Conjuring Darkness

by Melanie James

  “You know, Kate never believed that Kurt died of a suicide. I’ve wondered about it, but the evidence was pretty clear. He still had the gun that killed him in his hand. They even tested his hand to see if he fired the gun himself. What other conclusion could there be?”

  “Trust me Lexi. Anything is possible if the people running the investigation were also involved in the death. In any case, if Kate is convinced it wasn’t suicide she may know something we don’t or she is just in denial, but either way it could be the reason for her paranoid behavior.”

  Lexi chimed in, “So you’re thinking it’s possible she hatched some conspiracy theory, because she was in complete denial about the way he died?”

  “Yeah, I think so.” Ryan replied.

  Lexi thought about how Kurt’s death affected Kate and herself.

  “Suicide is a double edged sword. There is the grief that someone is gone and then there’s the anguish over the reason. Both sides cut deep. For most people it is the hardest type of grief to deal with. You wonder if you should have seen any signs of it coming. Your mind demands to know if you could have prevented it. The darkest and deepest guilt for many is that they feel they were at least partially responsible for this person’s decision. Of course it isn’t true, but I think its human nature.”

  Lexi’s eyes once again filled with tears and her voice became shaky. “Even I wondered about those things. Kurt was Kate’s husband, but he was both a big brother and a father to me. After my parents’ deaths we had no family. You would think Kate and I would become closer, and we did in some ways. In time, the dynamics changed because of our age difference. She became more like a mother to me when she married Kurt. I resented it as if they were taking over where my parents left off. I didn’t go through some teen angst and take it out on others or myself. No, I just started to withdraw. I read. I lived in my own world of books and studying. So, when Kurt died, I felt that maybe I did have something to do with it. I had shut him out, slowly but surely. I could’ve let him be a dad to me. He did often seem that way, but I didn’t truly let that happen. I could’ve let him be a big brother to me like he was in the beginning of their relationship, but I was too shut off and in my own world. I couldn’t let myself be happy about any of it.”

  Ryan was listening and genuinely understood the reason that Lexi had tried to disconnect herself from that emotional bond.

  “Trust me Lexi, I get it. You know something? I have found myself being unhappy simply because I didn’t want to let myself be happy. In time, I realized that we only have this one life and I’ll be damned if I’m not going to appreciate every day of it.”

  He smiled trying desperately to lighten the mood again. “I suppose that I’ve never seen life as a problem or disappointment, as others do. To be honest my life has been a problem in just one way.”

  “And what way is that?” Lexi asked

  “Look around you. I’m living outside the fringes of civilization, alone. Some people would say that’s a little crazy, even for someone in my kind of work.”

  He thought about just saying it, admitting that he was becoming lonely and for the first time Lexi seemed to be fitting nicely into that empty space in his life. Hold on boy, you have no idea what to do next do you? You just met her and you’re about to just throw yourself down and compromise your self-determination? What the hell happened to self-preservation?

  Lexi seemed to sense that Ryan was on the brink of revealing something to her. She couldn’t help from hoping that he wanted to say something about how they seemed to be getting along so well.

  Maybe he wants to make a nice comment on how we seem to understand each other emotionally. That we’d make a good fit. Just say it, Ryan! I feel the same way. No, don’t say it! I don’t know if I can say it back, even if I mean it...even if I need it. This is just way too quick for anyone to start liking somebody so much, especially for me.

  She quickly cut in before he could speak again. “Well Ryan, I guess we’ve got something in common. A couple of loners we are. Destined to roam the world with nobody but our faithful furred companions.”

  “Oh I don’t know about roaming the world alone. If I’m not mistaken, it looks like you and I are about to do some roaming together.” He gave her his trademark smile and wink.

  Lexi blushed uncontrollably and Ryan loved the effect he had on her.

  “I’m looking forward to roaming on you.” It took a few seconds before she realized what she had said. “Oh! Holy Cats! I meant to say WITH you! With you, not on you. Oh God, sorry it came out sounding wrong. I mean it’s not that I wouldn’t...Oh God! Never mind. I am digging a hole here.”

