“Then Matthew lied to you. The same morning Matthew returned the document, Pacal noticed him remove an Incan sculpture and hide it in his desk drawer. Devlin said he had Pacal conceal GPS tracking devices inside their three artifact carrying cases. Devlin said Matthew took the bait, which I assume means he later placed the sculpture in a carry case and left with it. From the GPS tracker, Devlin knew where Matthew took the case for what he assumed was the handoff to the buyer.
“Devlin said the GPS tracker showed Matthew took the case home for the night and the next day drove straight to Mt. Whiteface. Devlin said the GPS tracker also showed Matthew hiked the trail to a point and then returned by the same route. Devlin assumed Matthew met someone on the trail for the handoff. The case came back to the office with Matthew, but the sculpture was gone. Devlin wanted to see the handoff site himself before he called the police on Matthew.”
Anlon’s head was spinning again. He asked, “Anabel, do you think Dobson killed Devlin? That seems where you’re headed.”
“When I first learned Devlin died on Mt. Whiteface, I did think Matthew was involved,” she confirmed, “but less than a week later, Matthew was dead too and I then I wasn’t so sure.”
“Join the crowd!” Anlon dead-panned. But inside he paused to consider Anabel’s story. It was conceivable Dobson killed Devlin given the confrontation about his thievery, but why then would Dobson have confided his suspicions about Devlin’s ‘accidental’ death with the police and Anlon? That didn’t make any sense.
Was it possible that Matthew told the buyer that Devlin was on to him? Did the buyer decide Devlin had to go? And then killed Matthew because he might, or did, put two and two together about Devlin’s death? That scenario seemed very possible to Anlon. His mind immediately flashed to the pushy, arrogant Thatcher Reynolds and the smarmy Klaus Navarro.
“Anabel,” Anlon asked, “did Devlin say what made him fear for his life? Something else must have happened to cause him to take precautions about the document he gave you and another artifact he left with his attorney, Mr. Grant. I can see why he might hide pieces from Matthew by removing from the office, but I don’t see how his confrontation with Matthew would cause him fear — especially if Matthew denied stealing and selling pieces.”
“Oh yes, I did forget to mention that, didn’t I? When he asked me to hold the document for him is when he said he felt his life was in danger. I don’t recall his precise words but they were along the lines of ‘I’m afraid he’ll go after the map. It’s valuable enough to kill for’ or something like that,” Anabel said.
“Map? So the document he gave you is a map? What kind of map?” Anlon sharply inquired, shifting his body to the edge of the sofa.
“Yes, a map. It’s a very special, rare map. A treasure map of sorts, according to Devlin. He told me to tell you the map shows where to find undiscovered Life Stones. He said that would make sense to you, but he didn’t tell me anything more about it. Said it was too dangerous,” Anabel shrugged.
Anlon shifted all the way back on the sofa and sighed in relief. Finally, he thought, Devlin left more than a piece of rock minus instructions or explanations. Even though Anabel’s relay of Devlin’s message wasn’t much of an explanation, he wouldn’t have to guess the purpose of the map.
Anlon disappeared into deeper thought while Anabel left the room to retrieve the map for him. So Devlin was searching for the other stones depicted on the Master Stone! And he either made a map of their locations or found a map showing the locations. Matthew had taken the map, but returned it. Did he make a copy, Anlon wondered? Maybe that’s why Devlin was afraid. But his words to Anabel were very similar to the words Pacal used when trying to dissuade Anlon from pursuing Devlin’s research — “too dangerous.” Why?
He also struggled to understand why Dobson had insisted Anlon come early to talk about Devlin’s research. At least Anlon now had a better idea why Dobson was so nervous when he met with him. But why not let sleeping dogs lie?
Maybe Dobson thought by helping me, Anlon considered, he could smooth over his past transgressions. Maybe that’s why he was killed…once Devlin was dead, he realized his dealings were more dangerous than he originally thought and decided to cut off relations with the buyer and start fresh. That explanation fit a little better in Anlon’s mind, but it still seemed not quite right.
