Seeker (20 page)

“Of course,” Amy said, taking the kettle out of Lawrencia's right hand and filling it with water. “And I suppose Jimmy also fell over?”

Lawrencia had the decency to at least not lie about it. Instead she changed the subject completely. “You wouldn't believe who I just received a call from.”

“Probably not.” Amy wasn't really interested in talking about anything but why Lawrencia felt the need to lie for Jimmy. “Who?” she asked, just to be polite.

“Willem.”

Amy almost dropped the kettle into the sink.

* * *

After the silent call both Jake and Charlie decided that there was no more time to waste. Clearly Will had made an attempt to call home, an attempt halted for some reason. Jake didn't want to think too hard about what it could be, but he did know that he needed to speak to PC Medeiros. It was difficult getting through to her, and when he did he was met with some curious news. There had been a development which she could not disclose yet, but it did mean that the investigation was being taken out of the hands of the regular police and passed over to the Criminal Investigation Department at New Scotland Yard, led by one Detective Chief Inspector Alyson Rowe. Although she never said as such, Jake got the impression that Medeiros did not much care for DCI Rowe.

Jake did not like this development. If CID were getting involved then that could only mean bad news. CID were notorious for their involvement in more serious far-reaching investigations, and for the life of him Jake could not comprehend how Will's disappearance would fall under their purview.

He tried to push for more information, but Medeiros would not, indeed
could
not, tell him any more than she already had. Even when he told her all about the phone call she would say no more, except that this was the second report of a phone call today.

It turned out that shortly after his own aborted call Lawrencia had also been called, although she had spoken briefly to Will before the line went dead. Medeiros wouldn't confirm anything, or deny anything, but she did point out that CID were aware of the situation and would be in touch shortly.

Once the call had ended, Jake dialled Lawrencia's number, not surprised that she hadn't called to let him know. They'd never been close, but she knew he'd be worried. Of course, this was Lawrencia, and she was often caught up in her own little world. Once she answered, he decided to go for tact.

“Hey, the police tell me that Will's been in touch with you today, too. Why didn't you call me?”

“Didn't know I was supposed to,” Lawrencia responded blithely. “Anyway, got my own shit going on. You were bound to find out eventually.”

Jake bit his tongue, holding back the response he wanted to give. Instead he said; “And I have. Listen, Ren, CID are now getting involved, and for those not paying attention at home it means some serious shit has hit a fucking large fan.”

“CID? Why would they be getting involved?”

“I actually have no…”

“I can't speak to them,” Lawrencia said over him, “Jimmy will freak.”

Jake was about to interrupt, just to let her know that her brother's safety was a little bit more important than screwing up Jimmy's shady deals, but her next words silenced him.

“I only called the police because Amy insisted.”

For a fraction of a second Jake's heart stopped. He stumbled over his words, cleared his throat, and tried again. “Amy? You've spoken to her? Is she okay?”

“Of course she's okay, why wouldn't she be?”

“Yeah, of course she is,” Jake responded quickly, realising that Amy hadn't confided her troubles to Lawrencia. Why would she? She had agreed to help Lawrencia, not become confidantes with her. Jake smiled, glad to know that Amy was still around, and, at least peripherally, still in his life.

* * *

Sam popped two pills into his mouth and washed them down with water, not that he really expected aspirin to make a huge difference to his ongoing migraine, but he could at least try. He turned to the oven bowl and carefully placed it in the pre-heated oven. He stepped back and grinned. Yes, Lilly would be pleasantly surprised when she returned home from work.

He'd been having a nose through her books earlier and came across a Gordon Ramsey cookbook, and hit upon the idea of making dinner for Lilly. He had hosted a few dinner parties for his old university chums in the past, and thanks to his restored memories he knew he was a dab hand around the kitchen. Lilly had done so much for him it seemed only fair to return the favour. Granted, all the ingredients were from her kitchen, but it was the act that counted in this instance.

