Milo ...Seal

        By Pattie Lawler

 

           

            Milo gaped at Albany, who calmly smiled in reply. Switching the knife to her free hand, she put her hand, palm out, for him to see.

            Beside the still healing gash from Six Hammers was a hair-thin line of blood.

            “You don’t have to cut me when we get home.”

            He freed himself of the rope and reached to cradle her hand. “You remember?”

            Her smile grew. “If I say no, will you still prove your point in a more leisurely fashion?”

            He threw his arms around her, lifting her as he spun. “God, I love you. You’re just incredible.” He stopped, letting her slip down until her feet were on the floor. “How did I get so lucky?”

            “I’ll let you show me that, too. Right now, we should find Simon.”

            Milo sobered with a curt nod at her hand. “Does it hurt?”

            “Not enough to worry about.” She handed him the knife and went to retrieve his gloves. “How did you figure out what was going to happen?”

            “The vase,” he pointed, “is Tang and heavily glazed. There’s enough lead in that paint to make x-raying it pointless, so I assumed it’s housing a secret. And they were treating it as if it weighed a lot more than its outward form could account for.”

            “Do you know what’s in there?”

            Taking the proffered glove, he slipped it on. “I have a pretty good idea.”

            “But you want to make it a surprise. That’s fine. But you have to tell me why no one’s discovered whatever it is before now.”

            He slipped the second glove on before answering. “The museum’s getting ready for an exhibit, and this vase is on loan from a private collection. Chances are, it’s never been offered for examination before. The museum’s insurance company, however, would insist.”

            The warble of his BlackBerry ended the conversation. Fishing it from his pocket, he smiled as he greeted Simon.

            “Where are you?”

            In the ensuing silence, Albany examined the vase.

            “Well, we’re still in the lab. Why don’t you bring them here?” Disconnecting, he dropped the phone back into his pocket. “It seems Simon’s found Dillard and Sam. They’re on their way.”

            “What are you planning?” Albany asked without looking at him. She had climbed onto a stool to look down into the vase. “What is all that?”

            “Years and years of loess and water seeping into a tomb and hardening to cement.”

            “I have a mental image of you breaking this vase, Milo, and I’m not liking it.”

            He grinned at her. “Even if I did break it, we’d be left with a vase-shaped block of cement. No, I’m not going to break it.”

            “Well, I’m happy to hear it,” Kevin Dillard said from the door as he, Sam, Simon and Williams entered the lab. “Do you mind explaining what’s going on, Milo? One minute I’m en route to the Four Seasons, and the next I’m in my office.”

            “That’s because you never were en route. You were in your office the whole time.” He explained about the arrowheads, which Sam removed from the nearest vault, and they all examined the inscriptions. Milo translated the spell for them, putting the arrows in rank order.

            “Each one is meant to represent one of eight elite guards. Their sole task was guarding what’s in the vase. To ensure that nothing would come between them and their duty, the eight agreed to be magically connected to the arrowheads. That’s what the inscription means.”

            “So they used me and the guards for bodies to make sure whatever this is,” Albany gestured to the vase, “was alright?”

            Milo nodded. “I don’t know what their ultimate goal was, but I have a feeling that if you hadn’t cut through the spell, Simon would be speaking Chinese on a permanent basis.”

            “You think they were going to be…,” Sam cast about for an appropriate word, “reborn in their chosen bodies?”

            Milo nodded again. “I think that’s why the feeling I got from the spirit on Albany’s back was of fear. Doubtless the spirit was terrified of being reborn in a woman’s body.”

            Albany clicked her tongue but said nothing.

            “And you think we’re out of the forest now,” Kevin said, stepping closer to the vase and examining the choked opening.

            “I’m sure of it. Osiris’ Thigh doesn’t nothing by halves.”

            “So what happens next?”

            Milo smiled. “Do you trust me?”

            “Yes,” Kevin and Sam said in unison.

