ASHEVILLE, 12:15 PM.

STEPHANIE ADMIRED THE I INN ON B BILTMORE E ESTATE, AN EXPANISVE fieldstone-and-stucco building that crowned a gra.s.sy promontory, overlooking the estate's famed winery. Vehicle access was restricted to estate guests, but they'd stopped at the main gate and bought a general pa.s.s to tour the grounds, which included the hotel. fieldstone-and-stucco building that crowned a gra.s.sy promontory, overlooking the estate's famed winery. Vehicle access was restricted to estate guests, but they'd stopped at the main gate and bought a general pa.s.s to tour the grounds, which included the hotel.

She avoided a busy valet service and parked in one of the terraced paved lots, then they climbed a landscaped incline to the main entrance, where uniformed doormen greeted them with smiles. The inside was reminiscent of what it might have been like to visit the Vanderbilts a hundred years ago. Light-paneled walls finished with a dull honey-stained gloss, marble flooring, elegant art, and rich floral patterns in the drapes and upholstery. Greenery overflowed from stone planters and warmed an airy decor that opened upward to the next floor, a coffered ceiling twenty feet overhead. The views beyond the plate-gla.s.s doors and windows, past a veranda dotted with rockers, were of the Pisgah National Forest and the Smoky Mountains.

She listened for a moment to a pianist playing near a flagstone hearth. A stairway led down to what sounded and smelled like the dining room, a steady procession of patrons coming and going. They inquired at the concierge desk and were directed through the lobby, past the pianist, to a window-lined corridor that led to meeting rooms and a conference center where they found the registration desk for Ancient Mysteries Revealed.

Davis plucked a program from a pile and studied the day's schedule. "Scofield's not talking this afternoon."

A perky young woman with coal-black hair heard him and said, "The professor speaks tomorrow. Today are info sessions."

"Do you know where Dr. Scofield is?" Stephanie asked.

"He was around here earlier, but I haven't seen him in a while." She paused. "You folks from the press, too?"

She caught the qualifier. "There have been others?"

The woman nodded. "A little while ago. Some man. He wanted to see Scofield."

"And what did you tell him?" Davis asked.

She shrugged. "Same thing. Haven't a clue."

Stephanie decided to study one of the schedules and noted the next session, set to begin at one PM. PM. "Pleiadian Wisdom for These Challenging Times." She read its summary. "Pleiadian Wisdom for These Challenging Times." She read its summary.

Suzanne Johnson is a world-acclaimed trance channeler and author of several bestselling books. Join Suzanne and the nonphysical, time-traveling, mind-boggling Pleiadians as she channels them for a stimulating two hours of mind-expanding questions and sometimes tough but always positive, life-enhancing answers. Subjects of Pleiadian interest include: the acceleration of energy, astrology, secret political and economic agendas, hidden planetary history, G.o.d games, symbols, mind control, blossoming psychic abilities, time line healing, personal self-empowerment, and much more.

The rest of the afternoon featured a host of more oddities focusing on crop circles, the world's impending end, sacred sites, and one expansive session on the rise and fall of civilization, including binary motion, change in electromagnetic waves, and the impact of catastrophic events, with an emphasis on the precession of the equinoxes.

She shook her head. Like watching paint dry. What a waste of time.

Davis thanked the woman and retreated from the table with a pamphlet still in hand. "n.o.body from the press is here to interview him."

She wasn't so sure. "I know what you're thinking, but our guy wouldn't be that obvious."

"He may be in a hurry."

"He may not be anywhere near here."

Davis hastened back toward the main lobby.

"Where are you going?" she asked.

"It's lunchtime. Let's see if Scofield eats."RAMSEY HURRIED BACK TO HIS OFFICE AND WAITED FOR H HOVEY, who arrived a few moments later and reported, "McCoy immediately left the grounds."

He was furious. "I want everything we have on her."

His aide nodded. "That was a solo job," Hovey said. "You know that."

"I agree, but she feels the need to record me. That's a problem."

Hovey was aware of his boss's efforts to secure the Joint Chiefs position, just not the particulars. Ramsey's long-standing relations.h.i.+p with Charlie Smith was his alone. His aide had already been promised that he'd be going to the Pentagon with him-more than enough incentive for Hovey to actively partic.i.p.ate. Lucky for him, every captain wanted to be an admiral.

"Get me that info on her now," he ordered again.

Hovey left his office. He picked up the phone and dialed Charlie Smith. Four rings and the call was answered.

"Where are you?"

"Having a delicious meal."

He didn't want any details, but he knew what was coming.

"The dining room is lovely. A large room with a fireplace, elegantly decorated. Soft lighting, relaxed appeal. And the service. Superb. My water gla.s.s has yet to get half empty and the bread basket stays full. The manager even wandered by a minute ago and made sure I was enjoying the meal."

"Charlie, shut up."

"Touchy today."

"Listen to me. I a.s.sume you're doing as I asked."

"As always."

"I need you back here tomorrow, so make it quick."

"They just brought a dessert sampler of creme brulee and chocolate mousse. You really should visit here."

