Vincent shook his head, his great mane of hair hiding his face, “I don’t know. That is I didn’t know. That is I knew she was contemplating going, but I didn’t know she was going so soon.”

“I told you I’d be in my chamber if you needed me. You should have called me, we might have stopped her from leaving.” Father seemed not to hear or want to hear his son. Mary touched his arm, “Jacob, didn’t you hear what Vincent said, he didn’t know that Catherine planned to leave so soon.”

“Hhm!”

“And that’s your answer to everything is it - an exclamation of disapproval? And how was Vincent supposed to stop her? You know Catherine, once she gets a bee in her bonnet about something she’s off.”

“I know that only too well and much of her sudden ideas has been detrimental to Vincent.”

“That was in the past and you know it. Catherine would never put Vincent at risk anymore.”

“That maybe so, physically speaking, but what of mental anguish…”

“Will you two stop speaking about this as if I wasn’t here?”

Vincent rose to his feet and started his notorious pacing, “I didn’t know that Catherine planned to go to Brazil, not right now, this minute, only that she wished to go. And Catherine has a point, Devin has failed to make contact and after he was getting so good at it as well.” Despite everything Vincent grinned thinking of his brother’s sudden ability to actually stick to a promise to contact them frequently. They had heard from him every three days while he had been in Brazil up until the last week then suddenly nothing. It had been that as much as anything that had worried Catherine, and him too if truth be told. Obviously Catherine had picked up the vibes from him, because Vincent doubted anything might have entered her heart at all other than that other problem at hand otherwise.

“So what are you going to do about it?” Father wanted to know.

Vincent swung on him, “Do? What am I going to do? What can I do?”

“Don’t be silly Vincent. You might not be able to leave here, might not be able to go after her or telephone her, but you have a remarkable gift like no other. With the Bond of course you can get through to her, have her return before…” Father’s words faltered and he averted his gaze, but Vincent understood and continued, “before Catherine too goes missing. That’s what you were going to say wasn’t it Father?”

Jacob had the grace to blush, “Yes.” He mumbled wishing that wasn’t so. But it was true nonetheless. Vincent knew it too, Catherine had an uncanny knack of stumbling into trouble, and what could he do, so far away from where she was?
Maybe Father was right the Bond was the only way open to him. Thank God for the Bond.

“Something is wrong with me!” Catherine stamped her foot like an indignant mare as she reached for another plate of Pap de Queijo with a side serving of salad garnish.
The hotel was plush unlike anything that Devin may have stayed in and Catherine had no idea where that may have been. He’d never said, and besides he moved around too much for anything to be home for long. The food was delicious where she had chosen to stay, and she was eating far too much of it, but for some reason she had felt starved since her arrival. ‘must be the air’ she had concluded, eyeing a particular mouth watering serving of chocolate mouse glazed with ripened cherries and vanilla ice cream. She didn’t even flinch when she asked for, ‘a large serving please’ and waited in hasty expectation to savour the first mouthful.
Following her meal with iced mineral water, Catherine reached for a handful of after dinner mints to bestow in her pocket just in case she became peckish later. And she was just passing through the dining area when the scent of a fresh batch of Pap de Queijo besieged her nostrils. ‘Mmm’ Catherine followed the wafting scent, reaching unashamedly for the tray held high above the waiter’s head. ‘he’ll not miss a few’ she told herself merrily as she took them from the tray and stuffed them into her jacket pocket. There the warmth permeated through to her sides, forcing Catherine to take off and carry her jacket as she descended the steps leading out into the street.
The sunshine hit her suddenly strikingly! Its brilliance more than she had ever remembered, and at first by its splendour she did not see the little group of youngsters outside in the street until she had literally bumped into them.
“I’m sorry. Forgive me.” She held out a hand to steady the nearest child, and expecting a battering of abuse was pleasantly surprised to see faces full of grins and dancing eyes in sun tanned faces.

“Diamonds are a ladies best friend, no?” One of the boys’ held a pouch out for her inspection.

