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1. They followed the servant down a metal corridor. He felt like a beetle crawling through a copper tube. The footsteps echoed. When they were 50 steps from the bend in the corridor a man came around the bend and stood waiting for them, hands behind his back. He seemed to be a year or two older than Ruskin. He wore a morning coat with an elegant cut and a coloured cravat. His hair was shortcropped but he had a beard that was tamed without giving the feeling of prissiness. His eyes were blue. He stood still and expressionless until they were some yards away then his features broke out in an attractive smile and he walked up to met them. “My name’s Henley.” “Ruskin.” They shook hands. “This is Miss Caselli.” Henley turned to Caselli who held out his hand. He took it and bowed down till heis lips almost touched her skin. “Enchanted.” “Welcome to Brook House.” “The Norse god of metal. A fitting name.” “Isn’t it? Please step this way.” They followed him down another metal corridor and entered a circular room. “Please take a seat.” They each sat in a chair mad of iron, but with at least polstret. Henley pulled a lever. The room moved upward. Hee pulled another lever and on half of the room the metal moved down and revealed glass panels. At first the view was blocked by a metal wall, then the room rose above the buildings roof and as it kept rising the surroduing hills came into view. “When I realized I needed a lift up to Hermes, my yeacht, I thought, ‘why not make it something special? Why not a room with a view?’ He added, “and privacy.” “But first, what may I offer you? Hot tea? Cold lemonade?” “Nothing thank you.” “A glass of lemonade sounds wonderful.” Caselli sent Henley a warm smile. From a round kommode in the middle of the room Henley took a crystal glass and carafee and poured a glass and gave to Caselli. “You’re quite sure?” “Quite.” “Good. Well then I heard you have some disturbing news for me. But first let me ask who toy represent.” “Our governments.” “Governments. More than one?” “Yes. I work for the British government. Miss Casselli for a government we corporate with on this instance. We are working together to investigate an international criminal organization.” “And you believe they are a threat to my property?” “We have reason to believe that they are targeting you, more—” “What reasons?” “You will appreciate that we can not talk openly about our investigations.” “I might. Or I might not.” “More specifically, the organization is hunting for a specific object. One that you recently acquired. You bought it through a middleman, Elisabeth Sadler.” Henley seemed taken aback. “Do you have that object in your possession?”