Berry
shook his head. “I’m never getting my palm read again.”
Madame Flora smiled and checked her watch. “He should be just about ready.”
Bob moaned and opened his eyes.
Madame Flora nodded at Ann. “Ask him something.”
“Bob, do you know who I am?” Ann asked.
He answered like he had a mouth full of cotton balls. “Of course, Ms. Blake—you’re
Elizabeth
’s mother.”
Ann nodded. “Did you get married this morning?”
“Yes, Elizabeth and I celebrated an eternal marriage.”
Ann frowned. “Why wasn’t I invited?”
He shrugged. “Mr. Feret said there will be a necessary separation between you and Elizabeth, ma’am, and there was no sense on you attending on your last day.”
Ann looked at Madame Flora and spoke through her teeth. “If you overdose the son of a bitch now, you’ll save me from strangling him later.”
Archie reached out and patted Ann’s shoulder. “He is a simple man caught up in a complicated world.” He turned to Bob. “Why did you join WorldWideSouls?”
Bob swallowed. “Mr. Morgan, I don’t want to disappoint you, because you have done so much for me. But I need more than you can offer. I need help understanding what it all means.”
He licked his lips. “You surround yourself with smart people, and nobody ever asks me what I think. But WorldWideSouls listens to me, Mr. Morgan. They seem interested. And they know how special I am.”
Archie sighed. “What can we do to get you back?”
Bob smiled. “I don’t know, sir. Why not join WorldWideSouls yourself?”
Archie frowned.
I tapped Bob on the shoulder. “We really need some information about your party. What’s going to happen to Mr. Morgan and Ms. Blake this afternoon?”
Bob turned to look at me. “When?”
“At your century party.” I stared at him. “Are they in danger?”
Bob shook his head. “I don’t think so, Mr. Scott. Mr. Feret says that they won’t be talking to me and Elizabeth after the party. I think they’ll be too mad at us.”
“Mad at what?” I asked. “Feret’s new order?”
Bob nodded.
Maybe he was just not getting it. “Do you ever hear people talking about things you don’t understand?” I asked.
He nodded. “That happens to me all the time.”
“Did it happen with anything about your party?”
“Let’s see.” He closed his eyes. “Brian told Mr. Feret that my toast would be the best ever, but I know there’s no toast being served. Just cookies afterward.”
Archie sighed and turned away.
“He’s about to come out of it,” Madame Flora said. “I need to make some suggestions to him so he won’t remember any of this.”
While she murmured in Bob’s ear, I walked over to Archie and Ann. “Are you two ready to do this?” I asked.
“Just make sure you kill us before we’re poisoned,” Ann said.
I nodded. “Don’t let that champagne touch your lips.”
“Bob’s coming out in thirty seconds,” Madame Flora called.
Val frowned. “Will he be able to drive?”
Madame Flora shrugged. “If not, you guys can. I suggested to him that he had fallen down, bumped his head, and is still a bit woozy.”
Then the old Gypsy lady opened her eyes wide. “Oh, he needs a bump!” she exclaimed. She took off her shoe and, holding it with both hands, swung it hard. The heel hit the back of Bob’s head with a solid thunk.
I winced. “Did you have to do that?”
“Without a bump he wouldn’t believe he fell.” She checked his eyes. “Okay, he’s with us again,” she said.
I bent over him. “Bob, are you okay?”
“Wh-what happened?”
“You just banged your head.”
Bob reached up. “How did it happen?”
“Maybe all this spying is stressing you out and causing you to faint.” I helped him stand up. “But we have to go—you’re taking us to your century party.”
Bob sat back down. “My head really hurts, and I’m dizzy,” he said.
“It is a big bump you have there.” I glared at Madame Flora. “Maybe somebody has some medicine?”
Ann opened her bag and pulled out a bottle of baby aspirin. “Take these, son.” She shook out a handful of pills.
Bob chewed and swallowed. He tried to stand up, and Val and I each grabbed an arm and helped him to his feet.