            “Excellent.” Milo reached for the hidden knife. “Stand back, please.” In one motion, the knife was in his hand and slicing up the side of the vase. Kevin and Sam cried out in alarm, but Simon’s restraining arm kept them from stopping Milo.

            Osiris’ Thigh effortlessly sank into the solid mass like it wasn’t there. Milo cut from midway on one side, up and across the top to a mirroring position on the opposite side.

            “I can’t imagine what the insurance company is going to tell the donor,” Kevin said, mopping his brow with a handkerchief.

            “I have no doubt they’ll never know,” Milo said, reaching for a hammer on the nearest table of tools. He smiled at his audience as he swung the clawed end of the hammer down into the hair-thin cut. Pulling up on the handle, he strained against centuries of compression.

Simon finally picked up another hammer and joined his boss. “I knew you were slacking off,” he groaned, “but this is too much. You’re back in the gym, first thing in the morning.”

            “What I wouldn’t give for a log splitter,” Milo said from between clenched teeth.

            “I don’t think a jackhammer could cut this,” Simon growled.

            “This is like the Schliemann school of archaeology,” Kevin muttered. “What happens if you break whatever’s inside?”

Before anyone could answer, the vase shuddered, cracked, and with a loud snap, split along the created seem. With a happy shout, Milo forced his fingers into the crevasse and with Simon’s help they opened the vase like a doorway.

To expose a square of snow-white jade, roughly the size of a large family bible, embedded in the cement.

Slack-jawed, Sam dropped to the floor as Kevin cried out, “My God! Is it?”

Milo smiled over his shoulder, nodding. “The He Shi Bi. China’s Imperial Seal.”

Kevin whirled, his hand stabbing at the door. “Williams! Guard the door. No one comes in!”

“I smell an international coupe,” Simon whispered.

Milo’s smile grew but then he turned to Kevin. “Rest assured that Albany, Simon and me will not breathe a word of this museum discovery.” His gaze dropped to Sam, still on the floor and gaping. “And I’m pretty sure Sam’s good, too.”

“Did you just unearth a piece of the true cross?” Albany asked from her position across the table.

“Another piece,” Simon corrected, grinning at her.

“Didn’t someone mention the Four Seasons?” Milo asked, looking around.

“My treat,” Kevin said, raising a hand. “Sam, let’s get this locked up. We’ll discuss your team for the project in the morning.”

 Dazed, Sam allowed Simon to help him up and together they moved to the table. Milo and Albany stood back, giving them room to carry the two halves to the vault.

“Well, that was an interesting evening,” Albany said, watching them pass. “I’m going to wash my hand.”

Trailing her with his eyes, Milo stepped closer to Kevin. “Contact me if there are any problems.”

“Of course. And thank you, Milo. Once this has sunk in, I’m sure you’ll be hearing from us.”

“I look forward to it.”

 <0>

 

Seated at dinner in the penthouse, Albany used her fork to rearrange her salad. “I got a call today from my agent.”

Milo looked up from his examination of the wine bottle. “Oh?”

She nodded. “He says the offers have been pouring in.”

“How wonderful! Though I’m not surprised; you’re that good.”

“You’re sweet to say so.”

Setting the bottle down, he reached for her hand. “What is it, my love?”

Without looking up, she shrugged. “There’s one offer we agreed I couldn’t pass up.”

“And you want to tell me about it but are afraid.”

She bit her lip before continuing. “The night I sang with Gloria, at the benefit, there was a Japanese producer with David...the director of the Met, David Rosenbaum, I don’t know if you met him. Well, the producer, Hirai Asuka, offered me a recording contract.”

He squeezed her hand. “Albany! That’s terrific! Why are you worried?”

“I’ll have to go to Tokyo for the duration...and I would like you to come with me, please.”

“Of course I’ll come!”

She sagged with relief, raising bright eyes to meet his. “Thank you. I’m never sure what your schedule is like, and I was afraid you’d be too busy.”

“It’s rare that my presence is crucial, and I’ll make sure everything’s clear before we leave.”

“Thank you, Milo.”

