part0069

“M ichelle and I were discussing the timing of everything, and we need something confirmed. According to Professor Marchand’s daughter, the terrorists were arguing over some footage. We were assuming it was the security camera footage we have all seen, but that wasn’t posted until after the explosion. We need to know if they tapped the security cameras at the museum.”

Leroux looked to Tong for an answer to Reading’s question, and she shrugged. “We’ll look into it. Why is it important?”

“Well, if they weren’t tapped into things, then what footage were they looking at that got one of them mad enough to blow themselves up?”

Leroux’s eyebrows shot up. “Is that what happened?”

“Yes. Apparently, the leader, this man we’re assuming is Hugo Peeters, was caught on camera letting Jim and Laura go with the Bible. He then admitted to it, saying they were going to sell the Bible to some rich guy so that they could be funded forever, and that anyone who wanted to come with him could. The joker with the detonator was truly touched, didn’t agree, and blew them all up rather than have anyone profit off the death of so many animals.”

Randy Child spun in his chair, staring at the ceiling. “Truly touched.”

Leroux agreed. “Okay, that explains a few things. The detonation was intentional, unplanned for that moment, and none of them knew the leader’s plans. The question I have is, why?”

“Why?” asked Reading.

“Yeah. This Peeters guy is nuts. He’s clearly committed to the cause. He went there with the intention of killing a lot of people, perhaps even himself, yet he decides to sell the Bible. It doesn’t make sense.”

“You mean, why would he violate his principles?”

“No, I mean, why use the professors. If your intent all along is to steal the Bible, why not just take it and go? Why stick around for what appears to be about fifteen minutes, then sneak it out the back door with two people you’ve never met who aren’t on your side?”

“You’re right. I don’t think this was his plan at all. He changed his mind.”

Tong rapped her knuckles on her station. “Or was his mind changed for him?”

Leroux smiled. “The rich guy.”

“Exactly. Somebody had to bankroll this thing. We’ve been trying to find any reference to people who funded the organization. These fringe groups quite often have backers with deep pockets who like manipulating things in the background. Maybe someone like that might want the Bible for themselves, or they might recognize its monetary value and have a buyer.”

Leroux chewed his cheek. “But again, why not properly plan for it?”

“Maybe Peeters is a true believer as well. He would never agree to going in there if he thought the point was to steal the Bible and profit off the death of those animals.”

Leroux jabbed a finger at her. “Now that I could see. He goes in with his group with the intent of delivering a message, blowing up some rich people, perhaps even dying for the cause and destroying the Bible in the process, so no one could ever enjoy it or profit from it in the future. But when he actually succeeds in taking the Bible, Daddy Warbucks calls him, change of plans, get the Bible out of there, I’m selling it, and in exchange, I’ll fund your organization in perpetuity. Peeters thinks this promise tips the scales in favor of his cause, because he can do more good with the money than by just killing people. He agrees to a plan that by necessity is hastily put together, then he gets caught in the process on camera, his people find out, everything goes south.”

“But there’s a problem with that,” said Reading.

“If the moneyman plans on this all along, why doesn’t he just have someone waiting at the back door? Peeters just hands the Bible to that person and we’re done. Nice and clean.”

Leroux paced for a moment, his mind filtering the noise. He stopped. “I can think of only two possibilities. Either this was a last-minute change of plans for the moneyman, or he didn’t want to risk having anyone there for the exchange that could be traced back to him. Right now, everything is tied to the Animal Protection Brigade. If the Bible is intercepted, then it is the Brigade and the professors who are being blamed. Nobody has tied anything back to the money.”

“Yet,” said Child.

Leroux acknowledged his observation. “Yet. And even if we tie it back to him, right now he could just claim he had no idea what they had planned. He thought they were just going to protest the event like they have countless other events. He had no way of knowing what they were planning. But if he were somehow linked to the theft of the Bible by bringing in someone for it to be handed to, then that would prove he knew what they were planning. You don’t steal a Bible like that without expecting people to die.”

“Which is why they used Jim and Laura,” agreed Reading. “But that means someone is guiding them. Someone had to tell them to go to the marina, to steal that boat. Everyone involved at the museum is either dead or seriously wounded. We need to know who’s guiding them.”

“Maybe they were given those instructions before they left?” suggested Tong.”

Child stopped his latest spin. “What, and now they’re on a boat floating in the Atlantic, waiting for a call that might never come?”

She shrugged. “Possible.”

Leroux exhaled. “If that’s the case, that might not be a bad thing. Eventually, they’ll give up waiting and turn themselves in.”

“Let’s hope,” said Reading. “Let me know what you find on that security camera footage. I want to just make sure they were reacting to what we think they were reacting to.”

“Will do. And check out that file I sent you on Peeters. There’s a photo of him in it. See if you can confirm with your witness that he’s the ringleader.”