Equinox

Chapter 43

Oxford: 30 March, 10.45 p.m.

Just as Monroe put down the receiver there was a knock at his door. He was so amazed by what he had just heard that for a few seconds he could barely focus on the bulky form of PC Steve Greene as he walked up to his desk.

'Sir, this arrived about an hour ago. Chatwin apologises … he forgot about it. . busy night … he just gave me it… Courier dropped it in, apparently'

On the front was typed: DCI Monroe, Oxford Police Station . Below that was the word URGENT, written in red capitals. Seeing this, Monroe sighed and shook his head. Then he ripped open the envelope. Inside was a single sheet of paper. He glanced quickly at the illustration showing a complex array of interlocking lines like the schematic for a complex electrical current. Beside this was a jumble of Latin words and bizarre-looking symbols. He began to read the message written in English at the top of the sheet.