The Ninth Orphan Read Online Free

at ease in his Hasidic attire as he observed the kids playing football on the grass nearby. To his left, he saw two young lovers kissing on a park bench, to his right a young, redheaded woman on another bench. She talked animatedly on a cell phone . So chilly was the air, her breath was visible as she spoke.
    Directly above the redheaded woman, an unobtrusive security camera caught Nine’s attention. Secured to the top of a lamp-post, the camera swiveled from side to side, its silent arc covering the full width of the gardens.
    A hundred yards beyond the lamp-post was stately Kensington Palace where Diana, Princess of Wales, had lived until her untimely death and where other members of Britain’s Royal Family had resided over the centuries. Nine studied the magnificent building for a few moments. Unlike most – Brits included – he could name all the members of Royalty who had ever lived there. This was another result of the comprehensive and all-inclusive education he’d received at Chicago’s Pedemont Orphanage.
    Beyond the palace, next to Round Pound, Nine noticed two policemen on foot-patrol in nearby Hyde Park. He returned his attention to his immediate surroundings. His gaze rested on a middle-aged but fit-looking Chinese man leaning against a tree. The man checked his watch periodically and was clearly waiting for someone.
    Nine sensed this was the agent he was here to meet. After scrutinizing his surroundings once more, he slowly approached.
    The Chinese man took little notice of the elderly Hasid who shuffled toward him. Only when Nine addressed him did the Chinese man become fully alert.
    “ I’d rather be in the Mediterranean this time of year,” Nine said in fluent Mandarin.
    Surprise flashed over the man’s normally inscrutable face as he studied the Hasid more carefully. He quickly recovered his composure. “The grass is always greener in winter,” he responded in equally fluent Mandarin.
    Nine was satisfied. The response to his conversation-opener had been exactly as he’d stipulated when arranging the trade, which, when completed, would be worth a hundred million dollars to him. Nine knew the treasure he’d discovered was valued at about two hundred and fifty billion dollars. However, he'd been aware from the outset he was just one man and could never be sure of siphoning such a large hoard out of the Philippines without getting caught.
    Besides, Nine had only confirmed where the treasure was buried. It would take the resources of a large organization to purchase the land and excavate the find.
    As there was no American organization he could be sure hadn’t been infiltrated to some extent by Omega, he’d decided China was the country to trade with. The Chinese had agreed to pay him the hundred million figure. Nine reminded himself with that kind of money he’d be free of Omega’s tentacles forever. There was no need to get greedy.
    “ Do you have the Yamashita information?” the Chinese man asked.
    Nine indicated he did then paused as the two policemen he’d seen earlier walked by.
    As soon as the policemen were out of earshot, the Chinese man nodded toward a hotel overlooking the gardens. Still speaking Mandarin, he said, “My room is up there.” A sign read: Royal Garden Hotel . “We can complete the trade in private,” the man added .
    Nine grew suspicious. Relocating wasn’t part of the arrangement. He observed his surroundings again as he considered the other's proposal. His pulse suddenly quickened when he saw that the security camera on top of the nearby lamp-post no longer swiveled from side to side – it appeared to be solely trained on him now.
    He grew evermore suspicious when he noticed the redheaded woman he’d seen earlier was staring directly at him. Still on her cell phone, she quickly averted her gaze.
    Nine inwardly froze as he realized these people weren’t who they seemed.

 
4

    N ine wondered which Western organization had sabotaged the Chinese operation and