Making a classic Lasagne Al Forno was messy work, and he had about half an hour to clean up the kitchen. It took him only fifteen minutes, so he removed all the salad he'd need from the fridge and placed it on the side. There was little point in preparing the salad until Lilly was home, so he walked the book into the passageway and returned it to the shelf.

He went to stand up again, but another book grabbed his attention.

Discovering Ancient Egypt
.

He was never massively into Egyptology, although considering the careers of Lilly's birth parents it was not surprising that she should have some books on Egyptology, but the spine of the book had caught his eye, and he still had the best part of an hour to kill before Lilly returned. He removed the book and headed into the kitchen to check on the lasagne, before placing the book on the sideboard and opening it directly to the section about the
Hem-Netjer
, the servant of god.

* * *

Jake was in a good mood, despite his growing concerns about Will. The sun was shining, and he was all set to head to Southend. Once there he and Charlie would work out a strategy for their canvassing, which would start with the nightclubs later in the night.

He knocked at the door of the Adomako house, determined to not even let Eon ruin his optimistic mood. Yes, he was still tired, but he was thinking positive thoughts. Whatever had happened to Will, the fact that he'd attempted to call them had to count for something.

The door opened and once again Jake was surprised by the person who greeted him. “Well, hello, son. You would never believe who called here earlier,” Francis said, with a grim smile.

“Francis. Hi, erm…Eon not about?”

Francis stepped back so that Jake could enter. He closed the door and followed Jake into the living room. “No, he's gone walk-a-bouts. Having a bit of a hissy fit because Sandra's sticking by her kids.”

“Well, sod him then.” Jake wasn't fussed; he never cared for the man and was quite glad he didn't have to put up with the usual pointed looks directed at him. “So, progress for you and Mrs. Adomako?”

Francis shook his head, smiling. “No, son, I'm just here to offer support. A united front, in the hope that it brings my boy back home sooner.”

“Right.” Jake wouldn't swear by it, but he was sure he recognised that glint in Francis's eyes. Either way, it was great to see him back in his old home again. Things were looking up finally.

Mrs. Adomako entered the lounge, carrying a plate of biscuits. She sent Francis out to get the tea tray, and the three of them sat around the tea-table in the middle of the lounge. Jake didn't fail to notice how close Will's parents sat by each other on the sofa. He hid a grin behind his cup.

After a little small talk, Jake went on to outline his basic plan. At first they were both a little opposed to the idea, still not trusting Charlie, but Jake explained about how much the two of them had talked and he believed Charlie was the innocent party in all this. At least they knew Will was alive now, whether he was well or not was another thing entirely, but at least he'd been in contact. Will's folks already knew this, since Lawrencia had popped in earlier with Curtis to let them know, as Jake had suggested she do. He was surprised to hear that she had done so, since even when he asked her he doubted she would. Since when did Lawrencia listen to anyone, let alone Jake? He could only assume that Amy was having a good effect on the young woman; Amy had that way about her.

“Did Lawrencia tell you about the CID involvement?”

Francis and Sandra (Jake didn't feel right thinking of her as Mrs. Adomako, especially with Francis sitting next to her just like old times) exchanged concerned looks, and Jake could see that they did indeed know. He tried to assuage their worries, a task not made simple since it concerned him greatly too. They all agreed there was little they could do about it until someone from CID contacted them, and it was then that Jake informed them that he'd given PC Medeiros Sandra's number. It seemed pointless for him to be the first port of call if he was out and about, and it made much more sense for Will's parents to be the first informed of any future developments. Now that Eon was gone, Sandra agreed.

“You just be careful out there, Jake,” she said.

“Yes,” Francis added, giving Jake a knowing look. “Bring our boy back to us, and do what you need to do.”