Anlon would need to noodle it more later as Anabel emerged from the hallway with a silver metal attaché case. She placed the case flat on the coffee table and then Anlon realized it wasn’t an attaché case, it was a portable safe, complete with both an electronic lock and key lock. Anabel punched in the combination and handed the key to Anlon to unlock the second level security.
Anabel motioned to Anlon to open the case. Inside was a heavy, black metal tube about a foot long with two metallic stoppers on each end sealing in the map. As Anlon lifted the tube from the case, Anabel said, “Devlin didn’t show me the map. I’m curious to see what it looks like.”
With one stopper out, Anlon carefully withdrew the map. He had expected it to be of ancient origin, but it was supple, unblemished, modern paper. He unfurled the scroll and anchored one end with the edge of the case and the other end he weighed down with the empty tube. Both Anlon and Anabel leaned forward over the map from opposite couches and scanned the map.
The map showed half a dozen large land masses separated by stretches of water, but the land masses were not labeled. There were longitude and latitude markings, so Anlon assumed he was looking at a map of the Earth. However, the large land masses looked nothing like today’s global map in shape, size or position.
On the map were different color-coded markings at various points on the six large land masses, mostly near coastlines. However, no key accompanied the map, so the meaning of the markings was not evident.
Anlon gazed at the map with a puzzled expression. Anabel asked, “Does the map make sense to you?”
“No, not really. It looks like a world map given the longitude and latitude lines, but it doesn’t look like any world map I’ve ever seen,” Anlon replied, shaking his head.
“I think I can help you there,” Anabel began. “I spent a lot of time with Devlin over the years and I know he was obsessed with a map found drawn on a wall inside the oldest known pyramid in Egypt. I never saw the map myself, but Devlin went there several times to study it in person.
“According to Devlin, the map was an enigma to Egyptologists and other archaeologists because it didn’t comport with any known map of the Middle East region or the world.
“At some point, a scholar specializing in Dynastic Egyptian mythology put forth the theory that it was a map of the Egyptian underworld, a fanciful illustration to lend topography to the ethereal land of the afterlife. It seemed to satisfy most peers, but Devlin was not convinced. If I had to guess, I’d say this map is a reproduction of the pyramid afterlife map.”
“What about the color-coded markings on the map? Do you know if they are on the pyramid map too?” Anlon queried, hopeful that Anabel knew the answer.
She shook her head slightly and said, “No. As I said, I never saw the pyramid map. But remember I said that Devlin asked me to tell you that the map would tell you where to find the Life Stones, whatever they may be.”
“Yes, I figured that was likely the case, but I’m at a loss to see how I’m going to find my way to the Egyptian underworld,” mused Anlon.
It was late afternoon before Anlon finally started on his way back to Stockbridge. After he and Anabel examined the map, they returned it to its case and then munched on a light, late lunch that Anabel prepared.
Over lunch, Anabel regaled Anlon with several stories about her adventures with Devlin. Anlon watched her face light with joy recalling the exciting and romantic memories. As she described these experiences, he couldn’t help but feel jealous of the close bond Devlin and Anabel enjoyed. It was remarkable, Anlon thought, that they sustained such an intense connection over decades, even though they maintained lar
gely separate lives.
Anlon reflected on the last several years of his own life and how he purposely shut himself away after the deluge of public notoriety and scrutiny he experienced from the announcement of the Whave invention. He was burned on more than one occasion opening up to girlfriends and acquaintances who, in turn, went public with stories or pictures that embarrassed him. Anlon’s solution had been simple, just don’t open up. While it was a successful strategy in eliminating public invasion of his privacy, it did result unintentionally in a life without the kind of companionship Anabel and Devlin shared. That is, until Pebbles had stepped into his life, or he had stepped into hers.
Thinking of Pebbles, Anlon punched her cell number into the SUV’s Bluetooth phone application and called to check in. The line rang three times and then Pebbles’ excited voice blurted, “AC! Big news! When will you be here?”
Anlon laughed at her breathless volley, and replied, “Pebbles! Bigger news on my end! Should be there in about an hour.”
“No way your day topped mine. I’m not sure I can wait to tell you! Didn’t you get my texts?” she asked.
“No, I put my phone away when I met with Anabel. I didn’t want to be disrespectful. Is everything okay?”
