Untitled (11 page)

       "What, and leave you two alone." Peter shook his head. "Not a chance."

       "And, what is that supposed to mean?" Megan asked.

       "Nothing, just forget about it." Peter blushed.

       "Right then, children." Harrison stepped in. "If everything is sorted can we please get moving."

       Megan smiled at him and started half running towards the pair of helicopters standing outside the only hangar on the site, eager. Harrison held back, walking alongside Peter.

       "I don't know what you think is going on. But it isn't," stated Harrison.

       "Don't know what you're talking about." Peter avoided eye contact.

       "It's obvious you have feelings for the girl and that's fine." Harrison explained his stance. "Just don't go pointing your jealousy gland at me." He glanced at Megan as she stopped outside the Hangar. "I could be her father."

       "Whatever," Peter grumbled and increased his pace, leaving Harrison walking on his own.

       "Kids," Harrison whispered.

* * *

       Harrison watched as Peter joined Megan. He knew they were talking about him, but he'd let it slide. He wasn't here to make friends; he was here to find out the truth. He turned his attention to the pilot who was leaning into the cockpit of the nearest helicopter and studiously ticking away at a sheet held to a clipboard, ignoring the giddy arrival of Megan and the rather more subdued Peter.

       Harrison walked up behind the pilot and tapped him on the shoulder. The greeting wasn't answered as the pilot continued to fill out the pre-flight check list.

       "Excuse me," Harrison said.

       The pilot immediately stood up straight. "Fuck me." The voice was female.

       Harrison would have kicked himself for assuming it was a male if it hadn't been for the fact that he recognized the voice; a voice he'd thought he'd never hear again.

       Kaci Keyser.

       Harrison's face dropped as she spun around to face him. He took her in with a single glance, surprised to find that she'd hardly changed since the last time they'd met. Her hair was a little longer, the strawberry blonde curls now reaching her shoulders and, unlike Harrison, showed no signs of grey.

       "Kyle Harrison." She didn't smile

       "Kaci." Harrison nodded.

       "How's the wife," she asked with a sneer.

       "She's dead," Harrison replied.

"Oh shit," Kaci blanched and took a step forward. "I didn't know."

       "We need to talk." Harrison took her arm and led her towards the hangar door.

       "What's with them?" Peter asked with a grin.

       "None of our business," Megan scolded, watching the pair enter the hangar through the staff entrance and wondering what history linked the two together.

       Harrison held the door open for Kaci and then entered. He closed the door, pausing to glance back at Megan and Peter. Kaci started pacing, waiting for the argument to commence. Harrison turned to face her.

       "Is this going to cause a problem?" He asked.

       "Only if you make it one," snapped Kaci. "As far as I'm concerned it's all history."

       "If it makes it any easier I'm sorry," Harrison said. "I didn't realise how serious you were."

       "Serious?" Kaci's anger flared. "I left my husband for you and you just walked away," she shouted. "I'm glad Maria left you." She took satisfaction from the hurt on his face.

       "I couldn't leave the kids." Harrison remained cool.

       "Well, with Maria gone you'll get to spend time with them now." As soon as it had passed her lips Kaci saw the pain on Harrison's face and she saw the truth.

Harrison tried to bite back on the tears he'd thought had dried up forever but they threatened to return with a vengeance. Kaci's attack had slashed at the protective barrier he thought he'd put up around his emotions.

       "I'll get another pilot," he yelled at her.

       "I'm so sorry, Kyle." Kaci tried to put her arms around Harrison, but he pushed her away.

       "I'll never hold them again," he cried. "I'll never get to say goodbye." Harrison finally gave in to Kaci and the tears, allowing her to hold him as they poured down his cheeks.

       "I'm so sorry." Kaci squeezed him tightly.

       "It's not your fault," Harrison hugged her back, comforted by the sense of closeness he hadn't felt in so long.

       "And you don't need another pilot." Kaci pushed Harrison away and stared at him. "You need me."

       The van had been modified to seat twelve and six of those seats were taken up by Adrian Chappell and his team. The remaining seats were stacked with equipment and food to last them a week. Chappell was growing impatient and had announced, the night before, that they would be returning to the site and staying there until the work was done or funding ran out.

       What he hadn't told them was that the money had already dried up and they would be working for free if they didn't figure out the importance of their discovery.

       Chappell wasn't willing to face that option. He knew in his gut that what they'd found was something so mind blowing it would change the history books. And he would be the man behind it; he would be remembered as the man who rewrote the past. All those who had pointed fingers at him and his theories would be more than just surprised when Adrian Chappell returned on the scene.

       His nerves were showing and since the evening before he'd managed to bite away at every fingernail, something he'd not done since his years as university student. With the nails now gone he was gnawing at the skin. No one else seemed to notice and he cast his gaze around the team he'd brought in upon discovering the manuscript.

       He could still remember his excitement when he'd uncovered it amongst his Grandparents belongings, the pure exhilaration at knowing what he held in his hands had never been seen by an academic before. He'd reeled at the questions that had flooded his thoughts, carefully paging through the bound pages with gloved hands.

       Chappell hadn't believed half of it, but after extensive research and secretive testing he couldn't deny what sat in his possession. Forget the Dead Sea Scrolls and wipe your arse on the Gospel of Judas. Chappell had the origins of the Gods in his very hands and he planned to unearth them.

       Not that he could have done much about it at the time. Circumstances were strange and Chappell had to keep his whereabouts private. The phone call had changed all that.

       "I know what you have," The voice had declared. "Work with me."

* * *

       Most of the team had taken some persuading, not believing the call had come from Chappell, they all knew it couldn't be possible. But he'd convinced them one at a time, meeting them in private on a one to one basis and confirming that he was still around.

       Even then they'd been dubious, but that would all change when he showed them the facts. He could see the same fire in their eyes that he had in his own. One by one they had all signed on and sworn themselves to secrecy. They no longer needed Chappell to convince them of the riches that awaited them.

       The church, as they all called it, but in truth an old cathedral, had taken months to locate. The manuscript was written in many different languages and, at first, nothing made sense. It had been an unexpected break through by Kenneth and Sue that had finally given them the key to unlocking what was, when solved, incredibly simple.

       Certain paragraphs had been penned in a tongue none of them could decipher and this had held them back. It was Kenneth Gates who had figured it out, his eyes and mind tired from hours of work when he'd realised that the language was nothing new at all. He had sat and stared at the first paragraph for hours, unable to believe they had missed it.

       "It's a code," he'd explained to Chappell. "It never was a language as such."