He didn't want to hear another word. "Charlie, just do it and get back by tomorrow afternoon."SMITH CLICKED OFF HIS PHONE AND TURNED HIS ATTENTION BACK to his dessert. Across the main dining room of the Inn on Biltmore Estate, Dr. Douglas Scofield sat at a table, with three others, eating his own lunch. to his dessert. Across the main dining room of the Inn on Biltmore Estate, Dr. Douglas Scofield sat at a table, with three others, eating his own lunch.STEPHANIE DESCENDED THE CARPETED STAIRWAY AND ENTERED the inn's s.p.a.cious dining room, stopping at the hostess' podium. Another flagstone hearth accommodated a crackling fire. Most of the white-clothed tables were occupied. She noticed fine china, crystal gla.s.ses, bra.s.s chandeliers, and lots of maroon, gold, green, and beige fabrics. One hundred percent southern in look and feel. Davis was still holding the conference pamphlet and she knew what he was doing. Looking for a face to match Douglas Scofield's prominent picture. the inn's s.p.a.cious dining room, stopping at the hostess' podium. Another flagstone hearth accommodated a crackling fire. Most of the white-clothed tables were occupied. She noticed fine china, crystal gla.s.ses, bra.s.s chandeliers, and lots of maroon, gold, green, and beige fabrics. One hundred percent southern in look and feel. Davis was still holding the conference pamphlet and she knew what he was doing. Looking for a face to match Douglas Scofield's prominent picture.

She saw him first, at a window table with three others. Then Davis caught sight. She grabbed his sleeve and shook her head. "Not this time. We can't make a scene."

"I'm not going to."

"He has people with him. Let's get a table and wait until he's done, then approach him."

"We don't have time for that."

"And where do we have to be?"

"I don't know about you, but I'm anxious to watch the channeling with the Pleiadians at one."

She smiled. "You're impossible."

"But I'm growing on you."

She decided to surrender and released her grip.

Davis wove his way ahead and she followed.

They approached the table. Davis said, "Dr. Scofield, I was wondering if I might have a word with you."

Scofield appeared to be in his midsixties, with a broad nose, a bald pate, and teeth that looked too straight and too white to be real. His fleshy face betrayed a testiness that his dark eyes immediately confirmed.

"I'm having lunch at the moment."

Davis' face stayed cordial. "I need to speak with you. It's quite important."

Scofield laid his fork down. "As you can see, I am engaged with these people. I understand you're here at the conference and want some time with me, but I have to budget that carefully."

"Why is that?"

She didn't like the sound of the question. Davis had apparently also caught the I'm important I'm important subtext to Scofield's explanation. subtext to Scofield's explanation.

The professor sighed and pointed to the pamphlet Davis held. "I do this every year, so that I can be available for those interested in my research. I realize you want to discuss things, and that's fine. Once I'm done here, perhaps we could talk upstairs, near the piano?"

Irritation remained in his tone. The other three diners likewise seemed annoyed. One them said, "We've been waiting for this lunch all year."

"And you'll have it," Davis said. "As soon as I'm done."

"Who are you?" Scofield asked.

"Name's Raymond Dyals, retired navy."

She watched as recognition clicked in Scofield.

"Okay, Mr. Dyals, and by the way you must have discovered the fountain of youth."

"You'll be surprised what I've discovered."

Scofield's eyes flickered. "Then you and I definitely need to talk."

SIXTY.

OSSAU.

MALONE DECIDED TO ACT. HE SWUNG THE GUN AROUND AND FIRED two rounds across the cloister garden. He had no idea of the a.s.sailant's position, but the message was clear. two rounds across the cloister garden. He had no idea of the a.s.sailant's position, but the message was clear.

He was armed.

A bullet bisected the doorway and sent him reeling back.

He determined its origin.

From the second gunman, on his side of the gallery, to his right.

He stared up. The gabled roof was held aloft by trusses formed from rough-hewn beams stretching the room's width. A jumble of broken rocks and debris littered the floor and lay piled against one of the decaying walls. He stuffed the gun into his jacket pocket and scrambled atop the largest chunks, which provided him two new feet of height. He leaped up, grabbed the cold beam, swung his legs upward, and straddled the timber like a horse. He quickly wiggled his way closer to the wall, only now he was ten feet above the doorway. He sprang to his feet, crouched, and balanced on the beam, regripping the gun, his muscles like bundles of tightly bound cord.

Shots rang out from the cloister. Several.

Perhaps Henn had joined the fray?

He heard another impact, similar to when Werner tackled Dark in the church, along with grunts, breathing, and fighting. He couldn't see anything except the stones on the floor below, cast in dimness thanks to only bleak light.

A shadow appeared.

He readied himself.

Two shots were fired and the man rushed into the room.

Malone leaped from the beam, cras.h.i.+ng into the attacker, quickly rolling off and readying himself for a fight.

The man was hefty and broad-shouldered, the body hard, as if there were metal under the skin. He'd quickly recoiled from the a.s.sault and sprang to his feet-without the gun, which had slipped from his grasp.

Malone raked the side of his automatic across the man's face, sending him into the wall, dazed. He leveled the gun and prepared to take his prisoner, but a shot exploded behind him and the man dropped to the rubble.

He whirled.

Henn stood, gun aimed, just outside the doorway.

Christl appeared.

No need to inquire why the shot was necessary. He knew. But he wanted to know, "The other one?"

"Dead," Christl told him as she retrieved the weapon from the floor.

"Mind if I hold that?" he asked.

She tried to banish the surprise from her eyes. "You're a distrustful sort."

"It comes from people lying to me."

She handed him the gun.STEPHANIE SAT WITH D DAVIS AND S SCOFIELD, UPSTAIRS, WHERE THE main lobby emptied into an alcove dotted with plush upholstered chairs, a panoramic view, and built-in bookshelves. People were studying the t.i.tles, and she noticed a small sign that said everything was available for reading. main lobby emptied into an alcove dotted with plush upholstered chairs, a panoramic view, and built-in bookshelves. People were studying the t.i.tles, and she noticed a small sign that said everything was available for reading.

A waiter sauntered over, but she waved him off.

"Since you're obviously not Admiral Dyals," Scofield said, "who are you?"

"White House," Davis said. "She's Justice Department. We fight crime."

Scofield seemed to repress a shudder. "I agreed to talk with you because I thought you were serious."