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Chapter 43
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2024-10-29 19:42:56When Acheson MacArthur was finally up, they lay there like that for a while, exercising limbs and recovering. Then Acheson squeezed Susan’s arm and slowly asked,” What next?”
“We get out of this fiendish tunnel. I know the way. I will go first. Keep close behind me.”
“Gal, I have to say, you have got guts,” he said.
“What is that plastic canister in your pocket?” asked Susan.
“That is a sample. Let’s start the crawl…it is going to take a long time…”
As she eventually emerged from the tunnel, she could not recall experiencing such a frantic sense of relief. And now for the first time the moon had come out, illuminating the bowl as far as they could see. She screwed the lid back on in the position where it was over the entrance and sat on it. Mac
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Lancelot's Secret Chapter 44
The man who had brought Susan here to rape her and kill her was choking. His hands which might have been used to otherwise beat her body into submission flew up to his throat in panic and thinking that he was dying. And he was not wrong to think so. His fingers were desperately trying to insert themselves under the metal links of the chain but they had been buried too tightly. Coldly, Susan watched him fighting for his breath which could not enter the windpipe. She felt his feet and legs hammering on the bed. He opened his mouth but no words emerged. She pulled the chain a fraction tighter and his face was changing colour. The hammering of the legs and the feet ceased. His hands which had been clawing at the chain, fell to his sides. He was very still.Susan still held on. To be sure. His body had slumped, lifeless on hers.She eased herself from beneath him after lifting the chain. She rubbed her hand
Lancelot's Secret Chapter 45
Earlier in the evening that day, Nathan was driven to Bradburt Manor by Harrison in his Fiat. Harrison left the Chief at the foot of the steps and drove the car around the back.Nathan had made a habit of being punctual since he was a teenager but he had also made another annoying habit of arriving early which made people uncomfortable. It caught the people on the wrong foot at the wrong time. It was a tactic that he knew worked quite well. He was received by an elegantly dressed Mrs. Shippe. Her dark hair was piled on the top of her head though it seemed like he detected a few fair strands. Her shapely body was encased firmly in a green dress with a wide gold belt emphasizing her narrow waist.“You are early,” she greeted him with an inviting smile. “We shall have time for a drink. Lord Billington is ensconced in his study. Shall we use the library then?”
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As he looked at Lancelot who was now staring outside the window and not paying attention to him he reached down for the slim executive case he always carried with him. For the first time he extracted the photographs of that Victor had produced after building up the faces of the two women whose faces were disfigured. These were the faces of the two women in London. Faces he pushed down over the table.“Can you tell me who these two people are?”Lancelot turned them over, stared at the photos. His face turned ashen and his eyes went blank for the time being. For a moment he slumped in his chair and then made an effort and straightened up again. He gazed at Nathan with his almond eyes glazed. He tapped at one photo and then the other.“This is Elizabeth and this is Penelope, two of my missing sisters. When were these pictures taken?”
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“They were both murdered outside their home one day and I have a feeling that it happened just after they had gone from visiting here. They were kidnapped for a day or two we are still figuring that out and tortured to death. Worse still, their faces had been badly mutilated by the killer,” said Nathan and Lord Billington stared at him trying to make sense of what he was saying.“Mutilated?” Billington pointed at the photos which he was putting back in his executive case and said,” There is no sign of mutilation over there.”“The photos have been retouched,” said Nathan as he felt that it was going to be a sheer waste of time describing the genius of Victor who had painstakingly improved the faces of both the women.“Sounds like a serial killer,” said Billington.As he spoke, Billington ben dow
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Both the men ate in silence, which suited Nathan, so he could enjoy a first class excellent dinner. He waited until they were sipping first class claret before he put the question.“I had wondered if Neville Guise might be another guest,” said Nathan gently.“Told me that he was going to race back in London. That the countryside bored him. Typical view of an average Londoner,” replied Lord Billington.“You like him? He seems to have achieved a lot,” said Nathan.“Like so many London businessmen he is nothing more than a crook. But in business you have to deal with all types.”“I know a number of businessmen who are thoroughly trustworthy,” Nathan corrected him.“Then don’t count Neville amongst them, for he doesn’t clearly have
