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"He's looking for something," she stated simply.
"And you think when he finds it he plans on keeping it?" Charles Kent was catching on.
"Yes," she continued, "Normally, the find would go to the Scarcliff Foundation where it would be cataloged and then put on tour, or placed in a museum. Naturally, Derek would be given the credit for the find. That was the deal the Scarcliffs agreed to with Cole Pierce, Derek and my boss. I've learned, though, that Derek has put a lot of his own money into looking for whatever treasure he seeks. I don't see him just handing it over after he has put a small fortune into finding it. I don't know if the Scarcliff Foundation is aware of Derek's shady past but I want him followed. And I'd like detailed information about his career, starting from the very beginning."
"I certainly can do that but why are you so interested?" Charles asked.
"The Scarcliff family and Whispering Winds are very important to me and I want to make sure that their interests are being protected."
"I understand," he said though he really didn't. "I'll get to work immediately and will be in touch in a few weeks."
Quinn stood across from the Scarcliff Foundation in London and watched as Derek entered with a tall, stunning blonde who seemed more interested in her surroundings than the man at her side.
Charles had called Quinn a few days ago with an update on Derek. He hadn't learned much since Derek apparently kept a very low profile and, outside of snooping around Whispering Winds, he usually spent his time in his London flat.
What Charles did find interesting was that though many valuables had already been discovered at Whispering Winds, Derek wasn't interested in any of them. This odd behavior, from an archaeologist, stirred the quiet curiosity of several people working the sites. Charles agreed with Quinn, Derek was looking for something specific.
And so here she was dressed in a gray raincoat with a hat low over her eyes even though there wasn't a cloud in the sky, to spy on the ratfink bastard.
It hadn't been easy to slip from Cole but she didn't want him knowing she was investigating Derek on her own. She wasn't entirely sure Gabriel would be okay with that. And why she didn't wish to upset Gabriel, she couldn't say.
As soon as Derek and his babe disappeared inside, Quinn ran across the street and into the building. A feeling of pride washed over her as she looked at the walls which were painted with murals time-lining the Scarcliff family and their many contributions. She was delighted to see that Archer had invested in Bartolomeo Cristofori's invention in 1709 called the piano and also John Shore's invention in 1711 called the tuning fork.
Quinn's heart started pounding hard in her chest when she realized he also heavily invested in Thomas Newcomen's steam pump. She had witnessed the very conversation between Archer, Thaddeus and Derek that lead to this investment! It was yet another small piece of proof of her time in the past and she savored it.
Next Quinn noticed a lovely write up that stopped her in her tracks:Nicholas Archer O'Cuinn Scarcliff was born in 1977 and raised at Whispering Winds before he attended Eton andOxford earning degrees in anthropology and finance. After his schooling, he started his own firm, Second Chance,that specializes in conservation-restoration of antiquities both at home and abroad. Being the top firm in theindustry, Nicholas has made giant leaps in the preservation of our world's history.
There was more but Quinn was having trouble seeing through her tears. She turned around and almost walked right into Gabriel.
"What are you doing here, Quinn?"
The delight she felt at seeing him was completely involuntary and was followed quickly with curiosity as to whathewas doing there.
"Just doing a bit of research on the family," she said, "What are you doing here?"
He slipped his hands into the front pockets of his faded jeans and rolled back on his heels, "I'm their head of security."
Quinn knew her mouth dropped open as she wondered why a successful businessman would act as head of security for a non-profit organization. Why hadn't he mentioned that he worked for the Scarcliff Foundation? Why be so secretive? She was tempted to ask him but then he opened his mouth to speak.
"Well since you are here... I mean, I was going to call you," he stammered like a schoolboy, "Have dinner with me tonight."
Quinn knew her answer was clearly visible on her face when she replied, "Yes."
His smile was like watching the sun breaking through on a cloudy day. "I have to work a bit longer so I'll meet you outside at six?"
"Six," Quinn started for the door when she heard that deep baritone coming from behind her, "I'm glad we ran into each other, Quinn."
She looked at him from over her shoulder and replied, "Me too, Gabriel."
Gabriel watched her leave and then waited a few minutes longer to make sure his legs would support him. He was like a man who no longer possessed his own soul. From the very first time he saw her, it was as if he had been hit over the head with a sledge hammer. Even now, his reaction to her was just as fierce as it had been that first time.
When he saw her on the security camera, he had no control over his own body and practically ran from the security office so he could get to her before she left. And after their all-too-brief conversation, it was something close to panic he felt when she turned to leave because he couldn't stand the thought of not sharing the evening with her. He had to face the truth: when it came to Quinn, he was a goner.
Back at her hotel room Quinn was trying to understand why Gabriel was acting as the head of security for the Scarcliff Foundation. What was in Gabriel's background that made him qualified for the position and why would he bother? It wasn't really any of her business but she found him very mysterious and this made him even more interesting. She was having dinner with him tonight and she felt a thrill of anticipation remembering their dinner last week; the best date she'd ever been on, well, at least in this century.
Now isn't the time to daydream about romance, Quinn silently scolded herself and turned her focus on Derek. There were countless biographies written about him and so she read through the details of every one of his archaeological digs, from the very first one. In the beginning there was nothing spectacular about them. It was only after his dig at a Mayan temple that hisextraordinary luckkicked in. It sounded impossible but this must've been when Derek had somehow learned to move himself through time. It explained his unusual success; he was going back in time and locating rare treasures that he then buried so he could find them in the future. She had caught him, in Archer's time, doing just that. Unlike Quinn though, who had no ideahowshe traveled through time, Derek had learned to control it.
She remembered reading in University about the Mayan belief in the ability of the mind to transcend time. Derek had found something during that Mayan dig. Whatever it was, it had the ability to move not just his mind, but also his body, through time.
