Read Crown's Vengeance, The for Free Online Page A

I was twisting the facts to fit my theory, but it’s the only thing that makes sense.”
    Parker wasn’t buying it yet. This was all well and good, but her idea had one major flaw.
    “So we may have found the arrows, but how do we know this dresser is involved? Some museum curator might have added it a hundred years after Revere died.”
    “That particular piece was crafted in England, and I located the page in Revere’s household records that lists each item he had delivered to his foundry from England,” Erika said. “This bureau was described in detail. On the invoice was a note that specifically stated it was to be given to his wife. Care to guess her name?”
    “Rachel.”
    “Right again.”
    “So you’re saying this desk is still in the museum, on display, waiting for us?”
    Erika shook her head in the affirmative.
    “You know what happened the last time we went to a museum.”
    Parker absentmindedly touched the gunshot scar on his shoulder, a stark reminder of their harrowing experience.
    For a minute, neither of them spoke. Parker looked out of her living room windows, down on the rapidly filling sidewalks. Couples walked past, arm in arm, some with dogs on leashes. Mothers sat on porches with their children, gossiping with the other women. A peaceful scene, typical of people everywhere enjoying their weekends and the short break from their normal, uncomplicated lives.
    The type of life Parker now envied.
    “Honestly, how long have you had this?”
    The fact that he was currently in Philadelphia on business and would be traveling to Boston next week was too convenient.
    Both her hands shot up, palms out.
    “Two days, that’s it. I had no idea the letter existed until this week. I know what you’re thinking.” Fire flashed across her features. “I didn’t use your trip to Boston as an excuse to spring this on you.”
    He’d known her for nearly a decade. Parker could tell when Erika was lying. Right now, she wasn’t.
    A sigh of resignation escaped his lips. “Are you going to take a week of vacation?”
    “I knew you’d agree,” Erika replied. “Yes, I’ll take a week of personal time. I thought you might want to take a few days as well, spend some time together after your meetings are finished.”
    “I’m supposed to spend three days with Ben working on foreign accounts, so I suppose I could extend the trip.”
    His pleasant look fell away, replaced with a deathly serious stare.
    “I know you’re excited, but you remember what happened last time. We almost died.”
    She frowned at his tone.
    “Yes, but no need to be a buzz kill. This will be fun.”
    “I hope we don’t find a damn thing in that dresser. In fact, I hope they don’t let us anywhere near it. All we do is look at it, maybe poke around a bit, and then we leave. I have no interest in getting involved in another one of your awful conspiracy hunts.”
    “Excuse me, but let’s not forget who started the last fiasco. I loved Joe, but he was your uncle, and he sent that letter to you.”
    She was right, of course. His murdered uncle had mailed him a letter the day he died, which ultimately set them on a path that had nearly killed them both.
    “Okay, you’re right about that. However, that doesn’t mean we can’t learn from our mistakes. I’ll go along with you, but in no way are we going to get involved in anything illegal.”
    “Deal.”
    She slid across the floor and embraced him, her hands kneading his shoulders.
    “Thank you. I promise we won’t get in any trouble this time.”
     

Chapter 8
    Philadelphia, PA
     
    Rich Patton slapped Parker on the back. “Come on, let’s grab a drink. I know a great spot for happy hour.”
    As Parker walked down JFK Boulevard in Center City after another marathon session of meetings, the words were music to his ears. For the past three days he’d been working fifteen hours at a time, hammering out a deal with a competing firm. After two days of arguments, compromises, and a