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  “I tell him no guides know about this. Maybe signature of Jayavaram Number 7. I try and show him other things and he get angry and yell at me. I then have to take him back to hotel. Expensive hotel… Raffles.”

  David thought for a minute and then said to C. “You did great C. What did this man look like and where is he now?”

  “He German, you know blonde hair, blue eye, tall, all muscle and maybe thirty-five. No laugh. I tell him joke about chicken and farmer. He not laugh. I think he still in hotel. You want me to go ask. I know reception girl.”

  “No C,” said David with one hand on his forehead. “You have done really well. Thank you for ringing. Are you working the next few days?”

  “No David, I have no work for one week.”

  “Good, do you have money C?”

  “Yes.”

  “Then get on your bike and go stay and drink some rice wine with some of your farmer buddies. This man may come for you. We don’t know. But he will give up in a day or so.”

  “Ok David. Maybe I get AK47 from friend and send him home … ha ha.” C laughed as the thought of someone trying to kill him was about as normal for a Khmer as a tackle in a rugby game for a Kiwi.

  “Ok C, I know you’re joking. Thanks buddy.”

  David hung up and quickly filled in the others. Abbey turned to them and said. “OK team, time to get on top of this. I’ll have Zachariah deliver the rest of breakfast to the situation room. You never know who’s watching or listening up here. We need to get on top of this immediately. This is an organised well-funded syndicate and they are tracking you.”

  “You have a situation room?” spouted Rocko, learning a new dimension to David’s new woman every day.

  “Well, it’s a home theatre room these days, but when my father had this place built it was most definitely a fortified space where he could meet with his pals, unseen and unheard from the rest of the world. It makes a great home cinema and the chairs are damn comfortable.” Abbey began to lead them downstairs. David and Rocko realised they really hadn’t explored any of the home. It seemed vast. David guessed around 500 square metres or maybe more. It was exquisitely finished in every corner.

  The situation room was a superb home cinema. Abbey had even had it tiered with eight huge reclining chairs, each with their own coffee table. Along one wall was a fully stocked bar subtly lit and the four by two-and-a-half metre screen was surrounded by the latest Bose system. Rocko pulled up a stool at the bar and was eyeing the bottle of Laphroiag smiling back at him.

  “You’re a machine. Rocko,” Abbey smiled. “I can’t believe you’re even thinking about that. It’s not even 9am.”

  “Oh I just know David is going to bombard me with another bunch of his theories and once you have been through that for a few years, your top shelf won’t be as full.”

  David enjoyed the way Rocko could always lighten a situation. Stacey had her iPad with her and was looking at how to share with the group the stuff she had found.

  “Let me help with that,” said Abbey. She grabbed the iPad and a couple of quick swipes later the whole big screen came to life, replicating what Stacey had on her iPad.

  “Wow, that’s cool,” said Rocko.

  “Don’t thank me, Rocko. Thank Steve Jobs for that,” said Stacey.

  Just then a buzzer sounded and the door opened. In rolled a cart full of food, fresh coffee, juices and more croissants. Rocko eyed the pile of sausages like they were twelve of his favourite girlfriends.

  “Thank you, Zachariah. We will take care of this. Please make sure we are locked down and have all the perimeter surveillance on. Make sure the men are on their toes. And please lock us in. I’ll look after us.” Abbey smiled and nodded at the trusted assistant.

  “Yes, Miss Abbey.”

  Zachariah did a quick personal check on things and left, shutting the door, which clicked into lock.

  Over the next fifteen minutes the group brought themselves up to date. David and Rocko also ate quite a bit and Rocko had knocked the top off the scotch bottle, which he added to his coffee.

  Here were the facts as David and Stacey presented them.