“Diamonds?” Catherine smiled, how unlikely that these children could be selling diamonds. She wanted to laugh but decided instead to humour them.

“Yes, see. We have all colours.”

Pursing her lips Catherine bit back a chuckle, diamonds of all colours, now that would be a first. Maybe diamonds that sparkled in all colours but certainly not in the array of different shaped and coloured crystals that lay upon the ragged piece of cloth in the young boy’s hand.

“Where did you get these?” It was her first thought, and as the pouch was snatched away from her eyes she regretted asking. Obviously where they obtained them was not for her to know or to ask. That they were selling them at all should have been all that mattered.
Catherine’s knowledge of Brazil’s gemstones was limited but she did know that selling gemstones there was not taken lightly, and certainly not on street corners by waifs and strays with grubby pouches to hold their wares.

“Let the lady be!” A voice rose to her side, one she faintly recognised funnily enough. Catherine turned with a ready smile on her lips and frowned as she recognised him.

“Hello. So we meet again.” He was all fairness and light.

“So I see.” Catherine made to step away from him, remembering the conversation that had turned almost to blackmail back at the airport that first time.
Stuart followed her, catching her arm, “I owe you an apology Miss. Chandler. Forgive me it was a dumb thing to do.” He told her as if he had read her mind.
Catherine wasn’t taken in by his demeanour but for the time being she let it stand. Being nice to weirdoes was she knew one of the best ways to get shot of them. Play them up and they’d likely to get a shot at you, in the literal sense.

“I forgive you, but please let go of my arm.” She smiled at him, mustering all the enthusiasm she could find to do so and he complied with her wishes.

“So, you came out here after all?”

“It would appear so.”

“Have you found your friend?”

“My friend?”

“Wasn’t you looking for Mr Burch?”

“Oh that, yes I was then but not now. I’m here on other business.” Stuart raised an eyebrow. “I’m sorry I cannot divulge that.” Catherine told him, “And besides I’m almost done. I shall be leaving again in a day or two.”

“Going back to your husband?”

“Yes.”

“I’d be happy to be your guide if you wish to go anywhere for the remainder of your stay?”

Catherine calculated the risks involved. The words keep your friends close and your enemies closer still whispered through her mind, “Thank you.” She told him, “I’d like that.”

“Must you keep complaining?” Devin had heard nothing but grumbles ever since they had left.

“Yes, goddammit I must! Why shouldn’t I?”

“Well if nothing else not doing so would conserve your spittle, and it might be a long while yet before we find water.”

“Water! Is that why we are carrying all these damn bottles?”

“What you thought we were going to play skittles when we reached our destination?” Devin quipped sarcastically, “Why else did you think we were carrying them all this way? No, don’t answer that!”

Elliot didn’t. He had plenty to say just wasn’t certain where to start. He also felt a trifle stupid that he hadn’t realised why Devin had insisted that they not only brought the bottles, but had made certain that the screw tops had been in place and that none of the bottles had been broken. And for once his barrage of questions and complaints fell away as he realised that Devin was right. All the grumbling he had done thus far, especially as Devin had been reluctant to answer, had in actual fact left him quite thirsty, and that thirst became all the more unbearable by the sudden thought of water not being encountered for some time to come.

‘We’re going to die,’ he’d uttered those words so much and Devin had only denied them or told him to get a grip. And maybe that was it. Maybe he had ‘lost it’ maybe he was on the brink of insanity, and who could blame him?
The stench, the darkness, the fear, anxiety, apprehension, hunger, thirst, you name it he’d suffered it, and it was all becoming just a bit too much. Glossed by the timeless thought that he would die in this stinking hole Elliot thought it would send anyone quite mad. And he didn’t feel sorry for his situation or the way he was thinking - he concluded that his thoughts were justified in the circumstances.
They walked on in silence now, Elliot putting one foot in front of the other aware only of the presence of another just ahead of him. He couldn’t see Devin, hadn’t seen him for some time, and became lamely aware that his own journey wasn’t hampered as Devin’s was since he trusted Devin to tell him, ‘to mind this, and mind that’ as he followed meekly behind. Devin took all the risks, bottles tied up in his shirt, he walked bare-chested cloaked only in an open jacket and jeans his hands cut and bleeding from tracing the line of the wall at his side and feeling gingerly with his toes for any drop beneath his feet. That he was used to this and that he had grown up accustomed to such a voyage of discovery did nothing to lighten his mood. He had promised Elliot they would get out of the pit, but Devin could never admit that it might not be a possibility. At least doing something was better than doing nothing at all, and they had to try. They just had to try.

