The Keepers of the Rose Read online

  Anna was about to call it a day. The sun had just fallen beneath the horizon to give the brightest stars a chance to dapple the evening sky. She would normally take a little time to appreciate such a clear night but at the moment she felt too exhausted to exert the effort.

  Her lead individuals from each department all arrived within the last forty-eight hours. She wasn’t expecting such an immediate response but was delighted nonetheless. She didn’t have a chance to speak to them about specific duties but did take the appropriate time to seek out Dennis Rehr, her GPR provider and technician. He needed to get up and going as soon as possible. Most of her plans relied on his images. Luckily, he had been able to obtain for her one of the most sophisticated ground penetrating radar systems to date though she was still wary on how well it would work in this environment.

  Oak Island rested, at its highest point, 35 feet above sea level. The make-up of the ground was very wet and muddy and it would limit the depth the machine could effectively penetrate. If that was the case, he also secured for her an advanced borehole radar, which she believed would be perfect for obtaining the data the GPR could not. They would lower the device into each of the numerous boreholes around the island and create a detailed 3-D map of what lay around them, including composition, layering, shapes and hopefully man-made items.

  “Tired Nate,” she asked after her long time assistant and closest friend, yawned for the third time. He was twenty-six with long unkempt brown hair and a lanky build. Together, they had been pouring over historical facts and details of the location for almost ten hours. She could see he was growing restless. The random doodles that covered his scratch pad were only the most recent sign.

  “I’m good,” he replied.

  “I think we’re both ready to go,” she said. “There’s not much else we’re going to accomplish today.” Anna knew that once Nate hit the wall, his ability to retain information became irrelevant. But she was happy with their progress. They had covered a lot of ground in trying to understand the last two hundred years of Oak Island history. Her wastebasket overflowed with crumpled pages they found to be of no use.

  “What’s on tap for tomorrow,” Nate asked.

  “Dennis is going to start setting up his equipment and he and I will have a meeting about the routes to take with the GPR and when that’s going to actually get underway. I’m also to meet with Jen Berent, Haden Green, and David Bennigton regarding the previous engineering attempts, what’s feasible and what’s not.”

  “The brains,” Nate chimed in.

  “Correct, they are the real brains here. Between the three of them, they are some of the brightest minds in physics, construction engineering, mining engineering, structural engineering and mathematics. Everything I’m going to need.”

  “I’m just surprised you got them all to take time out to do this.”

  “You can’t be that surprised. The lure of the Oak Island mystery combined with The Delega Group’s freedom of spending inordinate sums of cash would hook anyone. At least anyone who has a sense of discovery and more importantly, a price.”

  Her employer, The Delega Group was a tight-lipped organization. They were well known to have financial clout but what they actually did was never fully explained. She had met with the heads of every department back in her hometown of Minneapolis, including the president, Seth Delega. He was very stiff and meticulous but the meeting, which included the job offer, was quick and decisive. They had offered her more than a fair amount with additional incentives. She could forgive their secretive ways as long as they honored their agreement and paid her the bonus of a quarter-million dollars if she succeeded in excavating Oak Island by September. At the moment, she was on track to finish much earlier.

  Anna and Nate left their makeshift office building, which reminded her of a bunch of trailers hooked together and coated with the same color paint, and headed towards the parking lot. Two security guards approached them at the perimeter, dressed in deep blues. They both wore radio wires running from their right ears.

  “Ms. Riley,” one of them addressed her. He carefully unhooked the wire to allow it to dangle at his shoulder. He was a large man with a perfectly square jaw.

  “That’s me,” Anna said.

  “Are you the last to leave this evening?”

  “I think so, I don’t remember anybody else being inside.”

  “Very good. I’m here to inform you that now that work is underway, we’ve been instructed to increase security measures. Starting tomorrow, we will be visible around each individual site, the offices, beaches and the causeway at all times of the day. And,” the guard looked at Nate and paused.

  Anna sensed the apprehension. “Nate is my most trusted colleague and friend. What you say to me you can say to him.”

  “And,” the guard continued. “If you see any suspicious activity involving one of our security officers, or someone who looks out of place please ask for their ID.” The guard whipped his identification out to show them. It looked normal enough, a security badge, with the letters DS written across the top. Anna casually glanced to the guard’s belt. There was a plethora of items attached to him. She saw a form of pepper spray, handcuffs, a telescoping nightstick and a gun. It made her nervous. What did they need guns for, she wondered.

  “Why do you need all that?” She pointed at his belt.

