Page 24 of Sacrifice
Michaels didn’t like dealing with the Dark Fae. He shuddered at what they might do to the body, but they couldn’t risk the human authorities examining it. The removal would be meticulous and efficient. He was just glad he wouldn’t be there to witness it.
Sixteen
The soundof laughter echoed off the walls, and conversations melded together in a low, contented hum. Coffee cups clinked, and chairs screeched against the linoleum. All was as it should be. In fact, to Eve, the staff canteen had never looked so good.
She spotted Sienna sitting at a table by the window. Sienna would never believe what had happened yesterday, if Eve told her, that was. She mulled it over. Who needed a crummy promotion in the gift shop when you had Lucien Knight? She smiled inwardly.
“Cappuccino please, Brenda,” she said, and let her mind drift back out of focus. Last night had been incredible. A thrill of heat rippled through her just thinking about it. Lucien had changed everything. A job with real responsibility, fancy parties, designer outfits and the most exciting sex of her life. The remembered pleasure ran through her. She could hardly believe what they’d done in his car. It was like when she’d been with Lucien, she’d become someone else.
Sound from the TV behind the counter layered over the gentle chorus of break-room chatter. It was tuned to the newschannel, just like always. The volume was low, but just high enough for Eve to catch a name: Konstantin Petrovsky.
She flicked her eyes to the ticker tape of words scrolling along the bottom of the picture.
BREAKING - RUSSIAN OLIGARCH MISSING FROM LONDON HOTEL ROOM UNDER SUSPICIOUS CIRCUMSTANCES. POLICE CONFIRM SUSPICION OF ROBBERY AND POSSIBLE CONNECTIONS TO ORGANISED CRIME. DORCHESTER HOTEL MANAGEMENT DECLINE TO COMMENT.
Konstantin Petrovsky? Eve scooped up her coffee. Wasn't that the name of the man she'd met last night?
“Turn that up, would you?” she said to the woman behind the counter.
Brenda obliged, and Eve leaned in to listen.
“Reports have confirmed that Mr Petrovsky's suite at the Dorchester had been ransacked,” said the presenter, “but questions remain about why the oligarch has, seemingly, been abducted. The oil baron has previously been linked with organized crime syndicates in the UK and Police are considering if his disappearance is related to a gangland dispute.”
Eve gave Brenda a nod and backed away, all thought of sharing last night’s activities with Sienna now completely forgotten. That was a bit too close for comfort. This was the second time in as many weeks she’d been scarily close to a crime.
She hustled down the corridor and made for the stairs to the fourth floor.
What if it isn’t a coincidence?
The idea sent a shiver through her, which was amplified by the chill inside the exhibition space. Completely empty, save for a single desk installed in one corner, the room was currentlyunheated, and the bare stone floor radiated cold into the soles of her feet. Only the occasional echo from the hallway disturbed the silence within.
What you need is a distraction, Eve. Work, come one. Let’s shine at this great new job.
She bit at her lip and scooped up the envelope that Lucien had left for her. Inside were his plans for the layout of the exhibits. She squinted at his loopy script. His handwriting was weirdly old-fashioned for a modern billionaire.
OK. Where to begin?
The walls were white and bare, a perfect blank canvas. She walked around the outskirts of the space, holding up Lucien’s plan and trying to imagine it full of exhibits: the effigies of Akkadian sky gods sat in one corner, Sumerian death masks on plinths along the opposite wall–and in the center the most important exhibit of all–the Stone of Tizok-a sacrificial altar.
Eve imagined that this kind of exhibition would usually take months of planning, but they were working on a schedule of just three weeks now and he’d been very specific about the date.
Lucien had the kind of money that could make things happen fast, but there was a hell of a lot to do if they were going to make it.
She had agreed to his timings, of course. He could be very persuasive, but who was she kidding? Worry broke through the fortifications of activity she was trying to build to distract herself, and doubt crept in. She didn’t know what half the items on the list even were, and this was the first real exhibition she’d ever had to manage. How was she supposed to do this? She rubbed at her face and tried to suck in a steadying breath.
Research, Eve. Do the research. Go down to the library. Go speak to Henry. See what he’s got.
She had the basics, thanks to her degree. No-one could possibly know everything, she told herself, and she wasn’t aboutto admit to Lucien she needed help. Henry Claymore was the Head Librarian. He had an encyclopedic knowledge of, well, pretty much everything. If anyone would know the history of these artefacts, it would be Henry. She’d pay him a visit the first chance she got.
Come on Eve, you can do this.
She took a deep breath and scanned Lucien’s plan. The adjoining smaller room had been set out quite specifically to be dedicated to the rituals surrounding Babylonian sacrifice and, as she stepped through the wide doorway, it was immediately clear why he had such a clear vision for it.
This room had tall windows that took in a huge amount of the London skyline. The quality of light was fantastic, and there was a raised area in front of the windows, almost like a small stage, which would be great for positioning the ancient altarpieces. Eve felt a thrill of excitement - she could already picture it: the serene faces of Adad, Anu and Ishtar all looking down as she worked her magic, bringing the exhibition to life.
She stepped further into the room and allowed herself to be immersed in its potential. She'd need to work out the methods of display and make sure that the lighting highlighted each piece perfectly. Suddenly, ideas flowed.
She jotted them down and even started mentally planning her filing system. There was so much needed doing that she didn’t really know how much time had passed when, looking up from her clipboard, she noticed that someone else was in the room with her.