“Yes! Um, no. Well, no for a little while but all is good now,” she said with a cheerful lilt.
“Hmmm…you’re being very cryptic,” Anlon answered.
Pebbles playfully admonished, “Well next time Doc, read your damn texts! By the way, Jennifer is here. We were discussing ordering pizza but we’ll wait ‘til you get here. Hurry home but be safe!”
“Yes, Mother,” Anlon teased as he rang off, suddenly desperate to read his text messages.
He drove another five miles before spying a gas station. He pulled into a spot in front of the station’s mini mart and turned the engine off. Extracting his phone from the SUV’s dashboard storage well, he touched the screen and saw Pebbles’ name displayed on his notification screen with 10 messages waiting. Anlon couldn’t remember the last time Pebbles texted him 10 times in a week. Opening his text app, Anlon read the messages from the bottom up in reverse order of when they were received:
3:37 p.m. Please call with your ETA.
3:23 p.m. Where are you?????????
2:56 p.m. Jennifer here now. Everything okay. Swelling is down.
2:23 p.m. OMG, I just found the PS!!!!
2:04 p.m. Got a big lump on my forehead. Bastard.
2:02 p.m. That Navarro freak showed up. He hit me! I kicked his butt!
1:35 p.m. When do you think you’ll be back, getting bored!
12:57 p.m. Found nothing so far in DW office files.
12:10 p.m. Back at office.
11:15 a.m. Check out what we found at MD’s!
Anlon sat in stunned silence looking at the phone screen. Attached to the 11:15 a.m. text was a picture of Pebbles’ hand holding a gold coin. The design on the coin was familiar to Anlon, but he couldn’t quite place it. Attached to the 2:23 p.m. was a shot of a tabletop with one item placed center-frame of the picture…the Port Stone.
XV
DAY OF DISCOVERY
Anlon slowed the SUV as he motored up Devlin’s long, curving driveway. Parked outside the garage was Devlin’s silver Land Rover and Jennifer’s white, compact hybrid. Though sunset was still a good two hours away, the bright lights glowing from the house and barn created a warm and inviting aura. Anlon pulled alongside the two other vehicles and silenced the engine.
Stepping out of the car, he heard the back porch screen door slam and pounding steps down the staircase. Raising his eyes, he spied Pebbles running towards him at full tilt with a huge smile on her face and a rather noticeable bandaged lump on her forehead. She flung her arms around Anlon and crushed him against the SUV, kissing him square on the lips.
“Mmmm, I like that!” Anlon smiled and whispered as they separated. “What brought that on?”
“I don’t know, I just felt like doing it,” Pebbles cooed in return. “Well, maybe I’m a teeny bit medicated.”
“Ooh, can I have some too. Your poor forehead, it looks like it hurts,” Anlon said, peering empathetically at her wound.
“Nah, it’s no worse than nicks I’ve gotten fighting my brothers! Besides, it’s nothing compared to the hurting I put on that ponytailed scum bag!” she boasted.
“Come on,” Anlon said, pressing his lips against hers again, “let’s get inside. There is so much to talk about.”
“Can’t we stay here and kiss a little longer?” Pebbles winked.
From the porch, Jennifer watched their sweet embrace with envious but admiring eyes. So much for her long shot at Anlon, she thought, but maybe he has a cute friend! She cleared her throat and called down, “Okay you two, pizza’s almost here. We’ve got work to do.”
Pebbles leaned back while Anlon held her around the waist and turned her head to extend a mocking tongue towards Jennifer. “It’s always work, work, work with you!”
They all laughed. Pebbles grabbed Anlon’s hand to walk up the stairs, but Anlon said, “You go up, I’ve got to get something out of the car. I’ll be up in a sec.”
She nodded and raced back up the steps, stopping to smack Jennifer on the rear with the back of her hand before running into the house. Jennifer gasped at the unexpected blow and barked, “You’re going to pay for that Eleanor Marie!”
Pebbles halted suddenly inside the kitchen and spun around. With a quizzical look on her face, she called through the screen door, “How do you know my middle name?”
Oops, Jennifer thought. Out of view from Pebbles she blushed from her slip up, but decided to come clean, “I’m a copper. I did a little background check on you when you first got here.”
