”

“What’s happening here? Why am I in danger?”

“I can’t talk about it. But some really bad guys have targeted your dad and they were going to come after you and your mom, so we stepped in to protect you.” He could see that the explanation didn’t seem to totally satisfy.

“But my dad doesn’t work for the government anymore.”

“Unfortunately his enemies don’t care about that. They just want to cause him pain.”

“This is all really weird.”

He forced a smile. “Part of the business, I’m afraid.”

“You have any kids?”

He wondered about the boy’s interest. “No. Never been married.”

“You seem like a nice man.”

“Thanks. Just doing my job.” He motioned and said, “You work out?”

“I play baseball. Season’s been over awhile, though. But I wouldn’t mind throwing a few.”

“Hard to do in Denmark. Baseball is not the national pastime here.”

“I’ve visited the past two summers. I really like it.”

“That the time you spend with your dad?”

Gary nodded. “About the only chance we get together. But that’s okay. I’m glad he lives here. It makes him happy.”

He thought he again sensed something. “Does it make you happy?”

“Sometimes. Other times I wish he was closer.”

“You ever thought about living with him?”

The boy’s face scrunched with concern. “That would kill my mom. She wouldn’t want me to do that.”

“Sometimes you have to do what you have to do.”

“I’ve thought about it.”

He grinned. “Don’t think too hard. And try not to be bored.”

“I miss my mom and dad. I hope they’re all right.”

He’d heard enough. The boy was pacified. He wouldn’t be a problem, at least not for the next hour, which was all Sabre would need.

After that, it wouldn’t matter what Gary Malone did.

So he stepped toward the door and said, “Not to worry. I’m sure this is all going to be over soon.”

MALONE STOOD ON THE STREETS OF HELSINGØR AND WATCHED the café. A steady stream of patrons had flowed in and out. His target was sitting at a window table, sipping from a mug. Pam, he assumed, was with the car, parked at the train station, waiting. She’d better be. When this guy made his move, they’d only have one chance. If his adversaries were somewhere nearby, and he firmly believed that to be the case, this might be his only route to them.

Pam’s appearance in Denmark had rattled him. But then she’d always had that effect. Once, love and respect bound them, or at least he’d thought that the case; now only Gary drew them together.

His mind replayed what she’d said to him in August. About Gary.

“After years of lying to me, you want to be fair?”