The Aquitaine Armor (A Chyna Stone Adventure Book 5)

by K. T. Tomb

  “Really?” Tony asked skeptically. “Why’s that, Babe?”

  “I’m considering staying home for the next couple of assignments; I’m tired,” she replied.

  Tony didn’t say a word more. He stood up, took her hand and led her straight out of the office. When they returned from their lunch in the park, all of Chyna’s team members had descended on the Found History office. They were chattering away around the meeting table as Sirita poured coffee and chimed in every now and then.

  “Aren’t they just so precious?” Chyna said in her best rendition of a southern accent.

  Tony laughed so loudly at her quip that everyone at the table turned to look at them.

  “How’s it going, Boss Lady?” Lana asked as she hurried over to hug her friend.

  “It's going good, girl,” Chyna replied. “How are the wedding plans coming?”

  “They’re all done!” she said proudly. “Ted’s mom and my mom stepped in, took all my ideas and ran with it. Everything is booked, ordered, fitted; only thing left to do in some cases is pay and that ain’t none of my business.”

  She laughed at her own wit and smiled broadly at Chyna. She was so glad to see Lana happy; they both had such high-stress jobs and the imminent danger from day to day was enough to get even the most positive person a little dour every now and then.

  “Well, now it’s time you all did some work around here; the ‘British Holiday’ is over.”

  “Yeah, it’s about that time,” Lana agreed. “Umm, Chyna and Tony, this is Mark Gunnar. He’s our new junior investigator; if it all works out, he’ll be on the Istanbul team to back up Chyna and Sirita.”

  “Nice to finally meet you, Mark. Welcome to the team,” Chyna said.

  “Yeah, good to have you,” Tony added, shaking the man’s hand. He couldn’t help but give him the once up and down. It was clear that Tony still wasn’t keen on the idea of a handsome, blond Finnish man working so closely with Chyna.

  “Here are the requests that are possible next jobs for us. We need something lucrative and we need something for the whole team. We also need something that can be a good opportunity for Sirita to engage her logistics skills, Oscar to practice his tactical training and for Mark to get a good understanding of how we operate in the field. Discuss!”

  Chyna decided to walk Tony out; it was grossly inappropriate not to kiss him goodbye after their lovely lunch together, but even more so to do it in front of a roomful of employees. When she returned to her desk, she had three new emails in her inbox. Two were from Sirita but the third caught Chyna’s interest; it was from a woman she had met briefly at Sir Robert's party the previous weekend. She was the daughter of a Norwegian oil magnate whose company, Lothbruk Investments, donated two hundred and fifty thousand pounds to The Angevin Foundation’s historic buildings restoration fund every year. The subject of the email was ‘Ivory Bow’.

  Chyna clicked on Thyri Ragnarsson’s email and read it.

  Good Afternoon Chyna,

  Greetings from Oslo. Firstly, I’d like to take the opportunity to formally thank you for taking my friend Mark Gunnar under your wing. He proved a big help to me and my team some time back and he seemed to have caught the adventure bug. I’m still not sure why he didn’t take up the position we offered him in Atlanta, but I’m nonetheless happy that he has found a place at Found History.

  The main reason for this email, however, is regarding a lead for a new investigation. I received a direct request from some friends of my grandfather’s who wanted my team and me to help them track down a lost family heirloom. Unfortunately, I’m absolutely up to the neck at Lothbruk negotiating a pipeline merger and the Alphas are otherwise engaged in Mongolia. Usually, I would just insist that the team leave their present assignment as soon as it is completed and go directly to the next, but the client can’t wait that long. He will need a team to meet with him before he leaves Sweden for his annual family holiday to the Seychelles two weeks from today.

  It should be an interesting assignment for your team, Chyna, and unless the unexpected happens, which is sort of our modus operandi situation; it should be a pretty straightforward one as well. The client has an interest in some of the possessions of Queen Christina of Sweden, items from her childhood and her early reign and has recently inherited a treasure trove of personal and historic items related to her. Somehow he has gotten it into his head that there are some crucial pieces missing from the collection; in particular a hunting bow that was a gift from her father; a pure white, ivory bow. He needs investigators to dig up the truth and if it exists, to recover it.

