‘Bollocks, Paul. Why didn't you have her back? Here, have some salts. Ramin quick,’ she said and snapped her fingers, and Ramin dropped a variety of pills into Clio's hand. Julius stood back and watched as Neith’s teammates dashed in and out to get water, and Ramin rubbed some gel on the back of her head. The three were arguing with each other, taking it in turns to blame the other, when Neith’s voice cut across them.
‘Enough. I'll live. Survived worse. A sucker punch to the back of the head is a coward’s weapon, although it felt like a steel bar.’
‘No, it was definitely a punch,’ said Ramin. ‘Julius saw it happen and said we need to go back and get you.’
Neith laughed weakly. ‘My hero. Cheers!’
‘You saw what happened?’ Paul asked cautiously.
Julius stared at the man who had punched Neith in the back of the head. He may be absent-minded, easily distracted, unaware of the bigger picture, but no one had ever accused Julius of being stupid.
‘Yeah, it was so quick, some bloke hit your friend there and she fell down.’
‘Did you see who it was?’
‘Christ, no, it all happened so fast. Do you want me to try to do like a photo fit or an ID sketch?’
Paul watched him closely and then continued. ‘No need, I saw him,’ he said, then turned to Neith. ‘Do we need to debrief now, or would you like a bath first? Warm up a bit?’
She smiled. ‘A bath sounds a fine idea but we won't all fit, not with Julius here. By the way,’ she said, turning to Julius, ‘do you have a middle name or a nickname we could use instead of Julius?’
Sensing his puzzlement, she shook her head, wincing as she did. ‘Ignore me. Okay, so I... Sorry, hang on. Bucket...’
Clio suddenly whipped a bucket from the side of the sofa and Neith threw up into it. She took a sip of water and then apologised to Julius again.
‘Blows to the head always make me vomit, as do all the pills to make me better. However, better out than in. Right, let's get on with it.’
Neith appeared to visibly revive and the team began to relax as they re-grouped around the table. Julius tried to sit as far away from any of them, and as close to the front door, as was possible.
‘First things first,’ began Neith, addressing Julius, ‘you can leave anytime you want. The front door is unlocked and no one here will stop you. However, before you do that, can I lay my cards on the table and offer my genuine, our genuine regrets, for the death of your friend Charles?’
Julius looked at the four faces and accepted their condolences. For now despite his serious concerns, they appeared to offer no immediate threat.
‘So who are you? And why are those men after me?’
Neith took a sip of hot chocolate. ‘Do you know, I think this fixes more ills than all your health kits combined?’ She paused, then looked at Julius as she gathered her thoughts.
‘You've clearly worked out we’re not police.’
‘Neith!’
‘Quiet. He’s not an idiot and we need his trust. We won't get it by lying to him.’
Clio continued to glare at Julius.
‘We aren't police. We’re a private security unit employed by an individual. He values his wealth as much as his privacy, and he heard that a Fabergé item was being talked about on the black web.’
Julius knew bugger all about the black web, but he was going to nod along until something made sense.
‘We don't think the gossip came from your friend. He appears to have been a remarkably discreet individual. We think the rumour mill started with the dealer your friend met in London. Our boss dispatched us to intercede on his behalf and make a private bid. He didn't wish it to come to the surface. As you know, that meeting was interrupted by an unknown party. We don't know who they are, but we’re quite confident that they don't have the egg yet and for some reason, presumably your closeness to Charles, they believe you are the clue to its discovery.’
Julius looked at them, alarmed. ‘I don't have a clue where the egg is, but I do think I know a bit about it, if that helps?’
Four bodies leaned forward.
‘I think it’s an unknown egg.’
Neith looked surprised. ‘Have you seen it?’
‘No, deduction only I'm afraid.’
‘Talk me through it.’
And so Julius went on to discuss the size and age of the doll case, and the attached family history. Finally, he concluded that unless the paperwork had been tampered with in 1922, this had to be an unknown egg. Every other imperial egg had been sighted after 1918.
‘Although, of course, it could be a non-imperial egg, but I think if you consider that the grandfather was stationed at Yekaterinburg, then that makes the most sense.’ He trailed off, uncomfortable with the team's scrutiny.
‘Told you he was good,’ Neith said with satisfaction.
‘So what now? I’ve told the police everything I know. I’ve told you everything I know. And it turns out what I know is almost nothing. I just want this done, and get back to my normal life.’
There was a pause, then Ramin coughed. ‘That's exactly what we want as well. We're going to be monitoring you for the next few days,’ he said in a rush as Julius got ready to protest. ‘We’ll be totally unobtrusive. You won't even know we’re there, but if you need us, just shout. I believe you have Neith’s number in your phone contacts. You can also call if you want to discuss anything you remember, no matter how trivial. We aim to have this resolved in the next three days. And then you can forget you ever met us. Now, let me drive you home. I imagine
