The Grotto's Secret: A Historical Conspiracy Mystery Thriller Read Online Free PDF Page B

they heard about it, archaeologists got excited. They’ve started a dig to discover fourteenth century farm life. It appears the ruined finca, um, that’s a small farm with lots of buildings. Now they’re digging up spoonful’s of soil at a time to see how medieval farms worked.’
    ‘The thing is, Kelby,’ Doctor Robson drew Kelby’s attention back to him, ‘is that this discovery wasn’t just the ruins —’
    Marina interrupted, ‘I also found a book and a pile of old documents.’
    ‘The important thing, Kelby, is that Marina has not revealed the true find to the archaeologists.’
    Kelby loved the way he said her name. Once again, she felt the thread that had connected them briefly on the plane. She glanced from brother to sister. ‘I’m not with you.’
    ‘The real find is a journal.’ Doctor Robson sounded impatient to get to the point. ‘Marina also found a leather bound book hidden in a clay pot. It dates back to medieval times.’
    Before she could stop herself, Kelby blurted out, ‘Medieval? Most people come to me with modern gadgets or futuristic inventions.’ She raised her eyebrows. ‘First time I’ve had something medieval in here.’
    Doctor Robson said, ‘Here, Marina will show you.’
    Marina’s tiny hands slipped something out of her folder. With careful movements she unwrapped a layer of mottled mocha and buff leather. ‘It’s a medieval girdle book. I think it was handmade by this author.’
    Kelby leaned closer to the leather clad book.
    ‘Look,’ Roy flipped back a long flap of leather with a knot on the end, ‘the book is bound with two pieces of wood covered with leather.’
    Kelby noticed the leather had been pasted to the boards with an extension of leather knotted at the end.
    ‘ ¡Mira! ’ Marina held the knot up in the air so the book hung upside down. ‘See, when you lift it up to read it, the book’s the right way up.’
    Kelby raised her eyebrows and nodded. ‘Clever idea.’
    ‘They would slip the knot under their belt to carry on their bodies.’ In a gentle motion, Marina placed the book back onto the table between them. ‘Here, take a look.’
    The book had a symbol etched on the cover.
    Kelby gasped and held a hand across her chest. ‘I know this. I see it every day.’
    ‘What?’ Marina glanced from Kelby to Roy, her frown darkening her golden glow. ‘You’ve seen this book before?’
    ‘No. Never.’ Slowly, Kelby reached into her blouse, keeping her eyes on Roy’s face. His eyes widened.
    Kelby pulled out a chain with a pendant hanging from it and said, ‘My brother Gary gave me this before he died.’
    In the middle of her palm lay a pendant with a large, curved X inside it. The symbol was an exact replica of the image on the book.

15
    Kelby lifted the chain over her neck and placed the necklace on the table between Roy and Marina.
    ‘How did he know the symbol?’ Marina asked.
    Kelby shrugged.
    ‘Maybe he saw it on the internet? Apparently, it’s one of a few ancient symbols no-one understands. A cipher that has never been cracked. I’ve been researching and —’
    Roy touched Marina’s arm to quieten her. ‘Don’t go into that. Kelby has very little time and it’ll just side track us.’
    But Kelby stayed on the subject and said, ‘Gary did some cycling training in Spain before he died. Could he have seen it there?’
    ‘Possibly. But where?’
    ‘I think he was cycling around the Sierra del Torcal.’
    Marina and Roy gaped at each other and Roy said, ‘That’s near Marina’s find. It’s too close to be a coincidence. Do you know any more about this?’
    ‘Nothing. Except he came home and had this made for me.’ She fondled the pendant and frowned, ‘I remember him saying he was onto something, but he went quiet for a while and then—’
    Kelby dropped the chain back over her neck.
    Marina said, ‘At first we thought the two CCs was something to do with the occult. When I was a child I heard whispers of a secret society