by Leo McNeir
Before Anne could complete the sentence, Zoë turned on her heel and hurried away towards the staff hut. Dick was breathing heavily and looked as if he had been struck in the face.
“That bloody woman,” he muttered under his breath. “Someone should really put a stop to her wild accusations.”
“What are her accusations, exactly?” Anne said.
Dick turned to face her. “I’m sorry you’ve got dragged into this, but you’re right. We’ve got to get the students properly organised before everything goes down the tubes.”
With the flash of a grim smile, Dick turned and strode off to meet the group.
Watching him go, Anne said, “I don’t think I’m any the wiser about what they were arguing about.”
Donovan looked serious. “It must surely be that Zoë is pooh-poohing Dick’s treasure find.”
“But we knew that already, and so did Dick. I let it slip out last week, remember?”
“Sure, but this time there’s a difference.”
“What can be different about that?”
“Well …” Donovan began. “For a start, Zoë is actually confronting him about it in person. That’s bound to give it an extra edge. And also, she’s being much more forthright about it, much more up front.”
“Why d’you think that is?”
“My guess …” Donovan hesitated, “…my guess is, she’s found something out, something important.”
“You mean, like actual proof that he hasn’t made the discovery after all?”
“Could be something like that.” He suddenly changed tack. “Come on, let’s get togged up. We don’t want to delay things.”
From the doorway of the staff hut, Anne saw Dick talking to the students who were now assembled just inside the compound. She followed Donovan in and found Zoë sitting at a table speaking in animated fashion on her mobile. With her free hand she was gesticulating, waving a finger in the air to force home her points.
“… yes fine, fine. Good. I’ll tell you more when you get here. See you soon. Bye.” She disconnected and looked up at Anne. “Sorry. Sorry I turned my back on you, Anne. It’s just … bloody Dick Blackwood. He’s such a pain. Anyway, that was Prof de Groot. He’s coming over this morning and we’ll have it out with Dick once and for all.”
“What are you hoping to achieve, Zoë?” Donovan asked quietly, setting down his bags.
“I’m going to prove it didn’t happen.”
“It being … Dick’s big find?”
“Of course. What else?”
“It’s sometimes hard to prove a negative, Zoë, especially when there’s evidence to the contrary.”
Zoë’s smile in reply contained neither warmth nor humour. “Evidence? You mean a few artefacts that could’ve come from anywhere?”
“Artefacts that have been verified by experts from the British Museum.” Donovan’s tone was reasonable.
Zoë shook her head. “I’ll tell you what’s evidence. Dick says he made his discovery while out on the boat with Gerald Parfitt, right?”
“We know that,” Anne said.
“And if I told you Gerald Parfitt knew nothing about it?” Zoë paused for effect. “What would you say about that?”
“Is that what Parfitt is actually saying?” Donovan asked. “Are you sure?”
“Not in so many words, but I phoned him at the weekend. He was very coy about the whole thing.”
Anne looked at Donovan. She could almost hear his brain whirring.
“It doesn’t add up, Zoë,” he said. “Why would he make up something that could so easily be disproved?”
“Didn’t I make myself clear?” Zoë persisted. “Let me spell it out for you again.” She spoke slowly, emphasising every word. “Parfitt had been out sailing with Dick. And yes, they had discussed the wetlands of that time. But of King John’s so-called treasure … Parfitt wouldn’t be drawn. Is that clear enough?”
“Dick presumably didn’t accept your view,” Donovan said.
Zoë glared at him. “You saw how embarrassed he was. He was furious that his scheme had been rumbled. Surely you could see that.”
“There is another way of interpreting his reactions,” Donovan said. “Parfitt could have been respecting confidentiality, and Dick could’ve been furious that you should question his integrity.”
“Integrity? Huh! What integrity? Anyway, why are you taking his side like this, Donovan? Is it some male pride thing … solidarity between macho brothers?”