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The body was full length on a table whose green baize was covered with blood. Nathan gently felt the carotid artery and then shook his head. He then felt the face and the shoulder.“No good,” he said to Susan.” He is dead. But the warmth of the body suggests that the murder was committed not long before we arrived. At a quick count, he was stabbed most brutally over a dozen times.”“Look at the right hand index finger. It is pointing at something, the old pile of newspapers over there on the coffee table,” said Susan as her eyes followed the finger to the other side of the room.“You are not suggesting,” Nathan said in disbelief,” that this poor devil, after being stabbed so many times was able to turn his hand then use his finger to point in the direction of any clue or evidence!!”“Were
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Nathan had slipped the contents that Susan had found in a separate compartment of the executive folder that he was carrying. This was important evidence which needed to be checked on later at a great length. Another compartment had the pictures of the two murdered women in London whose identity they had yet to confirm.Still wearing the latex gloves Nathan opened the door slowly and peered everywhere so that they were not noticed leaving from the Primrose Villa. There was no one in sight. Susan had produced a duster in order to rub the brass knocker that they had touched when they had come inside.Leaving the house Nathan was careful to leave the front door slightly open, as they had found it when they had come inside earlier. As they strolled casually down the long flight of stairs, Susan slipped her hand in Nathan’s crook of arms. From far away or at a distance from the neighbouring house it wo
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After Jane had been successfully situated in her room and had been asked to shower and change clothes Susan tapped the agreed tapping on Nathan’s door. That way he would not have to open the door every time with the gun in his hand. Wearing a sports jacket and grey slacks, he ushered her inside with a smile and a wave of his hand. He immediately noticed her worried expression.“Come on in. Make yourself at home,” said Nathan and Susan sat down on in a hard-backed chair, her feet together and she sat very erect and spoke softly.“I have something to tell you. Actually I have a lot to tell you. Amongst them the first is the good news and the rest are all equally bad,” said Susan softly. She was trying to keep herself contained as much as possible.“A cup of steaming black coffee with lots of sugar might help to start the day. I found that you w
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Nathan’s POVI will always remember the barn. How could I ever forget it? It was a big, corrugated iron one, dull with age and with no windows on the lower level and just one at each end, up in the gable. Tall narrow windows that let light into the loft, while below the barn was dark and silent, cluttered and filled with dust. But I didn't know that when I first saw it. I came upon it slowly as I emerged onto the top of the mountain, after a steep climb from the bay below, which had taken me through the untouched forest of the National Park. And I came at it from the rear, seeing the high window lit with the full afternoon sun, and I saw him there caught in the sun, naked and golden, like some lost angel. Perched up there on the windowsill with his arms spread wide hanging on to the frame. He is the reason I remember the barn so well. I stopped there, breathing hard, recovering from the climb, and
Lancelot's Secret Chapter 73
This is getting to be familiar territory, Susan thought as they entered the corridor and turned to go towards the library. They knocked politely, turned the handle and then gradually descended down the steps. In his smoking jacket Lord Billington sat there crouched over a table occupied by the game of chess in progress. He frowned.“My dear chap. Welcome…. And also to you, Susan. The frown was about me being puzzled by the state of the game. Join me for a few moves, eh, Frost?” asked the earl.He waited for Nathan patiently as he toured the board from all angles. Sitting opposite to Billington, he moved one of his pawns. Billington looked perplexed.While waiting Nathan picked up the imposing Queen. He used a clean handkerchief to wipe off the wwaist a tiny mark. Then he placed her back on the board.“She is a heavy lady,”
Lancelot's Secret Chapter 72
After more valuable conversation with Acheson, Nathan left the table and headed with Susan for the garage. Once inside the car he stared straight ahead and then just sat there without even saying a thing without moving.“Billions and billions, MacArthur said that the moor is worth and Neville Guise offers Lord Billington only one million for this entire property like this. He must have been furious when Acheson sent him that phoney report through that courier--- and returned the huge fee that Guise had sent him, rather paid him…”“Which is why he tried to kill Acheson that day in the moor. That night I mean,” said Susan as her eyes widened with the realization,” He spotted the fake. We will now drive over to Bradburt Manor and I would like to have a conversation with Lord Billington on an immediate basis.”“But he will be asleep