Pebbles was a tad irked by the intrusion but she brushed it off. Jennifer had saved her bacon earlier, so she had plus side chits in her favor, even after the snooping admission. But Pebbles made a mental note to circle back and talk with Jennifer later about what she found. If she did a criminal search, it was likely she ran across some things about Pebbles that she didn’t want Anlon to know yet. Or at least Pebbles wanted to be the one who talked to him about her past.
Soon the deliveryman arrived and they settled in the den to eat pizza and drink Cabernet while they talked. As usual, Pebbles ate with eyes glued to the remaining slices while devouring the one in front of her. Atop the square coffee table perched the pizza box, wine bottle, the gold coin and the portable safe. The Port Stone was in the freezer where Pebbles found it. She wanted Anlon to see for himself where she found it.
They were all famished so they ate in silence for several minutes, other than the muffled mouthful praise extolled by Anlon and Pebbles for Jennifer’s choice of pizza parlor. After washing down their first slices with generous swallows of wine, they looked at each other expectantly. Finally, Anlon said, “Who wants to go first?”
Pebbles reached for another slice and motioned to Jennifer, “You first copper.”
Jennifer snickered and teased, “Okay, don’t choke yourself while you speed eat!”
Their banter made Anlon smile. How their friendship evolved so rapidly was unclear to him but as far as he was concerned it was a welcome development. Together the three of them made a good team and that pleased Anlon. He did his best work as part of a team and knew that the only way they could solve the mysteries before them was to act as one.
“Let’s start with the search of Matthew Dobson’s house. We turned the place upside down for more than an hour. We didn’t find the will but did find some possible clues to its location. This is all assuming he actually has a will.
“We found bank statements. I’m going to hit the banks tomorrow and see if he had a safe deposit box. We found some log books that look like they belonged to Devlin. Once our fingerprint guys get a chance to dust them, I will bring them by so we can take a look.
“Then, just as we were about to leave, I realized we didn’t check the kitchen, so we went back and found a safe hidden behi
nd an old coffee maker in a cabinet. As soon as Pebbles finishes chewing her cud, I’ll let her pick it up from there since she deserves credit for cracking the safe,” Jennifer sarcastically concluded.
Pebbles stopped mid-chew and shot Jennifer a nasty look. She held up her index finger and washed down the pizza wad with Cabernet. Exhaling, she said with feigned incredulity, “Chewing my cud? Are you calling me a cow?”
Turning to Anlon, she composed herself and with demure presence proudly announced, “Yep, it’s true. I, Eleanor Marie McCarver, am now officially a safe cracker.”
She expounded the details of her web search and the various combinations they tried while Anlon and Jennifer withdrew another pizza slice each. With a flex of her bicep (pulling back the upper sleeve again, Anlon noticed), she crowed, “Nailed it on the third try!”
“That’s where we found hundreds of these,” Jennifer interrupted, rolling her eyes at Pebbles’ dramatic tale. “All neatly stacked and all bearing the same symbol…”
Pebbles shouted over top Jennifer’s comment, “It’s one of the Master Stone symbols AC!”
Anlon slapped his hands together. Of course, that’s where he’d seen the symbol. He said with surprise, “Hundreds of them?”
He recalled back to his conversation with Anabel. She said Pacal observed Dobson returning the map. Now his actions made sense. Dobson took the map to pinpoint the location of the gold, returned the map, found the gold and kept it. He picked up the coin and turned it over in his palm. It possessed the same symbol on both sides, a drawing of a fish. Anlon wondered if the coins had some special property like the other Stones, but assumed they would find out for certain soon enough once they viewed the Master Stone.
He asked, “Where are the rest of the gold coins?”
“I had some officers come out to Dobson’s house and haul the safe and gold to headquarters for forensics and safekeeping until we sort out where it came from and to whom it belongs. My Captain was quite happy with himself for prodding me to search Dobson’s home. I didn’t tell him I almost forgot to check the kitchen! At least he and I agree the gold is the strongest of our possible motives right now,” Jennifer answered.
Shadows of the Stone Benders (The Anlon Cully Chronicles Book 1) Page 18