Raymond Khoury – The Last Templar

Summary:

The prologue of the book is set in Acre, Jerusalem in the year 1291, where there
is a battle being fought between the Templar Knights and the Muslims. Martin of
Carmaux as well as his ally, Aimard of Villiers, though fiercely battling were forced to
return to their fortress. There they were given by the Templar Knight’s Grandmaster a
box which is told to carry grave secrets that is more worth than any life of anyone else in
the fortress. The two quickly rode onto their ship, the Falcon Temple were they were to
leave as soon as possible because of a n impending Muslim attack on their brothers as
well as the civilians living there. Overhead, Martin sees something in the skies that
makes him think off an impending storm.

The first chapter fast forwards to the present in New York’s Metropolitan Museum
of Art where there is a display of Vatican’s treasure. Tess Chaykin is with her mother
and daughter looking through the exhibits where the latter two retreat to the bathroom.
Tess meets an old colleague Clive Edmondson and they make a small talk before they
went their separate ways. Four men dressed up as Knights on a horse cause havoc in
the area; one beheads a security guard, two ride around smashing cases and stealing,
while the last one takes more interested in one of the least noticed in the exhibit :an
encoder. Despite cowering in the corner not far from the man, Tess hears the words
veritas vos liberabit. The commotion ends after the ‘knights’ have taken their dues, and
to make sure they leave well, they made the Mayor’s wife as hostage. When the police
chase after them not long after, they were surprised to see no one save for their horses
as well as the Mayor’s wife are there.

The FBI and the NY police work with each other, investigating the crime scene as
well as helping witnesses. FBI Agent Sean Reilly notices Tess in a CCTV footage and
feels drawn to her. Tess visits her friend Vance in the hospital and there they have an
idea that fanatics of Templar Knights are behind the attacks.

The FBI holds a meeting and with them is Monsignor De Angelis who is asked if
the Vatican ahs any ideas of enemies. He says no and later Reilly tells him of his being
Catholic. Reilly stumbles with Tess in the Hospital and she asks if she’s fine. There, he
tells her of the possibility of them being Templar Knight fanatics, and he tells her that
the FBI might consider the possibility.

One of the Knights, Gus tries to sell his steals but set fires to the person whom
he intends to sell them after realizing the police are after him. He gives a car chase but
is caught by Reilly. In the hospital, Gus is attacked by a mysterious man, forcing him to
tell the name of the other Knights. He gives one name and then the man kills Gus. The
second Knight, Branko was located by the man, and is killed by the same horses who is
tending to. The third, Adeson, despite living with his father is killed not long after as well
by the same man.

Tess goes a little researching of her own for more information about the men in
the museum especially the last Knight who stole the encoder. This leads to her father’s
friend, Bill Vance. Vance reveals himself to be the 4th Templar. He shocks Tess with a
stungun and she goes unconscious.

When Tess awakes, Vance tells him of his plans to reveal to the world that there
is no true religion and that all beliefs, especially in the Catholic World have no
significance, and even the true cause of all wars in the world. Above the cellar where
they are, De Angelis made the mistake of making a noise in the burned down Church.
Vance leaves Tess tied while he goes up. There he has a fight with De Angelis, and
Tess makes her way out, leaving her wallet but bringing his plans with her.

After the fight with De Angelis, Vance staggers down to find Tess. They give a
chase but she was able to pass through the sewer then through a manhole. When she
arrived home, Vance was there but not giving any aura of hostility towards her mother
and daughter. She gives him his plans and after a quick shower, she contacts Reilly
and told him of what has occurred. The two recognize a bond, and Tess promises not to
something bad anymore.

I like to eat Macaroni. Do you like Cheese?

Tess’ research and some of Vance’s plans reveals the location of their target to
show the world a secret the General Public ought not to be known lead her to Turkey.
Reilly follows her. After some frustrating travel, they find a location where the secret
could be and when they find a box containing some letters waiting to be decoded, they
find Vance threatening them to cooperate with him instead. They do, and there was
some outside threats, and the three were forced to leave together. Once they were
away from danger, Vance reveals to them there is another location that they ought to be
and this is somewhere between Turkey and Greece. Also, Vance tells and informs
Reilly that all of the things he believed in the Catholic Church are all false. Reilly faith is
shaken a bit and when he asked Tess for her say, she reveals her belief that whatever
they discover would bring good name to her as archeology does not give a high pay.
Heartbroken, Reilly found himself left by Tess and Vance as the two leave in a pick-up.

Reilly was rescued by De Angelis in his helicopter who turned out to be the
Mysterious Man who killed the three Knights sent by the Vatican. He convinces Reilly to
help him stop Tess and Vance, knowing that two reveal a secret to be a grave paradigm
shift. Reilly reluctantly agrees because of his recent broken faith, and to clear Reilly’s
head, De Angelis brings him to Vatican where Cardinal Brugnone reveals the truth; that
all the Catholic Church beliefs were remaining solely because they wanted the people to
at least have something to believe to. Verily shaken now, Reilly follows De Angelis, but
not to help hide the secret, but for Tess’ sake; worried for her life as well as health.

In the waters separating Turkey and Greece, tensions rise as Vance forces a
Greek ship’s captain (whom they borrowed it from) to make the Falcon Temple rise from
the water, even resorting to killing some of his crew just to be safe. They make the
ancient boat Rise, but on the Turkish side of the Waters, despite the Storm threatening
both parties. De Angelis, determined to take matters in his own hands, takes a Machine
Gun and fires at the Other ship, wanting the lifting to halt. Not wanting for Tess to be in
any danger, Reilly pursues De Angelis and shoots him. The storm gets stronger as the
waves crash harder and Vance, not caring about the crew and instead of the rising
Boat, he orders them to jump off and take care of the Falcon. Tess, caring for the
workers, goes after them, but she herself fell to the dangerous waters. Reilly sees her
and attempts rescue, but blacks out because of an impact to his temple. Tess sees
Reilly and once she was with him, she was happy enough to be together again with him
before passing out herself.

When Tess awoke, she found herself being taken care of in a local hospital in a
province in Greece. There she finds out that Reilly is in a coma. To distract herself, she
goes to the beach and finds out that the Falcon itself was safe also. Inside, she finds a
leather pouch. Inside the leather pouch are some ancient documents written in Armaic.
As she reads she recognizes it as the writing of Jesus of Nazarene. She hurries back to
the local hospital, finding Reilly awaken.

They spent some days in the island, Reilly, slowly regaining his strength, and
Tess finds herself amused at how the villagers are kind to them, despite being
strangers. Finally, Tess reveals her discovery, but said that there is no point in revealing
a secret that would only endanger the world saying that though the Church has done
some evils, there are people who only has their faith left in the world, and it makes them
do more Good than Bad.

Suddenly, Vance appears and threatens them to give him the leather pouch.
Tess does, and Vance runs away, Reilly, despite his still weak body, pursuits him. The
two found themselves by the Cliffside where, after some exchanged taunts and blows
Reilly grabs hold over the pouch and throws it over the cliff. Vans follows, leading to his
death. Tess arrives, telling Reilly that despite all the trouble, at least they found one
another.