*****
Austin descended the stairs to the basement and asked the guard for the keys to the Archives. He’d seen Marcus leave earlier with Anita, so now would be a good time to remove a couple of choice artefacts before Marcus explored too widely. ‘Keys,’ he barked at the security guard, who looked back blankly.
‘I’m afraid Marcus came and collected them earlier sir.’
‘What? You gave them to him when he was with Anita?’
‘He was with Anita? It was only Marcus who came down here.’
Austin’s fuse had been lit and if this were not resolved to his satisfaction extremely quickly, then he would explode and no one in the castle would be spared his wrath.
‘Amber,’ he bellowed.
She appeared at her office door, immediately knowing something must be wrong. ‘What is it?’ she asked concerned.
‘This blundering employee of yours has given Marcus the keys to the family vault when he was with Anita.’
‘Are you sure?’
‘I just saw them leave the castle together.’
Amber reacted instantly, barking orders back into her office and at the guard behind the desk. ‘I need a team of four people, now. Bring round the cars. Alert the Archives that they’re not to allow Anita to leave until we get there. Are you joining us Austin?’
‘Of course I’m sodding joining you. Let’s go.’