“Fools gold?” Catherine repeated.

“In a manner of speaking. That which the street children sell is in actual fact quartz stone. Otherwise known as smoky topaz. Its as well I came a long when I did, you wouldn’t honestly have bought some of that stuff would you?” He grinned. Catherine did too, and shaking her head vehemently replied “course not.”

“Well just off the record, ‘cos I shouldn’t speak of rubbish while in a place like this. There are a great many unscrupulous persons that attempt to use quartz as smoky topaz, and…” he emphasised his next words, “a great many unknowing tourists that willingly buy this very cheap variety of quartz believing that they are buying cheaply the more precious topaz. More fool them.”

“Why do you say that?” Catherine was instantly intrigued.

“Because those people assume that the children have stolen precious gems and have no scruples about buying the gems from the children. Some people even barter with an already rock bottom price, and get the stones next to nothing. Pity really, there is no loss to an old fool that way.”

Despite herself Catherine found that prospect very humorous but though she was pleased that she had been rescued from spending her money on rubbish, she felt sorry for the children that had to sell such things to make a living. Stuart seemed to read her thoughts.

“Don’t.” he told her, “start to feel sorry for the children.” He laughed, “Surprised eh? It was written in your eyes. Those children are probably sent out by deceitful persons hoping to make a few million cruzeiros and pay the children a pittance.”

“Then I should still feel sorry for the children. They are being exploited and led into crime. Do the authorities do nothing at all?” “It’s the same the world over. Crime slips through the loopholes and children too come to that. I’m afraid it will be sometime before the rich stop getting richer and the poor stop getting poorer Miss Chandler.”

“And your point is what exactly?” Catherine detected certain contempt in his words.

“Nothing. Look lets catch up with the guide shall we? You’re paying for a trip into this mine and not getting your money's worth. I can vouch for some exciting views just up ahead. Here, you’ll need to turn on your torch.”

Catherine had wondered about that. At the onset of the tour bright lights had blazed overhead, and being handed a torch was the last thing she had expected. Now Stuart enlightened her as they met up with the group of tourists who had obviously been informed out of earshot of why the torches were required.

“Topaz is a night stone.” Stuart told her, “ Best seen in candlelight, but it is too breezy down here for that. Under florescent light it appears to bleed that is both colour and tone are lost and the same too with daylight. One of the reasons why jewellers use quartz-halogen lighting these days - with its white spectrum being natural looking it is so much kinder to topaz. One jewellers tip Catherine, always buy topaz in florescent lighting and sell beneath incandescent lightening.”

“A good tip if you happen to be in the trade of selling topaz. I shall remember that. Would I see flaws then if I were to insist on seeing it beneath florescent?”

“Perhaps, but topaz never has flaws, not unless they are man made ones.”

“I take it by that you speak as an expert?”

“Not so much an expert, but certainly a lover of this particular stone.”

“Sounds intriguing. Tell me more.”

“Later. Listen we are just coming to the main part of this tour. Come sit down, you will be amazed by what you hear.”

Catherine took up a seat beside him. The other people in their group had already taken up their seats and were waiting in expectation for the tour guide to begin. In very few moments Catherine was completely enthralled by all she was hearing, while Stuart sat mesmerised by her beauty and wondering how she had come by a certain scar beneath her left ear.

“What do you see?” Vincent prompted softly a little afraid that too large a question would fade the apparition.

“Beauty” came Catherine’s reply, “everywhere beauty. Oh Vincent you should see this!”

