The Lost Island

1

The conference room at Effective Engineering Solutions emptied. Everyone left, leaving Gideon Crew alone with Eli Glinn and Manuel Garza in the austere room, high above the streets of Manhattan.

With his withered hand, Glinn motioned Gideon to a chair at the conference table. “Gideon, please, sit down.”

Gideon took a seat. He sensed already that this meeting — which had begun with a celebration of his successful completion of the latest project for EES — was morphing into something else.

“You’ve had quite an ordeal,” Glinn said. “Not just the physical manhunt, but the, ah, emotional toll as well. Are you sure you want to jump right into something new?”

“I’m sure,” Gideon replied.

Glinn looked at him carefully — a long, searching look. Then he nodded. “Excellent. Glad to hear you’ll be continuing with us as our…” He paused, searched for a word. “Our special deputy. We’ll engage you a suite at a hotel around the corner, so you’ll have a place to stay while we find you an apartment. I know how you hate to be away from your beloved Santa Fe, but it’s a very interesting time to be in New York. Right now, for example, there’s a special exhibition at the Morgan Library — the Book of Kells, on loan from the Irish government. You’ve heard of the Book of Kells, of course?”

“Vaguely.”

“It’s the finest illuminated manuscript in existence, considered to be Ireland’s greatest national treasure.”

Gideon said nothing.

Glinn glanced at his watch. “Then you’ll come have a look at it with me? I’m a great fancier of illuminated manuscripts. They’ll be turning a new page of the book every day. Very exciting.”

Gideon hesitated. “Illuminated manuscripts are not exactly an interest of mine.”

“Ah, but I was so hoping you’d accompany me to the exhibition,” said Glinn. “You’ll love the Book of Kells. It’s only been out of Ireland once before, and it’s only here for a week. A shame to miss it. If we leave now, we’ll just catch the last hour of today’s showing.”

“Maybe we could go Monday.”

“And miss the page displayed today — forever? No, we must go now.”

Gideon started to laugh, amused at Glinn’s earnestness. The man’s interests were so arcane. “Honestly, I couldn’t care less about the damn Book of Kells.”

“Ah, but you will.”

Hearing the edge in Glinn’s voice, Gideon paused. “Why?”

“Because your new assignment will be to steal it.”