“Maybe I should drive, Bob, and let you rest on the way over,” I said.
He nodded.
We walked out to the limo and loaded Bob into the back. He fell over onto his side.
I looked at Madame Flora. “Will we be able to wake him up?”
“He’ll be totally fine in ten minutes.” She handed Val a tiny remote control. “This button starts both pumps. Just press it when it’s time.”
Val nodded and hopped in the limo. I started the engine and headed for Soul Identity.
I stopped short of
the main gate. Val shook Bob awake and made him get out and stretch.
“How’s your headache?” I asked him.
“I think I’m okay.” He reached up and rubbed his head. “I must have fallen pretty hard.”
I looked in his eyes, and it seemed he was having a hard time focusing. “You sure you can drive?” I asked.
He nodded. “
Elizabeth
must be wondering where I am.”
Val and I hopped into the back and Bob drove up to the gate and rolled down the window.
The gray-suited guard smiled. “Hey Bob—ready for your party?”
Bob smiled back. “I am. Are you coming?”
“Nah—somebody’s gotta watch the gate.” The guard leaned on window. “Hey, who are these guys?” he asked, pointing at Val and me.
“My guests,” Bob said.
“Do they have badges?”
Bob shook his head. “They were suspended yesterday.”
I cringed. Now why did Bob have to say that?
“Suspended?” The guard stood up. “They can’t come in here.”
Bob turned around in his seat at looked at me. “I don’t have time to drive you back to Ms. Blake’s house.”
And we didn’t have time to come up with another plan—Val had the remote, and Archie and Ann were dead if she wasn’t there to trigger the thiopental.
“We really want to celebrate with you,” I told Bob. “You’re a level eight member—you must have clout.”
He stared at me for a moment. Then he turned back to the window. “These two are my honored guests,” he told the guard. “Let them in.”
The guard reached down and rested his hand on his pistol. “I’m afraid I can’t do that,” he said.
“Yes you can,” Bob said. “Would you like me to call Mr. Feret to sort this out?”
The guard narrowed his eyes. “Don’t try me, Bob. I’m just following orders.”
“We have to get in there,” Val hissed in my ear.
I pulled John’s business card out of my wallet and called his cell phone. “Hey, we’re guests for Bob’s centuriat party, but we’re stuck at the gate. Can you help us get in?” I asked.
“Be right there,” he said.
Five minutes later, Bob and the gate guard were still glaring at each other. I saw John walking up to the gate, and I got out of the limo and approached him.
“What’s the problem, Scott?” he asked after we shook hands.
“We want to attend Bob’s century party, but your buddy here,” I pointed at the gate guard, “won’t let us through.”
John looked at the guard. “That true?” he asked.
The guard nodded. “The boss said nobody but badges are allowed in today.”
John scratched his head. “The party’s outside—how about we give them grounds-only passes?”
“You gonna vouch for them?”
John nodded. “They’ll behave.” He looked at me. “Won’t you?”
“Of course,” I said.
The gate guard looked back and forth between me and John for a minute, then finally nodded. “Lemme get some temporary badges,” he said. He headed into the gate house.
I smiled at John. “Glad you were here today,” I said.
“Glad I could help.” He waved and walked back toward the building.
Bob parked in the circular driveway of the main building. A large white tent was set up on the lawn. “Mr. Feret moved the party outdoors for security reasons,” he said.
Good for us. Even better for Archie and Ann.
“It’s a great day to be outside,” I said. “Bob, you must be pretty proud of reaching your century mark.”
He smiled. “I sure am, Scott. Do you know that there’s only one other centuriat working for Soul Identity?”
“I heard that somewhere. Who is it?” I asked.
“James the elevator man. He had his party over twenty years ago.” He smiled. “Now it’s my turn. And in a few years, I’ll be the only one.”
That explained why James still lurked in the elevators. We climbed out of the car. “Where do we go, Bob?” Val asked.