In his mind’s eye, something familiar returned to Vincent at that moment - something he had read and he applied its significance now gasping with pleasure as he realised what Catherine could see…

“What are they?” He questioned. Amazed by her answer.

“Topaz. Oh Vincent aren’t they beautiful?”

He nodded, unable to speak, and in that moment of movement the image faded. Vincent tried desperately to hold on, but it collapsed quickly, until he became aware that he was back in his chamber, alone.
His elation died and once again he felt a million miles away from his love, but then at the back of his mind seared the memory that the Bond had changed. That he could at the right time dwell so deep inside Catherine that he could literally see through her eyes. It brought Vincent such overwhelming joy that he no longer felt alone. He was ecstatic to know that he could share with Catherine every movement she made, and perhaps in so doing protect her even if she were on the other side of the world. That in itself gave him such comfort that for the first time since she had left he drifted off into a dreamless sleep that for once didn’t haunt him with nightmares and visions of Catherine in trouble and he so far away that he was unable to help her.

“For you.” Stuart held out the small piece of rock and placed it into the palm of Catherine’s hand, “it’ll bring you peace.”
Examining the rock with her fingertips and rolling it round in her palm Catherine couldn’t deny that she felt a tingling warmth that spread right up her arm and deep into her body, bringing about a feeling of well being that she hadn’t known moments before. Or maybe that was due to the fact that she had just realised that Vincent had literally dwelt within her for a time and she had felt so remarkably close to him.
The tour was over now and the group of tourists was heading for the gift shop but Catherine was still deeply interested in this wonderful little stone.
“It always amazes me what qualities are attached to certain stones.” She remarked as she picked up a card showing various stones and their meanings. “Listen to this; ‘topaz - the abundant one. A stone that detoxifies the body, warms, awakens and inspires health by powerful assistance to tissue regeneration.’ Do you think that’s true Gary?”

“Oh yes most certainly. I have never felt better since working with topaz. Ask any miner and they’ll tell you the same. This little stone regenerates almost every gland and tissue in the body. It’s soothing, peaceful and tranquillising. I simply love it.”

“It says here that it gives of a creativity and self-expression that co-operates with one’s higher self. I have heard of such things with gemstones, but have never taken much notice I must admit.”

Although that wasn’t strictly true. Catherine understood very well the properties surrounding her crystal, but thought it best not to enlightening him of it, lest he ask questions as to its origin.
They were standing side by side now, and as Stuart was closer than she liked, Catherine moved aside replacing the card in its holder and made a show of checking the time by looking at her watch. “I should go, its getting late. Thank you for bringing me here Gary.”

“Just call me Stuart, everyone does.” He replied before adding,”The day is still young, I had wanted to take you elsewhere. I know the tour has shown you much but there is still a lot of it didn’t show you. I’d hoped to take you to the refinery, show you how the gems are turned into something spectacular.”

“How can you enhance on natural beauty?” Catherine asked.

“By bringing out its best. Do you not like to wear make up, perfume nice clothes? Mind you I think you would still look beautiful without any of those things.”

“Thank you.” Catherine blushed feeling worried that his attention though genuine was beginning to have an ulterior motive and not just one of another person showing her around his favourite places.

“I really should get back to the hotel. I need to freshen up before dinner and take an early night. I only have another day here and would like to spend it wide awake.”

“As you wish. Tomorrow then? Maybe you would allow me to escort you to the refinery, and show you just how beautiful topaz can really be. Besides many of the colours you saw here today are nothing compared to the colours brought about by refining. You will also have the opportunity of buying shares into a topaz mine, if you would like to do so.”

“I’d much prefer buying some topaz to take back with me.”

“Its not always possible. The trade for topaz is difficult. The gemstones are totally unfettered by government regulations so the prices are determined strictly by demand and supply and often Brazilians will hold on to whatever stones that they find since these become a great source of wealth at times of economic collapse. One can barter with gemstones to obtain other wealth. You will be lucky to be able to purchase any stone of value that is the sort of calibre I think you should adorn yourself with. Look I will enlighten you more tomorrow for I can see you are growing weary. Will you let me escort you back to your hotel?”

