He nods, silent.
Special Agent Stewart clears his throat. “I—we—wanted to talk to you privately. You have no idea how much you’ve helped us, Ms. Summerall.”
“Kenzie,” I correct. “It was a group effort.” I nod to my friends and add a tip of my head to Josh. “Are we allowed to go public with this story now?”
“No,” he says simply. “But I am here to tell you more. And ask you …” He shares a quick look with Josh, who nods as though he’s giving permission.
“A few years ago,” the agent says, “I was brought into an unusual case when the bureau found a treasure trove of artwork and antiquities very similar to those you discovered.” He leans forward. “The artifacts were in a bunker-style basement outside of Los Angeles.”
I feel myself tense. “Did Jarvis work out there, too?”
“Not as far as we can tell. But when I ran the artwork through the bureau’s computer, I was contacted by a detective from Scotland Yard; they’d also found a basement full of ancient art. I went to see him and look at the works, and we found several of these.”
He opens his hand to reveal a ring much like the one Jarvis wore. I hear Josh swallow hard as we all look at it.
“You’re familiar with the words on the inside,” Special Agent Stewart says to me, pointing to the tiny inscription. Secreta sodalitas sicariorum.
“That’s a secret society of assassins,” I say.
“Plural,” Josh says, the first word he’s uttered.
“Yes,” I say, too curious to explain why. “That spelling does means more than one assassin.”
“Many more.” Stewart pockets the ring and stares hard at me. “The bureau now believes Nihil Relinquere is a large secret society with members around the world, all working and training to kill people without leaving a trace of evidence that there’s ever been a crime.”
I can barely process that. “Why?”
“Assassination fees are high. And all the members as they move up the ranks of the organization are rewarded with rare and ancient artifacts, which is one of the things that connects them.”
I can’t breathe as I realize the implications. That means …“Many assassins,” I whisper. “Many trainees.”
The agent nods. “And many ‘accidents’ that kill innocent people strictly so that assassins might perfect and train for the trade. The victims are most often innocent teenagers who are easily grouped and manipulated. Like the list of girls in your class or members of an extracurricular club, any group that can be created or convinced to be in a certain place at a certain time. The Nihil use advanced technology—like the ability to delete texts—as well as creative weapons and effective techniques.”
I’m speechless, but Molly steps in closer. “So there are groups and clubs and lists of kids who are targets for assassin trainees … all over the world?” she asks.
Stewart nods. “Based on what Josh has been able to help us piece together, we think Nihil meets regularly, perhaps in a place like Collier’s underground museum, and there’s quite a friendly competition among them. For instance, the warning text you received after your accident, Kenzie? Possibly someone from another cell trying to sabotage Jarvis’s efforts to kill all ten members of his list, which isn’t how they work at all. Usually there is no more than one every few years from these lists.”
“But this year was different,” Josh says. “Before my—before Jarvis died, he told me there was an internal competition for power and control that he was trying to win. Obviously, he’s not the new boss of Nihil Relinquere. But someone is. And they’re out there … killing.” His voice is cold, his eyes dead. “Unless we stop them.”
“We?” Molly, Levi, and I say the word in perfect unison.
Stewart puts his hand on Josh’s shoulder. “This young man has an idea and I have to say, I like it. You have some extraordinary qualities, Kenzie. You know their language, and now you’ve been deeply exposed to the culture. And you—and I do mean all of you, because we’d need a team—can fit in if we wanted to infiltrate a cell and help us identify the assassin manipulating it.”
“I’m going to do it,” Josh says. “With or without you.” He glances at each of us and for a long moment, he and Levi hold a gaze. “I think we could work really well together. All four of us.”
Levi inches back, surprised, and Molly’s jaw drops. But I know where I stand. “I’m pretty certain that’s one parental consent form my mother would never sign.”
“We’ve already approached her,” Stewart says. “She and your father agreed to let us talk to you about it, so I believe they are supportive.” His gaze shifts over my shoulder to the cemetery behind me, and really, he doesn’t have to say anything else. I know why Mom will let me do this: so no other mother will have to lose a child like she did.
“What about school?” I ask.
“You’ll continue your education right here at Vienna, but you may have to take a few extended trips. We can work out the details. You three—you four—have to decide if this is something you want to do.”
“I already know what I’m doing,” Josh says. “And it is not continuing the family business.”
“Talk it over.” The FBI agent puts his hand on my shoulder. “I’ll be in touch.” He nods goodbye to Josh and walks to a sedan parked across the street, leaving us in a minor state of shock.
“Holy heck,” Molly says, sounding like she just let out a breath she’d been holding for a while. “Infiltrate these cells and figure out who’s orchestrating accidents? Sounds … cool.”
I give Levi a questioning look, which he returns with a smile. “Guess that would take me off probation permanently.”
All three of them look at me expectantly. I blow out a breath and turn to the hill behind me, my gaze moving to Conner’s barely marked grave.
Nobody says a word and yet … I can hear something. A familiar voice in my head that’s been silent for two years.
Go get ’em, Mack.
Finally, I can hear Conner’s voice again. And I know exactly what I’m going to do.
ACKNOWLEDGMENTS
My team makes this look so easy, but they must get some praise and love.…
Tremendous gratitude to the professionals at Delacorte Press, especially editor Krista Vitola, whose gentle touch and keen eye can be felt on every page. As always, huge appreciation to literary agent Robin Rue.
There’s a lot of Latin in this book, all graciously reviewed by Adam Mize, master of Latin and teacher of greatness! Any mistakes are mine, not his. Gratias, Mr. Mize.
The professionals at TreeTop Trek assisted with information about zip lines and rope courses … all without managing to kill me. Former FBI agent James Vatter also deserves a nod for his help regarding federal investigations.
I’m surrounded by awesome friends and writers for every book I write, and this one was no different. My love goes to the team at Writers’ Camp, who cheered me on and helped complicate the plot every chance they could.
I have the best family in the world. I love you guys.
And finally, soli Deo gloria. Always.
ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Roxanne St. Claire is the New York Times and USA Today best-selling author of more than thirty novels of suspense and romance for adults and teens. She has lived in Pittsburgh, Los Angeles, Boston, and Miami, and currently lives on an island off the coast of Florida. When she’s not writing, she can be found at the beach or on the Internet at roxannestclaire.com, facebook.com/roxannestclaire, or @roxannestclaire.
Roxanne St. Claire, They All Fall Down
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