The Midas Legacy (Wilde/Chase 12) (20 page)

‘The IHA will do everything it can to protect the site,’ Nina insisted. ‘And other agencies will probably get involved as well. It’s a natural nuclear reactor, after all – which means it’s a matter of global security. Your monastery’s protected it for long enough.’

‘It would have remained protected if I had not agreed to let you come here.’ For the first time, Amaanat’s words had anger behind them, but it was aimed at himself rather than the archaeologist. ‘All this has happened because of my weakness.’

‘That’s not true,’ said Nina. ‘Those guys may have followed me here, but they knew more about the Midas Cave and the Crucible than I did. A lot more. They would have found it themselves sooner or later.’

‘There is no way to know that,’ the old monk said quietly. A moment of thought, then he placed his hands together and bowed to her. ‘But I still believe you are a woman of your word, Dr Wilde. If you say the IHA will protect the cave, then I shall accept that. Take the Crucible. But . . . be very careful,’ he added, giving her an intense look. ‘Perhaps not even the IHA should be told of it just yet.’

Nina was about to tell him that she would have to brief her former organisation, but something in his urging gaze changed her mind. For all she knew, the leak that had allowed the mercenaries to find her had been at the IHA itself. It didn’t seem likely, but after the carnage that had just taken place, she couldn’t risk anything similar happening again. ‘You’re right,’ she told him, nodding. ‘I won’t tell them about it until I’m absolutely sure it’s safe.’

‘Thank you.’ The abbot bowed again.

‘Okay. Now I think you need to call for help.’ She handed him the phone.

Eddie was already sceptical. ‘So you’re going to bring that thing back to New York? I think someone might notice at customs if it’s just stuffed in your carry-on bag.’

‘Yeah, I was kinda wondering how to do that myself.’ She thought for a moment. ‘As soon as Amaanat’s finished, I’ll make another call.’

‘To the IHA?’

‘Yeah, but not Seretse or Blumberg.’ She gave him a sly smile. ‘I was thinking more of somebody who can actually get things done.’

‘You want me to do
what
?’ said Lola Adams in a strained whisper.

Nina’s call had been to her friend and former assistant. ‘Arrange a United Nations diplomatic courier for a package that I need bringing from Nepal to New York,’ she repeated. ‘I don’t want anybody, not even customs officials, seeing it.’

‘I heard what you said,’ Lola protested. ‘I just can’t believe you said it! I could lose my job, or worse.’

‘You’ve done it for me and Eddie before.’

‘Yeah, but you were my
boss
then! I can’t—’ She fell silent at the sound of conversation nearby, resuming even more quietly when whoever was talking had gone past. ‘If Dr Blumberg finds out—’

‘Why would he?’ Nina cut in. ‘I never demanded to sign off on every single diplomatic packet when
I
was director, and I can’t imagine Lester does either.’ A moment of doubt: Blumberg was, after all, as much by-the-book bureaucrat as archaeologist. ‘Does he?’

‘No,’ Lola admitted after a moment. ‘But it’s still too big a—’

‘Lola, please – it’s really important. I’ve found something out here, something major. I will tell the IHA about it, but not yet. I don’t want to risk any more lives.’

‘
More
lives?’ she echoed. ‘Wait, has someone been hurt? Are you and Eddie okay?’

‘We’re okay, yes, but there are people here who aren’t,’ Nina told her grimly. ‘Which is why I need to keep this thing a secret.’ When there was no immediate reply, she went on: ‘I know I’m asking a lot. But trust me, I wouldn’t ask if it wasn’t necessary. You’re the only person who can help me.’

‘I’ll . . . see what I can do,’ the blonde said reluctantly. ‘But if I lose my job,
you
can pay for Gino to go through school, okay?’

‘It’s a deal,’ said Nina. ‘I’ll give you all the info you’ll need as soon as I get to Kathmandu, okay?’

‘Okay. Ugh. You know, Nina? You can be a real pain in the ass sometimes.’

The redhead smiled faintly. ‘It’s been said.’ She ended the call.

Eddie, holding the Crucible, had been listening. ‘Let’s hope Gino goes to community college and not Harvard.’

Another small smile. ‘Yeah. But at least we can get that thing out of danger.’ She regarded the crystal.

‘That’s if it doesn’t bring danger back home with it.’

She could tell he wasn’t entirely joking.

