“It’s true.”
“But we saw Tunisian marines pull his dead body from the sea.”
“Well he clearly wasn’t dead.”
Dennis saw the concerned look from his girlfriend.
“It’s all right. He won’t be coming after us. He’s got what he wants. He’s long gone.”
“Are you sure?”
“Trust me.”
He reached out to grasp her hand.
“How do you know all this Pete?”
“That man in the brown suit,” he said to Natalie, “He’s an Austrian police inspector from Interpol. He came into the office,” he continued for Hutchinson’s benefit, “he had a photograph of Von Werner from CCTV. Von Werner was sitting in the front range rover on Friday night. His face is badly disfigured but there was no mistaking it. It’s definitely him.”
Natalie felt herself shudder.
“It’s all right. He’s gone.”
“So my best guess then,” from Hutchinson, “is that he’s heard of the mystery surrounding the spear of Longinus and that’s why he’s stolen it. He intends to use it.”
“This is where it gets interesting. The spear from London is a fake. A replica.”
“What?”
“That’s right Jim. The Austrians had the real one locked away in a vault. They use replicas just in case of an incident like this.”
“So Von Werner has a fake.”
“Not exactly. The London one was abandoned. The real one he stole a month ago. He killed to get it.”
“Then if he has the real one why did he take the one from the British museum?”
“Inspector Bauer, that’s his name, the Austrian inspector, Thomas Bauer. He thinks Von Werner has tried to heal himself with the real one but failed. You see it only works where it is said that Christ himself spilt his own blood.“
“So that means where he was crucified right! Which if memory serves me has the church of the holy sepulchre built over it. How is he going to get to the ground underneath it?”
“It doesn’t necessarily mean there. Anywhere where Christ bled. It could be where he was whipped by the Romans. We need to read up on our bibles, search the internet etcetera.”
“What do you mean we?”
“Bauer has asked for my, our help.”
“To do what?”
“To locate where Von Werner will attempt to use the spear next.”
Dennis looked across at Natalie.
“You’re not saying much.”
Natalie didn’t know what to say. She half shrugged.
“Peter I’m an archaeologist not a treasure hunter.”
“I know Nat but Bauer believes we might be the best people for the job.”
“And last time we came face to face with Von Werner he was going to kill us.”
“I don’t think he would have.”
“He watched while his Russian thug tried to kill you, would have raped me. Von werner was going to kill us and make it look like it was self defence. Have you forgotten all this?”
People in the next booth were now looking their way. Dennis leaned in to the middle of the table.
“We’d better keep our conversation down a bit.”
“What I still don’t get is what’s in it for us?” Hutchinson said.
“First we’d be helping an international police team catch a known felon. A felon we all know and second? We’d be following in the footsteps of Jesus Christ. One of the most famous men who ever lived.”
“I meant financially.”
“Oh I see. Look we don’t know how big this thing is going to be. First there will be a reward of one million euro’s for the safe return of the real spear and the apprehension of the guilty party or parties responsible.”
Dennis saw their looks of concern.
“Bauer has assured me the reward will be there.”
“Is he going to provide us with guns?”
“Guns?”
“Last time we encountered Von Werner he had a private army that was considerably armed or did you assume he’s just going to let us waltz in and take it back from him. Look Pete it’s a lovely idea but I don’t see what we can do to help. I’m certainly not putting any of my team at risk again.”
“What are the risks?” Natalie asked.
“Forget it!” Hutchinson said.
“We’ll have the full backing from Interpol that anything we do will not result in our being arrested or convicted plus Bauer will assist in any way possible. He already has the Israeli police on full alert in case of anything happening there.”
“It’s too big,” the American said, “it’s out of our league Pete.”
Dennis sat back in his seat.
“Okay,” he took a swig of his beer and put it down on the table gently, “I’m in.”
“What?”
“I’m helping them.”
“Pete I think it’s too dangerous. Natalie talk some sense in to him.”
“To follow in the footsteps of Jesus Christ babe,” Dennis said with a gleam in his eye,” just think of the untold treasures we could uncover. The very tomb he lay in. Magical. Mystical. Powers from a Roman spear used by some of the most powerful men and women in history.”
“You’re crazy.”
“No Jim he’s right. It would be amazing to hold the very spear that pierced Christ’s side in your very own hands.”
“Oh don’t tell me you’re hooked too.”
Natalie smiled at her boss who rolled his eyes.
“Jim?” Dennis said.
Hutchinson picked his beer up and downed it. He banged the bottle back down onto the table.
“Well it appears you two have made up your minds. A million euro’s eh? I must admit we could do with the money.”
Natalie and Dennis were in his studio apartment where they had been since they’d got back that afternoon. It was nearly eleven o’clock and both were very tired and on strong coffee. They were expecting Hutchinson back soon. He had text messaged Natalie to say that his talk had finished and as soon as he could leave he would. At that time of night the taxi journey would take less than thirty minutes. His message had been received over an hour before.
Dennis and Natalie had arrived back armed with every book they could buy or borrow from the nearest library with any reference to Jesus Christ in the index. Both having quickly showered they’d settled down to study. Both had a laptop each and had searched every link and pop up possible.
Dennis was flicking through piles of mail and paper on his table in the lounge.
“Darling have you seen that menu for the Chinese takeaway. I’m sure it was here the other day. You can’t mistake it. It’s got a large golden dragon on the front.”
“I think I pinned it under a fridge magnet on the side of the fridge.”
“It’s not here.”
Natalie came into the kitchen drying her hair with a towel.
“Right what did I say?”
He stopped searching to look at her.
“I said on the side didn’t I.”
“Oh yeah. Got it,” he said reaching for the wall mounted phone, “What do you fancy?”
“You’re not ordering without Jim are you. Do you not want to wait.”
“I’m not sure what time they stop delivering.”
“Why don’t we just order one of those meals for three. At least that way we’ll get a mixture. I don’t even know if Jim likes Chinese.”
“Everyone likes Chinese.”
She went into the lounge and sat on the sofa whilst still drying her hair. Then she stopped.
“Oh my God.”
He turned with the phone pressed to his ear. She held a book up for him to see.
“You bought a bible.”
“Yeah we’ll need it.”
“You bought a bible!”
“Yes. If we’re researching Jesus Christ it seemed like the perfect answer.”
“I suppose,” she said, “but you can be the one who reads it.”
Dennis ignored her as the phone the other end was answered.