“Ashi,” he gasped. “Is it you?”
“Teacher, what happen? Who...?”
“Yes, Garrett, who did this to you,” Vincent interrupted sharply.
Ty had a hard time tearing his eyes from the beaten, bloody man on the floor. When he whipped out his cell phone he noticed his hands were shaking. He asked, as if to himself, “Do they have 911 here?”
“Ashi...” Garrett attempted to raise his arm but it only lifted a few inches and dropped back to his side. “How did you get here?” His eyes bored into Ashi's so he had not noticed Vincent, Ty and Therese.
“Shhh, shhh. I help you.”
Garrett coughed weakly, gripped his side and grimaced horribly with pain. He began an unsettling whimper. For a few moments he was lost in his own misery, then said in a weak voice they could barely hear, “Give me your hand. You cannot help me. My job is done here.”
“No, teacher...please...I help.” Ashi knelt next to him and took his hand gingerly.
“No...my job...”
Ashi nodded, acquiescing.
“Who did this? You have to tell us who did this,” Vincent said forcefully.
Garrett ignored him and addressed Ashi. “I told them nothing. Ashi, you are here. Is it time?”
“It is.”
“You are not safe. These people will do anything for the treasure.”
Vincent, Ty and Therese exchanged glances at this last remark.
Still holding Ashi's hand, Garrett turned to Vincent. “We had help...Mansfield and I. They told us where to go,” he said, in barely more than a whisper. “Something otherworldly led us...only a righteous man could find...you knew the prophecy. I thought maybe you...” His voice trailed and the only sound was his harsh, rasping breathing.
Ty saw his open eyes glaze over, not seeing now or ever again. Ashi had been crying a few moments earlier but now her face was serene and her lips moved in a silent prayer.
A cat, coming out of nowhere, jumped atop the back of the sofa and meowed loudly. It unnerved Vincent and Therese, who startled at the sound, but Ashi's face remained calm.
“Come on, Ashi,” Ty said, helping her up by her elbow and leading her away from Garrett to sit on the sofa.
When Ashi finished her prayer, she turned and faced Ty. “He teach me English when I young girl,” she explained. “I come with you because I want to visit Teacher.”
“He and his partner were the people who came looking for treasure?”
Ashi nodded.
“His partner left and Garrett stayed in Bhutan, teaching you.”
“Yes, he say it dangerous where he live and in Bhutan it not so dangerous.”
Two policemen were the first to arrive, followed by paramedics with a stretcher. When they realized that Garrett had been the victim of a vicious beating and that he was no longer living, they radioed for help and more police arrived. As they questioned the group, Ty looked over their shoulders and saw them zip Garrett in a black bag and take him away. But the investigation continued; the detectives took pictures, measured things, took samples of blood, and dusted for fingerprints.
The group explained their story over and over again to the same cops and then to detectives. While they were waiting to be questioned, Ashi suddenly ran her fingers over the coffee table, pushing newspapers and magazines aside. It was an old, chipped table, with old postcards, tickets and magazine covers slipped between the cover glass and the table.
“What is it?” Ty asked softly.
Ashi's eyes filled with tears. “I give this paper to Teacher when he leave Bhutan.”
Vincent stared at the table, trying to read it upside down, not wanting to call the detectives' attention to it.
After a few hours they were taken to a police station where they had to repeat the events of the day again. Finally, a cop gave them a ride back to their hotel, admonishing them to be available for further questioning.
It was after dinnertime and they were all hungry except Ashi, who announced she was going to her room and departed from the group.
“Are you okay?” Ty asked her.
“I okay, Ty,” she answered gratefully.
When Vincent looked in on her a few minutes later he whispered that she was sitting and staring off into space.
“I was shocked to see Garrett Cooper was Ashi's teacher,” Ty declared.
“Who would have thought?” Vincent said. “Although he did remain in Bhutan after Mansfield was killed.”
“I thought he stayed there because he feared he'd be the next victim,” Ty said.
“Maybe that was his primary motivation but then he taught Ashi English while he was hiding out,” Therese ventured.
“Dad, Ashi said she came with us because she wanted to visit her teacher,” Ty said.
“She didn't tell me that,” Vincent said. “How did she expect to find him? We could have been going anywhere in the world.”
“I asked her. She said she knew she would find him right away.”
There was incredulous silence.
“Hmmm, there is something else being left out of the equation. Garrett found something that had to do with treasure. We know that much,” Vincent said.
“Well, Ashi has something to do with the treasure too,” Ty added.
“Yes, that's clear. Just what is it?” Vincent said.
“He knew something...something he never revealed,” Therese said.
