York would have signed him to a contract on the spot. He seemed more masculine and less murderous. "You really didn't kill Ned, did you? You really believe Professor McPherson took artifacts illegally and is somehow involved in the murder?"
"It's just as I've told you. I must find those stones. Please, help me to stop this before more harm comes to anyone. And I'm certain I can prove to you that the things I'm talking about were stolen."
"How?" Heather's guard began to drop. He allowed her to ease slightly away from his huge body.
"You work in acquisitions, don't you?"
"Yes. Professor McPherson is my mentor."
"Have you noticed anything wrong with the objects you've seen so far?"
Heather thought to remain silent, but this man knew too much. "There were discrepancies in some of the paperwork. That can happen with a shipment of this size."
"There were items taken from County Donegal. Were they listed?"
"No. Everything in the collection from Ireland is tagged as having been found in the southern part of the country, County Cork. That was where the professor and his team were looking. They had complete sanction and assistance from the local
government to excavate some sites there."
"An ancient burial site was sacked. Up north near Creeslough, County Donegal. The objects McPherson took were from that site. There are people in Donegal who remember that Angus McPherson and some of his team were in the northern counties just weeks ago. You can check on all I've told you, Heather, but time is running out. I have to bring the rune stones back to Ireland."
"I don't understand why you can't go to the police. Why the hurry? If you truly believe something illegal is going on, then..."
"I can't, lass! I know what I'm telling you is difficult to understand, but there must be as little public knowledge of this as possible. You've no reason to trust me, I know. But that's exactly what I'm asking you to do. Please, take me to where the crates are stored."
"A man was murdered, and you've told me that it has something to do with this shipment from Ireland.
If that's true, then that's all the more reason to go to the police. Ned Williamson was a good man. He didn't deserve to die. If there's a reason for his death and you know it, then you should help put the person responsible in jail."
"If I can prove what I say is true, will you help me look for the stones? Will you set right what's been done, for your friend's sake?"
"I've told you, there are no stones in those boxes, and I can't take you to them. I don't know anything about you. You won't even tell me your name."
Gryph released a heavy sigh. The stones were in that building, though whether they were still in the crates was uncertain. He needed her help. Without her, he would have to break in to search. Even if he succeeded in getting past the staff, there were the alarms to consider. If he was caught, someone could get hurt, including himself. And what if the stones had been removed from the crates? The museum was four stories above ground and probably had a basement. He simply couldn't search the whole place, and the Order couldn't afford his capture. Against common sense and his parents' pleas, he relented. "My name is Gryphon O'Connor."
"Well, Mr. O'Connor, if I find anything that indicates you're telling the truth, I'll notify the proper authorities. Until then, I suggest that this be the last, and I mean the very last time we see each other.
None of this makes any sense to me at all. Professor McPherson would never steal anything, let alone hurt anyone. Now, please go, or I swear to God I'll scream my head off!"
"Fine" Gryphon angrily responded. "By the time you find out what I've told you is the truth, it may be too late. No human law is a match for the power connected with the stones. I should have known better than to contact an outsider with no comprehension of Celtic ways. If the rune stones are still within the walls of the museum, I'll find them without your
"It's just as I've told you. I must find those stones. Please, help me to stop this before more harm comes to anyone. And I'm certain I can prove to you that the things I'm talking about were stolen."
"How?" Heather's guard began to drop. He allowed her to ease slightly away from his huge body.
"You work in acquisitions, don't you?"
"Yes. Professor McPherson is my mentor."
"Have you noticed anything wrong with the objects you've seen so far?"
Heather thought to remain silent, but this man knew too much. "There were discrepancies in some of the paperwork. That can happen with a shipment of this size."
"There were items taken from County Donegal. Were they listed?"
"No. Everything in the collection from Ireland is tagged as having been found in the southern part of the country, County Cork. That was where the professor and his team were looking. They had complete sanction and assistance from the local
government to excavate some sites there."
"An ancient burial site was sacked. Up north near Creeslough, County Donegal. The objects McPherson took were from that site. There are people in Donegal who remember that Angus McPherson and some of his team were in the northern counties just weeks ago. You can check on all I've told you, Heather, but time is running out. I have to bring the rune stones back to Ireland."
"I don't understand why you can't go to the police. Why the hurry? If you truly believe something illegal is going on, then..."
"I can't, lass! I know what I'm telling you is difficult to understand, but there must be as little public knowledge of this as possible. You've no reason to trust me, I know. But that's exactly what I'm asking you to do. Please, take me to where the crates are stored."
"A man was murdered, and you've told me that it has something to do with this shipment from Ireland.
If that's true, then that's all the more reason to go to the police. Ned Williamson was a good man. He didn't deserve to die. If there's a reason for his death and you know it, then you should help put the person responsible in jail."
"If I can prove what I say is true, will you help me look for the stones? Will you set right what's been done, for your friend's sake?"
"I've told you, there are no stones in those boxes, and I can't take you to them. I don't know anything about you. You won't even tell me your name."
Gryph released a heavy sigh. The stones were in that building, though whether they were still in the crates was uncertain. He needed her help. Without her, he would have to break in to search. Even if he succeeded in getting past the staff, there were the alarms to consider. If he was caught, someone could get hurt, including himself. And what if the stones had been removed from the crates? The museum was four stories above ground and probably had a basement. He simply couldn't search the whole place, and the Order couldn't afford his capture. Against common sense and his parents' pleas, he relented. "My name is Gryphon O'Connor."
"Well, Mr. O'Connor, if I find anything that indicates you're telling the truth, I'll notify the proper authorities. Until then, I suggest that this be the last, and I mean the very last time we see each other.
None of this makes any sense to me at all. Professor McPherson would never steal anything, let alone hurt anyone. Now, please go, or I swear to God I'll scream my head off!"
"Fine" Gryphon angrily responded. "By the time you find out what I've told you is the truth, it may be too late. No human law is a match for the power connected with the stones. I should have known better than to contact an outsider with no comprehension of Celtic ways. If the rune stones are still within the walls of the museum, I'll find them without your
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