“Your Dad is Dr GP?” I’m cross for not realising it before.
Snapped out of his own train of thoughts Daniel nods, “yes, why do you ask?” He and Kurt look confused, and they've got a right to be haven't they?
“An email,” I look to the rock ceiling above hoping the exact wording is written there, sadly this is not the case and I must rely on my own memory to suffice. “I read your e-mail, I’m sorry Daniel, you had a message from Dr GP” the boys are at fully alert now, like Harry on a still morning, when a sound catches his interest.
“And?” From Stan
“It sounded like a threat Stan,” I look at Daniel, he's the one I’m most interested in, and the mail was meant for him.
“You were missing Daniel, and I would have read an invite to dinner as a promise to kill me, but it was a warning, a warning Daniel don’t you see?” Blank looks all round, deep breaths everyone.
He didn't see at all. My brain is frustrated, trying to recall the exact wording, it’ll come, I just need to reach the storage unit in my head where I keep it, now where is it? I look down at my lap.
“Let me see if I can remember exactly what it said, found it:
Dan,
Do as you promised and there won’t be a problem. I’m watching you and her, she’s not safe.
Dr.GP.
Sunday26thoctober2013”
“I promised Dad I wouldn't join his mania for finding this thing, he never knew exactly what it was he was looking for anyway, and so it was easy to convince him I wasn't interested.” Daniel says at last.
“Me too, from Kurt, so I did the next best thing and went out searching for other treasure.” Makes sense.
Looking up at Daniel, pleased I could remember everything that was written, I am good at remembering stuff.
“Shall we get the kettle on?” I ask to the universe, but the universe is busy still, and asks that I leave a message and it'll call back later.
Bloody hell.
Chapter thirty, Sunday:3rdnovember2013, discovery, the 'found' type
“But that's impossible, it can't be from Dad!” Says Kurt. “But he always signs Dr GP, Dr Graham Pearse”
“Signs?” Present tense, I thought they assume he is dead, that's interesting.
“Signed,” Kurt corrects himself, “I always do that.”
“What does it mean Daniel?” I ask quietly, looking over at him whilst I get the kettle on the fire.
“I…we all promised not to pursue this legendary treasure, many of our family have died trying, as you know.” He tells us with a disinterested far-away expression. Speaking like an automaton, bland and singularly toned. “But our ancestor had help, it seems possible that this spice trader could be related to the man who inked my body?”
“And he was trying to lead us to the treasure?” From Kurt.
“...and?” I ask impatiently, “what about the ‘she’ part, is someone watching over us Daniel.”
There’s a great heave of breath behind us, amplified by the space, but it sounds like a deflation leading to an admission, “me!” Stan finally speaks. “It is me.” We all turn to look at him in surprise, “I promised your Father I would watch you Daniel.” He looks from face to face looking for any gesture, “and you've been under surveillance for a few weeks.”
“A few weeks!” Daniel exclaims, “How?” He shakes his head as if clearing the disbelief from his ears, “since when?”
“Since Tharie.” Looking at Daniel, not me. “And I’ve been watching them watching you, to keep you both safe.” He appears frustrated but it’s likely because he couldn’t tell us anything. I forgive him.
“Why,” asks Daniel, “why now?”
Stan looks proud. Proud of doing the job he was given, and succeeded, we are all fine aren’t we? After all, we have survived. “Then something changed?” I conclude, “Anything happen recently Daniel?”
“My tattoo?” He's right, it is that reason alone we are all here now, isn't it? Now, I’m not sure.
“No Daniel” I tell him shaking my head slowly, trying to work it out, “your tattoo was a consequence of the something happening.” I am certain I’m right, my instincts tell me. Stan is shaking his head, he knows something, my instincts turn out to be right about that too.
He looks at Daniel. “You met someone that changed everything.” Stan looks taller than I remember, imposing even, a real protector, I can see it now.
“And how has this someone changed everything?” Daniel asks looking directly at me, into my eyes and not leaving my