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Chapter 48
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Just for two weeks Chapter 49
"The mission is the most important part of the business. It is the spirit of the business. It is the heart of the business," he continued. "Without spirit and heart, most entrepreneurs will not make it, simply because the road ahead is a hard one." The world is filled with great products that fail. The product fail because they didn't have the power of the big business and investor. A create business will have a strong mission, great leadership, a competent team of managers who work well together, excellent cash flow and financing, clear effective sales and marketing communications, systems that works effectively, clear and tight documents and agreements, and of course, a great product. Too many businesses were people dependant. McDonald's is system dependant. It has well-designed systems. Jason had looked at so many businesses that were top-heavy, staffed by highly educated and highly paid people who were working hard and accomplishing little. In most cases, these types of bu
Just for two weeks Chapter 50
Kittridge's mother was of Scottish heritage, and she gave Kittridge some sage advice that he always tried to follow."Trust in God and be true to yourself."His mother enjoyed lavish spectacle, and she liked to watch the royal procession and ceremonies from Europe. Kittridge's flamboyant side came from her mother, she was Scotch and very careful with money and time. She always had time to give to charity and needy causes, so her interest were diverse yet well-balanced. Kittridge's mother was a devout person, she lived her faith. Which was a great example to Kittridge as a child and as an adult. She was very strong and yet gentle, and she was also very humble. She gave everything she had without reservation. He spoke so highly of his parents for a good reason. His mother's advice was simple but wise. It cuts to the core and kept him focused and well-balanced. "Trust in God and be true to yourself." It didn't get any better than that. A defining moment in Jason's life was when he disco
Just for two weeks Chapter 51
While growing up, there were two points about God, Church and religion that were confusing for Jason. The first was the idea that some people went to heaven and others did not, even if they believed in the same God. He remembered asking her Sunday school teacher, "What is the difference between our church and the Catholic Church?" He was eight years old, attending the Protestant church his parents belonged to, and was curious about the differences. It shocked Jason when his teacher said, "Well, we both believe in Jesus Christ, but Catholics won't go to heaven." The answer floored Jason. When he asked asked why that was, she simply said, "They don't belong to the right church." Disturbed and even more curious. He asked his Catholic Classmate if he could go to church with him. For the next few months, Jason went to a Catholic Church and found out that the congregation was made of good people who believed in the same God as his family did. He stopped going to Sunday school at his par
Just for two weeks Chapter 52
Kittridge in Los Angeles at the Beverly Hills Hotel with his beautiful wife, Ella, and their baby son, Charlie, were having a wonderful time. The Weather, accommodations and food were fantastic. He was in, to shoot the sixth series of The indentures. His daughter Rebecca would be having her graduation ceremony the following week, Kittridge is a New Yorker, a pretty nice and wonderful place. Not far from away was Palos Verdes, on the Pacific Ocean, which was where his spectacular new golf course, Kittridge National Golf Club / Los Angeles, was. He would be making regular visits and playing some golf, and the new estate homes overlooking the golf course and the ocean were just about ready. Which were exceptional beautiful residence. He had a project going on, and that was one of the reasons he was rich, he made most of of his Wealth. He loved making deals and learning new things. They were setting up a Kittridge productions office while he was in Los Angeles. There was never a dull m
Just for two weeks Chapter 53
Davis Jimmy, after staying away for so long in pursuit of his own ambition, and living his life as a Serene young professor at Harvard, passionate about arts and history finally found himself in an unexpected turbulence of an anagram, a granddaughter, paintings and the French Police in Paris on a single night that changed his entire life. Jimmy awoke slowly, a telephone running in the darkness - a tiny, unfamiliar ring. He fumbled for the bedside lamp and turned it on. Squinting at his surroundings he saw a plush Renaissance bedroom with Louis XVI furniture, hand-frescoed walls, and a colossal mahogany four-poster bed.Where the hell am I? The Jacquard bathrobe hanging on his bedpost bore the Monogram: HOTEL RITZ PARIS.Slowly, the fog began to lift. Jimmy picked up the receiver. "Hello?""Monsieur Jimmy?" A man's voice said. "I hope I have not awoken you?"Dazed, Jimmy looked at the bedside clock. It was 12:32 A.M. He had been asleep for only an hour, but he felt like he
Just for two weeks Chapter 54
One mile away, the hulking albino named Amorth limped through the front gate of the luxurious residence on Rue La Bruyère. The spiked cilice belt that he wore around his thigh cut into his flesh, and yet his soul sang with satisfaction of service to the Lord. Pain is good. His eyes scanned the lobby as he entered the residence. Empty. He climbed the stairs quietly, not wanting to awaken any of his fellow numeraries. His bedroom door was open; locks were forbidden for her. He entered, closing the door behind him. The room was Spartan - hardwood floors, pine dresser, a canvas mat in the corner that served as his bed. He was a visitor here this week, and yet for many years he had been blessed with a similar sanctuary in New York City. The Lord has provided me with shelter and purpose in my life.Tonight, at last, Amorth had begun to repay his debt. Hurrying to the dresser, he found the cell phone hidden in his bottom drawer and placed a call."Yes?" A male voice answered."Teacher, I