  Let me know if your team is available for the job so that I can send over the details immediately.

  Thanks,

  Thyri Ragnarsson

  Chyna sent the email to the printer and stood up from her desk. She retrieved the paper on her way out the door and went directly to the table where the others were sitting, going through the pile of email requests she had given them and arguing amicably.

  “Okay,” Chyna said loudly so they would hear her. “Forget what I said earlier about discussing those emails. We have a referral and this is what we will be doing next.”

  Chyna put the paper down on the desk and looked at Lana and Mark, who were seated beside each other.

  “This one came from Miss Ragnarsson at Lothbruk Investments in Oslo, Norway. And, as is her usual style, it is an offer we can’t refuse.”

  The End

  Chyna Stone returns in:

  The Ivory Bow

  A Chyna Stone Adventure #6

  is available at:

  Amazon Kindle * Amazon UK * Amazon AU

  Also available:

  The Honeymooners

  An Adventure Novel

  by K.T. Tomb

  (read on for a sample)

  Chapter One

  The Elysium Resort shone like a diamond in the sun on the azure shores of the Cayman Islands. Multilevel buildings connected by glass-covered walkways, leading to and from the private beach. The shore was dotted with large blue umbrellas all bearing the emblem of the Elysium. Tan vacationers frolicked in the dancing surf, some tanning on the lounge chairs above the tide line, hiding behind large sunglasses and even larger hats. Beyond the edge of the sand where the grass began to grow butted the edge of the several resort pools, blazing bright blue in the tropical sun. Swimming in one of the pools closest to the shore, Ella and Charlie Colton were enjoying the first days of their honeymoon and marriage.

  Ella broke the surface of the water, brushing chlorine-filled water from her eyes and pulling auburn hair away from her face. She adjusted the spaghetti straps of her red bikini as she paddled her way over to the poolside bar. She nodded to the bartender; a pretty blond pushing fancy drinks bedecked with colorful straws, umbrellas and various pieces of fruit. Ella smiled as she took the bright green drink and lifted the sweet concoction to her lips, leaning against the edge of the pool. The sweet liquid warmed her body as she swallowed, relishing the flavor. The large swimming pool was one of three. Ella leaned against the far left edge of the area against the bar. She scanned over the crowd of other vacationers, all enjoying the offerings of the Elysium. Occasionally, the morning sky would brighten with a scheduled eruption of the faux volcano, casting a golden glow over the sun-browned skin of the vacationers.

  Seemingly out of nowhere, a pair of strong hands suddenly grabbed Ella's waist beneath the water, threatening to pull her under. Her adrenaline quickly gave way to laughter when her new husband broke through the surface of the water, his face inches from her own.

  “Well, hello there, Mr. Colton,” she said with a smile.

  “Hello yourself, Mrs. Colton,” he returned, punctuating his reply with a light kiss.

  They had been married all of three days. They had met five years prior at the archeology department where Charlie was a teaching assistant. They had noticed each other almost instantly that first day of class. Ella Berger had been a student in the class where he worked. They flirt
ed for a few weeks, eventually acknowledging their attraction for one another. Charlie went so far as to form a study group for the class under the hopes that Ella would show up. It met every Tuesday after the lecture. She did show up, of course; she and her group of girlfriends who suppressed giggles and exchanged glances behind the back of the gorgeous teaching assistant. Despite the instant attraction between Ella and Charlie, at her insistence, the two held off on dating until after her graduation. She did not want any rumors going around as to how she earned her grade point average. She graduated with honors, and spent the following summer on a two month internship studying ancient shipwrecks off the coast of Haiti. After this whirlwind adventure, her first action after landing back in the states was to call Charlie Colton to ask him out for a cup of coffee.

  “Why now?” he had asked her, glancing over the steam coming off his Turkish Black as they sat on the patio of the sunny coffee bar. “Why did you call me?”