Donovan said nothing. Anne could feel static electricity crackling in the air between him and Zoë. She frantically searched for words that would defuse the tension in the atmosphere.
“Perhaps we could step back from the –” she blurted.
“You can step back,” Zoë spat out the words. “I have work to do. If you want to do something useful to help, you can get yourselves into gear.” She pushed open the door, pausing briefly on the threshold. “Time is running out … I haven’t got long.” The door closed itself smoothly behind her.
Anne and Donovan changed quickly. Anne sat to remove her wellingtons while Donovan took down the hard hats and pulled the jackets from the locker. Turning, he saw her stretch her legs and wiggle her feet in lime green ankle socks.
“Is that the latest fashion in the construction industry?” he said.
“Ask any of the builders,” Anne replied, unabashed.
They both donned protective boots before setting out. Five paces from the hut they bumped into Dick. Donovan thought he looked remarkably at ease for someone whose most important find was being held up to ridicule. In the background the students were trooping off to their hut to change into working gear.
“Any sign of the professor?” Dick asked.
“He’s not here yet,” said Anne. “He’s coming later on.”
“D’you know when?”
Anne shook her head. “Zoë didn’t say.”
“Zoë?”
“She was talking to him on the phone just now.”
Dick turned and scanned the compound, holding up a hand to shield his eyes from the light. Without speaking he hurried away in the direction of the dig site. Donovan made to follow, but Anne took hold of his arm.
“I think Marnie ought to know what’s going on this morning. Philip, too. We seem to be heading for some sort of showdown.”
“Got your mobile?” Donovan said.
Anne tugged it from her pocket. Marnie answered at once, and Anne succinctly outlined her concerns. As she spoke, Donovan touched her arm and nodded over her shoulder. Dick was hurrying towards them. Marnie thanked Anne for the warning and said she would phone back as soon as she had spoken to Philip.
Dick joined them, muttering something about red tape.
“Problem?” said Donovan.
Dick looked annoyed. “I got called out of the dig site by the health and safety officer.”
“Incorrectly dressed?”
“Got it in one. I’ll go and change.” He rushed off towards the staff hut.
Anne noticed that Donovan was now scanning the compound as the students trickled back from the changing rooms. He was frowning.
“Something wrong?” Anne asked.
“Not sure,” Donovan said vaguely. He continued his inspection, concentrating hard.
“What’s bothering you?” Anne said.
By now they were surrounded by the students. Donovan pushed through the group and stood at the edge peering into the distance. Anne was about to repeat her question when he turned to the nearest students.
“Anyone seen Zoë Tipton?” he said.
*
Marnie was having problems with the switchboard operator at Everett Parker Associates. She tried the patient approach.
“Yes, I know he’ll be in the management group meeting. I’m working with him.”
“Sorry, what did you say your name was?”
“Marnie Walker. I’m heading interior design on the Horselydown project.”
“Just a momen
t, please.”
Marnie sighed with relief. “Thank you.”
After a brief pause the operator was back. “I’m afraid you’re not on my list.”
Marnie took a deep breath. It was intended to calm herself down. It failed.
“That’s because I’m an external consultant. Will you please just put me through to the extension in the meeting room … now.”
“But I’m not allowed to interrupt –”
“Trust me,” Marnie said firmly. “Mr Everett will want to be interrupted. Tell him it’s urgent.”
“But –”
“No, not but. This is really important.”
“I’m very sorry, but I can’t do that. Those are my instructions.”
“You’re new, aren’t you?”
“Started this morning … an hour ago.”
Another sigh from Marnie. “Temping?”
“Yes, from the agency … holiday relief.”
“And your name?”
A pause. “Janice.”
“Okay, Janice, here’s what I want you to do. Write a short note – Marnie on phone urgent. Trot across the foyer, take it into the meeting room and hand it to Philip. Wait for him to tell you to put me through, then go back and do it. Can you do that for me?”