  David had started to investigate the Minoans, who were thought to have travelled to the USA to mine the great lakes from around 3,500 years ago. Doing so he had turned up the story of the hooked X. This sign for the bloodline of Christ and DNA taken from the Talpiot tomb in Jerusalem became a secret that was passed down through the ages, concealed by the Catholic Church who would ensure the control of the world through the dark ages and uncovered by Hughes De Payan and his Knights Templar on the first crusade to Jerusalem in 1119 AD. This secret they then delivered to the Church and assisted them to protect. It seemed that around the time of De Payan’s death two popes had been appointed amidst some controversy.

  David speculated that one would keep the secret and one would desire to destroy it. The supposed list of the descendants of Jesus disappeared off the face of the Earth and finally some 180 years later the Templars themselves saw persecution at the hands of the Church and the King of France. History tells that some got away and Stacey had found through her connection at the Freemason lodge in Edinburgh that some had indeed settled in Scotland, helping Robert the Bruce claim victory over the English and those people became the Sinclairs, the known fathers of Freemasonry and builders of the Rosslyn Chapel. Stacey had also uncovered a group of people, somewhat lost west of the great lakes, who carved runes into a stone called the Kensington Rune stone and a variety of speculative ruins such as those of the Newport Tower and another stone carved in runes in the region.

  “OK Stacey, show them what you found last night,” said David

  Stacey swiped at her iPad and appearing on the screen was the sword of a knight.

  “This, people, is the sword of Oliver Cromwell,” said Stacey.

  “Cromwell… wasn’t he the guy that went around England destroying stuff for Queen Elizabeth. What’s that got to do with it?” Rocko said. His powerful arms and full torso were at full stretch for the last croissant.

  “Yes he was,” spoke up David. “But this sword, which is now in a collection in Washington DC of all places, has a bit more history attached to it than what anyone would think. Fill them in, Stace.”

  Stacey smiled and continued. “Well it seems that this sword is no longer able to be viewed as it was purchased by an anonymous collector, but when it was at the London Museum there were actually some tests run on it. It took me a while and I really called in some favours, but I have the results.”

  “Go on,” said Rocko “Oh dammit…” Rocko had dropped a wedge of fluffy cream right on his crotch. He quickly tried to wipe it and created a smudge of white stain. Stacey just ignored this Rocko moment.

  “Well the sword itself was carbon dated and it seemed it was hundreds of years older than the time of Cromwell. It may well have simply been ceremonial for him. The metals were unable at that stage to be traced but we have that ability now and guess where they came from… Lake Superior. That sword contains metal mined in the USA.”

  “OK,” said Abbey “So it’s old and it’s from the USA.”

  “The thing is, Abbey…” David put his hand on her shoulder and she in turn laid her hand on his. “The metal was from the USA and the sword was made before the USA was ‘discovered’ by Europeans. Cromwell was a Templar, that’s why he sacked all the churches in Scotland under orders, yet he did not lay a hand on the Rosslyn Chapel. He rode straight past the home of the Templars. But go on Stacey, show them what you found on the handle.”

  Stacey zoomed in on the sword handle and clear for them all to see was the hooked X. It was small; it was worn, but was there.

  “Holy crap. Cromwell was one of Jesus’ relatives,” said Rocko, still itching away at the stain.

  “We can’t be certain of that my old pal, yet what we do know is that some of those people made it back to Europe, that the chosen one was with them and that they spent the time to forge swords, and bloody good ones
before returning…. And you know what that means Rocko, my old pal?” David smiled.

  Rocko downed the last of his coffee and whisky and smiled. “Up up and away, I guess. Where are we off to?”

  “The USA, Rocko. Time for you to head home.”

  15

  The team spent the rest of the day in the situation room. Off it was a shower and sauna facility, which David decided to use at one point. Rocko slept, snoring peacefully in one of the recliners, while Stacey busied herself on more calls and searches, Abbey’s secure Internet coming in handy. Abbey herself had checked in with Zachariah several times and finally decided to join David for a sauna around 7pm. Stacey decided she would put some sounds on just in case she heard anything she shouldn’t but she truly believed they would share their first lovemaking experience somewhere a little more classy than a sauna. She knew Abbey mesmerised him. Even though he was full on into strategy and research he simply couldn’t take his eyes off her every time she was in the room and there was a constant smile that came across his face every time she looked at him.