“Let's add up the facts. Garrett Cooper was in hiding. He was in hiding from people who would kill for what he had or what he knew about the treasure. Whoever it was, found out where he was hiding and killed him for it.” Ty thought for a moment. “And who was this group who told him and Mansfield where to go to look for the treasure? And why didn't they just go there themselves?”
Vincent stared at Ty. “I forgot that's what Garrett said. Maybe the group didn't know exactly where to go. But Cooper and Mansfield were led there mystically...what did he say?...by something otherworldly. It's strange.”
“Very strange,” Therese echoed.
“Ashi is our connection to the treasure.”
Ty lay awake for a long time that night. Even though he was exhausted, the horrifying events of the day served to ensure the tumult in his mind continued. What really had Ty's thoughts whirling was the idea that only righteous men would have found the spot. It seemed too similar to the stories of Shambhala, a land where, again, only the righteous would be able to enter.
The next morning Vincent seemed preoccupied, busy making phone calls and checking things out on his computer.
“Dad, are you hungry?” Ty asked for the third time. He was hungry and was waiting for Vincent.
“No, I have a few things to do. I might just order room service a little later.”
“Therese, what's up with your roommate?” Ty asked.
“She's watching TV.” Therese giggled. “Can you imagine? Going from sainted monk to couch potato? So what's the plan for today?”
“Nothing yet. Dad's busy.”
Vincent heard their exchange and looked up over the top of his glasses. “I need to find out what sort of arrangements will be made for Cooper. I also have to make reservations for us to leave for the US as soon as possible. I want to see Oliver's parents. Plus I have to...um, I have a couple of errands. Ashi, can you come here?”
Her face appeared immediately at the door.
“Ashi, I was wondering what you might like to do next.” Vincent said.
“I here to see Teacher. Now there is no Teacher. I go home to Bhutan.”
“Please, stay with us,” Vincent urged. “We would like that and you can see the world.”
Ashi was silent for a minute, considering the invitation. She nodded. “I stay.”
“I think if you'll be staying with us that I'd like to get you some things, clothes, whatever you need. Maybe you'd be more comfortable. Do you think you'd like to dress in a Western style?”
Ashi's brow furrowed as she thought about it. “Yes, I think that be good idea. I think that be better, look like the people I visit.”
“Okay, then it's settled.” He turned to Ty and Therese. “Listen, guys,” Vincent said as he pulled out his wallet, “Can you buy her every last thing she needs? Or wants?
“Everything?” Therese asked.
“Everything. Here's a credit card. Buy her a suitcase too, so she has someplace to put it all. Meet me back here for dinner, okay?”
“Sure, Dad. But what else do you have to take care of?”
“Just a couple of things.” He grinned at Ty.
“Come on, come on,” Therese said, ignoring the fact that Vincent had some private business to take care of. “We're burning daylight. We have a big day ahead of us. I think a haircut should be the first thing.”
Ty looked at her, puzzled. It was as if Therese had a mission to accomplish. She had completely forgotten Stonehenge, King Arthur, knights, or anything that had to do with archaeology. She seemed happy at the prospect of a day-long shopping trip.
“Burning daylight. Burning daylight,” Ashi whispered to herself.
Usually Ty detested shopping. It seemed like such a waste of time. His mind flashed back to his mother, making him try on endless pairs of pants in preparation for the start of school. He remembered rebelling and calling her all kinds of names. It was like torture to him. But, today he didn't mind the prospect of spending the day with Ashi.
When they left the hotel they made a right, walked a short distance to Oxford Street and found a beauty salon. When she was done, her hair, cut in long layers, hung in large, shining waves around her face and cascaded down her back.
Back on Oxford Street, Ashi wanted to stop and look at everything but Therese kept her focused on their destination, Selfridges. The facade of the department store reminded Ty of Macy's in New York. It sported giant, white columns and took up a whole city block. Ashi stopped and tilted her head back, her mouth hanging open, in awe of the huge store. They entered and quickly determined they needed to go up a few floors.
Ashi stood by the escalator for a few minutes, intently watching people getting on. She stepped on confidently, turned, grinned and gave Therese and Ty the thumbs up sign she just learned that morning. However, she tripped and almost fell getting off the escalator at the top.
“Thank goodness Rishi wasn't here to see that and make some sort of sarcastic comment,” Therese said.
Therese gathered armload after armload of clothes for Ashi to try on. The first time she emerged from the dressing room she was wearing a hoodie jacket.
“Let me see it zipped,” Therese said, eyeing her critically.
“Zipped?” Ashi looked down at herself.
“Yes, zip it up please.”
“She doesn't know what a zipper is,” Ty whispered to Therese.
Therese showed her, and Ashi zipped and unzipped several times, amazed.
