Liberty Island, New York
Senator Mason Calderon took a moment to catch his breath after the exhausting climb. His aide and secret service agents were about to come to his side for support when his cell phone rang. He waved them off, then opened his phone as he slowly walked to the edge, catching up to the young boys.
After hearing the news from Commander Marco, he nodded grimly, but without a hint of surprise. “I feared as much, Commander. Then I fully authorize you to go to Plan B.”
He sighed, holding the phone a few inches from his ear so the echo of the gunshots didn’t make him wince. Poor Robert, he thought with a rueful smile. Oh, the man had his aspirations. His resources after all, were quite useful, and his access to the ancient texts, while providing nothing new to the knowledge the elders already had, at least corroborated it. They had voted to let Gregory play at his vaulted role, but at the same time, others were being groomed.
The chamber at the top of the crown was empty, cleared by the secret service just for Calderon and his wards. The two boys giggled, climbing up on the ledge to gaze out the windows.
“Wow!” one of them shrieked as he helped the other up to gape at the view of the harbor far below. “Gosh, we’re high up,” said the other.
“Boys,” Senator Calderon snapped. “Be quiet a moment, I need to take this call.” He waited, then heard a shuffling, some static, and then her voice.
“ Hello? Who is this?”
“Hi Nina. You don’t know me, but you’re about to do exactly as I tell you.”
“ And why in the world would I do that?”
“Because,” he said calmly, “I have something here that belongs to you.”
He smiled at the two boys, the twins, as they looked back at him with their mother’s eyes.