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It sounded crazy, absolutely, but the more she was around Whispering Winds the more she knew the likelihood that she had just "made up" her adventures in the 1700s was just way too improbable. She knew things she couldn't possibly know and she recognized things she shouldn't possibly be able to recognize. But with Derek, she didn't want to force a pattern that wasn't there. She decided to call Charles and see if he'd come to any conclusions. She needed an objective, thoughtful person to back her assumptions.
Charles answered on the first ring and after greeting one another, he conceded to Quinn that he was beginning to understand her concerns. Charles agreed that not only was Derek unusually successful in finding rare treasures but he did so without any documentation supporting his finds. How did he know where to look for something when there was no proof that that something existed?
Quinn explained her theory about the Mayan dig and Charles immediately agreed to look deeper into what Derek might have discovered.
After the call, Quinn dropped her phone on the desk satisfied that her suspicions were confirmed by an objective outsider. She looked out on the London street. "What did you find at that Mayan temple, Derek, and what does the Scarcliff family have that you want so much?"
Getting ready for dinner was hard. Quinn felt overly emotional after seeing all the Scarcliff memorabilia at the Foundation. She ached for Archer. But her feelings for Gabriel were growing by the minute. They were so similar it frightened her. And in the end she knew she just couldn't stay away.
She changed into wide-legged black pants, a charcoal-gray cashmere sweater and black boots. She left her hair down and applied just a touch of makeup before grabbing her coat and leaving her room.
As she walked through London she thought about Derek. Charles was good but she hoped he was willing to bend some rules because whatever Derek found at the Mayan temple he certainly wouldn't be willing to share. That meant there wouldn't be documentation as part of the dig's finds.
If they could figure out how he was doing it, then they could stop him from continuing to time jump because each trip back he was screwing with history. And what the hell did he want that he was willing to go to such lengths to get it? Quinn was pondering that when she reached the Scarcliff building and saw Gabriel waiting.
Gabriel saw her coming from down the street but whatever she was thinking about was occupying all of her attention. When she stopped just in front of him, he had the strongest urge to pull her into his arms and kiss her.
"Hello, Quinn. I wasn't sure you were going to come."
"I wasn't sure I was going to come."
He grinned before he added, "I'm glad you did."
"Me too."
The strongest feeling of déjà vu swept through him at the exchange, so much so that it actually took him a minute to find his voice. He noticed that Quinn looked suddenly pale.
"Are you okay?"
She waved an unsteady hand and replied, "I'm fine." But she wasn't fine. She had shared those exact works with the man she loved nearly 300 years ago. What did that mean?
He reached for her hand and linked their fingers before they started down the street.
"Did you have a nice rest of the afternoon?"
"Nice, no, but productive. How about you? Did you ask any other women on a date?"
Quinn meant it as a joke but she could tell by the seriousness of his expression that he hadn't taken it as one.
"I was kidding, Gabriel, I'm sorry."
He answered her as if he hadn't heard her apology. "You're the only one I wanted to ask."
Quinn couldn't help smiling and he smiled in return and then asked, "So have you learned anything interesting about Derek?"
"Only that he seems to be looking for something specific but doesn't seem to have a clue where to look."
Gabriel stopped walking and turned to her. "Why do you say that?"
"Look at the pattern of his latest digs," she explained, "very unscientific."
Gabriel took her arm and pulled her into an alleyway. "I can't get into the Foundation business with you but I want you to step back. Derek's dangerous."
"I know that. I have a private investigator looking into him so I know his past isn't all that squeaky clean." And then it clicked: she finally realized Gabriel's involvement.
"Nicholas hired you because Derek works for you. Or you hired Derek because of his interest in the Scarcliff family," she announced.
Gabriel said nothing but Quinn saw that she had hit the nail on the head.