  Ryan laughed, “Oh don’t worry about it.” He smiled at her, savoring the way she blushed. He had to admit he was more than a little curious to see her reaction. He decided to use a reply that would take it a little further.

  “Well, whenever you want to do THAT sort of roaming around, you just go right ahead!” He watched the astonished look on her face. Lexi was momentarily speechless.

  “Oh, and Lexi?” He tried to sound half serious.

  “Yes Ryan?” She said it with a smile and gleam in her eye, because she could tell by Ryan’s tone that he was about to make a smart comment.

  He smiled and leaned forward. “I wouldn’t mind roaming a bit either.”

  She took the chance to make a play and beat him at his little game. She gave him her own sassy look. “A little traveling advice for you then, don’t forget to take the scenic route and allow yourself plenty of extra time at the little out of the way places. I think it will make the journey more memorable.” She winked and smiled in a half-hearted attempt to mimic Ryan’s expression.

  Ryan was completely surprised at what she had said and started laughing.

  “Okay, okay fair enough. I wasn’t sure if you were as sassy as you looked, but you are. You’re a funny girl, Lexi. We should probably get back to what we were talking about. Then maybe get some lunch. That’s another thing too, when we start roaming around I can’t wait to get something good to eat. I’m looking forward to taking my time and savoring something delicious.” He intentionally let his eyes move down from her face to her waist and then laughed.

  “Holy cats! You actually just said that! You ARE bad.” Lexi said between laughter. With a somber expression, she said “Thanks Ryan.”

  “Ah you’re welcome I think, but thanks for what?” Ryan asked.

  “Well we had kind of a pretty emotional and sad conversation going there for a while, with the topic of my parents and about Kurt. I appreciate that you were able to let me talk about things I never share and I think you did the same. Plus, it was nice the way you lightened it up. I just want to thank you.”

  “You’re welcome, Lexi. So here is my plan. I have contacts in Israel and I’ve already asked for some information on this guy. I think we should go there and pay him a visit before we run into Turkey with this coin. The region where Kate has been spotted is located within the Southeastern Anatolia Region of Turkey.”

  He brought up a zoomed in view of Kate’s last location on the monitor.

  “That region is on the Syrian border, and of course Syria is going through a pretty violent uprising. While it hasn’t spilled over into Turkey, except for a few isolated artillery attacks directed at Turkish forces, there will be a very high military presence. There will also be a chance that there will be militants trying to enter or leave the war zone. The other thing to worry about is there is also a group operating in the area that has been engaging in terrorist acts for years. The PKK. It’s the Kurdish Workers Party. They are most active right now near the border that Turkey shares with Iraq. There has been a cease fire between the Turkish government and that group for about a year now. Let’s just hope it holds. It could get pretty dicey really quick, if the PKK feels like Turkey isn’t complying with the terms of the cease fire.”

  “Wow I didn’t expect to hear that we would be entering a combat zone.”

  “No Lexi
, it’s not like that at all. It’s just that we have to really keep our wits about us and make sure we don’t get caught in the middle of something, should trouble break out. Even with all of this going on, I would feel safer there than wandering through parts of some American cities. Plus, I have a few pretty good contacts in the area from when I was still in the Navy. I worked with the NSA, as well as some Turkish counterparts on anti-terrorist surveillance. I know who I can trust.”

  Ryan paused and decided it was time to throw the last wrench into the mix. “Is Kate involved in any criminal activity? Terrorism or otherwise?”

  Lexi’s mouth dropped open. “No way! That isn’t Kate. I told you, she was doing some research there.”

