Andy McDermott - The Midas Legacy

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.