Just for two weeks Chapter 55
The crisp April air whipped through the open window of the Citroën ZX as it skimmed south past the Opera and crossed Place Vendôme. In the passenger seat, Jimmy Davis felt the city tear past him as he tried to clear his thoughts. His quick shower and shave had left him looking reasonably presentable but he had done little to ease his anxiety. The frightening image of the curator's body remained locked in his mind. Marquis Esquibel is dead. Jimmy could not help but feel a deep sense of loss at the curator's death. Despite Esquibel's reputation for being reclusive, his recognition for dedication to the arts made him an easy man to revere. His books on the secret codes hidden in the paintings of Poussin and Teniers were some of Jimmy's favorite classroom texts. Tonight's meeting had been one Jimmy was very much looking forward to, and he was disappointed when the curator had not shown.Again the image of the curator's body flashed in his mind. Marquis Esquibel did that to himself? Jimmy
Just for two weeks Chapter 56
Captain Andrei Romano carried himself like an angry ox, with his wide shoulders thrown back and his chin tucked hard into his chest. His dark hair was slicked back with oil, accentuating an arrow-like widow's peak that divided his jutting brow and proceeded him like the prow of a battleship. As he advanced, his dark eyes seemed to scorch the earth before him, radiating a fiery clarity that forecast his reputation for unblinking severity in all matters.Jim followed the captain down the famous marble staircase into the sunken atrium beneath the glass pyramid. As they descended, they passed between two armed Judicial Police guards with machine guns. The message was clear. Nobody goes in or out tonight without the blessing of captain Romano. Descending below ground level, Jim fought a rising trepidation. Romano's presence was anything but welcoming, and the Louvre itself had an almost sepulchral aura at this hour. The staircase, like the aisle of a dark movie theater, was illuminated by
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Just for two weeks Chapter 116
Jason was receiving an award for his book that he'd published and Jimmy was in the city, so he did the best thing he could before running off to Florence. It has been a long time since he'd been around but the event that had unfolded recently had taught him to spend more time with family. Encaenia took place in the Sheldonian - a long and rambling ceremony conducted in Latin for six distinguished persons though, in Lola's mind, this was a celebration mainly for Jason. At last, he was receiving the recognition he deserved. After the ceremony, she stood and watched him with pride as he mingled with guests. She had met Jason briefly before the ceremony and they had hugged, but hardly spoken; too many people and not enough time. She thought at first that it was perhaps the way it should be, with no time for sentimentalism, but no, she decided that it was not the way it should be. They needed more time. "Do you know all these people?" Malik whispered."No." Lola shook her head, even tho
Just for two weeks Chapter 115
Night had fallen over Shekina. Jimmy stood alone on the porch of the fieldstone house enjoying the sounds of laughter and reunion drifting through the screened door behind him. The mug of coffee in his hand had granted him hazy reprieve from his mounting exhaustion, and yet he sensed the reprieve would be fleeting. The fatigue in his body went to the core. "You slipped out quietly," a voice behind said.He turned. McEwan's grandmother emerged, her silver hair shimmering in the night. Jimmy gave a tired smile. "I thought I'd give your family some time together." Through the window, he could see McEwan talking with her brother. Sophie's grandmother came beside him. "Mr. Jim, when I first heard of Esquibel's murder, I was terrified for McEwan's sake. Seeing her standing in my doorway tonight was the greatest relief of my life. I cannot thank you enough."Jimmy had no idea how to respond. Although he had offered to give McEwan and her grandmother time to talk in private, she had asked
Just for two weeks Chapter 114
"Davis?" McEwan was standing outside the car, looking back at him. "Are you coming?" She was holding the rosewood box, which captain Romano had returned to them. Inside, both cryptex had been reassembled and nested as they had been found. The verse was locked safely at its core - minus the shattered vessel of vinegar.Making their way up the long gravel path, Jimmy and McEwan passed the famous west Wall of the chapel. Casual visitors assumed this oddly protruding wall was a section of the chapel that had not been finished. The truth, Jimmy recalled, was far more intriguing. Shekina chapel's entrance was more modest than Jimmy expected. The small wooden door had two iron hinges. The chapel would be closing soon, and as Jimmy pulled open the door, a warm puff of air escaped, as if the ancient edifice were having a weary sigh at the end of a long day. Entering with McEwan, Jimmy felt his eyes reaching across the famous sanctuary and taking it all in. Although he had read accounts of She
Just for two weeks Chapter 113