18

New York City

Oswald Seretse was waiting for Nina and Eddie at JFK – not in the arrivals area, but actually at the exit from the jet bridge where their airliner had pulled up. ‘Okay, that’s not a good sign,’ said Eddie as he spotted the tall Gambian diplomat beside an airport official. ‘Since when does he come to meet us?’

‘Oswald, what are you doing here?’ Nina asked as they reached him.

‘I wanted to speak to you as soon as possible,’ he replied. ‘I have a car waiting to take us to the United Nations.’

‘I don’t want to
go
to the United Nations,’ she objected. ‘I want to go home. Our daughter’s waiting for us.’

‘I am sorry, but this takes priority.’

‘You don’t get to tell us what’s a priority any more, Ozzy,’ Eddie said, frowning. ‘Maybe we’ll just get a taxi instead.’

Seretse sighed. ‘Very well. If we are able to finish discussing this matter by the time we reach Manhattan, I will tell the driver to take you to your apartment instead. Is that acceptable?’

Nina looked at Eddie, who reluctantly nodded. ‘Yeah,’ she said. ‘You’d better start talking then.’

‘Considering the nature of the matter, it would perhaps be best to wait until we can discuss it in private.’ An electric cart stood nearby. The official took the wheel, and once the others had boarded, they set off through the terminal.

Nina made a phone call, putting it on speaker when she got a reply. ‘Holly, hi. We’re back – we’re at JFK.’

‘That’s such a relief,’ said her niece. ‘Are you both okay?’

‘We’re fine,’ Eddie told her. ‘More or less.’

The young woman’s voice filled with concern. ‘Meaning that . . . you’re not fine, but you don’t want to talk about it because you don’t want to worry me or Macy? What happened out there?’

‘We’re okay, we’re back home, and you and Macy really
don’t
need to worry,’ Nina said firmly. ‘Is she there?’

‘Yeah, she’s in her room . . . Macy! It’s your mum and dad on the phone!’

The sound of running footsteps getting closer was audible even over the phone’s little speaker. ‘Mommy!’ cried Macy. ‘Daddy, hi! Where are you?’

‘We’re at the airport, honey,’ said Nina. ‘We’re on our way home – we’ll be with you soon.’ She gave Seretse a pointed look.

Her daughter cheered. ‘I missed you, Mommy.’

‘And what about me?’ Eddie asked, after a worryingly long silence from the other end of the line.

‘I missed you too, Daddy! I wanted you to read me a story!’

Mother and father shared a smile. ‘I’ll read you one tonight, love,’ said Eddie.

‘The one about the eggs with legs!’

‘Yeah, eggs with legs. Again.’

‘We both love you,’ said Nina. ‘Can I talk to Holly again?’

The phone was handed over, Holly confirming that everything was in order at home. ‘Oh, and your friend rang a couple of times,’ she added.

‘Which friend?’

‘The old lady, the one who came here after the film premiere.’

‘What did she want?’ Nina asked warily.

‘She just wanted to know when you’d be back. She left a number – shall I tell her you’re home?’

‘No, that’s okay, I’ll phone her later.’ She tried to keep her expression neutral, not wanting Seretse to ask any questions. There were others she wanted Olivia to answer first.

‘All right. We’ll see you soon, then.’

Nina said goodbye and rang off. By now they had reached passport control, Seretse using his diplomatic credentials to see them waved through. Before long, the cart arrived at one of the airport’s exits. A black limousine was waiting outside. Seretse ushered them into its rear, then sat facing them. The car set off.

‘Now we can talk freely,’ said the diplomat. The screen between the rear compartment and the driver was shut. ‘What happened in Nepal is a most troubling situation.’

Eddie snorted sarcastically. ‘That’s a bloody understatement.’

‘By requesting the help of the IHA, you involved the United Nations. As a result, the Nepalis are now demanding answers from us.’

‘We told them everything we could before we left Kathmandu,’ said Nina.

‘Not everything they want to know – and need to know.’ Seretse’s tone, already serious, became positively grim. ‘Another UN department is now involved: the International Atomic Energy Agency. The discovery of a natural nuclear reactor in the Himalayas has created a stir, even though everything possible is being done to keep it classified.’

She nodded. ‘Yeah, I can see that it might.’

‘What’s happening with finding out who attacked us?’ Eddie asked.