Catherine nodded, she did suddenly feel very tired. It was unlike her, and she was extremely hungry not to mention thirsty. “Thank you.” She told him sincerely, “I’d appreciate that.” For right now just being able to lean on another human being had its advantages for Catherine felt almost too tired to walk.
She hoped she wasn’t sickening for something - that would be all she needed right now. She still had much to do, even though she’d told Stuart she was going home the day after tomorrow, nothing could have been further from the truth. She couldn’t leave until she had ascertained what had become of Devin and while she was there what had happened to Elliot. It bugged her that she knew not the answer to neither of these questions and wondered where she should start. For all his gallantry Catherine didn’t trust Stuart but right now he might be the only lead that she had. Perhaps she could ask with caution, maybe she might glean something that would at least give her something to go on. But tomorrow was soon enough, right now reaching the hotel was all Catherine wanted to do then eat drink bath and sleep in that order and the sooner the better for she hadn’t felt so out of sorts in a long, long time.

“What is it?”

“I can hear water.”

“Water?” Elliot’s mind went blank. So many emotions flew into it at once. Elation being the utmost, but everything at once became too much to think about.

“Yes. It’s dripping, over here I think. Come.”

“Where’s over here?”

“I’m sorry. To your left, hold out the flat of your palm against the wall, see its remarkably wet in places. All we need to find is a rivulet where it is running the most and catch it into the bottles, then we can make faster progress to freedom.”

Elliot did as Devin bade and was delighted to feel his fingers grow wet. “Yes! Its water! Oh thank you, thank you, thank you God.” He leaned against the wall allowing his face to become saturated the feeling was the best he had ever experienced. Ice cold water washing away the sweat and grime of the past three weeks. It felt wonderful!

Catherine listened with awe as the narrator explained the history of topaz mined in Ouro Preto, the little town where she had stayed for the past four days. And where now she toured the main refinery of that particular gemstone alongside her guide Gary Stuart, a man she wasn’t particularly fond of, but also a man that for some reason wanted to keep a close eye on her.
She knew he found her beautiful, he’d said as much time and again, and she couldn’t put her finger on it, but she felt deep down that her beauty wasn’t something that he was necessarily interested in. As in keeping her friends close and her enemies closer still Catherine allowed him to accompany her, purely so she knew what he was up to, rather than have him surprise her in a way that she hadn’t yet worked out.
Obviously he had some designs on her, but she couldn’t understand what, and apart from the fact that they had met at the air port in New York prior to her arrival in Brazil, Catherine knew little else about him. Any observation she made was purely coincidental, for Gary Stuart kept his private life very much to himself.

“Natural topaz is coloured in various hues of yellow through orange, peach orange, pink, cinnamon-pink, dark orange red and violet red. Brown is a secondary hue, while the brownish yellow is sometimes referred to as sherry topaz. Prices vary depending on the range of hues from light to dark, respectfully."

While her attention was caught up in the narrative, Catherine spared some of her interest for the man walking at her side. He’d said little today. Having collected her from her hotel early that morning and accompanying her to the refinery, he had been very quiet since their arrival. Catherine wondered what was on his mind. Maybe she had underestimated him maybe he did find her attractive enough to be concerned about her proposed return home on the morrow. But Catherine doubted it. Her lawyer years had made her susceptible to the out workings of others.

“However topaz can be found in a multitude of hues. Theoretically speaking the variety is infinite and topaz possesses a soft velvety brilliance that is unique. Yet despite that there are some colours that can only be attained through heat treatment and that’s where this refinery comes into operation.”

They walked slowly along following the team of students, tourists and collectors alike through a long corridor into a room similar to that of a dark room for the process of photography. Here soft incandescent lights gave full vigour and vitality to the gems on display. And through a window it was possible to watch the fine art of ‘pinking’ a technique performed under low temperatures as in over the open flame of a campfire.
Stones found with a pink or bluish hue could be made purer this way. The beauty of it was that ‘pinked’ topaz was difficult to distinguish from topaz that is naturally pink, despite some experienced dealers insisting otherwise.

