The Lethal Target(19)

‘It’s too late for that.’ Lauren smiled ruefully. ‘They’ve already questioned me.’



Later, alone in their room, Lauren asked, ‘What did you make of that?’

‘Muir and his diplomatic immunity?’ asked Jake. ‘If you ask me, that definitely means he’s CIA.’

‘I was thinking of Mr Gordon,’ said Lauren thoughtfully. ‘I never mentioned to the Gordons or Ian Muir that I’m from New Zealand. And my accent certainly doesn’t sound like a Kiwi’s.’

‘Maybe the MacClains told them,’ suggested Jake. ‘I’m guessing you did the booking by email from New Zealand?’

‘Yes.’ Lauren nodded. ‘Like I told you, I used Helen’s computer.’ She frowned. ‘The MacClains may have told them, or maybe the Gordons are very nosy people who’ve been doing some serious checking on me.’

‘Not too serious, let’s hope,’ said Jake, concerned. It was his turn to frown. ‘I’m beginning to think that no one on this island is who or what they say they are.’ He looked at Lauren. ‘Do you think that Dougie’s death was an accident?’

‘No,’ said Lauren. ‘I think he was killed. And I think it was because of the hidden book.’ She shuddered. ‘Which means all of us who are here for it are at risk.’

Jake nodded.

‘So the question is: which of us is next?’





Chapter 12



In the morning the guest house seemed to be back to normal, at least as far as the practicalities were concerned, like cooked breakfasts and packed lunches. Jeannie and Alec MacClain did their best to put a brave face on the situation, but there was no mistaking the grief that hung over them.

Jake and Lauren took their packed lunches and rucksacks and binoculars and set off to the area where the Russians were still hard at work at their dig. They found a sheltered spot some distance from the ‘Neolithic site’, and set about pretending to do some serious wildlife-watching, making notes of the different birds and animals they observed in a notebook, just in case they were challenged by anyone. But mostly they took turns to keep their binoculars trained on the dig site, watching the Russians at work.

‘We’re not the only ones watching,’ commented Jake after an hour of constant observation. ‘I’ve just seen flashes of light reflected on some rocks on the other side. Looks like binoculars to me.’

‘The Gordons?’ suggested Lauren. ‘Ian Muir?’

‘No idea,’ admitted Jake. Suddenly some activity inside the wire fence caught his eye. ‘Hello. Looks like someone’s found something!’

Immediately, Lauren left her study of the distant sea and joined him, lying down next to him and training her binoculars on the site.

The tall figure of Professor Lemski, the shorter squat figure of Dmitri close behind him, was running over to where two of them were coming out of a trench. One of the archaeologists, a man, was holding something up and gesticulating with it. Lemski reached the man and pushed him backwards, down into the trench, and then jumped down into the hole. They saw the archaeologist try to get back to his feet, but Lemski pushed him down again, out of sight, very roughly.

‘Did you see that?’ said Jake.

‘So much for Mr Friendly,’ said Lauren. ‘He’s trying to make sure that no one catches sight of whatever it is that’s just been found.’

‘I saw it,’ said Jake.

‘So did I,’ said Lauren.

Both of them had recognised the object in the man’s hand as something small and rectangular, wrapped in some kind of dark leather. The Russians had found the book!

Lemski turned and called out something to Dmitri, who ran off to where the team’s equipment was stacked. Dmitri returned to the professor, carrying what looked like a refrigerated cold bag. He handed it to the professor, who ducked down, lifted the lid, put something in, and then stood up and handed it back to Dmitri.

‘That’s definitely the book,’ said Lauren.

‘So what are we going to do about it?’ asked Jake. ‘Are we still going to forget about it? Leave it to the Russians?’

Lauren shook her head.

‘No,’ she said. ‘We can’t let the Russians keep it. They’ll use it as a weapon.’

‘Well, if we’re going to try and snatch it off them, we’re going to be up against some strong competition,’ Jake pointed out. ‘We know of at least two: MI5 and the CIA. I bet you there are others out there as well watching this. It isn’t going to be easy.’

Lauren fell silent, thinking it over.

‘We’re going to need the help of the MacClains,’ she said.