The artist modeled it on the original Estonian monument’s equal branched cross with a convex circle right in the center. Upon it, though, the same sigils as the original were replaced by an unknown insignia. The latter was exactly what compelled Purdue to buy it, because it had its own unique properties laid in copper, where the original cross was fashioned from one hundred and forty-three glass plates. He put some music on to drown out the awful patter of the hard shower outside, which had become nothing but a melancholy hum of consistent white noise. The thunder clapped over Edinburgh, lighting up the sky like a flash explosion.
“Keep it in your pants, Thor,” Purdue called out as he made his way to the bathroom for a morning shower, holding his half-full mug up in a toast of sorts to the thunder god. While his head was not pounding too violently, Purdue still had a considerable hangover and he hoped to be properly woken by the steam and soothing warm water. Through the streams of water, the music in the office was muffled and thick, only interrupted every now and then by a strike of the thunderous voice of the heavens. Purdue refused to admit to himself that the sudden cacophony made him jump at least twice, but he hastened to get back to his coffee and music.
There were no appointments on his agenda, but he still had to check his daily emails from begging charities, sycophants, and budding inventors on science scholarships. Sometimes there were invitations to fundraisers and parties, which reminded Purdue that the world was still blissfully unaware that the Order of the Black Sun and its affiliates were still secretly trying to unhinge it. Since he had abdicated as Renatus of the order, it had come to a standstill in sheer confusion and infighting. The patriarchs of the council were all but wiped out and could no longer sway the scepter over the organization’s doings, so for now there was a wonderful stalemate at play.
It was a peaceful time for Dave Purdue, and much the same went for his associates, Sam Cleave and Nina Gould, who had helped cripple most of the Black Sun’s arachnid appendages during their last adventure. Purdue heard a particularly vicious crack of thunder, followed by an ungodly rumble, which escalated for a few seconds before climaxing into an enormous crash. The sound reverberated like a two-second earthquake before falling into the peaceful tedium of the rainstorm.
Something did not feel right. In his gut Purdue knew that there was some hidden omen of devastation in that din. Half wet, he rushed to the office with only a loose towel around his waist, his hair weeping streams of water down his back and shoulders.
“Oh, God, no!” he exclaimed. The sound was figuratively, and literally, the echo of his demeanor falling apart. “Why?” he screamed in frustration. Half of the tall granite column still stood, but the lightning had struck the high-reaching monument, splitting off two of the legs of the cross. To his dismay he saw that a large chunk from the left side of the column had crumbled off, regardless of the steel reinforcements the construction team had secured it with.
It was only a matter of time before the rest of the relic would collapse, so he rushed to call Calder Con.
Chapter 4
Sam Cleave wiped his brow. It was an excruciating day, even by Greek standards. Crete was beautiful this time of year, but Sam was not there on holiday. He was chasing a lead of some criminal activity on the island that could have significant implications on world politics, but thus far nothing tangible had transpired. Looking down onto the azure and pristine blue of the ocean around Vai, he wished Nina was with him, but since he had become more involved in the doings of the Brigade Apostate, sworn opponents of the Order of the Black Sun, he decided to keep her at bay. The underworld they were embroiled in was perilous enough for him not to rock the boat — not even for Nina Gould’s sorely needed company.
He missed her. He missed smoking cigarettes with her when they were in life-threatening situations and he missed her vulnerable defensiveness. He sighed laboriously at the unstoppable thoughts seeping through his dismissal without effort, fueled by his own insecurity. Pulling off his shirt he wondered what Nina and Purdue were up to. Sam could not help but wonder if they were together again, even for the moment. Even a moment would be a threat to his relationship with her and he knew that she played it right down the middle between him and Purdue. It was all right with Sam since he had no desire to be engaged again and he realized a long time ago that he was content just being in the running for her.
Much as he hated Purdue’s financial virility being a threat to him winning over Nina, he was in no way planning to try to get rid of Dave Purdue again. The last time he had Purdue seized by the enemy, hoping to eradicate the competition, it chewed at his conscience and made him feel like shit. It was just not Sam’s style to sink that low, even though he tried it once out of desperation. Against all odds, he had to admit that he enjoyed Purdue’s company and dared even call their relationship a proper friendship. Maybe it was because they had been through so much together.
“Phone call, Mr. Cleave,” the pretty secretary of the holiday resort said, holding the cordless phone out to Sam.
“Who the hell could that be?” he asked.
She shrugged and smiled, “Scottish gentleman, I think. He asked for you by name and he said to tell you to put on a shirt.”
“Purdue,” Sam said, shaking his head. “Only he would be able to find me and spy on me.” He took the phone from the grinning Greek beauty.
“Are you jealous of this well-chiseled physique, Purdue?” Sam said, slightly uncertain of the identity of the caller and hoping that he was not busy making a complete fool of himself in this assumption.
“In your dreams, Cleave. I have a sunbed, something you could have done with before you took a trip to the Mediterranean,” Purdue retorted smoothly.
“Nina with you?” Sam asked. Why did I just ask that? Good God, am I that insecure? he thought immediately, as surprised by his question as Purdue was.
“Why? Was she on her way to me?” he asked Sam.
Stupidly, Sam stuttered, “Um, n-no, not… not that I know of. I was just wondering.”
“Come now, Sam. We both know where we stand. I don’t even know where she is lately,” Purdue said sincerely. “Do you know where she is? Could use her on this.”
“Oh my God, you’re not up to something again, are you? I’m done running for my life… Renatus,” Sam sighed, mocking Purdue’s title at the top of the Black Sun’s hierarchy.
“Are you really? Is that why you are investigating the clandestine movements of a human trafficking ring in Greece, Turkey, and Albania? I mean, we all know men who deal in slavery and prostitution are model citizens, aye? No danger there,” Purdue sneered.
“All right, all right, use the sarcasm sparingly. It’s fucking hot here and my patience is not at its best,” Sam said. “What are you calling about then?”
“Long story, but I assure you, Sam, this is a strange and wonderful happenstance. And I don’t need you to document this for me so much as help me investigate the origin of what I discovered,” Purdue exclaimed in his usual boyish excitement. The problem was that this kind of exhilaration from Dave Purdue often led to deadly repercussions and troublesome conditions.
“Where does Nina come in?” Sam asked, already calculating the amount he was charging the billionaire for this fresh hell.
“It might have connections to the Second World War, although I am not sure what language this is, exactly,” Purdue mentioned, his voice softening from his head turned away to look at whatever he had with him. “So, as easy as it was to find you, I have to concede to failure in finding Nina.”