  “I like you Charlie, but ours was an attraction of convenience,” she explained, sipping her latte. “We were not equals. I couldn't date you while still a student, Charlie. You already know that. Besides, I had to figure out if I actually liked you or if I just thought I liked you.”

  “What do you mean?” Charlie asked. “I think it was pretty evident.”

  “Oh come on, Charlie,” Ella replied. “Who doesn't look sexy while running a slide show on historical inconsistencies of ancient artifacts? I had to make sure my attraction to you was viable.”

  “And is it?” Charlie asked, his ego slightly bruised from the two month absence.

  Ella leaned across the table, peering at him from under her full eyelashes. “I asked you for coffee, didn't I?”

  They had moved in together within the year.

  Another two years after that, they decided to combine their intellectual prowess and open their own business dedicated to the preservation and restoration of ancient artifacts, Berger and Colton, Inc. When questioned about top billing on the name, they both insisted that they had gone with alphabetical order. Life sailed along for the two of them, working cases and developing a sterling reputation in archeology circles. Six months ago, Charlie had gotten up early and arrived at the office before Ella. When she arrived, he had the entire office garnished with white candles. He stood in the center holding a single red rose and had a small package tucked under one arm.

  “Charlie, what are you doing?” Ella asked when she opened the door.

  “I want to show you something,” he said. He handed her the rose and lead her to one of the chairs in the waiting area. He unwrapped the package, revealing a gold plaque engraved with the words “Colton & Colton, Inc.”

  “I don't understand,” she'd said. She did understand perfectly, but she wanted to hear him say it.

  “Marry me, Ella,” he had said. “I love you, you love me. We should take the next step. I can’t imagine ever waking up without you there with me.” When she didn’t seem particularly moved by his romantic gush, he added, “Besides, it would be such a benefit to the business, you know. Combine our assets, allow us some tax benefits. All we would really have left to do is change the signage. It certainly would save us from all those wretched conversations of explaining the alphabet method.”

  “That is true,” Ella said, with a mock serious look on her face, her fingers tracing the lettering of the gold plaque that she held in her lap. “That is definitely true.”

  Charlie went down on one knee and pulled a black silk ring box out of his pocket. He opened it and the candlelight illuminated the diamond cluster that was nestled inside it. Despite herself, Ella gasped. In the months between then and now, they had planned a wedding, arranged the honeymoon and even took on a few cases, including a week long symposium on Spanish shipwrecks in the Dominican Republic.

  Though they were used to traveling quite a bit with their job, the atmosphere of the Elysium still allowed for a much needed respite. No cases, no shipwrecks, no artifacts to find or relocate. Just a poolside bar, a luxury hotel, and days of relaxation stretched out ahead of them. Ella closed her eyes, resting her head on the edge of the pool and letting the water support her as she floated at the edge. She had not felt this relaxed in years.

  “Are you two enjoying yourselves?” Mitch Berger, Ella's uncle stooped down at the edge of the pool to greet the couple. He was the senior technical analyst for the resort and had gotten them in at a hefty discount despite the extensive waiting list.

  “Yes, Uncle Mitch,” Ella replied, opening her eyes and squinting up at him. “Very much so,”

  “What do you think of the place?” Ella's uncle was a kindly looking man, with laughing gray eyes and a large mustache. She thought he hadn't changed in appearance since she was a child.

  “Mr. Berger, we can't thank you enough. This place is amazing,” Charlie added.

  “Please, call me Mitch. Welcome to the family,” he said.

  “Thank you,” said Charlie.

  “Excuse me, sir.” The blond bartender leaned over to get Charlie's attention. She slid a dark beer toward him on a small napkin. “This is from the lady across the way there.”

  Both Charlie and Ella turned to look. A severe but attractive woman lounged at one of the tables in the patio-themed restaurant along the other side of the pool. Across the table from her sat two men wearing jeans and hard hats, looking over a detailed blueprint laid out in front of them. The woman wore her dark hair short and feathered around her face in a pixie style, offsetting her bright red lipstick. She raised a glass toward them, and Charlie raised his bottle slightly to acknowledge her purchase of the drink. Her dark blue business attire seemed out of place among the swimsuit clad resort occupants.