Another pause. “I’m not supposed to leave reception.”
Marnie was now close to homicidal.
“Janice, I’m running out of two things. One of them is the battery on my mobile. I leave the other one to your imagination. I’ll hold on while you go. You’ll be in sight of the desk all the time.”
A minute later, Philip was on the line.
“Morning, Marnie, what’s up?”
Marnie explained about Anne’s phone call and her fears about the situation at Horselydown. At first, Philip made no reaction. When he spoke there was doubt in his voice.
“Is that so unusual, Marnie? I mean, Zoë in the middle of a row. I thought that happened fairly often.”
“It does, but there was something different this morning. I could sense that Anne was much more concerned than usual.”
“Fair enough. So what do we do?”
“I’m going down there.”
“Where are you at the moment, Marnie?”
“Not far from home, but I’ll grab a train and get back as soon as I can.” No response. “Philip?”
“You’ve got me worried, too, Marnie. I’ll see you there.”
*
Anne and Donovan were standing with the students in the middle of the compound when the mobile rang. Anne had to press the phone tight against her ear to hear properly; it sounded as if Marnie was walking quickly as she spoke. She announced that she was on her way back to London and that Philip was probably already crossing the city to converge on the site.
Anne suddenly had a pang of misgiving. Had she exaggerated her anxiety? Was it all just business as usual at Horselydown, with Zoë in the thick of a row? But she knew Donovan had felt it too, a new edge to the tension that was so often in the air.
“Are you down in the dig?” Marnie asked.
“No, we’re just sort of standing around with the students. Nothing’s happening at the moment.”
“You’re at surface level?”
“Yes.”
“Why aren’t you in the excavation?”
“Hang on, Marnie.” Anne turned to Donovan. “What’s the hold-up?”
Donovan spoke to the students and replied to her. Anne raised the phone again.
“It seems we’ve been told to wait. The health and safety people have got to give the all-clear before we can go down. Something to do with the shuttering and scaffolding after all the rain. They want to make sure it’s –”
The sound that stopped Anne in mid-flow was a distant roar, like the whoosh of a gas jet igniting on the hob of a cooker. It was followed by a metallic clattering. In one movement the students leapt back, leaving Anne and Donovan momentarily isolated. Their eyes were drawn to the dig site as the scaffolding collapsed inside the hole and a bulbous cloud of dirt and dust blew out like the eruption of a volcano. Donovan grabbed Anne’s arm and pulled her away.
In a state of shock, Anne realised she was still clutching the mobile. As she raised it to her ear, she could hear Marnie’s voice on the line.
“… was that sound? Anne? Can you hear me? Are you all –”
“Marnie, I’m here. The dig site … it’s blown up, it’s … I mean the scaffolding’s collapsed … it’s a complete mess … I don’t know what to –”
“Anne, listen. Is everybody safe? Are you and Donovan okay?”
“Yes. I think so.”
“Is Dick there, or Zoë?”
“Can’t see them at the moment.”
“Then get the students together and take a roll call. Assemble them by the perimeter fence well away from the excavation. Can you do that?”
“Sure. Right away, Marnie.”
“We have to account for everybody.”
“I understand.”
“My train’s coming. I’ll be with you as soon as I can.”
Marnie’s last words were instantly drowned out by the noise of a train pulling into the station. Anne caught the sound of a loudspeaker announcement in the background as Marnie disconnected.
Anne and Donovan wasted no time, shepherding the students towards the fencing. When everyone was well clear of the disaster area, Donovan went back to inspect the dig hole. Anne realised she had no list of the students to take a roll call. She swelled her meagre chest, took a deep breath and spoke out as loudly as she could above the students’ excited voices.
“Can you please listen, everybody. Hallo? Can I have your attention, please?” The babble subsided. “You may know that I’m part of the architects’ team. We need to make sure everyone in the group is accounted for. Does anyone have a list of names?”
