"Listen, I’m just down in the lobby. If it isn’t too late I was wondering if you would mind talking some more about our gladiator tonight? You know what they say, two heads are better than one."
"Why not? Just give me a few minutes to dress and pull out my notes. Room 410."
Nigel had sequestered himself in his room most of the evening, pouring over some new information he had obtained earlier after their meeting with the wonderful Mister Nelson. In fact Nigel was glad he did stop to listen to what some of the locals had to say, having learned a few more things about their mysterious female warrior. One thing was that he might have found her disturbing reason for refusing to fight and impaling herself instead. He also had a lead on a possible location for the spear. The little old ladies at the parish were more than happy to surround him and keep him entertained all afternoon with their folk tales and recipes. Although he wasn't particularly fond of the cheeky goosing he got when he turned his back on them!
Nelson had immediately dismissed his ideas as hearsay and old wives tales, but Nigel diligently followed up anyway. That was the way he was trained. If there was one thing Sydney taught him over the past two years of working with her, it was that he should never to be too eager, to hurried, or underestimate the power of absolute, unadulterated gossip. Any shred of evidence, no matter how strange or shrewd it’s source, should not be ignored. There was always something to be learned from brazen old ladies and their colourful yarns.
Pushing up his sleeve to check the time he groaned... it was almost nine o’clock and he hadn’t even eaten yet, no wonder he was feeling a might peckish. Plucking his glasses from the tip of his nose he spiked a hand through his tousled hair and yawned, lifting his arms high above his head in a long gusty stretch. Nigel yawned again, then hoisted himself into an upright position and went to grab his jacket. Looking over to the door joining his room with Sydney’s, he noticed the light was on. Maybe she was hungry too. Raising a softly curled fist to the door he was about to knock, but stopped short hearing the muffled sounds of laughter and a man’s voice on the other side.
"You should have seen the look on my dad’s face when he realised that that horse was actually going to take a big bite out of his leg!" The laughter paused momentarily, giving them a chance to catch their breath. " It just turned its head and...chomp!"
"Barry, I thought you were hear to discuss the relic, not trade childhood memories." Sydney had tried not to laugh at most of his anecdotal stories, but just couldn’t help herself. "It’s getting late, we better make this short."
"Do you and Nigel ever get a chance to kick up your heels and try new things? I figured he would at least be making an effort where you’re concerned, being your boyfriend and all. I know I’d be showing you off every chance I got. You’re a beautiful woman, Sydney Fox."
It was all Nigel could do to keep from barging in there and throwing Nelson’s brawny butt out the door, with Sydney's help of course.
"Oh," Sydney could feel herself start to blush ever so slightly. The man definitely WAS a pig, but he was a handsome and devilishly charming one at that. Slightly older than she, Barry Nelson cut a formidable figure in his grey three piece suit and tie. He had that neuvo James Dean look about him, but his poor attitudes towards other people, particularly her teaching assistant, left little to be desired. "Nigel and I are just friends, nothing more." She couldn’t explain why she felt like that was the biggest lie ever to come out of her mouth. It was the truth, but it felt like a lie. She wasn’t able to control the guilt washing over her. They were just friends, weren’t they?
"Well the way he was carrying on today I just assumed you two were involved. He doesn’t like me." Barry started to puff himself up like a peacock trying to show off its tail feathers. "I almost felt sorry for him! He’s totally unsophisticated, inexperienced, and he looks like a college kid! I apologise, I should have known better. A fine woman of your stature wouldn’t be caught dead with such an underling. You are far too stunning for the ordinary man..."
Don’t even think YOU have a chance with me buster, she thought, strategically placing herself between a heavy armchair and Barry. "Flatterer."
"Is it helping?"
Nigel was absolutely beside himself, how dare that man patronise me! His body became slack and he couldn’t be bothered to listen any more. I am such a fool, he thought. Grabbing his jacket he stormed out the door and into the elevator. Next stop, the lobby and London nightlife on the streets below.
Unbeknownst to Barry, mollifying Nigel was not the way to Sydney’s heart, and he was about to find out the hard way.
"So, if you aren’t involved with the little Englishman, would you be interested in going to dinner tomorrow night?" Barry stood up and walked towards Sydney. He took her hand in his and looked into her coffee-coloured gaze. "I won’t take no for an answer."
"I think you might want to reconsider that Mister Nelson. I’m sorry, but I never mix business with pleasure. We have a job to do, and I don’t date out of my species."
Go to Part Four.