They repeatedly asked Ty for his opinion, but all he would say was, “Very nice. I like it,” to everything he saw.
“Well, you're not much help. At least you're here to help carry the bags,” Therese said.
Ty grinned, “Come on, Therese. I have feelings.”
She ignored him as she debated about boots versus shoes. “It's late in the season. Pretty soon it will be too warm for boots.”
“I see many girl wear boot,” Ashi said.
“Good, you're observing,” Therese said approvingly.
Ty rolled his eyes. “You're going to make a monster out of her.”
“Okay, last stop before we refuel for afternoon shopping,” Therese said when they reached the first floor of the department store. “Time for a makeover.”
Ashi sat at a makeup counter and allowed the saleslady to apply cosmetics, again with Therese standing nearby, giving instructions.
“Lightly, lightly. No foundation. Look at her skin. It's perfect. We'll take two of this color and this lipstick.”
When Ashi climbed off the stool and faced Ty, he was astounded...speechless. He surveyed her from top to toe. The makeup enhanced her naturally beautiful eyes and lips. She wore a tight, long tee shirt with a shorter jacket zipped over it, topping low-cut jeans, which were tucked into boots.
“I look just like Europe girl, Ty?” Ashi said, laughing, holding her arms out.
Ty wanted to tell her she was the most awesomely beautiful girl he had ever seen, but instead, swallowed hard and merely said, “Yes, just like Europe girl.”
After selecting an array of cosmetics, they went back out onto the street.
“Are we done yet, Therese?” Ty asked.
“We still need to get her some luggage and toiletries. She needs lots of product to keep up with her new hairstyle. Any idea what you want to do next, Ashi?”
“I like to go to store that sell book. I like a book that tell what English word mean,” she stated confidently.
“A book to help your English get better,” Ty said. “A dictionary.”
“Yes.”
“Okay.” Ty looked at her face closely. “Are you okay today?”
“Yes, I okay. Why?”
“Your teacher...yesterday...”
“Yes, I very sad today.”
She looked at Ty frankly, showing no outward signs of being sad. She accepted her teacher's death and Ty wondered if she had expected something like this to happen.
At the bookstore they bought books that teach English as a second language, a big dictionary, a pocket dictionary, an electronic traveling translator, computer software to learn English and a stack of DVDs with English subtitles.
“What in this?” Ashi asked, holding the computer software box.
“That's so you can learn English using the computer,” Ty said.
“Computer...?” Ashi repeated and from her tone, Ty knew she didn't have a clue what a computer was.
“Don't worry. I'll show you how it works.”
She smiled gratefully at him and he realized he was grateful as well, happy because it appeared she was preparing for a long stay with them. And, he was enjoying his role as her instructor.
At the checkout counter, Therese whispered, “We've spent a fortune today. And all this stuff...”
Ty grinned at her and whispered back, “Really it's all right. Dad doesn't care.”
“Well we definitely need to get the luggage now,” Therese said with more volume. “We can't carry another thing.”
When they bought the luggage they immediately dumped all the bags of new clothing into it, with Ashi kneeling on the floor, closing it up, saying proudly, “I can zip it.”
They also got her a backpack, which they loaded with her new books and DVDs.
****
They returned to an empty suite. Ty picked up the remote and settled back on the sofa, kicked off his shoes and put his feet on the coffee table. Therese joined him but Ashi announced she wanted to take a look at her new books and went to her room. After a few minutes of mindless channel flipping on Ty's part and Therese's complaining about it, there was a soft knock on the door.
Ty opened it, revealing a man in a suit, tall, bald, powerfully-built, about 50 or 60. He had beady eyes and hooked nose, reminding Ty of a bird of prey. He assumed the man was the concierge or some other hotel personnel.
“May I speak to your father?”
The man brushed past Ty and walked into the room, circling around it, looking at everything. Ty, standing behind him, shrugged, raised his eyebrows, and cocked his head to one side, indicating to Therese that he didn't know the man's identity and was dismayed by his forwardness.
“Can I help you?” Ty asked. He glanced at Ashi's closed door, and feeling protective of her, hoped she wouldn't come out. He didn't want this disturbing man to see her.
The man whirled around and faced him. “I am an associate of your father's. Is he here?”
“He's out at the moment. What did you say your name was?”
The man ignored him and rubbed his chin, as if he were pondering what to do next. Ty noticed he had a distinctive ring, gold with a black onyx oval in the center, which depicted Solomon's star, atop three arches. There was what looked like an ancient form of writing around the perimeter of the oval. It looked vaguely familiar.
“Your father owes me some information. And, I suppose I can give him some, as well.”