  Zachariah brought in the evening meal around 8pm. Rocko stirred at the smell of excellent cuts of prime rib and a shellfish potjke. He always seemed to laugh and create fun around food. Abbey decided it would be best if they slept in the situation room, which was fully secure, and had Zachariah bring blankets, pillows and some mats. Rocko polished off a bottle of good red and went back to sleep. It seemed to Abbey he could sleep anywhere, probably thanks to years of travelling and partying. David and Abbey curled up at the rear of the room behind two of the recliner chairs. This put them near the door, yet it was more private. David felt like he had slept with Abbey for years. They just fit together. As he drifted off to sleep just after 1am he could still see the dim glow of Stacey’s computer. His last thought was what holidays she would demand to make up for her busted nose and this trip. Smiling, he dozed off.

  * * *

  Deep in sleep he felt Abbey’s body jerk. He had been dreaming of a picnic, with fruit trees and music and Champagne.

  “David – wake up.” It was Abbey.

  “What’s up?”

  “Did you hear that?”

  “What?”

  “Shsssh.”

  Rocko wasn’t snoring and Stacey’s computer was off. She was asleep. David and Abbey strained their ears in the darkness, the only light being from some appliances behind the bar. After almost a minute they heard it. Thump!

  “They’re in.” Abbey sat bolt upright and grabbed David, not panicking but all her senses on fire.

  “What do you mean?”

  “That’s an M12 assault rifle with a silencer. It sounds like a thump…. And I don’t have one.”

  David jumped up, but Abbey held him tight.

  “Silence, my love – let me do it. They won’t know we are here. Hopefully that’s a dummy that Zachariah set up in the bedrooms and not poor Zachariah.”

  Abbey jumped up and silently strode down the tiers in the cinema room. She placed her hand firmly over Stacey’s mouth, who awoke startled but seeing it was Abbey quickly took stock and became silent. Abbey signalled for her to pack up her gear. Rocko may not be so easy to wake up and she didn’t fancy having the big guy tackle her. She was never too sure how people would react. She snuck across to him and was about to put a hand over his mouth and tap him lightly on the shoulder when he opened one eye.

  “We got company?” he whispered. She nodded.

  “It’s ok. I need some exercise now anyway. This is my best time of night.”

  The team grouped up by the light of cell pones. Not a word was said and by all accounts they were silent.

  Abbey looked at David and put a finger to his lips.

  “I wish it had been a little longer before you found out this side of your new girlfriend.”

  And with that she rolled over and opened a cabinet behind the bar. In the dim light David could make out a veritable arsenal. This chick was locked and loaded.

  Abbey bypassed the rifles and went for the small arms fire, handguns, the 9 mm Luger and the Colt 45 – some of her favourites. Old school, she always thought, but totally reliable and especially when they had been modified to automatic fire. She handed David and Rocko two short barrel semi-automatic shotguns, good for tight spaces and a wide splatter. She looked at Stacey, who simply shook her head. Abbey, knowing it would take longer than they had even to show Stacey the safety on off, simply made sure she knew to stick close to her. Rocko also selected a few knives. It was one of his favourite hobbies as a kid in Jersey. He and his friends would throw blunted knives at each other. In his day he was good at it.

  “How are we going to get out?” David whispered in Abbey’s ear. She simply smiled back, went to the cinema screen and pushed a very discreet switch on the side of the screen. It rolled back to uncover a passageway, a little over two metres wide, totally secluded behind what was seemingly a home cinema extravaganza.

  “You certainly are one interesting girl, Miss Bec,” David said as Abbey ushered them into the space behind the screen. Dimly lit with what would almost be called black lighting, Abbey smiled and patted him on the behind as he went past. She seemed to find the sexiness in any situation.

  She clicked the screen closed behind them and then she spoke up so they could all hear.

