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Back The Rose Labyrinth Save as PDF
Chapters (45)
  1. Cover
  2. THE ROSE LABYRINTH
  3. Titlepage
  4. Copyright page
  5. Dedication
  6. PROLOGUE
  7. 1
  8. 2
  9. 3
  10. 4
  11. 5
  12. 6
  13. 7
  14. 8
  15. 9
  16. 10
  17. 11
  18. 12
  19. 13
  20. 14
  21. 15
  22. 16
  23. 17
  24. 18
  25. 19
  26. 20
  27. 21
  28. 22
  29. 23
  30. 24
  31. 25
  32. 26
  33. 27
  34. 28
  35. 29
  36. 30
  37. 31
  38. 32
  39. 33
  40. 34
  41. EPILOGUE
  42. AUTHOR’S NOTE
  43. BIBLIOGRAPHY
  44. ACKNOWLEDGMENTS
  45. ABOUT THE AUTHOR

“It sounds very last minute, I think. I’ve no idea what he’s playing at, but I won’t say too much just now. Siân’s here with me tonight. She’s shaken and bruised, and her flat’s not secure. I’ve slipped downstairs to run her a bath, but I need a word with Simon about his contact at New Scotland Yard.”

Lucy was too horrified to press him, and passed the phone across. Simon’s immediate volley of expletives was unleashed so forcefully that everyone on the viewing platform turned to see what was wrong.

“The only reason we complied with their dictates to keep the police out of things was their promise to keep everyone else out of harm, as well—which they’ve now signally failed to do.” Alex almost sounded more tired than angry, Simon thought, but it was always difficult detecting just what was in his voice. “They’ve broken the rules they set, so it’s time we put things on our own terms.”

“Everyone is expedient in their politics, Alex. When you find Calvin, promise me you’ll handcuff the bastard until I get back.”

Simon took his Palm organizer from his jacket pocket, and a lot of detailed information was exchanged on both sides. Simon shook his head angrily. Lucy listened, an icy hand clutching the pit of her stomach, while numbers were given, notes taken, and Simon’s opinions offered. From the responses at this end, though, Alex was clearly more unwilling to comment. Simon eventually gave the phone back to its owner.

She pushed her ear against it to block the wind. “I love you too,” she was quite sure he said; but she hadn’t spoken at all. Then, in a voice firmer than Simon’s and surprisingly comforting, he closed the conversation with words that left her speechless. “Work out the numerology of John Dee’s name; it adds up to thirty-four. And Lucy, do you know your birthday is the thirty-fourth day of the year?”

29

ALEX HAD PICKED UP THE MORNING NEWSPAPER, DELIVERED TO THE FRONT door, and drawing back the living room curtain, he glanced at the date in the light: Thursday, March 25. He was struck that Siân had never bothered to cancel Will’s order for it, in all these nine long months. She hadn’t really moved on, he thought.