The Medusa Stone

Chapter 11

In Edinburgh, it had been raining for days.

Costa Megalos was preparing to leave, having completed his work at the University and having visited all the people he had been there to see. His ticket back home was lying on the pillow of his hotel room while he showered. He liked the rain, relishing the droplets from the shower head pattering down on him to the sound of the rain against his window.

He did not hear the room door unlock, having no idea that his things were being rummaged through by some stranger looking for something. The restless Scottish weather only aided the intruder in their task, masking the noise they made when opening and closing the cabinet doors. Carefully, Costa’s clothing was lifted and replaced exactly as it was found. His laptop was left untouched. The intruder was not looking for data or information. They were looking for something quite concrete, an object he was said to be in possession of.

Costa’s phone rang, alerting the unsuccessful burglar to flee. In the bathroom, the water was cut off, and Costa rushed to get the call, not bothering with a towel drying or covering. As the door barely shut, the art professor appeared from the bathroom, racing to find his phone in the bundle of luggage he had left on his bed.

“Yes,” he answered slightly out of breath.

“Hello, Professor Megalos?”

“Yes?” he frowned, unable to place if he knew the female caller.

“I hope you are well, and I am sorry to bother, but my boss asked me to get in contact with you. My name is Claire, from the British Museum in London,” she said.

Costa was surprised, as he had not dealt with this institution before.

“Oh,” he said more amicably, “how can I help you?”

She sounded a little coy, like a smitten admirer. “Well, we know you by reputation, so to speak. I work for the curator of the museum, and she gave me your number to find out if you would possibly be able to consult for us?”

Coast felt flattered. “Really? By reputation? When exactly did you need me to help and how long were you hoping to use my services?”

“Soonest, actually. Yesterday,” she replied. “It is quite urgent, but we heard you were lecturing in Scotland for a bit, so I hope I am not interrupting your…”

“No, no,” he interrupted. “I am done in Scotland with my… uh, business, but I can travel to London before I return home to Greece.”

The friendly lady on the phone sounded elated. “You are done with your lectures? Perfect! However, you would not have to come to London, Professor. Our benefactor, the man who needs your assistance, is currently in Edinburgh.”

“Oh! That is convenient,” Costa agreed. “I can be there as soon as I check out of the hotel.”

“Excellent,” Claire replied. “Let me give you the details. Do you have a pen?”

“Uh, give me a second. I am naked and wet,” the Greek mentioned without a second thought. He upturned his leather case to get something to write with.

“Excuse me?” Claire exclaimed, sounding flushed and humored by his revelation.

“Oh,” he chuckled, “I was in the shower when you called.”

He heard Claire giggle, “Aaah, I see.”

After he took down the details and got dressed, Costa packed up and checked out of the Old Town Chambers, waiting in a coffee shop for his lift to arrive. The hired car’s driver helped him load his luggage in the light drizzle that had replaced the previous hour’s downpour.

“All done. Where to, Professor?” the driver asked.

“I am not sure how to pronounce this, actually,” Coast admitted. “And I am confident that I spelled it hideously wrong too.” He passed the shred of paper he had scribbled on to the driver who took a moment to decipher what it could be. Then his face lit up.

“Oh! I think you mean, ‘Wrichtishousis’?” he exclaimed.

“That’s it!” Costa nodded cheerfully. “Is that an actual place?”

“Aye, sir,” the driver smiled. “Home of billionaire playboy inventor and explorer David Purdue, it is. You are in for an interesting time, I’m sure.”

“Why?” Costa asked as the car pulled away.

“The man is a world renowned explorer, as I have mentioned. He is always involved in groundbreaking discoveries, most of them quite controversial too,” the babbling driver informed the professor like a tour operator. “Wrichtishousis is his mansion up there near the University of Edinburgh, so you should be familiar with the area, I suppose.”

The art professor was impressed, but having no idea who this wealthy man was he could not help but feel a measure of apprehension about the matter he was summoned for. Costa had no problem with new faces or places, but he always felt a tad nervous when he was about to meet influential people.

“How do you know I would find the area familiar?” the professor inquired, sounding a little defensive. “I am a foreigner, and I have only been to Edinburgh twice in my life.”

“Please, don’t take offence, sir,” the driver apologized. “I merely assumed you would know the area because you have been lecturing here for two weeks at the University. Same area.”

“Oh, so you know who I am? How do you know that I was lecturing at the University of Edinburgh?” Costa frowned. He was feeling somewhat vulnerable because he was by no means famous and the driver looked the farthest thing from an academic with an interest in Greek Art.

“Um, well, actually my daughter told me all about you. She is a student at the University,” the driver clarified, leaving Costa feeling a hell of a lot better. “Her name is Abbie, and she attended your lecture the other night,” the man smiled. “You must be an excellent teacher. Over the weekend, she could not shut up about you!”