— ARE YOU GOING TO TELL ME NOW where my father is or will I have to wait until you finish reading the news?
Sephy eyed her companion boldly. Antonia had to put down her newspaper to face her protégé's authoritative demands. They both occupied seats at the front of the plane. They were traveling first class.
— I already told you that our destination is Cairo... — he said, staring into her eyes for a few seconds — ...what else do you need to know?
— The reason he was kidnapped.
The young woman's response was categorical. Her patience was at its limit. Her gaze was so explicit that Antonia had no choice but to remain reticent.
— Listen... I can only tell you that we're going to free your father. I'm not authorized to speak on the matter, and that should be enough for you for now. —
— You have to understand my stubbornness... — He took a deep breath and looked at the ceiling of the commercial jet. — They're keeping him locked up against his will, and all I can do to help him is let myself be carried away by the impulse of a person who, until a few days ago, was a complete stranger to me.
— Don't you happen to trust me?
— The trust is mutual — the German woman teased, turning her head to look at the window beside her.
The cryptographer realized she had to win her over if she didn't want to heighten her suspicions.
— Okay... — he finally gave in— ...it seems I have no other choice... — he made a furtive grimace. — But first you have to promise me that you won't tell anyone about what I'm about to tell you.
— I don't know who I could do it with... — her interlocutor retorted, turning her head 180 degrees. — Anyway, you have my word of honor.
Sephy gave her her most convincing facial expression, in terms of sincerity, but perhaps also her most professional. She was immersed in her role as the distressed daughter.
— As far as I know, your father and his niece, Giovanna, were kidnapped by an esoteric order called The Widow's Sons — Antonia confessed quietly. — Apparently, a few days earlier, they had deciphered an ancient coded document, which clearly indicated the way to access one of the Freemasons' most precious treasures. And Greg was the only one of the three who managed to escape on the night of the kidnapping.
— And what do you and my father's lawyer have to do with all this?
— Nicolas was hired by Umbert Monroe, and he, in turn, called me to help him with the manuscript, at least to check if it was a forgery... — She felt the bitter taste of hypocrisy. — But when we arrived in Santomera to meet with them and analyze the text, we learned they had disappeared. That's when we saw you at the door of his property.
The German woman nodded silently, realizing the story was incomplete. She knew full well that the other woman was hiding her connection with the US National Security Agency, as well as the murders of the paleographer and the director of Hiperión, perhaps ultimately to avoid hurting her feelings. What a fool! she thought. She would never have suspected she was speaking to the very person responsible for the deaths.
— Let's see... — he turned his body to Antonia — ...according to your version, my father's kidnappers are keeping him hidden somewhere in Cairo... — he wrinkled his forehead — ...and can you tell me what you base that conclusion on?
— In Greg's investigations. That same afternoon we found certain notes in his apartment that indicate this.
— You entered his house without his permission? — He pretended that it seemed strange to him.
The cryptographer realized that she had said much more than she should have, so she tried to correct her mistake by inventing a new story.
— He gave Nicolas a spare key. I think they both planned to share the apartment for a few days, until we had a reliable lead.
— And what happened to Greg? — Sephy asked again. — He must have had some reason for leaving here without telling us.
— He's a man, and as such, he needs to reaffirm his masculinity... He feels guilty about his father's disappearance. His desire to maintain leadership is so great that he preferred to hide from us the place where he believes the prisoners are being held, rather than ask for our help.
— Does he actually know where it is?
— Honestly, I'm not sure... — Antonia raised her hands. — But as soon as we get to Cairo, the first thing we'll do is look for him and ask for an explanation.
Sephy figured that was enough. He might raise suspicions if he kept asking. One thing in good time.
She excused herself for a moment to go to the bathroom. She began walking down the aisle of the plane, trying to keep her balance. Among the passengers, she noticed a certain individual reading a sports magazine three seats behind Antônia. She had seen him before — she was certain of it — along with two other men, inside a car parked in front of the building where she had been sleeping for the past few days.
She recognized him by the extensive scar under his eyelid. She then realized that the young man beside her was another occupant of the vehicle. She looked around until she found the third, who occupied a seat further down the aisle.
He immediately suspected they must belong to the most obscure department of the American secret service, and that their mission was none other than to support Antonia in her quest to locate the Ark, ensuring that no one would disturb her. He didn't find it at all amusing to know that he would have to confront his own kind, people trained to kill without any qualms, but, as always, Sephy was counting on the element of surprise. No one knew who she really was, and that gave her a certain advantage.
He went to the bathroom and closed the door from the inside. Then he lowered the toilet seat so he could sit down. He needed to think about solitude.