“So someone like me wouldn’t be able to tell what has been touched up and what hasn’t?” Catherine asked with a grin.

The guide turned to her, “That’s about the size of it.” He grinned back exposing a bright flashing smile that left Catherine quite breathless.

“Then why the treatment?” Catherine shrugged, “Why all this if the colour can be mined naturally?”

He grinned at her again, yet Catherine detected the word ‘foolish woman’ in that smile. He neither answered her question nor acknowledged her presence from then on and Catherine was left to wonder whether he actually knew the answer to her question or if he couldn’t be bothered to say. Either way it didn’t matter as Gary Stuart came to her rescue, once again.

“The heat process can bring forth a wider variety of hues than is natural. ‘Pinking’ is only one of them.
From the process of heating we can obtain the widely acclaimed blue topaz. Though blue can occur naturally, the hue can be wishy-washy and not the bright vibrant colour that blue topaz is praised for. Come let me show you.” Taking her arm Stuart steered Catherine past students and the like, into a side room that she hadn’t noticed. Here again the room was dark lit only by soft incandesce lights to show off the beauty of the topaz.
“Notice that topaz is the birthstone for November and it is as previously shown available in a huge variety of hues. Here see, this blue, that was a chunk mined around here around three years ago, its kinda bluish, but not of a hue to excite anyone. Yet see this;” Stuart pointed to a colourless stone, void of any sort of treatment, “this is from where we get the real blue topaz. Colourless topaz is irradiated to produce a vibrant blue, like this one see?”

The difference was stunning! From pale non-excitable blue to colourless stone to a vibrant flashing blue stone that took Catherine’s breath away, the contrast was incredible!

“After it has gone through its treatment it is heated to stabilise the colour, and there you have it, blue topaz fit for a king, or should we say a queen? Can you not imagine being adorned with such finery Miss Chandler?”

“It is beautiful.” Catherine could only remark, and there was something else, the glorious blue made her think of Vincent’s eyes, so much so that she never wanted to stop looking at the gemstone.

“If you’ll come with me?” Stuart broke through her thoughts, edging her away from the sight that held her gaze and over toward another shelf containing more topaz. “This is Imperial topaz. It can only be mined here in Ouro Preto. That is within and around sixty-kilometres of this mine. Imperial topaz my dear Catherine is a highly valued gemstone and one that will soon be in short supply. Blue can always be created from colourless, but this, this shade of orange to reddish orange is expected to be non existent by the end of the century. If you wish to purchase any type of topaz Catherine, then let it be the Imperial Topaz. I can tell you that being able to own such a stone will in time make you a very desirable lady to know. Not that you aren’t now of course.” He hastened to add, “Your beauty transcends any precious stone, but if you were to be in the market for gems the Imperial Topaz would be the finest in your collection.”

“I hadn’t thought about buying any gemstones let alone topaz, but thank you Mr Stuart for bringing this to my attention. I will certainly give it some thought. Shares in topaz could be quite lucrative in a few years time. Shall we go back to the tour now?” Catherine checked her watch, “I’m sure they will be finishing it soon.”

They were. As Catherine and Stuart re-entered the room they had vacated some half hour earlier the tour was just winding down with the words; “…and being that the supply of topaz as we know it is diminishing. And the current situation is that the centre of the world’s topaz trade in Belo Horizonte Brazil’s third largest city and just a short drive from Ouro Preto can be described as steady. Most of the smaller mines will eventually close as supplies wither and finally cease, but the availability of the finest pinks and reds will hopefully continue for a good few years to come. However, having said that I am pleased to report that a fresh find has been discovered here in Ouro Preto and this appears to boast a huge amount of Imperial and Colourless Topaz that will take several years to mine. So perhaps the earth is not yet ready to close its gates on topaz mining. And maybe the next century will produce new techniques for deeper and safer mining, and maybe we will find that even blue topaz of the hue that is presented after refining to be a natural colour that will put Ouro Preto back on the map for another century or more. So ladies and gentlemen that concludes the tour for today. I hope you have enjoyed it and if you have any questions I shall be pleased to answer them after we have all partaken of some refreshment. So if you would all follow me…”

Stuart held on to Catherine’s arm, “You don’t have to follow them. They are only going for something to eat and drink. How about you and I taking another look around down here?”