When Ty heard that the man might have some information he decided to be more cordial.
“Would you like to wait for him?”
“That won't be necessary. I suppose I could contact him at a later time.”
“Can I tell him who was looking for him?”
While he was talking, Ty searched his memory, trying to pinpoint where he had seen the ring design before.
“That won't be necessary either. Please tell him an old friend stopped by and I'll be in touch with him soon.”
The man headed toward the door, which was still open. When he reached the hallway, he turned and nodded to Ty and Therese, finally acknowledging her presence. “Good bye.”
As he turned away from them again, Ty called after him, “You know, that's a very distinctive ring you have there.”
The man turned and looked at him again with a startled expression.
“I think I've seen one exactly like it...back home...in my father's study. Yes, I'm sure of it.”
For the first time the man smiled, revealing a row of yellowed teeth. Although he showed his teeth, his eyes remained unsmiling.
“You must be mistaken. This ring has been in my family for a very long time. Very long. It's one of a kind.”
“Oh, then my mistake.” Ty smiled back at him.
“Well, good bye then.”
Ty closed the door. “That was weird.”
“You think?” Therese said.
“I saw a man in my father's study who had the same ring. I’m sure of it. I thought it was strange that they met at the house instead of the university.” Ty sat down and looked up, as if trying to remember. “You know, my dad introduces me to everyone. When that man came, I looked into the doorway. Dad came over, asked me if I had any homework, and shut the door. It was like he kicked me out.”
“You know, I think the only reason Vincent would deliberately cut you out of the loop would be to protect you.”
“Yeah, I agree. But it really stuck in my head. Did you see Hawkman's ring? It looked like it had some different kind of writing on it, like cuneiform or something.”
“He really did look like a hawk. I got a good look at his finger. It didn't look like any writing I've ever seen but it did look really old,” Therese replied. “Why do you think he lied about its being one of a kind?”
“The ring must symbolize something. Maybe it's a symbol of an organization.”
They heard the key card in the door and it swung open.
“Dad! Where have you been?”
“What? I can't leave the room?” Vincent grinned.
“It's just that a man was here a little while ago. He wouldn't tell me his name and said he'd be in touch. He had a very strange ring.”
“Very strange ring, huh?” Vincent smiled, as if he were humoring a little kid with an active imagination.
“Dad, I've seen a ring like that before.”
“Very observant of you, Ty,” he said, continuing his indulgent tone.
“Who was he?”
“I'd prefer you wouldn't ask me about that, Ty.” Vincent's face turned serious. “I really don't want you involved with this. Now, where's Ashi? Did you have a good shopping trip?”
Ty dropped the subject but filed it in his memory to pursue it with his father again at another time.
Ashi heard her name and stepped out of her room. She thanked Vincent for everything.
“You look terrific. Let me see what else you bought.”
Ashi raced back to her room, came back with her backpack, and dumped it all out on the coffee table.
“See this...and this. This DVD with English word on bottom. It for TV. I listen to words and read them. This book say what word mean.”
She was so excited, delighted with her purchases that Vincent began to chuckle.
“I hope you got some clothes too.”
“Oh, I get very nice clothes.”
“Well it looks like you're going to stay with us for a while. Excellent. Guys, I just need to make a phone call.” He shook his head. “I wish Preston were here. I need someone who speaks French,” he said cryptically.
Vincent went into the bedroom he was sharing with Ty. All Ty could hear was soft murmuring. A few minutes later he returned, saying, “It seems I need to go out again.”
Ty assumed he was meeting the man with the ring but he didn't ask and Vincent didn't offer to tell. When they met again for dinner, Vincent's mood was somber.
“We'll be leaving tomorrow,” he announced abruptly.
Therese nodded, relief evident on her face.
“What about Garrett Cooper's funeral?” Ty asked.
“No funeral. Of course the police are conducting a full investigation but apparently he didn't have much family. They'll just be cremating and having a service at some time in the future.”
They explained all this to Ashi.
“Where we go tomorrow?”
“Home at last,” Vincent said with a sigh. “Or not exactly home.”
“Dad, what do you mean, not exactly home. We're going home, right?”
“Ty, this endeavor has always been dangerous.”
Ty swallowed hard, thinking about his attackers in Israel.
Vincent looked at his plate and shook his head. “There are people who will kill for the Templar treasure. Two men followed us across the globe. Now we have two murders in two weeks. It's become too dangerous.” Vincent picked up his glass of wine and took a deep sip. “I feel that we need to lay low for a while.”
Ty wondered if the man with the ring had frightened his father somehow. He hadn't seemed so concerned before his last outing.
“When we get back to the States,” Vincent continued, “we're going into hiding.”