head.
"Sometimes I really wonder about you, Nick."
CHAPTER 14
The next day Nick was on the phone again with Elizabeth.
"You found an eyewitness account of the crucifixion by the man who helped Christ carry the cross? Are you kidding me? That's what was in the box?"
"I know it sounds far-fetched. Selena is sure it's authentic. But that's not the best part."
"I can't wait to be surprised."
"The scrolls confirm the existence of the Holy Grail."
There was silence at the other end of the line.
"Are you still there, Director?"
"Did you really say that?"
"There's also a prophecy about the Grail."
Nick repeated what had been written on the scrolls.
"You said Selena thinks it's authentic?"
"That's what she says."
"This is going to cause a lot of trouble," Elizabeth said.
"That's what she said."
"I wonder if ISIS knows about this?"
"I don't think so," Nick said. "If they knew what was in those scrolls they wouldn't have sent them off with the rest of the looted artifacts."
"I have to think about this before I decide anything. What's the public reaction to the raid over there?"
"It's a big deal. There's a protest march being organized. The media is in a feeding frenzy. There are calls for criminal charges against Forsberg and an investigation of the KSI. Hussein is being painted by papers that follow the government line as an innocent victim of racial and religious prejudice. According to them, Forsberg is a trigger-happy fascist."
"And the rest of the media?"
"Demanding that the borders be closed and that the government send everyone back where they came from. Everything is black and white here, there's nothing in between."
"That sounds familiar," Elizabeth said. "What about your role in this? Has anyone got wind that you're involved?"
"Not yet, but it's only a question of time. What do you want us to do?"
"Stephanie found a call on that phone you discovered that went to a man named Bergstrom. She checked him out. He's a Chief Superintendent in the national police, stationed in Stockholm."
"Knowing a high ranking cop could come in handy if you were smuggling things into the country."
"It can't be a coincidence. Bergstrom has to be involved. You have to let the Swedes handle it."
"What if they decide to cover it up? They're certain to handle it internally but they might not want us to know about it."
"I'm not willing to ignore the connection," Elizabeth said. "Bergstrom is probably the man who sets up the exchange with the end buyers. We need to know who they are. He's not the buyer, he couldn't afford it on a cop's salary."
"What do you want me to do?"
"If they tell you what's on the phone, leave it alone. If they don't, I want you to pursue it. You won't have much time. They'll be embarrassed by discovering one of their own is involved. They'll tell you to leave and I won't be able to keep you there."
"I need information on Bergstrom."
"Steph is putting something together now. She'll send it to you in a few minutes."
"We're headed over to KSI in a few minutes," Nick said. "If they're going to come clean, it will be then."
"Good. Then you'll know where you stand. Keep me informed."
Harker broke the connection.
"What did she say?" Lamont asked.
Nick told them what Elizabeth had said about Bergstrom.
"So we're going to follow up on Bergstrom if the Swedes don't keep us in the loop?"
"That's about it. Steph is sending the info we need about him. It all depends on what happens at the meeting this morning."
The islands, lakes and waterways of Stockholm made the city an interesting and beautiful place. It had snowed the night before, but the morning was clear and sunny. The city looked like something out of a modern fairy tale.
Ronnie said, "Snow means water. Where I come from, water is a good thing."
"Sure is pretty out," Lamont said. "Makes me think of a Christmas card."
"It's a beautiful day," Selena said.
The good feeling evaporated inside KSI headquarters. Forsberg was in a bad mood.
"Sometimes I really wonder about you, Nick."
CHAPTER 14
The next day Nick was on the phone again with Elizabeth.
"You found an eyewitness account of the crucifixion by the man who helped Christ carry the cross? Are you kidding me? That's what was in the box?"
"I know it sounds far-fetched. Selena is sure it's authentic. But that's not the best part."
"I can't wait to be surprised."
"The scrolls confirm the existence of the Holy Grail."
There was silence at the other end of the line.
"Are you still there, Director?"
"Did you really say that?"
"There's also a prophecy about the Grail."
Nick repeated what had been written on the scrolls.
"You said Selena thinks it's authentic?"
"That's what she says."
"This is going to cause a lot of trouble," Elizabeth said.
"That's what she said."
"I wonder if ISIS knows about this?"
"I don't think so," Nick said. "If they knew what was in those scrolls they wouldn't have sent them off with the rest of the looted artifacts."
"I have to think about this before I decide anything. What's the public reaction to the raid over there?"
"It's a big deal. There's a protest march being organized. The media is in a feeding frenzy. There are calls for criminal charges against Forsberg and an investigation of the KSI. Hussein is being painted by papers that follow the government line as an innocent victim of racial and religious prejudice. According to them, Forsberg is a trigger-happy fascist."
"And the rest of the media?"
"Demanding that the borders be closed and that the government send everyone back where they came from. Everything is black and white here, there's nothing in between."
"That sounds familiar," Elizabeth said. "What about your role in this? Has anyone got wind that you're involved?"
"Not yet, but it's only a question of time. What do you want us to do?"
"Stephanie found a call on that phone you discovered that went to a man named Bergstrom. She checked him out. He's a Chief Superintendent in the national police, stationed in Stockholm."
"Knowing a high ranking cop could come in handy if you were smuggling things into the country."
"It can't be a coincidence. Bergstrom has to be involved. You have to let the Swedes handle it."
"What if they decide to cover it up? They're certain to handle it internally but they might not want us to know about it."
"I'm not willing to ignore the connection," Elizabeth said. "Bergstrom is probably the man who sets up the exchange with the end buyers. We need to know who they are. He's not the buyer, he couldn't afford it on a cop's salary."
"What do you want me to do?"
"If they tell you what's on the phone, leave it alone. If they don't, I want you to pursue it. You won't have much time. They'll be embarrassed by discovering one of their own is involved. They'll tell you to leave and I won't be able to keep you there."
"I need information on Bergstrom."
"Steph is putting something together now. She'll send it to you in a few minutes."
"We're headed over to KSI in a few minutes," Nick said. "If they're going to come clean, it will be then."
"Good. Then you'll know where you stand. Keep me informed."
Harker broke the connection.
"What did she say?" Lamont asked.
Nick told them what Elizabeth had said about Bergstrom.
"So we're going to follow up on Bergstrom if the Swedes don't keep us in the loop?"
"That's about it. Steph is sending the info we need about him. It all depends on what happens at the meeting this morning."
The islands, lakes and waterways of Stockholm made the city an interesting and beautiful place. It had snowed the night before, but the morning was clear and sunny. The city looked like something out of a modern fairy tale.
Ronnie said, "Snow means water. Where I come from, water is a good thing."
"Sure is pretty out," Lamont said. "Makes me think of a Christmas card."
"It's a beautiful day," Selena said.
The good feeling evaporated inside KSI headquarters. Forsberg was in a bad mood.
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