Jake wondered at his blindness. Was he really the only person who had not seen his love for Will? It seemed obvious to so many others. Amy, Mikey…even Francis had known Will and Jake's little fumble over twenty years ago. Jake still didn't quite know what this new awareness would mean for his life when he returned home with Will, but he'd soon find out. In truth it worried him more than not having Will about.

New territory that he was so not prepared for.

* * *

Tomorrow was the First of the Month festival and as such Onuris, a lowly
Wa'eb
in the Temple of Sekhmet, had his work cut out for him. It was several hours after dusk, and the supper ritual was long past. Onuris worked mostly in the dark, his chamber lit only by the flickering of a candle flame. Before him, laid out carefully, were the vestments of Sekhmet, which he was cleaning with great care. Everything had to be perfect for tomorrow's festival; the people of Memphis would all be out, looking to pay tribute to the Goddess Sekhmet. One day Onuris would be among the
Hem-Netjer
, but until that time he would serve in his own way, just as his father had before him
.

His chamber was bathed in a flash of blinding light, and for a moment Onuris staggered back. He shielded his eyes until the light dimmed to a manageable level, and then peered around. The source of the light was coming from outside. It was many hours until sunup, and a fear gripped his heart
.

What force was strong enough to turn night into day in such a way
?

He stepped out of his chamber carefully, and looked around the outskirts of the temple. His chamber was located on the perimeter; as a
Wa'eb
he was not permitted to approach the sanctuary of the temple without a
Hem-Netjer
by his side, but most of Memphis slept and there were no other priests about. He chanced a look around, just in case the light had awoken others, but there was no indication of such a change
.

He walked softly through the temple, up the slight incline and past the forest of columns, glancing up at the constellations crafted into the roof above; metaphorically ascending from the outermost edge of the universe and into its heart, the sanctuary that held the Shrine built for Sekhmet
.

He stopped just outside the Shrine, blinking all the while. The light was still brightly pouring through the cracks of the door, but not so much that it was blinding anymore. He reached out for the door seal, and paused. It was drummed into him that he had to perform the cleansing rituals before entering the inner sanctuary, but his need to discover the source of light outweighed his sense of duty, and so he broke the seal and stepped into the Shrine
.

Once across the threshold Onuris fell to his knees in awe. His head lowered, not daring to look at the woman standing before the statue of Sekhmet
.

He had seen her only briefly, bathed in the bright light, and in that moment he saw the perfect image of the statue behind her. A tall woman, bronze of skin, naked in her glory, with the head of a lion, her green eyes glaring at him. A snake coiled on her head, hissing in warning at the intruder
.

“My loyal
Hem-Netjer Tepey
, you have come to serve your god,” came a voice of such depth that Onuris trembled on his knees. “Look at me.”

“I cannot, Your Highness, I am only a pure one, and not worthy to look on the face of a god.”

“How can you serve me if you do not look upon my countenance?” Naked feet came into his line of sight, and he felt tender fingers, cold to the touch, lift him by the chin
.

He raised his head, looking into a face of unrefined beauty. Long red hair flowed down her shoulders, covering her breasts
.

“You will become my high priest; I will need no other.”

This was no memory of his, of that Sam was certain, and as the image faded from his sight he was left wondering just what his death had done to him.

The shadow man and his friends, including the beautiful Celeste, had clearly organised the events that led to his dying in the alley, and somehow he came back. Only as what? Sam did not know, but he was absolutely certain the events that had played out before his eyes were true, something that happened centuries ago in Ancient Egypt.

Perhaps Celeste and his one-time date needed an oracle into the past, and had thus made him into that oracle? Sam had no idea how such a thing was achieved, but that he was able to see into the past was incontrovertible. Not only this new scene of Onuris meeting his goddess, but before he had witnessed an older man, also bronze of skin like Onuris, running through a burning monastery in Moldavia long after Ancient Egypt had fallen.

Sam looked down at the book. No wonder he had been drawn to it.

* * *

“Yes, I will keep an eye on things. But I'm telling you, Jake, things are not looking good there.”