He pointed to the tent. “I reserved seats in the second row for you.”
We wished him luck and headed over to the tent. We stood in the back and watched the preparations. Two men ran audio visual cables and tested the system. Others aligned the hundred or so chairs.
“Do you think our plan is too risky?” Val asked me.
Of course I did. “It doesn’t really matter—if Archie and Ann don’t show up for the centuriat party, Feret will claim victory and take over Soul Identity anyway. And even if we could stop him, this is the only way to get the WorldWideSouls members back in the fold.”
She sighed. “I guess you’re right. But it’s awfully scary.”
I waved to Archie and Ann when they came in, and they walked over to us.
“You ready for the big show?” I asked.
“Damn right we are.” Ann turned to Val. “Just be careful with that remote, honey. Don’t go pressing it too early.” She paused. “Or too late.”
Archie patted under his arm. “The boxes are taped here, and the needles are in our veins.” He held up his left hand. “I am wearing the fake ring.”
“We’ve got to get moving,” Ann said. They hustled out the back.
I pointed to the front. “People are coming in,” I said. We went to our seats. I pulled out my camera and
Berry
’s cell phone.
The seats filled up, and the buzz from the crowd dropped off when a cameraman stood on the stage and turned on his video light. He nodded to the sound guy in the center of the tent, and the opening notes of
Clark
’s
Trumpet Voluntary
blasted out.
We looked back and watched Archie walk down the center aisle. Feret followed Archie looking straight ahead. Ann came last. She gave Val and me a tight smile as she passed.
The song ended. Archie, Feret, and Ann sat on the dais. The sound man pressed another button, and Elgar’s
Pomp and Circumstance
floated over us.
Archie, Ann, and Feret stood up. The cameraman repositioned for a clear shot down the aisle.
I looked back and saw Bob standing next to
Elizabeth
. She gave him a kiss on the cheek, and he gulped and marched toward the front. He climbed the stairs onto the dais and walked to his center seat.
Everybody up front sat down as the music faded.
Feret walked to the podium. He grabbed the gold microphone in his hand and smiled. “The overseers of Soul Identity welcome you to our twelfth centuriat ceremony. Robert Osborne is the eighth carrier of a special soul line that has labored in the service of our organization for exactly one hundred years. This is a most solemn occasion for Mr. Osborne.”
Feret continued. “The length of his soul line shows how faithful Mr. Osborne has been, and how worthy he is of this honor.”
“That sounds like the pamphlet,” I whispered.
Val nodded. “But why is he talking about that now?”
I pointed at the cameraman. “Maybe he’s planning to show the film tomorrow in
Venice
.”
Feret was still speaking. “And just as today is the first day of Mr. Osborne’s new career,” he said, “it is also the first day of a new order for Soul Identity.” He paused with a smirk on his face.
“Uh oh,” I said.
Feret stood motionless. People in the crowd began whispering to each other. Brian wore his own smirk as he watched from the front row.
Ann leaned over and said something to Archie, but Archie put his finger to his lips and pointed at Feret.
Feret readjusted his microphone. “Let me repeat that. Today marks a turning point for both Mr. Osborne’s career and Soul Identity itself. We are embarking on a new order. Tomorrow we will unveil this new order for all to see. A newly cleaned house. One that rewards only deserving members such as Mr. Osborne. Where the truths are not hidden by vicious leaders focused only on your money.” He banged the podium with his fist. “It is your destiny!”
“He’s counting his chickens,” I said.
“We can’t let them hatch.” Val said.
Feret bowed to Archie with a mocking flourish and sat down.
Archie smiled and adjusted the microphone. “Mr. Feret called this our twelfth centuriat ceremony. I call it Bob’s century party. His dedication and commitment to Soul Identity are worth celebrating.”
Archie glanced back at Feret. “This party is all about Bob. This is his celebration, his major event. Tomorrow we can talk about Soul Identity’s business. Tomorrow we can discuss new orders. But today we shall put that aside, for today belongs to Bob. We salute you, Bob. We salute your dedication, and we salute your commitment.”