Something in his tone unnerved Catherine, whatever did he want with her? Catherine shook her head, “I am quite hungry actually, so if you don’t mind?”

Reluctantly it seemed, Stuart shook his head, and took up step beside her once more. She wasn’t leaving until the morrow, time yet to have his way with her. He looked back with longing at the darkened rooms lit only by soft lighting to enhance the quality of the topaz and shrugged his shoulders. It would have been nice to make love to her amid such a setting but no matter there were other places just as beautiful, he could wait. He’d played the game till now with no hiccups, and he could play it a yet awhile. The wait would be worth it. Catherine Chandler was one very desirable and sexy lady.

Vincent’s head jerked up at the words. “Pardon?”

“I said Lapis Luzali. Vincent you may not know it but your eyes are the most beautiful hue I have ever seen just now. They remind me of lapis lazuli. No wonder Catherine feels able to drown in your lagoon eyes. Why Vincent is that a blush I can see?” Mary laughed as she took up the tea tray beside her adoptive son.

“I’m sorry Mary I couldn’t eat anything. Tell William it’s nothing to do with his cooking.” Vincent’s tone was flat and Mary’s heart went out to him.
Patting his hand she stayed at his side for the moment, “Miss her huh? Is she all right? Do you know?”

“Yes Mary I know, and yes she appears quite well. Tired perhaps, but she seems to be safe. I don’t envisage her return anytime soon however. I miss her Mary.”

“Yes, you will do. Perhaps more now than ever before. And what of that other problem, have you managed to resolve anything?”

Vincent shook his head. “When Catherine returns we still have that to face. I know how you feel Mary, I know too that Catherine deserves children of her own, its just that…”His words trailed away, and Mary patted his large furry hand once more, “I understand Vincent. We women are just being silly clucky old hens, don’t fret so, I’m certain Catherine will feel differently in time. Perhaps you and she could adopt a baby?”

“I have put that to her, but it would appear she wants only mine. I suppose I should feel proud and happy to know that, but I am not. No one but me knows how it really feels to be locked inside this body. If I should pass this heritage on to someone else it would be the death of me. I couldn’t live with that Mary.”

“No doubt you feel that way Vincent, but if it happened you would love that child fiercely. There is nothing like the love of a mother or a father toward their own.” Mary’s eyes took on a distant look, and this time Vincent covered her hand and squeezed it in his. He felt her pain. Mary’s own daughter had died when still very young and she had not had another child of her own.
For some moments the two stayed side by side in silence, until Mary finally straightened and once again took up the tea tray in both hands. “Maybe you’ll come to the kitchen for some supper Vincent. Try not to go without Vincent. Starving yourself isn’t going to bring Catherine home any faster. Besides you need to keep your strength up to contact her via the Bond that you share.”

“Yes. Thank you Mary, I will be down for supper.” Mary moved away intending to leave without another word, when Vincent spoke softly thus calling back her attention, "Lapis Lazuli?”

“Yes Vincent Lapis Lazuli. And true of you in another sense too. It is known as a night stone, did you know that?”

Vincent shook his head, “No I didn’t. What of blue topaz?”

“A night stone also. If ever I saw either I would be reminded instantly of you.”

“For their colour and the significance of the night?”

“Yes and also because both are the very epitome of you in that they represent power, physic abilities and a communicator with the higher self. Without those qualities Vincent you would not be who you are, despite what you may represent in looks, and it is my belief that those that may be around either you or such gemstones will find those qualities magnified in themselves.”