  Mitch gave a low whistle under his breath and exclaimed, “Well, I'll be...”

  “Who is she?” Ella asked.

  “Carol Chapman,” said Mitch. “She's the lead designer for the hotel, Benjamin Lee's go-to arts and relics dealer. Charlie, didn't you work with her during the acquisition of the Museum of Ancient Cultures?”

  “I sure did. Wait a minute, Benjamin Lee,” said Charlie. “He’s the owner of the Elysium, isn't he?”

  “Yes,” said Mitch. “Along with several other resorts and hotel chains.”

  “I remember him,” Charlie continued. “There was some scandal a few years back about him being suspected of smuggling relics on the black market and selling forgeries to the museums. They couldn't make the accusations stick, though. He walked on it. It's a shame how much of this is built on blood money” Charlie shook his head at the thought.

  “Innocent until proven guilty,” said Ella. “That's all we have to go on. Besides, why talk shop right now? I haven't felt this relaxed in years.” She draped her arm around Charlie's shoulder and he grinned back at her.

  “No business talk; you're right, Ella, we are on our honeymoon after all.”

  “Listen, if you two need anything during your stay, let me know,” Mitch said.

  He stood up and rubbed his hands along the tops of his work pants.

  “Oh, and I almost forgot. Tonight is the inaugural dinner celebrating the re-opening of the Museum of Ancient Cultures.”

  Ella gasped and turned to Charlie.

  “That's right! One of the reasons I wanted to come to the Cayman Islands in the first place! They've renovated your museum, Charlie. Will we see you there, Uncle Mitch?”

  “No, I'm afraid all that hoity-toity stuff isn't my scene. But I know how much you love your ancient art. You'll have a great time, I'm sure. They always put on quite a show for these sorts of things.”

  “Thanks, Uncle Mitch.” Ella smiled up at the man she had known since childhood.

  “I'd better get going,” Mitch said

  “I wonder why she bought me a drink...” Charlie wondered.

  Ella grinned and lightly splashed in his direction.

  “Maybe she thinks you're cute.”

  Charlie flexed his arm with a playful smile.

  “Yeah,
I am pretty cute. Aren't I?”

  Chapter Two

  Later that afternoon back in their hotel room, Ella stood in front of the full length mirror adjusting her diamond stud earrings. She had styled her hair into a dramatic swirl, pulled into a soft bun in preparation for the evening. She still wore the blue sundress and sandals that she had changed into after their swim.

  “I really can't believe the nerve of her buying me that drink,” Charlie said as he sat on the edge of the bed, buttoning his cuffs.

  “Don't worry about it, honey. It was probably just a professional gesture,” Ella replied.

  “It just gets me. I mean, when I was here for the acquisition I could tell that nearly half the stuff in the museum had to be forgeries. Most of the paperwork was nonexistent. It was a mess.”

  “Why would they get forgeries? It doesn't make sense,” Ella said.

  “Black market,” Charlie continued. “The real artifacts are sold to private collectors; probably sitting in the possession of one Mr. Benjamin Lee. That guy's got enough money to buy the world. Those artifacts belong to the Cayman people. They should be preserved and protected, not passed around like a bunch of overpriced baseball cards!”

  “Honey,” Ella said to him, “there's probably a lot that we don't understand. The Caribbean is a different animal when it comes to the acquisition and preservation of antiquities. We shouldn't rock the boat while we are here. We may need these connections later and we don't want to burn any bridges. Besides, your help with the acquisition is half the reason we got past the waiting list.” She walked over and ran her fingers lightly through Charlie's hair. “Let's forget about it and try to have fun tonight. Okay?”

  Charlie took a deep breath. Then he let his eyes roam over her as if seeing her dressed up for the first time. “You do look pretty smashing in that dress.”

  “That's more like it,” Ella said with a smile.

  “I'll bet you look even better out of it,” he half-joked.