Page 36 of Nikolai
“We’re as far as we can go without busting our way in.And the guard isn’t here.”Nick pointed at the barrier across the road into the site.
“What?”Parker was fully oriented now.“It’s past ten.Matteo is supposed to be in the guardhouse by eight.He’s either an hour late or he’s off having a second breakfast.
Nick turned his head, frowning.“That’s the security at this place?One guy who scampers off?”
Parker sighed.“Pretty much.”
Nick took in the view.This part of the Campi Flegrei was flat and as far as the eye could see there wasn’t much except for the odd pile of rocks denoting a dig.Most of what was interesting was underground.
There wasn’t much of anything.Certainly no people.
It had been creepy as hell working here two days ago.Parker could finally admit to herself that truth.
“I’m glad you’re here,” she said quietly.
“I’m glad I’m here,” he replied.“How do we get in if the guard has gone to Naples to get his coffee?”
“Magic trick.”Parker reached into the side of her backpack and pulled out a remote control.The guard had been gone the last time she’d been here, too.Luckily, she’d been assigned the remote.She clicked and the long arm barring the entrance creaked and started lifting slowly.
“That’s not a steel barrier,” Nick said angrily.“It’s wood.This car could crash through it without scratching the hood.Anyone could get through it.”
She sighed.It was true.
“Drive down this main road for a kilometer and a half and turn right where it saysSCAVI.Excavations.”
The road was rutted but Nick somehow managed to make the ride as smooth as possible.When she’d gone down it in her Smartcar, it had nearly rattled her teeth out of her head.
“You were really engrossed in what you were reading.”Nick was driving slowly and carefully.
“Yeah.”Parker shot a glance at him.“Sorry about that.I wasn’t very good company.”
He shook his head.“No.Didn’t mean that at all.It’s just that you looked absorbed.Good news?”
“The best, actually.”Parker smiled.“Do you remember I told you about a group of baby nerds I had working for me in Oxford?Going through archives?”
“Yes.”Nick looked over at her, face serious.“I remember every word you’ve ever said to me.”
Oh.The words, spoken in his deep voice, hit a chord.It took her breath away for a moment.
“Well, my nerdlings found a possible correspondence between the owner of the villa we’re going to study and a friend of his who was stationed in Britannia.The owner of the villa, Lucius Varrus, quit Rome under Caligula, frightened of the emperor’s craziness, though of course he couldn’t say that.He came close, though, in what he obviously thought was a private correspondence.He was clear that he wanted out of Rome in the worst way and that he thought Caligula was going to burn Rome to the ground.As it happened, that was Nero.Oh!Turn right here?—”
But Nick was already turning.
“Caligula.Wasn’t he the guy who elected a horse to the Senate?Though I’ve met some senators and a good horse would definitely be better.Smarter.Saner.”
“He threatened to make his horse a consul, yes.And he declared war on the sea.Lots of craziness.No wonder Lucius Varrus, if he’s our guy, wanted out.”She pointed out the window.“See that outcropping with the shed?That’s our spot.”
Nick drove them to the spot and parked.
They sat for a moment in silence, listening to the ticking of the cooling engine.
Parker reached out and covered Nick’s hand on the wheel with her own.“Thanks so much for driving us.I was in a sweat of anxiety the whole way when I did it.You made it seem like a walk in the park.”
Nick moved his hand and clasped hers, bringing it to his mouth.He kissed the back of her hand.“It was nothing.”
“Not nothing.”Parker shook her head.“And now you have a whole day of waiting around watching me taking photos and notes.It’s not going to be fun.”
“Wouldn’t be in any other place in the world.”
