Beneath the Hallowed Hill Read Online Free PDF Page A

Michael.”
    “Just tell me the whole story,” Michael said. Something in Stephen’s voice set his nerves on edge.
    “Robert was bringing the last batch of crystals back to the museum. He was very excited about some work he just did, told me he knew the big crystal was a sentinel for the Tuaoi Stone.”
    Michael straightened up. “The Tuaoi Stone? Is he certain?” The famed Fire Stone, the center of Atlantean crystal technology.
    “He was. I waited for him for over three hours, I thought maybe he’d done another meditation with the crystal and lost track of time. I called his house and his wife said he left the house right after he called me.”
    A shiver of alarm ran down the length of Michael’s spine. “What’s happened?”
    “The police found Robert—” Stephen’s voice choked off.
    “No.”
    “He was murdered.”
    “I’ll come right away.”
    “Good. We need you.”
    Michael ended the call and ran back to the Vesica Piscis pool. Anne glanced up, her face the picture of contentment…until she saw Michael’s. She jumped up and ran over to him. “What’s the matter?”
    “It’s Robert. He was killed. I have to go back to New York.”
    * * * *
    Anne drove Michael to Heathrow the following morning. After he checked in, she went with him to security where they found a private corner to say goodbye. “Are you sure you don’t want me to come?”
    “You have work to do at the house, and I’ll be busy with the group.”
    “But you’ve lost someone very important to you. You stood by me when I lost Thomas.”
    He kissed her forehead. “I knew Thomas, too. We’d shared research several times. I don’t want you in any danger.”
    Anne stepped back and looked at him in alarm. “I’m calling Arnold.” He was head of Le Clair family security.
    “But he works for your family.”
    “So what are you? Chopped liver?”
    Michael smiled for the first time since he got the news. “The police are investigating. I’m sure they’ll find the killer.”
    “Right,” Anne said, then spoke in falsetto, “Officer, you see, my friend was doing psychic investigations on crystals from Atlantis, and we’re being trailed by this Illuminati master who is obsessed with uncovering Atlantean technology to take control of the world.”
    Michael took a sharp breath. “Do you think Cagliostro is involved in this?”
    “I don’t know, but it’s possible, isn’t it?”
    “We’ve tightened security in the lodge, Arnold did background checks on everyone. How could Cagliostro have known about this?”
    “Who knows? The point is, I don’t think he’s given up; we still have these.” Anne lifted the silver chain holding her crystal that was hidden beneath her blouse.
    “I hope you’re just being paranoid,” Michael said, “but please do call Arnold.”
    “Good.”
    Michael’s brown eyes were full of pain. “I don’t know what I’d do without you.”
    They kissed goodbye. Anne called Doctor Abernathy as soon as she was back in the Vauxhall. Roger Abernathy held an unusual position with the Le Clair family; it was passed down through his own family for generations. He was the current holder of an ancient trust originally begun with a group of monks known as the Knights Templar. Over the years the position became secular, but he still considered his position of Protector of the Bloodline a sacred duty. Anne told him all the details and asked if Arnold was available.
    “Actually, he’s on vacation, but I’ll bet he’ll come when I tell him what’s happening.”
    “I hate to interrupt him.”
    “We need him. I’ll call you as soon as I have more information. Tell Michael I’m sending a car to pick him up.”
    Anne dialed Michael and filled him in.
    “We’re boarding now, so I’m turning off the cell,” he said.
    “Talk to you when you land.”
    Anne arrived back in Glastonbury in the late afternoon. So much for her romantic tryst in England. She dropped the keys on the front hall table and walked