Lancelot's Secret Chapter 71
The dining room was very quiet. Few tables were occupied. Acheson was at a table inside a secluded alcove. He waved. As Nathan and Susan sat on either side of him he took out a package nicely wrapped with a bow and all out of the pocket of his tropical drill jacket, and handed it to Susan.“I have never been able to properly thank you for saving my life up on the moor.. Otherwise I would not be here tonight. Just a small gift,” said Acheson with a smile and gratitude shining in his eyes.Susan took it gingerly. It had been quite long that she had been presented with gifts from men. And now that she had it she was not sure any longer. She opened the gold wrapping paper which was gauzy and then the green soft coloured paper underneath and took out an expensive leather case.Taking a deep breath she unfastened the case and gasped.Inside was a
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“This map,” Marley started speaking,” I have obtained from a mariner friend high up in his service. They know of the island’s existence but do not know that the island belongs to that bastard, Neville Guise. Here goes….”From the cardboard roll he extracted a large map, spreading it to flatten it. Susan immediately recognized it as showing the west coast of Brittany, the Channel Islands with vast stretch of the Atlantic with another island well west to the Channel Islands group. The island was circled in red.Near the bottom of the large sheet was another map, a detailed outline of the map of Roab. A drawing on this map showed steep cliffs and a section of dotted lines shaped like a triangle with the narrowed apex ending at the gulch. Marley pointed the dotted lines projecting into the Atlantic.“That’s a trap,” he explaine
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The pleasant maid had cleared away the breakfast clutter that the three of them had made altogether, but Susan was still puzzled by Nathan’s reply. Another factor entered her mind, she looked across the bed where Nathan’s note pad was still open and Nathan was studying it.“Island of Roab. Could that be somewhere important? I mean, somewhere remote out in the Atlantic?”“All great minds think alike,” he smiled,” I was just wondering about that myself.”“And there is a strange item in the paper. Something about the Asiatic pirates who grabbed an oil tanker about a few months back, fully laden. Do you think that this could be connected with that?” asked Jane who was also trying to contribute in the best way that she could, given that she had missed out on a lot of the investigation in the past few days.
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The stranger strolled casually into the parking lot. It was dark and, despite the fact that it was Saturday and there were several bars around, the parking lot was not busy at 10:45. She would be getting out of the library soon and he wanted to be ready for her. He slipped a small screwdriver from his pocket and knelt by her license plate. He quickly removed the one screw, catching her spare key as it fell to the ground. He replaced the screw and let himself into her car. In the back seat he took a few other things out of his pocket; a small cloth, folded thick, a tiny bottle, a gag and some lengths of rope. He grinned. She was going to be surprised. He settled himself to wait. Another 10 minutes and her work would be done. He must've dozed because the pinging of her remote starter startled him and he almost sat upright. He slouched down further as the locks popped up. "Lazy bitch," he thought. "What's so hard about turning the
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Susan looked at his expression of listening to every word she said had returned. She concluded finally the story with her walking away from the cottage with the crooked chimney and she had already earlier told about Jane’s rescue.“I am sorry,” said Susan,” I should have never take the risk without…”But Nathan was fuming and he could not help any longer. He finally burst out.“Wrong!!” he exploded. “ You were right and I have been a fool from the very beginning not hearing what you had to say. Have I not told you earlier that any of my members of the team that they must use their initiative? Which you have done and I must say that you have done successfully and admirably. And I am glad that you did not wait for the team and brought Jane back yourself. Otherwise we would have been missing a very crucial piece of information
Lancelot's Secret Chapter 66
“I think we ought to have a full breakfast up here,” said Nathan as he picked up the phone and said,” I am ordering it.” His voice was firm.“Won’t the landlord think that it is funny that I am in your suite so early?” she ventured.“Mr. Barnie has been running this place long enough, I am sure. So in his time it is an honest thing that he must have seen or he will be quite used to serving breakfasts to men who have spent night with a lady friend.. Par for the course.”Over the phone he ordered for a huge breakfast for three people, to be served in twenty minutes. Tea, more coffee, a carafe of creamer, since Jane took hers with cream and sweet, toasts, marmalade, scrambled eggs, crispy bacon, toasted muffin…“We will both be in a fighting fit after that,” he said refilling Susan&rs
