Crusader's Gold

ONE

Michael Crouch heard his cellphone ringing and sent his hand fumbling through his pockets to try and find it.

Caitlyn Nash held it out at arm’s length, not looking at Crouch but carrying on her conversation with Zack Healey.

Crouch shook his head a little. “Thanks.”

He checked the screen. The call was from Rolland Sadler, his new team’s wealthy benefactor — the man who funded their treasure hunting expeditions.

“Hello, Rolland.”

“Michael. I hear you’re over in America helping Greg Coker out of a sticky situation. Isn’t he the man who tried to have you all killed recently?”

Crouch laughed quietly. “You’re certainly well informed, Rolland. I wasn’t aware anyone other than Alicia knew what we were up to.”

“Ah, the incomparable Miss Myles. I hear she helped save Mai Kitano recently. Has she returned yet?”

Crouch hesitated. “Not yet.”

“I know of her loss during that mission. Perhaps she decided to stay for the funeral.”

Crouch stared into the middle-distance. “Perhaps, but unlikely. Alicia’s instinct would be to move on as fast as she possibly could. I’ve been waiting for a good enough excuse to contact her.”

“Then I’m even happier I called. Have you finished your… um… business with Coker?”

“Greg’s fine. The hired goons who were watching and intimidating his family refused to give up even after we took care of their boss over in South Africa. The problem has now been resolved.”

“Excellent. Then I believe I may have a new quest for you, Michael.”

Crouch immediately felt a thrill course through his veins. All his life he had been awaiting this new adventure. Though an extremely capable soldier and even more highly regarded leader Crouch’s real love had always been founded in archaeological mysteries. The life of a soldier had been his job, his responsibility, but his real calling lay with the hunting down and discovery of ancient treasure, so when the chance came, as Crouch hit his fifties, he embraced it with his entire being. He set up a trusted crew, a group of fighters and investigators, and listened to what Rolland Sadler had to say. Crouch, a sentimentalist at heart, stored and remembered details of every lost treasure he’d ever investigated — now the old, half-serious potterings were starting to bear wholesome fruit.

“You have my attention, Rolland.”

“I thought I might. Let me first paint a picture for you — a crusader army marching to liberate Jerusalem. Invited to take a short cut through Constantinople. Arriving there, they are told they no longer have passage…”

“The Fourth Crusade,” Crouch said, “that led to the sacking of Constantinople and the downfall of the Byzantine Empire.”

“Among many other things. The sack of Constantinople was a turning point in history. One of the first and irrefutable proofs that many who fight in the name of religion are actually full of shit.”

“Even the Pope condemned it as I remember.” Crouch thought back through a lifetime of studies. “Some of the world’s greatest treasures destroyed or lost forever.”

“Just so. Well, as you know Constantinople is now called Istanbul. You may have heard that the site where the ancient docks once stood has recently been uncovered over there. A new road was being built, I believe, which unearthed the historical site exactly where archaeologists always said it was…” a note of quiet satisfaction crept into Sadler’s voice. “So, no more road and a great dig gets underway.”

“Really?” Crouch was surprised.

“No. Of course not. The road, its money men and the government wouldn’t stand for that. Our unique ancient site is due to be filled with concrete and the archaeologists have but a few weeks to find whatever they can.”

Crouch nodded silently. Realizing now that this call was another turning point he took a seat at the table. His current team, Caitlyn, Healey and Rob Russo had met this morning at a local Denny’s for breakfast. The blueberry pancakes were as good as ever, the hash browns a tasty side and the coffee mellow, hot and plentiful.

“So what have they found, Rolland?”

“I can’t say too much at this point, Michael. What I really need is you and your team on a plane, headed for Istanbul. We don’t have much time. Can you do that?”

Crouch wondered at Sadler’s reticence. Was the find that valuable? And if so, why did they need a team that hunted for lost treasures? Clearly, there was an awful lot being left unsaid. “Of course. We can be on a plane in a matter of hours. I’ll have to check Alicia’s status first—”

Heads were swiveling toward him, none larger or harder than Russo’s. The movement was as deliberate and slow as an ancient stone statue coming to life.

“They found something under those docks, Michael. Something astounding.”

“How astounding?”

“It will rewrite parts of history.”

“Bloody hell. Now you’ve piqued my interest. But how can it be lost, and can’t you tell me more?”

“Just remember your history around 1200 AD. Alexandria being attacked and the Hippodrome of Constantinople. The Fourth Crusade and the Doge of Venice. The best known wonder that he stole. And get on that plane.”

Crouch’s head was a swirling constellation of memories and suppositions. How on earth could an ancient, newly found dock in Istanbul be connected to an attack on Alexandria — of which there had been countless throughout history — and then the old Hippodrome? Where did that fit with the crusaders? And what the hell did the Doge steal that Sadler seemed to think was so famous?

“All right, Rolland. I’ll call you when we’re in the air.”

Crouch glanced across at his crew. “Hope you weren’t planning on finishing those meals, guys. We have a new treasure to seek out.”

Russo sighed at the stack of pancakes before him. Caitlyn smiled. “When you say new — do you really mean old?”

“I guess I do.”

“And you mentioned contacting Alicia,” Russo said warily. “Does that mean we’re actually working with Her Craziness again? ‘Cause I gotta say, the last few weeks have been comparatively sane.”

“Are you saying she’s irrational? I seem to remember thinking you worked well together in the end.”

“I’m not convinced she’s a leader.”

Crouch was surprised but not unhappy to see such a verbose Russo. The man-mountain was usually as quiet as his description made him sound.

“I think she’s about to surprise you. Surprise everyone, actually. It’s been a long time coming, but that girl is about to have a revelation.”

Russo hung his head. “Shit. So long as I’m not on the receiving end.”

“Somebody will be. You can be sure of that.”

Russo nodded at his dripping pancakes. “I know.”

Crouch stared out the window into a bright, fresh dawn. “Destiny awaits, my friends. I must admit, things have been a little quiet since we rounded off the Aztec quest. Are you ready to taste the adventure again?”

Healey’s young, fresh face split into a wide grin. “Always!”

Crouch headed for the door. “Then follow me.”

Russo’s grumble followed him out toward the parking lot. “Whoa, you forgot to pay. Oh, bollocks…”