The Diamond Dragon (Kip Keene Book 4) Read Online Free Page A

else had been removed.
    “I think this is all Carmen took,” Keene said. He let the watch sit in its rightful spot on the lectern. “Doesn’t make any sense.”
    “Don’t look at me, dude,” Linus said. “Marios Sonica hid a pocket watch in each of his finished houses. It’s the only thing that bears his full initials—Seneca Marios Sonica. A sort of blessing for his new baby.”
    “The house was his baby?” Strike said. She snorted. “Artists.”
    “Yeah, he was out there,” Linus said. “But it’s just a watch, is all. No hidden powers.”
    “Maybe she was looking for more,” Keene said, sliding past the lectern to examine the plain white walls. Time and moisture had warped the plaster, spotting it yellow. “But she ran out of time and decided to take the watch back to whoever she works for.”
    Keene rapped his knuckles against the wall. Solid. He took a few more steps and repeated the process.
    “That’s hollow,” Strike said. “Holy shit, it’s hollow.”
    “You got something I can cut with?” Keene said. He tapped the wall again, confirming that the sound was different. Something was hidden back there.
    “Sure.” Strike disappeared into the cellar and returned a minute later with the broken bottom of the wine bottle. “Here.”
    “That’ll do.” Keene worked the jagged edge over the plaster. The wall was pliant from the moisture and soon gave way, allowing him to tear at the growing hole with his bare fingers. He chucked the soggy drywall over his shoulders like a dog digging in the backyard.
    A sharp breath forced itself from his lungs when he saw what was inside.
    “What the hell?”
    Strike edged past him to look. “Ooh, fancy.”
    A glittering stainless steel wall safe sat recessed about three feet behind the false wall. It had a standard key lock, but the flashing band of red lights running across its front indicated that it also featured more formidable security.
    As in a voiceprint password.
    “Goddamnit,” Keene yelled, and slammed his fist against the wall.
    “Passphrase not recognized,” a robotic voice announced. “Two attempts remaining.”
    “Don’t yell,” Strike said in a measured, steady whisper. “I don’t think it likes that.”
    Keene shook his head and fished the key from his pocket. It was a perfect fit for the lock. He jerked the handle, but the door refused to budge. Half of the lights flashed green, but the others remained an angry shade of red.
    Without turning around, Keene kicked the lectern with the back of his heel, sending it against the wall. Linus yelped like he’d been stung by a bee.
    “You almost kneecapped me, Keeney.”
    Keene didn’t answer. He stared down the taunting lights, trying to think of why Ben would send him down here, to a safe he couldn’t open. No wonder Carmen had left emptyhanded. Even if she had found the safe, cracking this thing was impossible with the old man was dead.
    Deep in thought, Keene didn’t notice Strike slipping by him.
    He heard the words, though.
    “The Diamond Dragon. 2001. Tillus, Iowa.”
    A loud screeching sound exploded from the safe, causing Keene to wince. The furious red lights strobed across the room, hurting his eyes.
    “Incorrect passphrase recognized. One attempt remaining before incineration protocol is activated.”
    Keene turned to look at Strike. “Really?”
    “Figured it was worth a shot.”
    “Only Ben’s voice can open it,” Keene said.
    “Maybe,” Strike said with a casual shrug. She let the wine bottle slip from her fingers. It hit the ground with a lifeless thud. “But unless you can raise the dead, that’s not much of an option.”
    “Our only lead is gone if we screw up.”
    “It’s gone if we don’t try, too,” Strike said. “Seeing how no one here has x-ray vision.”
    Keene opened his mouth to respond, but stopped when he heard a throat clear. He glanced over his shoulder to throw a disgruntled look towards Linus. The kid wore a sheepish expression, but was