A black girl spoke up. “Zoë and Dick both have lists … probably in the staff hut.”
Anne looked round. There was a buzz of activity as builders milled about in the vicinity of the huts.
“Thanks, Debbie. But I think I might be in the way over there. Let’s try another method. Could you group yourselves together according to who was with you yesterday in your pit or trench. I have to find out if anyone’s missing.”
The students began reassembling, settling into groups of three or four. In minutes they had established that every member of the squad was present.
“That’s great. Thanks, everybody.”
One of the postgrads asked if Anne knew what would happen next.
“The truth is, I’ve no idea. I expect the health and safety officers will inspect the dig. Once they’ve done that, they’ll tell us what has to be done.”
“What about us? Will we have to stay here?”
“Good question. I expect so.”
There were murmurings among the group. Clearly, the thought of another morning spent hanging around did not appeal. Anne had a sudden flash of inspiration.
“Look, would anyone fancy a coffee?”
The murmurings immediately shifted gear and became more positive.
“Okay. Here’s what we’ll do. I’ll take six of you with me to the café. We’ll get coffees to take away and you’ll bring them back here. Then the next group of six will follow and so on, till everybody’s got one. Is that all right?”
A cheerful voice spoke out. “Sounds like a plan.”
Another voice said, “Who’s paying? I’m skint!”
Anne grimaced. “I’ll put them all on my credit card.”
A muffled cheer went up. Anne could see Donovan talking to some of the contractors close to the point where the dig ladder still protruded from below ground. She excused herself briefly and rushed over to him. Am I doing the right thing? she wondered. Recognising the site agent, she veered off and collared him as he strode across the compound. She wanted to do everything by the book. At first she thought he was going to brush past her, but she stood her ground.
&nbs
p; “Sorry.” She spoke rapidly. “I know you’re busy but I’m organising the students.”
The contractor slowed. “About time somebody did.”
Anne outlined her plan to keep the archaeologists occupied and supplied with coffee. The agent agreed to their leaving the site in groups on the understanding that without exception each one of them returned directly to the collection point by the fence. Anne felt relieved to have his support. When she turned to go, she found Donovan behind her.
“I heard your plan,” he said. “It sounds good.”
“What’s happening here?” Anne asked.
“Those men over there are the health and safety officers.” Anne saw three men speaking together at the edge of the dig area. Donovan went on. “Apparently they’re going to wait for about twenty minutes. If there’s no further subsidence, one of them will go down and carry out a quick visual.”
“D’you want coffee?”
Donovan smiled for the first time since the collapse. “I’d have thought that was fairly obvious.”
Anne thumped him on the chest and legged it back to the students.
*
Janice the temp at Everett Parker Associates was not without her qualities. She had a taxi waiting outside the entrance to the building by the time Philip returned to the foyer with his briefcase. On the way across the city he tried to get Marnie on the mobile again, but each attempt was thwarted by a chirpy female voice inviting him to leave a message. By the fifth failure he was ready to strangle the voicemail woman.
He had more luck when he rang the site office. The clerk of works filled him in on the accident and assured him that as far as anyone could judge, no-one had been injured when the scaffolding crashed down.
“And you’re certain you’ve accounted for everybody on site?” Philip said.
“Certain … well apart from the archaeologists.”
Philip could hear alarm bells ringing. “Bloody hell, Terry, there are dozens of ’em!”
“No, no, Phil. What I meant was, Marnie’s girl, Anne, has them all under control.”
“Well, thank God for Anne. Why aren’t the two so-called site directors taking charge?”
“You know them, Phil. Never there when you need them.”
Philip admitted to himself that he had become profoundly disappointed with the archaeologists. When he had initially been briefed for the project he felt a tremendous excitement. Working with Capital Archaeology had seemed like a huge bonus. The Horselydown contract made a central feature of the archaeology. It was ground-breaking, inspirational.
