And you are?

CHAPTER FIVE

Nigel walked sombrely into the museum he wasn't a pretty sight, his shoulders were slumped, his bright eyes dull, and the worried look that first appeared on his unshaven face hours earlier was still there. He was shocked that he'd been allowed into the posh museum but he had and now he was stood watching the people go by unsure of what to do next.

Tristan gripped the banister, his knuckles turned white and his face red with anger at the sight of Sydney's colleague, he figured he'd underestimated Mr Nigel Bailey's loyalty to his ex boss. He coughed to clear his throat and straightened his navy suit jacket and removed his hand from the banister not noticing the indentation his grip had made in the wood; he walked slowly down the step taking time to prepare himself for any questions Nigel might throw at him. "May I help you sir?" he asked smoothly, he took Nigel's hand and shook it firmly.

Nigel winced at the tightness of the grip and pulled his hand back and smiled coolly, "I'm looking for the owner of the museum".

"I am he…What can I do for you?" He asked politely. Inside he was quaking, Sydney was in the museum and had been exploring it wouldn't look good if Nigel was to see her.

Fortunately for Tristan, Nigel didn't notice anything wrong with the man before him "I'm looking for Sydney Fox…"

Tristan plastered a false sad look on his face "I'm afraid I don't know where she is, she's gone. Did you read --".

Nigel was usually polite and friendly, on this day however he was in no mood for niceties, "I've read the paper yes! I want you to tell me everything you know" he voice rose higher the more he spoke and he noticed the nervous look that appeared on Tristan's face. If he wasn't so desperate and upset he'd have been proud of the fact that he'd made a stronger man than himself, nervous, he allowed himself to be led away and up the stairs to Mr Dell's study.

* * *

Nigel sat a soft black leather chair before Tristan, he looked around idly whilst listening to the older man speak about his hotel's history; Nigel couldn't have been completely certain but he thought Tristan was stalling. He waited for Tristan to pause for breath so he could jump into the conversation and steer it in a more important direction, "About Sydney…"

"Ah yes Miss Fox spoke to me about the relic she was planning on finding for me…I referred her to somebody who could translate what something said, she never arrived at her destination".

He noticed Tristan was being incredibly vague about everything "And that was yesterday?"

Tristan nodded "Indeed the next I heard she had disappeared! Just like that…Poof! And the police found some of her items". If Tristan were a woman this would've been where he batted his eyelids innocently.

"I'd like to speak to the man who she was going to see".

Mr Dell might have been nervous about something but he wasn't showing it anymore, he looked as though he'd suddenly gathered his thoughts…And his wits, "I'm afraid he's left the country" he told Nigel calmly.

"What!" Nigel shouted.

"He had other pressing business to take care of I'm afraid" he rose from his seat "He could not have helped you anyway Nigel as he never actually saw Sydney". He stopped beside Nigel and extended his arm to point to the door, the meeting was over.

"Of course" Nigel began "Miss Fox disappeared before she got to meet him…And its Mr Bailey". He walked out of the office and shut the door behind him, he leant against the wall and breathed deeply; he couldn't believe he'd just spoke to Tristan like that. Some thing about him had rubbed Nigel up the wrong way; and the way he'd talked about Sydney like they were best friends! He was starting to understand that feeling Sydney would get when she didn't trust someone.

* * *

A security guard was waiting for Nigel at the bottom of the winding stairs, he suspected the good Mr Dell had asked the guard to escort him off the premises. "Hello, wonderful day isn't it?" the guard said making pleasant conversation as he took Nigel by the arm and began walking him towards the exit.

Nigel looked up at him and forced a smile "Whatever you say" he looked outside and saw it was starting to rain, he hazarded a look behind him and saw Tristan watching him as he left, the museum owner glanced around the floor then hurried off to his study. Nigel was about to walk outside when he saw a woman a few feet in front of him he stopped in mid-walk "Sydney" he whispered.

He broke free of the security guards grasp and ran towards her "Sydney!" the black haired woman turned and stared at him and his heart sank; she'd looked just like her from where he'd been standing moments earlier; but it wasn't. The guard grabbed him and pulled him away, Nigel saw her by an Egyptian exhibit speaking to some people telling them about the relic in the glass case. "Sydney!" he shouted louder this time, Sydney looked up her eyes looking straight at him. She gave him a once over and smiled, his heart leapt; then she saw the guard practically drag him away and she watched, puzzled.

"Sydney help!" he couldn't believe what he was seeing when he watched her walk away without so much as a backward glance.

TBC…