  “The Delega Group has individuals on the outside that would like to see us fail, we just want everybody and everything to be as safe as possible.”

  Anna nodded. “I think we got it.”

  “Very good. I am Jacob, head of security from this point forward. You’ll find my cell number in the directory at your house. I suggest you have it on you. You can call me anytime. That’s all I have, good night Ms. Riley.”

  “Anna,” she said, “its Anna.”

  “Have a good night then, Anna.”

  “You too Jacob.”

  Anna and Nate left Jacob to his security duties and started driving back to their provided house in Western Shore. “What are you thinking about,” she asked Nate after he hadn’t said a word half way through the ride.

  “I don’t know. I was just thinking that they have an awful lot of security and there’s something I don’t like about that guard. I’m beginning to feel we’re in the middle of something, I guess….dangerous.”

  “I’d say more secretive than dangerous. I’m sure Delega just wants to be certain that whatever we find doesn’t leak into the media before he has a chance to present it.” Anna looked over at Nate for a response but he closed his eyes and rested his head against the window.

  When they arrived home, it was already dark. The house itself was provided by the Delega Group as long as Anna was heading up the project. It was an old Victorian style, painted yellow with white trim. The lot was well kept and private, surrounded by numerous large trees and mature shrubs. On the inside, the furnishings of the home fit perfectly with the exterior. Warm colors adorned the walls and old classic pieces of furniture were well preserved and polished. Glass fixtures, beautifully hand woven rugs and small statues were presented elegantly. Anna wasn’t used to being treated so well, her accommodations as a freelance archaeologist were usually consisted of a tent and air mat and or shoddy hotel room.

  Nate immediately climbed the stairs without a word and shut himself in his room. He would check in with all his social sites on the web and keep in touch with his friends before going to bed. He would pound the keys for a couple hours. She wouldn’t see him the rest of the night.

  She opened the fridge but nothing looked good. She wasn’t hungry though she’d only eaten a few bites the entire day. She thought about continuing to plan the rest of the month, setting aside a timetable with little room for deviation, but her energy ebbed low. Maybe she just needed to relax.

  She made her way to the second floor and opened the door to her room. She felt the cool air prickle her skin. Across t
he way, her window was half open and the drapes stirred with the gentle breeze. A quick surge of adrenaline jolted through her. She’d never opened the window.

  She froze and carefully scanned the room. Her eyes fell on the bed where a small envelope rested neatly against the pillows. Her name was printed on the outside in near perfect calligraphy. She checked behind her and saw Nate’s door was still shut, light shone forth from the crack beneath it and the faint sound of tapping keys floated in the air. She stepped silently into her room and closed the door behind her. She immediately went to the window and shut that as well, locking it and folding the drapes over the opening.

  She sat on the bed and picked up the letter. She carefully unfolded the back and took out a single piece of paper, creased into thirds.

  Anna Riley-

  Threat is never so dangerous as when it is delivered without notice. I strongly caution you in success for dealing in obsession is dealing in lunacy. Delega is exactly that. I need you to hear me out. We must meet. Come to the Black Pearl tonight. I’ll find you at the bar.

  MIC

  Anna put the note aside and took a deep breath. For some reason, she didn’t feel a sense of panic. Normally, such an invasion of privacy and security would throw her into a downward spiral of anxiety. Instead, Anna found herself curious. She had a bad feeling about the owner of the Delega Group ever since meeting with him in Minneapolis. Seth Delega was a stiff executive with slicked back dark hair and a fake smile. There were things he wasn’t telling her but the money and intrigue of the job was too good to pass up. Maybe this man Mic could provide her more information.

  The lot of the Black Pearl, a small bar and grill off Highway 3, was full when she arrived. Inside, the bar was mellow. She pulled up a stool and ordered a glass of Guinness, checking out the patrons to see who didn’t fit in. There seemed to be a good deal of regulars boasting to one another. She found herself the object of two drunken suitors and more than a dozen unsteady eyes.

  “Hi,” a man slid in next to her. He smiled the way a man trying to pick up a woman smiles. He was well built and good looking, almost a younger and more attractive version of Rock. It was a shame that she had come for a very different purpose.

  “Hi,” she replied.

  “I haven’t seen you in here before,” he said, “I would have remembered.”

  “Oh,” Anna smiled, she wasn’t used to compliments. Sweet words weren’t Rock’s style and she hadn’t dated much since their divorce.

  “Yes, you’re very attractive. I’m Peter.” He held out his hand.

  She shook it, “I’m Anna.”

  “Are you here with anybody,” Peter asked.