  “Well if she is she’s going completely solo. She’s freelancing it and I find that to be contrary to any archaeological work I’ve ever seen, in any part of the world. Those projects are planned often years in advance. There are universities, societies, governments, and all sorts of wealthy backers. Everyone sticks their fingers in it. From what I found out she isn’t involved in projects currently underway in the region, at this time, even though she has been seen at the dig site at Gobekli Tepe. It must have to do with Kurt, the Israel trips, and that coin. Lexi I hate to say it, but by her actions I have to consider that she may be involved in smuggling antiquities from the site. All the more reason to find the good doctor. We’ll find out more. Don’t worry.”

  “Well, I know Kate. She has always gone ballistic when she heard of artifacts being taken out of places illegally. That would be so contrary to her personality that in all honestly, I wouldn’t even consider it, Ryan.”

  “Okay I’ll trust your judgment Lexi, after all you know her. I don’t. I had to tell you what I thought though, because if I figured that she was involved with smuggling then others will suspect that for sure.”

  “Alright so now what? When can we leave? Oh and you were right, I had a suitcase that disappeared in that mess yesterday so I only have one set of clothes. I have the feeling we may need to pack for a few days for sure.

  “Right now we have to wait for some information from Israel. I don’t think it will take any longer than a day. Meanwhile, I’ll message my home office and see what they can put together to get us into Israel quietly. You can do a little shopping there. Haifa has a good sized shopping mall. Its claim to fame was that it was hit by an Iraqi Scud missile during the 1991 Gulf War.”

  “Okay, but it sure seems like everywhere we are talking about going involves violence.”

  “Lexi, I think everyplace is potentially violent. When you think about it there is very little stopping anyone from an act of violence, other than that they decide not to. I mean anyone. Not much of a guarantee for me. One more reason to be cautious about people.”

  “Yes, I guess you’re right. Oh and I really need to call my friend Marcie and see how things are going back home. Don’t worry, I won’t discuss any of this stuff with her.”

  “Oh sure. You can use your cell, but I have to run it through my satellite link in order for it to work here.”

  He picked up her phone and hooked it up to a cable coming from a computer on the workstation. “I’ll let you make your call. I’ll be out here getting Buddy’s food.”

  Lexi watched him as he went to an overhead cabinet to get something for the dog. He was facing her with his arms reaching up. She couldn’t stop staring at him, standing there in front of her in nothing but a pair of shorts.

  Every muscle seemed to be so well defined she thought he had once been a Greek statue that had come to life. She took her phone and quickly snapped a picture without him noticing. She waited until he finished and headed out onto the deck. She sent the image off to Marcie’s cell phone and then she dialed the number to her store.

  “Hello, Lexi’s Books, this is Marcie.”

  “Marcie, it’s me Lexi!”

  “Hey! How’s it going? Where are you?”

  “Everything is fine! Listen I have no idea how long I can keep this connection. I’m with the guy. Kidd. At his place. Quick tell me, how is Allie doing? Anything going on there?”

  “Allie’s fine, Lexi. She’s right here with me. The store is fine. The house is fine. Have you heard from Kate? Tell me about mystery man too!”

  “Oh good. Kate is okay. We’ll be leaving in a day or so to see her. No problems. Look at your cell phone and check out the picture I sent you.”

  “Wow Lexi! Let you off the farm and look what you go find. Now that is a grade-A piece of steak. I would be gnawing on that all day and all night!” She laughed.

  “Tell me he isn’t one of the constipated looking super-serious detective kinds of guys? Or that he walks around with one of those stupid little ear microphones talking into their cuff.”

  Lexi was cupping the phone with her hand and trying to talk quietly.

  “No. He’s not like that, he’s really nice. He’s been so awesome about everything since I got here. Marcie, he is so fricking hot. I can hardly take it. It’s been really hard to focus on anything with him around all the time.”

  “So you finally found someone up to your standards? Good, now get your feet in the stirrups and ride the hell out of that horse, girl!”

  “Marcie! You are awful. Guess what we did?”

  “Yes! Yes! Tell me and give me the details and when I say details, I mean I want to know right down to the curve of his cock. It’ll give me something to think about tonight!”

  “Um okay Well we-.”

  “You’re killing me, Lexi! Out with it. I command you to confess your trashy sins!”