Bob came forward and shook Archie’s hand. Archie went to his seat while Bob unfolded a sheet of paper. “Hello everybody,” he said nervously. He looked down at the paper and swallowed. “My soul line predecessors and I have served this organization for exactly one hundred years. The entire century of service we have provided has been devoted to our delivery group.”
Bob took a deep breath. “Mr. Feret’s words resonated in my heart,” he said. “I am looking forward to his new order, one where I can help right the wrongs of the past.”
“What’s with these guys?” I asked. “Can’t they wait one stinking day?”
“Maybe Feret wants to show that he’s a prophet,” Val said. “Get your camera ready.”
Bob was wrapping up his speech. “I promise that as a centuriat,” he said, “I will work to release the chains that bind our minds to our enslavers. I will fight to make our truths available to all. And I will work to convert new believers.” He looked at the crowd. “Thanks for attending my ceremony.” He headed back to his seat.
“There goes Brian,” Val said.
I pointed my camera at Brian and started recording. He popped open a bottle of champagne and poured four glasses.
Val squinted. “He dropped a tablet into each of the middle two glasses. That must’ve been the palytoxin.”
“I saw. Hopefully my camera did too,” I said. “Is your remote ready?”
“It is.”
Brian carried the tray of glasses onto the stage. The four participants stood up. Bob took the glass on the right. Feret reached for the glass on the right, but Brian gave his head a tiny shake, and Feret took the glass on the left.
Ann took one of the glasses and threw me a nervous glance. Brian smirked at her and walked toward Archie with the remaining glass.
“Don’t forget me!” a voice shouted from the back of the tent. I looked back and watched James march down the aisle. He pointed at Brian on the stage. “Ahoy there, you rude boy, give me a glass of the bubbly. I’m a centuriat too. I’m part of this toast.”
Brian shook his head and gave the remaining glass to Archie.
James clambered onto the stage and headed to Archie. “I can share with Mr. Morgan.”
Feret jumped up and intercepted him. “You can have my glass.” He handed it to James.
Archie smiled. “That was nice of you, Mr. Feret.” He held out his glass. “Here, you are giving the toast. Take my glass, and I’ll share with James.”
Feret eyed the glass and shook his head. “Nonsense, Mr. Morgan. You are the executive overseer. You deserve your own glass. Brian can pour another one for me.”
Archie gave him a sad smile.
Brian poured another glass of champagne. He brought it to Feret, who now stood at the podium.
“You ready with that remote?” I asked Val.
She nodded.
“
Consuetudo pro lege servatur
.” Feret held up his glass. “That means
custom is held as the law
. Our custom is to drink a toast to the new centuriat.”
Feret turned around and looked for a minute at Archie, and then at Ann. He turned back to the audience, his glass still raised. “The custom here has also been to hide the truth from the members. But I say to you today,
consuetudo est altera lex
, which mean
custom is another law
. It is not our law anymore. Custom is the law of the past. The new order is about to begin, and it’s time for new leadership.”
Feret turned to Bob and saluted him with the glass. “I call upon our present and future souls to stop all who may oppose the new order. Let us drink to the futures of our newest centuriat and his beloved organization, and may all who drink be cleansed of their mistakes.”
Everybody raised their glasses in the air. Just as Archie’s and Ann’s reached their lips, Val thumbed the remote.
“You still filming?” she asked.
“Of course. When will they—”
Archie fell first, crumpling to the floor. Ann followed a second later. A gasp went up from the audience, and
Elizabeth
shrieked from the back.
Val and I rushed up to the stage. I dialed Madame Flora’s number and shouted into it. “Send an ambulance to the Soul Identity front lawn—two people have collapsed!”
Val pushed Brian out of the way and reached Ann’s body. She straightened Ann’s neck and put her fingers to her throat. “No pulse, and no breathing!” she yelled. “What about Mr. Morgan?”