  “Team, this is no amateur squad. They have breached a very secure perimeter. They are well organised. I would suggest Navy Seal types, hopefully only five or seven of them. They will surely find this place, but we have some forethought on our side. This passage goes both north and south. We will head south; to go north is a dead end in fifty metres. We will head south. My father planned this well for just such occasions. I will keep you safe, but you boys will probably have to shoot someone and you don’t want to piss them off by wounding them. I need you to think of this as a video game, nothing more.”

  “All those years of gaming may come in handy,” chirped Rocko

  At that moment they heard a loud crack and a thump.

  “Quick, they are at the door to the situation room.” said Abbey.

  The team moved swiftly down the corridor. As they did so they heard a greater explosion behind them. The thump echoed in the passageway. The assault team had breached the outer door. Soon they would be in the passageway.

  After only five metres the south passageway, which was literally plastered to hide what exactly it was made from, cut sharp left. This left passageway went for another fifty metres dead straight. It was too long to lob hand-grenades, yet being caught there would be suicide. David wondered as he trotted along why the hell Abbey’s father would build this. After twenty metres he realised.

  The passageway actually started to thin. It was not at first noticeable due to clever design and the use of the lighting and mirrors. In fact as they reached it, they realised that there was an alcove on each side of the passageway that went back in a further recess. Cut into the metal sides of the corridor on each side were holes at different levels, obviously to sight weapons through at the enemy. The recesses were deep enough that even if a grenade were lobbed you could protect yourself behind a second wall, almost a V shape on either side. It was well thought out.

  “Quick now, you boys on that side, and I’ll keep Stacey with me. Remember they will be suited up and have vests, so take the legs first, and whatever you do, do not fire until I say the word.”

  Abbey literally threw Stacey, who was carrying the laptops in a backpack, behind the second wall and immediately got into her ready position. Rocko took a high hole on the other side and David the low hole lying down on one knee.

  Inside the situation room Red Leader as he was known had breached the outer wall. He was a twenty-year veteran mercenary, who had stolen from all sorts of important people and with his band of renegade elite troops had built a nice business acting on behalf of all sorts of dictators, wealthy individuals, oil and pharmaceutical companies since leaving the Australian special forces under a cloud over eight years ago.
He had a perfect success record and the team based in Mozambique lived the high life on the beach when they weren’t doing the devil’s work, inflicting pain and stress somewhere across the continent.

  He had brought seven men on this journey, scrambling to Cape Town in just a few hours after a call from his intermediary. He had read the dossier on Abigail Beckingsale on the flight, studied the plans of the expansive home in Camps Bay that he had obtained through his web of resources and knew she would be armed and dangerous. He had taken five men inside and positioned his two snipers, one in a van with a passenger and the other on a small ridge above the house. They had taken care of Abbey’s security outside and were now on watch for any counter. He had breached the situation room, shown as a home theatre on the plan, but he knew she had the jump. His team had already shot several blankets and pillows upstairs. She had anticipated them.

  “Search the room, they have been here recently,” he said in a broad accent that identified him as being brought up hard on a cattle farm north of the tropic of Capricorn in Queensland.

  He had seen the blankets and pillows David and the team had slept on. His team immediately found the remains of an arsenal. It was a good one, he thought, eyeing a nice M16 for his own use. Come back for it later, he thought.

  His team scoured the room while he watched. He knew there was another entrance and then one of the members found it.

  “There’s a switch on this screen, Skip.”

  “OK boys, be very careful. This woman is nearly as good as we are. Be on your guard.”

  The soldier at the screen took out his knife and pried the switch loose, thinking the better of simply pushing the button after Red Leader’s last comment. That was a mistake. The switch was cleverly wired for just such a thing. A small charge in the back of the switch triggered. The responding charge was small enough but surprising enough to throw the soldier back a few metres and remove three of his fingers, leaving bloody stumps and his face covered in blood. Screaming, he hunched over.