  “We connected and I actually flirted with him! Not on purpose at first, but I was getting tongue tied and well we were teasing each other. It was so hot, Marcie! I am pretty sure he likes me, because he was teasing me back. You wouldn’t believe how we’ve been able to talk about things and share our deepest feelings. It has been just amazing!”

  “Um. If you could see my face right now, Lex. Let’s just say I’ve completely failed as your best friend. You’re twenty-five and you’re so beautiful. You’re in the prime of your sexy hot life and you’re excited about talking to a guy.” Marcie shook her head in disbelief.

  “If I would have done my job right you would have been riding him like a cheap carnival ride! We have two completely different definitions of connecting for sure. Listen to me Lexi, when you find yourself with a guy like that and in a situation like that, it’s like a rare planetary alignment. It happens once in a lifetime, if it ever happens at all. You need to just enjoy yourself. Now I hate to burst your bubble, but those kinds of guys have only one purpose and if you are expecting love, forget it. Those guys are like bees going from one pretty flower to the next and taking what they want. I say so what let him have a taste and enjoy yourself. Just keep your expectations down to earth. You want to flirt and get him to notice that you want some? Let me tell you how to do it. What are you wearing?”

  “Just one of his old t-shirts, nothing else at all. My suitcase got lost and I had to wash everything I was wearing. I’ve had to be really careful not to let my shirt creep too high up, let me tell you.”

  “You’re fucking kidding me, right? God, girl you are killing me. You may have passed up the best opportunity you may ever get. Now, this is what you need to do. Make sure he is looking your way and show off your legs. Keep him looking and eventually, you just nonchalantly move that shirt up a bit, adjust those sexy legs and let him get a peek of that sweet little flower of yours.”

  Marcie started to laugh so hard she made snorting noises. “Hitch that puppy up an inch and just watch his reaction. He’ll be all over you. Just tease him along and when he can’t stand it, you’ll be able to tell. Trust me.”

  “Marcie! You’re evil! And nasty! I can’t believe you said that. Wait, yes I can. But No! No way. You are just messing with me I bet. Anyway, I better get going. Take care of Allie for me. Give her a kiss. I’ll call again soon and let you know how it’s going.”

  “Oh
Lexi, please be careful and I’m serious about letting yourself relax some. You never take any time to just get away and enjoy life. Think of this as an opportunity to do just that.”

  Lexi finished her call and had just hung up when Ryan walked in.

  “Hey, the washer is done. I’m afraid the only dryer is the clothesline here. I would have hung them up for you, but well, I figured you would rather take care of that yourself.”

  Lexi went to take care of her clothes and Ryan went back to the workstation, checking for any updates from his contacts.

  ”Well, no news yet. Why don’t we head down to the beach with Buddy for a while and when we get back I’ll make you a real meal. I’m a pretty good cook, if I do say so myself. By then your clothes should be dry and maybe we’ll have some news so we can prepare for our trip.”

  Chapter Six

  Lexi and Ryan walked down the stairs and were greeted by a single loud bark from Buddy. They spent the rest of the afternoon on the beach and continued to learn more about each other. For Lexi and Ryan, this day had become unforgettable.

  They sat on a pair of comfortable beach chairs that Ryan brought along. The warm salty water splashed over their feet as their conversation had gone beyond the phase of small talk and back to the mystery that brought them together.

  “Have you heard much about this site, Gobekli Tepe, Lexi?” Ryan asked.

  “Well it is pretty unique. It has only recently been excavated and studied. It dates from between nine and ten thousand BCE, which is thousands of years older than the previously known oldest Mesopotamian civilization of Sumer. It was thought at that time that the people were strictly hunters or gatherers and only a settled agrarian society would build those types of structures. It actually rewrites the known history of civilization.”

  Ryan processed Lexi’s information and restated it out loud to put it together.

  “That makes sense. Hunters would have to be completely nomadic and not look at the land as something they could shape like a farming society would. What kind of place was it? A palace or something?”