Ghosts of War by Brad Taylor Page B

ourselves into the flow for the Torah.”
    Meaning some idiot in Poland had actually contacted an expert in Israel, and they, in turn, had reported back to the Mossad.
    â€œSo all we do is fly over there with you, look important, then fly home?”
    â€œBasically, yes. That’s it. Look, Poland’s intentions aren’t evil. They’re just trying to do the right thing without a firestorm. Taking it slow and easy. We’ll take a look at the Torah and report what wefind. Israel doesn’t want to cause a fight without reason, but if it’s real, they
will
get it back.”
    Sounded simple, but one part of the whole scheme was blank. Jennifer caught the same problem, asking, “But who’s going to do that? Determine if it’s real? None of us have that ability.”
    Aaron said, “We have tracked down survivors from that synagogue. The Torah has identifying markings. And we have Shoshana.”
    I said, “Shoshana?”
    She nodded, and said, “All I need to do is touch it. I’ll know.”
    A part of me wanted to roll my eyes at the magic mumbo jumbo, but a deeper, primordial part believed. I don’t know how, but Shoshana had a weird, freakish ability to read intent from a person simply by studying them. I’d seen her do it, and it was real. I couldn’t see how it extended to inanimate objects, but hey, it was their dime. Who was I to question?
    I looked at Jennifer, and she shrugged, saying, “We’re not doing anything in Charleston.”
    I said, “Knuckles, you want to take some leave? Earn a little money?”
    Aaron seemed unfazed by the suggestion, which should have sent my radar up, but I figured he was just willing to do anything to get our commitment. After all, he wasn’t footing the bill.
    Knuckles said, “Nope. You guys go ahead. I’m staying right here. Flying for eighteen hours just to look at an old scroll isn’t my idea of fun.”
    He stood up, flipped some bills onto the table, and said, “Call me if it turns into high adventure.”
    I grinned and said, “Will do.”
    He walked out saying, “I’ll let Kurt know you’ve found at least a week’s worth of employment.”
    To Aaron I said, “When would we need to fly?”
    â€œWell . . . I’ve taken the liberty of using your company name andaddress already. The Polish antiquities department is expecting us in two days.”
    It took a second to find my voice, unsure if I should be flattered or aggravated. I finally said, “You’re kidding me. You were that sure we’d sign on?”
    Aaron grinned and said, “I wasn’t, but Shoshana was. And I’ve learned to trust her instincts.”
    Bouncing up and down on the balls of her feet, looking more like a kid waiting on ice cream than the lethal killer she was, Shoshana said, “So you’ll do it?”
    I looked at Jennifer and said, “You mean spend a week with you and Aaron acting like a married couple? How on earth could I miss that shitshow?”
    Shoshana beamed, for some reason taking it as a compliment. She said, “I’ve been studying you and Jennifer. I’m getting really good at it. I just can’t decide if I want to be the pure one that suffers through, like Jennifer. Or like you.”
    I said, “The pillar against the wind? The protector of all that’s sacred?”
    She scrunched up her face and said, “No, no. Is that how you see yourself? Get real. I mean the cranky asshole of the relationship.”
    Jennifer and Aaron both started laughing. Aaron said, “I only told her not to aggravate you until you agreed.”
    Shoshana leaned in and kissed me on the cheek. I ignored her, waving for the check, saying, “You don’t need any practice at being the cranky asshole.”

10

    T he Russian girls continued dancing below. Inside the alcove, the dim light failed to hide