Vincent sighed, he had always found it difficult to accept praise, and this was no exception.

“Thank you Mary.” Was all he managed to say.

“You’re welcome, child.”

Vincent watched Mary walk out of the chamber and then lay his head back against the wing of his chair where he had been leaning upon her entrance, and started to think of Catherine again, only this time with a light of wisdom that hadn’t been present before.

“Is something wrong?” Leo addressed Stuart who had said no more than half a dozen words since he had walked into the meeting some half an hour earlier.
One finger half way to his mouth Stuart looked up. “With me?” He questioned seeming surprised to have been asked.

“Yes with you. You seem distracted. In fact we have seen very little of you these past four days. What have you been up to?”

“Nothing.”

“Such an unusual name for a beautiful woman.” Leo laughed heartily causing Pedro to stare at him questioningly.

“I’ve seen the pair of them together.” Leo confessed, “So what is her name and when’s the wedding?” He laughed again. Stuart blushed and nails forgotten he started to fidget in his seat.

Pedro laughed, “Cat got your tongue?” He turned to Leo, “It must be love. I’ve never seen him lost for words before.”

“Either that or there is a mystery surrounding the woman.” Pedro ever suspicious leaned forward looking Stuart in the eye. “Tell us, is she a spy?” He laughed, but the laughter didn’t quite ring true.

Stuart caught the malice behind it. Pedro was fishing and how long should he hold out on them anyway?

“No she isn’t a spy.” He laughed but to his own ears his laughter sounded false causing Pedro to quirk an eyebrow while looking at him suspiciously.

“But?” He asked his tone deadly.

“Look there’s nothing to worry about. I met her in New York…” he was going to say she was an old friend of a friend et cetera, et cetera but Pedro didn’t give him the chance.

“New York! Is she connected to Burch?”

“In a manner of speaking yes, but…” Again Stuart was interrupted.

“She is! Then why did you not tell us straight away? Where is she? What is she doing here? What of the other fellow does she know him too?”

“Look its okay really it is. She’s just here on some other business, she’s a lawyer…”

“A lawyer!” Pedro passed a hand over his brow and groaned, “This gets worse. And you thought not to inform us?” Are you stupid?”

“Its not that way.” Stuart laughed shaking his head, “She won’t trouble us. And besides she’s leaving for New York tomorrow.”

“So soon?” Pedro turned to his colleague asking, “I don’t like it. How about you Leo?”

“Much the same as you I think. Whether she has found out anything, is immaterial that she is returning proves that she could be going back to New York for reinforcements. I don’t like it Pedro. We mustn’t let her return.”

Leaning toward Stuart Pedro looked him dead in the eyes, “What have you told her?”

“Nothing.” Stuart shook his head, “Nothing, I swear.”

“I hope not for your sake. But we cannot take that risk. Do you know where we might find her?”

“She’s meeting me in her hotel lobby at noon.”

“Good. Good. Then we will accompany you. You may introduce us, and Leo and I will ascertain exactly what she knows, and whom she is working for.”

Stuart saw his best laid plans for Catherine’s last day swept aside and wished he’d feigned ignorance to Leo’s sighting of he and Catherine together but it was too late for that now.

“What will you do with her?” He asked nervously. His tone not going unnoticed by either Leo or Pedro.

“That rather depends on what we glean. But if I feel that she will be a risk to our venture, she will have to be eliminated like Burch and Wells, and you Stuart would do well to stay out of that, unless you’d like to keep the three of them company.”

Gary Stuart shook his head. No, despite what he felt toward Catherine Chandler, he’d rather not keep her company that way. He could still remember Pepe’s horror story of the mineshaft clear enough to not want to experience it for himself. “I don’t think you’ll find her causing you any problems.” Stuart told them. But even though he tried to sound positive he knew deep down that the possibility of that was slim. Catherine may have covered her tracks mightily well, but even Stuart had suspected the real reason for her being in Brazil, and it had nothing to do with some other business she had led him to believe she was there for.

To be continued in part 7.