‘Interpol is working with the Greek government to identify this man Axelos,’ the diplomat replied. ‘As yet, they have not found anything. It is not an uncommon name. Nor have the Nepalese authorities tracked him down. He has not left Nepal by any commercial flight, but that does not mean he is still in the country.’

‘How would he sneak out with something as big as . . . the artefact?’ said Nina, almost letting the Crucible’s name slip.

‘If they could afford to charter a couple of helicopters and pay a team of mercs, they’d be able to book a private flight to get it out of there,’ replied her husband.

‘This . . . artefact,’ said Seretse carefully. ‘You were unusually vague in your description of both its appearance and its purpose.’

‘I have my reasons for that,’ Nina replied. ‘I hope you’ll accept for now that they’re good ones.’

He frowned slightly, but nodded. ‘On the basis of your past record, I shall. For now. The artefact that Axelos stole, though: it was the only one, was it not?’

The redhead tried to hide her apprehension. ‘It’s what he came for, yeah.’

‘That is not what I asked.’

‘Something to say, Ozzy?’ said Eddie, fixing him with a stony stare.

Seretse was not intimidated. ‘I merely ask. I was curious about your arranging a United Nations diplomatic courier transfer of an unspecified item from Nepal.’ His own gaze became more penetrating. ‘To your home address.’

‘Ah.’ Nina took a deep breath. ‘So you found out about that.’

‘Did you really expect that I would not? I know you quite well, Nina. And you too, Eddie. It is not the first time you have . . . I hesitate to say “abused” the service to send items around the world without customs checks.’

‘Please don’t blame Lola for this,’ said Nina. ‘I asked her to keep it secret for a very good reason. The same reason I haven’t told anyone about the nature of the artefact. Artefact
s
.’

‘And would you care to share that reason with me?’

‘I will, yes. But not right now.’ He frowned again. ‘Look, Oswald, as you said, you know me. And you know I wouldn’t do this on a whim. What we found, we couldn’t leave in Nepal.’

‘Is it dangerous?’

‘Not in itself. But someone’s willing to kill to get hold of it. I didn’t tell anyone in the Nepalese government about it before we left – my priority was to get it as far away from the Midas Cave as possible. Enough people died or got hurt there already.’ The wounded, including Jayesh, had been airlifted from Detsen.

Seretse leaned back, face stern. ‘So why not turn it over to the IHA immediately?’

‘There was a leak somewhere,’ said Nina. ‘Not many people were in the loop, but Axelos knew I was going to Nepal, and why. I don’t want to risk anyone finding out that I’ve got this item, not yet. Not until I’ve had a chance to investigate it further.’

‘I suppose I should be flattered that you consider me trustworthy enough to admit that you brought this object back to the United States, even if you will not tell me what it is.’

Eddie gave him a mirthless grin. ‘Well, if anyone comes looking for it, at least now I’ll know who to have words with.’

The diplomat responded to the implied threat with an equally humourless smile. ‘Then let us hope it will not come to that.’ He turned back to Nina. ‘I could simply make a telephone call and have the package diverted to the United Nations. But I am going to place my trust in
you
, Nina. I will allow you to maintain secrecy about this artefact until you have done what you need to do. The condition I place on my assistance is that you inform me of everything you learn in due course – and that you turn it over to the IHA if I request.’

‘Agreed,’ Nina said grudgingly. ‘Does anyone else know about this?’

‘The diplomatic package? Other than Lola, no. I decided not to inform Dr Blumberg until I had discussed it with you. For now, I will maintain my discretion.’

‘Thanks.’

‘That is not to say that I shall continue to do so should the circumstances change. But we do trust each other to keep our respective words, yes?’

She nodded. ‘Yes, we do.’

Seretse glanced at Eddie. ‘All of us?’

The Yorkshireman folded his arms and glowered, but also managed a small nod. ‘Yeah.’

‘Good. Then for now, our discussion is over.’ He pushed an intercom button and ordered the driver to divert from the United Nations to East 78th Street. ‘I believe your daughter is waiting for you.’

Macy was delighted to see her parents, and vice versa. To Nina’s surprise, she found herself becoming tearful as it hit home that she had been away from her daughter for three days. ‘Oh, I’m
so
happy to see you again!’ she told the little girl, hugging her tightly. ‘I thought I wasn’t—’ She stopped herself from finishing the sentence, not wanting to worry either Macy or Holly.

