Andy McDermott - The Midas Legacy

‘And they fell in love!’ Olivia protested. ‘That had nothing to do with me — it was practically in spite of me! Yes, I asked Laura to find out more about Henry’s research, in case it was useful to the Legacy. But everything that happened after that was entirely their own doing, not mine.’

‘It doesn’t change the fact that you set them up in the first place!’ Nina stood, sickened. ‘Mom lied to me, and to Dad — and you lied to me too! My whole life, it’s…’ She shoved the chair away and hurried for the exit. ‘It’s all based on lies!’

‘Nina, wait!’ Olivia cried after her.

‘Go to hell.’ She shoved open the door and rushed out, with no idea where she was going other than away from the old woman.

Eddie ran after her, catching up in the long hallway. ‘Whoa, Nina! Hold on. It’s okay.’

‘It’s anything but goddamn okay, Eddie!’ she said. ‘I just found out that — Jesus, I can hardly even think about it without wanting to throw up!’ They entered the lobby, Nina going to a set of couches facing the hotel’s front windows and dropping despairingly on to one. ‘The only reason I even exist is because my grandmother was so greedy for gold that she forced my mother to go on a date with my dad!’

He sat close beside her. ‘Did she really force her?’

‘Does it matter? The end result’s the same. What would you think if when Macy was older I told her to date a particular guy because there was money in it for me?’

‘I wouldn’t be happy, no. But you wouldn’t do that.’

‘So what does that say about Olivia? My own grandmother — my own family? She lied and manipulated, my mom did the same… and if you go further back, Tobias Garde was a goddamn arms dealer! That’s right up there with “slave trader” and “Grand Wizard of the Ku Klux Klan” as things not to be proud of in your family tree.’ She leaned back, looking despairingly up at the ceiling. ‘Everything I thought I knew about my family is a lie.’

‘Your mum did love your dad, though,’ said Eddie, trying to comfort her. ‘And she loved you too.’

‘I don’t know. I don’t know any more…’ She put a hand over her eyes, wanting to shut out the world. ‘Money. That’s what everything comes down to, isn’t it? Fucking money. And the people who deserve it the least are not only the ones who have the most, but will do whatever it takes to get more.’

‘Way things are, I’m afraid. I mean, how many evil billionaires have we met?’

‘Have we ever met a nice billionaire? Is there even such a thing?’ She wearily shook her head, then sat up again. ‘But those people back there,’ she jerked a thumb at the lounge, ‘they aren’t even billionaires. Sure, they’ve got money, but it’s not a massive amount. And yet they’re still fighting and lying and plotting against each other even for that. This is…’ She let out a deep, gloomy breath. ‘This is humanity, isn’t it? People just fucking each other over for that little scrap more than anyone around them. And Macy’s growing up into their world. She might even end up as one of them.’

‘She won’t,’ Eddie said firmly. ‘Not with us as parents.’

‘You think?’

‘Yeah. She might end up as an obsessive, passive-aggressive gobshite who makes crap puns and has a weird accent that’s halfway between New York and actual York, but she won’t be the sort to screw people over for a few extra quid.’

‘ Who’s passive-aggressive?’ Nina demanded, but with a very small smile. Eddie grinned. ‘Oh God,’ she said, the upward curl fading from her lips. ‘I don’t know what to do. I don’t know what to think .’

‘About what? Olivia, or…’

‘Olivia, my mom — anything. It feels like a big part of my past has suddenly been taken away. I always thought my parents got together because they both believed in the legend of Atlantis. That’s what they told me: that the first thing my mom ever said to Dad was “I believe you.” But did she really? I don’t know any more. Maybe it was another lie, all part of Olivia’s scheme…’ She wiped away a tear, slumping back in despondency once more. ‘It wasn’t about Atlantis. It was about gold. Just money.’

‘If that was true, though,’ Eddie said quietly, ‘she would never have married your dad, would she? He didn’t have any money, and she gave it up to be with him. You were never exactly rolling in cash as a kid. But your mum and dad still went looking for Atlantis anyway. She wouldn’t have done any of that if she hadn’t genuinely believed in it.’

Nina knew he had a very good point, but in her current frame of mind she didn’t want to accept it. ‘I don’t know,’ was all she said. Eddie recognised her need for silent contemplation and added nothing more, simply sitting with her as she stared unhappily out at the stark landscape.

They stayed like that for some time, watching the sun fall towards the horizon. Squalls of snow occasionally obscured the view, but the darkening sky slowly cleared of clouds. ‘Be a good night for seeing the Northern Lights,’ Eddie said at last.

‘Great,’ Nina replied. ‘That means there’ll be a traffic jam of tourist buses blocking the road back.’ She straightened. ‘I want to go home.’

‘Same here.’ He looked towards the lounge. Nobody had yet emerged from it. ‘We should tell ’em we’re done here so we can go. If they’re still not finished arguing, I’ll take one of those bloody jeeps myself. I always wanted to drive a monster truck.’

‘We should, but I really don’t want to have to deal with any of those people again. Especially not Olivia.’ The mere thought of her grandmother produced a groan of disgust. ‘Ugh, God. You know, if you’d just left the Secret Codex in that chamber when the ceiling collapsed, none of this would have happened.’

‘Oh, this is all my fault, is it?’ But the words were said with humour.

‘Of course it is!’ She managed a smile. ‘That’s what I always tell Macy. When something goes wrong, it’s Daddy’s fault. Every time. Page one of the Secret Codex for moms.’

‘Mums.’

‘ Moms. ’ They both laughed a little.

‘Thank you.’

‘For what?’

‘For being you. For always being there when I need you the most.’

‘Keep the missus happy and life’s about a million times easier,’ he said, grinning. ‘Page one of the Secret Codex for dads.’

A sound from behind made them both turn. The door of one of the elevators flanking the entrance to the power station opened and De Klerx stepped out. He had changed his clothes and was now wearing a dark suit. Some of his men had travelled from the upper floor with him, remaining in the lift. The Dutchman issued a quiet command, then the doors closed. He headed for the lounge as the elevator continued downwards.

Eddie watched until he passed out of sight. Nina felt him tense. ‘What is it?’

‘He had a gun under his jacket.’

‘You sure?’

‘Yeah. I know how to spot a shoulder holster. And where are all his goons off to?’

Nina glanced out of the windows. The snowy landscape was turning a deep and beautiful shade of blue as dusk fell, but there was no sign of vehicle lights or any movement that might have prompted the hotel’s security detail to investigate. ‘Y’know, I’m thinking it’s really time that we left.’

‘Yeah.’ Eddie stood and crossed the lobby to a position where he could see down both the long corridors. De Klerx was entering the lounge, while at the opposite end of the building a guard emerged from a side door and started down the stairs of the eastern entrance. Light briefly gleamed on metal as he descended. The man had a gun slung over his shoulder. ‘Definitely.’