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“You ended up with both treasures so far, and maybe we’ll end up with this one,” Tibor said. “It can still be sent to a museum and not melted down into bars in Bako’s bank.”
“We’ll try to accomplish that much, at least.”
“I’m calling my brother next to see what Bako’s men have found.”
“I’ll be waiting for word,” Sam said. He ended the call and said to Remi, “We might as well have lunch while we’re waiting.” He drove into Alba Iulia and stopped at a café, where they co
uld see the twelfth-century cathedral and two of the seven gates in the city walls. The oldest city architecture had a hint of Roman influence to it, with rounded arches and square, multilayered towers. Sam set his cell phone on the table.
They had rosól, a stewed-duck-and-vegetable dish, and red wine, and had just begun their dessert of baklava, when Sam’s phone rang. He and Remi looked at each other, then looked at the phone. Sam picked it up. “Hello, Tibor.”
“They’re in the forest on the east side of the town and it looks like they’ve dug a hole. They’ve stopped. Apparently they’re waiting for Bako to arrive before they enter the chamber. I guess he wants to be the first.”
“Where’s Bako now?”
“He’s still about thirty miles away, and we’re driving along the . My brother and cousins are watching the crew at the chamber, but there’s not much they can do. It’s too late to keep Bako from getting there first.”
Sam thought for a moment. “All right, then. Let’s move our strength away from the treasure.”
“Away from it?”
“Yes. Give me the location and then get everyone back to Hungary. Remi and I will see what we can do on our own.”
“What are you going to do?”
“If it’s too late to keep Bako from finding the treasure, we’ll try to keep him from taking it home.”
“How?”
“I’ll think about it on the way.”
“I have confidence in you. I have many friends, but not one of them has a mind like you—a machine for grinding out crazy ideas.”
“He’s got your number,” Remi said.
“Thank you, Tibor. Please get your brother and cousins back to Szeged. And all of you, take a different, less direct route home.”
“I’ll call you with the exact location.”
“Thanks.” Sam looked at Remi.
“We both meant good crazy.” She kissed his cheek.
The phone rang again, so soon it surprised them both. Sam picked it up and Tibor’s voice said, “I’m close now and I can see where Bako has pulled over. It’s five kilometers from the east city walls of Alba Iulia. It’s a heavily forested area just past the beginning of a hiking trail. There’s a parking lot and a picnic area. The two black SUVs and the truck are all parked there.”
“Good,” said Sam. “We’re on our way.”
“Are you sure you don’t want me to stay?”
“Positive. Have you sent your brother and cousins home?”
“Yes.”
“Excellent. Now head for the border a different way.”
“I’m going now.”
“Good luck.”