Her niece was no fool, though. It was obvious from their bruises and cuts that the trip had been eventful. ‘Sooo,’ Holly said, lips pursed, ‘are you going to tell me what happened? Or do I just need to go on to Google and look for anything that exploded in Nepal recently?’

‘Yeah, things weren’t as simple as I’d hoped,’ Nina admitted as Eddie picked up Macy and kissed her. ‘But we’re back home now, so everything’s good. Really!’ she added, seeing the younger woman’s sceptical expression.

‘Was everything all right here?’ Eddie asked.

Holly nodded. ‘Macy was brilliant. I took her out to do things every day, and we had a great time.’

‘You managed okay with only having a three-year-old for company?’ said Nina.

She smiled. ‘I didn’t throw any wild parties after I put her to bed, if that’s what you were wondering.’

The doorbell rang. Nina went to the intercom to be told that there was a courier downstairs. ‘They’re certainly efficient,’ she said after buzzing him in. ‘Holly, I don’t want to seem as if I’m throwing you out, but Eddie and I would like some time with Macy, if that’s okay?’

‘I can take a hint,’ the younger woman said with a grin. ‘No problem.’

The courier arrived, bearing a box inside a sealed plastic anti-tamper envelope emblazoned with United Nations diplomatic logos. Nina signed for it, then she, Eddie and Macy said their goodbyes to Holly. She departed, leaving the family alone. ‘What’s that?’ Macy asked as Nina put the package on her desk. ‘Is it a present?’

‘It’s just something for Mommy’s work,’ Nina told her, to the child’s disappointment. ‘Listen, shall we have some food, then you and Daddy can go somewhere cool together?’

Macy looked stricken. ‘What about you? You only just got home . . .’

‘I’ve got to talk to someone about Nepal.’

‘Can’t it wait?’ said Eddie.

Nina detected his undertone of aggravation, but did not let it change her mind. ‘The sooner I get some answers about that,’ she indicated the package, ‘the sooner we can get back to normal. There’s only one person who can give me those answers.’ Her face hardened. ‘And she’d better have them.’

‘Nina, hello,’ said Olivia. ‘I’m so glad to see you again.’ Nina showed her into the living room, the old woman’s eyes immediately going to the now-unwrapped box on the coffee table. ‘Where are Eddie and Macy?’

‘Out,’ Nina replied. ‘I wanted to have a private conversation.’

Olivia picked up on her frosty air. ‘Am I to assume that it might get rather . . . intense?’

‘That’s one way of putting it. Take a seat.’

The old woman made a show of carefully lowering herself into the armchair. ‘You know, you really are so much like Laura. She used to have exactly the same tone when she was angry with me.’

‘I’m not angry,’ said Nina. ‘Not yet.’ She sat facing Olivia across the table. ‘We’ll just see how things develop, shall we?’

Olivia gazed at the box. ‘That’s something you brought back from Nepal, I assume.’ Nina nodded. ‘Then . . . you went to Detsen monastery? You found the Midas Cave?’

‘We found it, yeah.’

‘And you went inside?’ Even though Nina was sure she was well practised at displaying only the emotions she wished to present to the world, Olivia couldn’t contain her rising excitement.

‘We did. And we found this.’ She lifted the lid and took out the heavy crystalline sphere, placing it on the table between them.

Her guest stared at it, rapt. ‘The Crucible . . .’

‘So it’s more than just a name to you,’ said Nina accusingly. ‘You know what it is.’

‘Of course. Tobias Garde described it.’

Her eyes narrowed. ‘And you know what it
does
.’

There was no attempt to prevaricate. ‘Yes, I do,’ Olivia replied. ‘It turns mercury into gold.’

‘You knew that the whole time – and you didn’t tell me?’

‘Would it have affected your decision to search for the cave?’

‘It might!’

‘Then you know why I kept it from you.’

Nina stared at her, aghast. ‘So you
used
me? This whole thing was all about
gold
?’

‘It was about much more than that,’ Olivia insisted. ‘You might think that I used you, but I did it for the best of intentions. I did it for my family. For
you
. And for Macy.’

‘What are you talking about?’

‘The Midas Cave gave us our family’s legacy. Tobias discovered it; his fortune was the gold he was given from it. That fortune has been passed down through the generations, but nothing lasts for ever. Now that you’ve found the cave
and
the Crucible, though, it can be restored.’

Nina fixed her with a sardonic look. ‘That might be harder than you think.’

‘Why?’

‘The cave’s been destroyed.’