usual self, and I'm knackered… and still damp. I have something for your collection, I don't know if you're asleep or if you're still not back yet but …" - a bleep from his phone told him the signal had been lost and his connection cut mid call.
The mountains were beautiful but they restricted coverage from communication masts. Mark sighed and decided to try again when he was at a higher peak.
Sitting back into the leather seats, Mark enjoyed the rising whine of the engine's supercharger. He always enjoyed a spirited drive and the Jaguar was as comfortable as it was fast. Although, he had to be careful. Getting stopped for speeding didn't bother him too much. But glancing over at the glove box, Mark smiled. It wouldn't help royal relations if the car was searched and the glove box was opened. Mark always liked to keep a memento of his adventures for Eugene. After all, he was a treasure hunter.
For Eugene, a memento made the expedition more real. After conducting the research, hearing Mark's account and seeing pictures, it could sometimes feel a little flat. But an artifact from the day brought the whole thing to life, and added a sense of satisfaction and connection that looking through a glass display in a museum could never bring. Mark couldn't wait to see Eugene again for one of their much loved treasure talks, enjoying a coffee with a view of the cove.
Four signal bars appeared across Mark's phone indicating a strong reception. Mark thought he'd finish the call and ask Eugene to contact him as soon as he was back from the States. Pressing #1 again on his phone, it rang for three rings but this time the answer phone message didn't kick in. Someone picked up.
But it wasn't Eugene.
3
The Abbey Key
The piercing ring of the phone jolted Abby from the eerie silence of the cottage.
"Hello?" Abby asked again.
"Hi, who's this?" the voice asked.
"Abby. Who's this?"
"Abby? Hi, my name's Mark, I was looking to speak with Gene."
"I'm sorry Mr. Mark, he's not here at the moment, can I ask what this is regarding?"
"Yes, I'm a friend, and I've just finished a job he organized and was going to call in on him tomorrow morning."
Abby delayed her response. "I'm sorry Mr. Mark, tomorrow morning isn't a good time because I have some men booked in to arrive at the cottage."
"That's ok, the afternoon will be fine. And please, it's just Mark, that's my first name. I wasn't sure if he was even back yet from the States."
"Yes he er…," Abby paused trying to choose her words. "He is back, but… you say you're a friend?"
"Yes that's right, a very close friend. Are you okay? What men are coming tomorrow?"
"Some men from a house clearance firm," Abby said trying hard to hide the tears in her voice.
Mark eased his foot up from the accelerator, spotting a layby up ahead. "Hang on a moment, let me just pull over a sec," he let the big brakes bring the car to a stop. As the engine throbbed on idle, Mark closed his eyes and took a deep breath in through his nose. "What's happened Abby? What's going on?"
"My grandpa hasn't been well for a few months now and I'm afraid his condition worsened when he visited us last month."
"You're his granddaughter? I'm sorry I didn't realize."
"Mark, I'm sorry to be the bearer of bad news," Abby said trying to keep her emotions calm, "but my grandpa has passed away."
Mark sat stunned. Looking out of the side window at the mountains in the distance, he shook his head. "Abby?"
"Yes?"
"You're Abby?"
"Yes I am."
So that's what it meant. It wasn't a key to an Abbey, it was a key for an Abby! "I'm really sorry to hear this Abby. I'm truly sorry for your loss."
"I'm sorry too Mark, I'm sorry for you to find out this way."
Breathing out a sigh, Mark said, "I can't believe we often joked about this happening in the middle of a case. I swear it's like he knew and got me out here doing this damn recovery mission knowing exactly how it would play out."
"Well that sounds like Grandpa,
The mountains were beautiful but they restricted coverage from communication masts. Mark sighed and decided to try again when he was at a higher peak.
Sitting back into the leather seats, Mark enjoyed the rising whine of the engine's supercharger. He always enjoyed a spirited drive and the Jaguar was as comfortable as it was fast. Although, he had to be careful. Getting stopped for speeding didn't bother him too much. But glancing over at the glove box, Mark smiled. It wouldn't help royal relations if the car was searched and the glove box was opened. Mark always liked to keep a memento of his adventures for Eugene. After all, he was a treasure hunter.
For Eugene, a memento made the expedition more real. After conducting the research, hearing Mark's account and seeing pictures, it could sometimes feel a little flat. But an artifact from the day brought the whole thing to life, and added a sense of satisfaction and connection that looking through a glass display in a museum could never bring. Mark couldn't wait to see Eugene again for one of their much loved treasure talks, enjoying a coffee with a view of the cove.
Four signal bars appeared across Mark's phone indicating a strong reception. Mark thought he'd finish the call and ask Eugene to contact him as soon as he was back from the States. Pressing #1 again on his phone, it rang for three rings but this time the answer phone message didn't kick in. Someone picked up.
But it wasn't Eugene.
3
The Abbey Key
The piercing ring of the phone jolted Abby from the eerie silence of the cottage.
"Hello?" Abby asked again.
"Hi, who's this?" the voice asked.
"Abby. Who's this?"
"Abby? Hi, my name's Mark, I was looking to speak with Gene."
"I'm sorry Mr. Mark, he's not here at the moment, can I ask what this is regarding?"
"Yes, I'm a friend, and I've just finished a job he organized and was going to call in on him tomorrow morning."
Abby delayed her response. "I'm sorry Mr. Mark, tomorrow morning isn't a good time because I have some men booked in to arrive at the cottage."
"That's ok, the afternoon will be fine. And please, it's just Mark, that's my first name. I wasn't sure if he was even back yet from the States."
"Yes he er…," Abby paused trying to choose her words. "He is back, but… you say you're a friend?"
"Yes that's right, a very close friend. Are you okay? What men are coming tomorrow?"
"Some men from a house clearance firm," Abby said trying hard to hide the tears in her voice.
Mark eased his foot up from the accelerator, spotting a layby up ahead. "Hang on a moment, let me just pull over a sec," he let the big brakes bring the car to a stop. As the engine throbbed on idle, Mark closed his eyes and took a deep breath in through his nose. "What's happened Abby? What's going on?"
"My grandpa hasn't been well for a few months now and I'm afraid his condition worsened when he visited us last month."
"You're his granddaughter? I'm sorry I didn't realize."
"Mark, I'm sorry to be the bearer of bad news," Abby said trying to keep her emotions calm, "but my grandpa has passed away."
Mark sat stunned. Looking out of the side window at the mountains in the distance, he shook his head. "Abby?"
"Yes?"
"You're Abby?"
"Yes I am."
So that's what it meant. It wasn't a key to an Abbey, it was a key for an Abby! "I'm really sorry to hear this Abby. I'm truly sorry for your loss."
"I'm sorry too Mark, I'm sorry for you to find out this way."
Breathing out a sigh, Mark said, "I can't believe we often joked about this happening in the middle of a case. I swear it's like he knew and got me out here doing this damn recovery mission knowing exactly how it would play out."
"Well that sounds like Grandpa,
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