The mist had settled low as Amorth limped into a quiet hollow out of sight. Kneeling on the wet grass, he could feel a warm stream of blood flowing from the bullet wound below his ribs. Still, he managed.The fog made it look like heaven here.Raising his bloody hands, he prayed, but most importantly he prayed for his mentor… Myositis… that he would not fade with the sands of time. The fog was swirling around him now, and Amorth felt so light that he was sure the wisps would carry him away. Closing his eyes, he said a final prayer.His pains at last began to fade, and he knew Myositis was right. It was late afternoon when the London sun broke through and the city began to dry. Andrie Romano felt weary as he emerged from the interrogation room and hailed a cab. Sir Albert Rodriguez had noisily proclaimed his innocence, and yet from his loose ranting about the Archstone, secret documents, and mysterious brotherhood, Roman suspected the sly historian was setting the stage for his lawye
Just for two weeks Chapter 112
Myositis's body had endured many kinds of pain, and yet the searing heat of the bullet wound in his chest felt profoundly foreign to him. Deep and grave. Not a wound of the flesh… but closer to the soul. He opened his eyes, trying to see, but the rain on his face buried his vision. He could feel powerful arms holding him, carrying his limp body like a rag doll, his black cassock flapping. Lifting a weary arm, he mopped his eyes and saw the man holding him was Amorth. He was struggling down a sidewalk, shouting for a hospital, his voice a heart-rending wail of agony. His red eyes were focused dead ahead, tears streaming down his face. "My son," Myositis whispered, "you're hurt." Amorth glanced down, his visage contorted in anguish. "I am sorry sorry, Father." He seemed almost too pained to speak. "No," Myositis replied. "It is I who am sorry. This is my fault. I was too eager. Too fearful. You and I were deceived." Myositis was unconscious when the doors of St Luke's hospital hiss
Just for two weeks Chapter 111
Jimmy and McEwan moved slowly down the north aisle, keeping the shadows behind the ample pillars that separated it from the open nave. Despite having traveled more than halfway down the nave, they still had no clear view of the tomb. The sarcophagus was recessed in a niche, obscured from this oblique angle."At least there's nobody over there," McEwan whispered.Jimmy nodded, relieved. The entire section of the nave near Klaus' tomb was deserted. "I'll go over," he whispered. "You should stay hidden just in case someone-"McEwan had already stepped from the shadows and was headed across the open floor."-is watching," Jimmy sighed, hurrying to join her.Crossing the massive nave on a diagonal, Jimmy and McEwan remained silent as the elaborate sepulcher revealed itself in Tantalus increments… a black-marble sarcophagus… a reclining statue of Klaus… two winged boys… a huge pyramid… and… an enormous orb."Did you know about that?" McEwan said, sounding startled.Jimmy shook his head, als
Just for two weeks Chapter 110
Jimmy had not gotten his eyes off the computer screen since the search began. He was starting to get worried.Anita Istredd was in the adjoining room, preparing hot drinks. Jimmy and Sophie had inquired unwisely if there might be some coffee brewing alongside the tea Istredd had offered, and from the sound of the microwave beeps in the next room, Jimmy suspected their request was about to be rewarded with instant Nescafe.Finally, the computer pinged happily."Sounds like you got another," Istredd called from the next room. "What does it say?"Jimmy looked at the screen, disappointed.They sat patiently in front of the screen and waited through two more dubious returns. When the computer pinged again, nothing interesting happened.Istredd peeked back in the doorway, holding a packet of instant coffee. "You don't want the full text," Istredd called. "Click on the hypertext title. The computer will display your keyword hits along with mono prelogs and triple post logs for context."Jim
Just for two weeks Chapter 109
Copus peccate's headquarter in London is a modest brick building. Amorth had never been here, but he felt a rising sense of refuge and asylum as he approached the building on foot. Despite the rain, Beardsley had dropped him off a short distance away in order to keep the limousine off the main Streets. Amorth didn't mind the walk. The rain was cleansing.At Beardsley's suggestion, Amorth had wiped down his gun and dispose of it through the sewer grate. He was glad to get rid of it. He felt lighter. His legs still ache from being bound all the time, but he had endured far greater pain. He wondered, though, about Rodriguez, who Beardsley had left bound in the back of the limousine. The Briton certainly had to be feeling pain by now."What will you do with him?" Amorth had asked Beardsley as they drove over here.Beardsley had shrugged. "That is a decision the Teacher would make." There was an odd finality in his tone.Now, as Amorth approached the building, the rain began to fall harder
Just for two weeks Chapter 108
Jimmy still felt shaken as he and McEwan came from the rain and entered the library. The primary research room was as Rodriguez had described it - a dramatic octagonal chamber dominated by an enormous round table with twelve flat-screen computer workstations. On the far side of the room, a reference librarian was just pouring a pot of tea and settling in for the day of work. "Good morning," she said in a beautiful British accent, leaving the tea and walking over. "May I help you?""Thank you, yes please," Jimmy replied. "My name is-""Jimmy Davis." She gave a pleasant smile. "I know who you are."For instance, he feared Romano had put him on English television as well, but the librarian's smile suggested otherwise. Jimmy had not gotten used to these moments of unexpected celebrity. Then again, if anyone on earth were going to recognize his face, it would be a Librium in a religious studies reference facility."Anita Istredd," the librarian said, offering her hand. She had a friend