  “I am supposed to be meeting someone.”

  “You don’t know who?”

  “It’s kind of like a blind date,” she said. It wasn’t a complete lie.

  “I see, I better get going or I’ll scare him off.” Anna smiled. “Well Anna, I lead diving groups out in the bay and if you ever feel like trying it out, it’d be my pleasure to take you, free of charge of course. Here’s my card, give me a call sometime.”

  “Thanks, it was nice to meet you, Peter.” Peter walked off to join his buddies in the corner. He eyed her from time to time.

  She stayed for a full hour, putting away three drinks, before she decided MIC wasn’t going to show. She paid her tab and headed back to her car. Foolish, she thought to herself. She fastened her safety belt and let the smooth engine rumble to life. She turned her head to back out when she saw the shadow of a man resting in her back seat.

  She jumped and started reaching as quickly as she could for the release to her belt. A hand grabbed her as she fumbled for the button. She scratched at it, feeling her nails dig into soft skin.

  “Calm down, I’m not here to hurt you,” a second hand forcefully grabbed her wrist. He was still lying down in the back.

  “What the fuck are you doing in my car,” she tried to jerk away but his grip held.

  “I wrote the note,” his calm voice came back.

  “Mic?”

  “Yes,” he replied. “I apologize for my first impression but it was necessary. They follow you everywhere and watch to whom you speak with. I can’t give myself away. Please, you need to start driving.” He slowly took his hand away and the freedom to move immediately calmed her. She gathered her breath.

  “Where am I going,” she said.

  “You can go home.”

  Anna quickly got her breathing under control and cautiously pulled out of the lot and then onto the highway. She noticed a pair of headlights following after her. They stayed a safe distance back. “You’re right, they are following me.”

  “I told you. You’re just an asset, Anna. Seth Delega is obsessive with his assets, he must have control over you, and at the moment, he does.”

  “What do you have to do with this?”

  “The Delega Group is a dangerous entity. They are utterly ruthless. They steal and kill and do whatever they please. I’m here to simply warn you.”

  “I haven’t seen that from them, I’ve had hunches but they haven’t done anything I’m aware of to make me consider them dangerous.”

  “You will. Every snake sheds its skin from time to time. I think you should leave or at least curb your efforts and not succeed in your task. ”

  “If you’re telling me this, then you must know what’s buried here at Oak Island. Tell me and let me decide if I should continue.”

  “We don’t know for sure but we have a guess, and if we’re correct, it should never see the light of day.”

  “You’re not going to tell me, are you?”

  “I cannot.”

  “Then I can assume you’re not in charge either, am I correct,” Anna sensed the silence of someone without the full brunt of authority.

  “You’re perceptive. But I’m not nearly the lowest either.”

  “Let me tell you what I know. I’ve been contracted to dig Oak Island with good pay and so far, I have no reason not to complete my job. You haven’t given me any reasons to believe you or even consider what it is you want.”

  “I agree,” he said. Anna turned onto her street and they stayed silent while she drove into the garage and let it shut behind them. She knew she should feel somewhat afraid but that feeling had yet to show itself. When the door closed completely she unbuckled her seat belt and flipped on the domed light. Mic immediately sat upright. He was a slim man with a long torso and long legs. He looked cramped. His eyes were beady and he had neatly placed blond hair.

  “I’m sorry but I can’t do what you ask,” she said making full eye contact.

  “But you can still think about what I have told you,” he replied. “That’s all I really want.”

  “In that I have no choice. After this, I kind of have to think about it.”

  “Just remember, if you do succeed, know what it is, study it, become familiar with it and ask yourself if this should be given over to Delega. I am confident when you do, the answer will be very simple.”

  Anna smiled, “that’s only if it is what you think it is, right?”

  “Right,” he repeated back to her.

  “You’ve said what you wanted to, now how do I get you out of here. There’s security watching this house.”

  “Just go inside, I’ll find my way out.”

  “I wouldn’t contact me again until you have something of substance to explain. Or I’ll see to it Delega security knows about you.” He nodded his head but stayed silent.

  They exited the car and Anna made her way to the step that led from inside the garage to the house. Mic stood next to the rear door that led into the back yard. He opened it and took a step out.

  “I’m locking that behind you Mic,” she said.

  “I would expect nothing less. One last thing, my name isn’t Mic, its Malcolm. Malcolm Ian Cooper. Good night Anna.” He took a step into the shadows and was gon
e. Anna locked the door behind him.

  Chapter 5

  Nova Scotia, April 2012