The Heritage Paper

Chapter 65



“So what’s this, Obi-Wan, your light-saber?” the guard asked, stroking the umbrella.

“If it was, I would’ve killed you yesterday morning,” Youkelstein replied, matching Eddie Peterson’s smugness. He was his personal warden, watching over him, locked in a room inside Kingston’s mansion.

Eddie laughed. “I’ve been shot, stabbed, and had my throat slit with the jagged end of a broken bottle. But I must admit, nobody ever came after me with a weapon as pathetic as an umbrella.”

“Since it isn’t a threat to you, perhaps I can have it back?”

“No, I think I’ll hold onto it, Obi-Wan. Why do you have it, anyway? It couldn’t have been a sunnier day.”

“It helps me to walk. I guess I’m too stubborn to admit I need the help of a cane. It’s not easy being in your nineties—too bad you’ll never live long enough to find out.”

Eddie laughed again. “You had your chance to take your shot. Now it looks like I’m going to outlive you.”

“I didn’t mean I was going to kill you—they will. Those without the blood are expendable. And when they start covering up their crimes, you’ll be first on their list. Especially since you allowed Veronica to witness the kidnapping of the children, which put their entire operation at risk. Neither you or her will live to see the inauguration.”

“Spare me the psycho-babble.”

“You’re already dead to them. Yesterday you were head of security and now you’re stuck babysitting an old man and his umbrella. The important players have already left for the Waldorf.”

“Your arrival changed the plans. They know they can count on me in an emergency—I’m a team player.”

“Just like those SS officers who marched those innocent women and children to their deaths. Just doing their job … following orders. And when it was over, like you, they all became expendable.”

He swung the umbrella, striking Youkelstein in his broken ribs. The pain ripped through him, but he found the strength to laugh.

“What’s so funny?”

“You have the same problem I do.”

“I have a death wish?”

“Perhaps, but I meant you wear your emotions on your sleeve, which makes you easy to read.”

“So you think you have me all figured out, old man?”

“This is all about you not being good enough. Your parents deserted you, and Harold Peterson is given credit for your police accomplishments. These Nazis were the first people to make you feel important, and they gave you a chance to finally match up to Carsten—the one with the royal blood.”

“That’s not true—Ellen always believed in me.”

“Which makes it strange that you wouldn’t follow the wishes she willed to Maggie. Unless your Nazi friends convinced you that this is what Ellen really wanted. That she no longer understood what she was saying, and needed to be silenced. At least it was a more peaceful way to go than the method Rose Shepherd used to quiet your mother.”

Eddie swung the umbrella again, and connected in the same spot.

Youkelstein curled up on the floor, and weakly responded, “You will never truly be one of them. First, you’ll be called on to do away with Veronica before she goes to the police, and then you’ll be next. Save yourself.”

He raised the umbrella again, “I said shut your mouth!”

“If you won’t save yourself, at least save Maggie and Jamie. I see the way you look at those kids—you love them.”

Eddie began to swing the umbrella again. This time at Youkelstein’s head. But he stopped in mid thrust.

Youkelstein was right—Edward Peterson wasn’t like them.