He smiled, squeezing and releasing her hand. “Being with you makes me happy, and I’m all about spoiling myself.”

Albany stabbed a cherry tomato. “And me. None of this will happen before June, but I wanted to let you know that even though my contract is up, I’m still going to be very busy.”

“I expect you to be.”

“Sweet talker.

“And you’ll be happy to know Condé Nast has a location in Tokyo. I’ll tell Joe to book the penthouse for us.”

“Would it be a problem if we invite Fanny along?”

“I’m sure she’ll be delighted.”

Albany fidgeted with her food again. “I also wanted to ask...and I don’t know how to say this without being blunt, so I’m going to be blunt.”

With a nod, he gestured for her to continue.

“I would like my own secretary. I know you said it’s our money and all, but I’m not quite comfortable with the idea, and I don’t feel it’s fair to dump my schedules and paperwork on Joe.”

Milo was nodding. “It’s an excellent idea, but I have a pair of conditions, and you’ve given me the perfect opening as I didn’t quite know how to broach the subject.”

“Oh?”

“Yes, we’ll ask Joe to hire you a secretary.” He looked at her hard, as if ready to defend his position. “And a press agent...and I want Simon to find you a bodyguard.”

When she opened her mouth, he hurried on.

“If you don’t like the idea, consider what’s happening with Raul—”

“Actually, I have no problem with the idea. And thank you.”

He met her gaze, a crooked smile on his lips. “And you’ll move in?”

“I thought you’d never ask.”

“I’ll tell Joe to contact the movers.”

 <0> 

“Lawrence called this morning,” Milo said over breakfast. “Seems Raul has asked for a date to view the Line, and MI5 has agreed to it. I guess their replica Line is complete.”

Albany said nothing.

“I’d like you to come over with me and fly back with Fanny.”

“When?”

“Tonight, after the performance. Joe called your manager and cleared you for the next performance, but you should be back by Wednesday. Palmer has orders to wait for you.”

“And you expect me to just leave you with Raul?”

“It’ll be me, Simon, and about 50 hidden agents. Two of them will be masquerading as you and Fanny to lend the production verisimilitude. Lawrence is already moving the collection into storage.”

Albany stared at her eggs. “I’m not happy, Milo.”

“Because you’re worried about me.”

She nodded.

“I love you, Albany, and nothing can change that.”

She looked up. “But?”

“But long before you, Fanny, or any of this, I swore an oath that I cannot retract. I want you to come to Owswell and see for yourself. I’m not asking for your pardon, believe me, but I am asking for your understanding.”

“I told you, Milo. I trust you. I trust you to know what you’re doing and that Simon will protect you, but that doesn’t stop me from worrying.”

“Which is why I love you.” He removed a ring box from his jacket pocket and placed it on the table. “This is on approval, and I would like your thoughts.”

Albany looked from the box, to his face and back. Reaching across the table, she lifted and opened the black velvet box to reveal a loose, brilliant cut ruby. “Oh my God,” she whispered.

“Fanny said you had asked for two carat stones, and this is three, so I didn’t want to assume.”

“It’s incredible, Milo.”

“I thought so, too. And I thought a very simple solitaire would be best.”

She nodded as he spoke. “It’s too pretty to ask it to compete with a setting.” She snapped the box closed and pushed it back to him. “I’m sure you’ll do it justice, and I’ll be ecstatic to wear it. Thank you.”

He smiled and picked up his fork. “As soon as it’s on your finger, I’d like to make the announcement. Will you mind waiting?”

“No,” she whispered.

“Overcome?” He teased, studying her face.

“A bit.”

“My work here is done.”

Laughing, she reached for her coffee, but then stared at her hand. “I’m actually trembling.”

“I see that. Are you going to swoon?”

“I might. Will you catch me?”

“I might. Or I might let you fall and have my way with you while you’re too weak to fight back.”

With a laugh, Albany pressed the back of her hand to her forehead and slipped from her chair. Milo threw his napkin down as he hurried to join her.

 

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