Chapter 9 - An unwelcome visitor and the start of the journey.
Lara stood silently, hidden in the passageway behind the bookcase, gun in hand. The intruder was still kneeling under the desk.
"Come on. Turn around and let me see your smarmy arsed face"
The figure didn't oblige just yet. Instead, it pivoted round, just out of Lara's view, and then, infuriated her beyond belief. He sat down in Lara's father's chair, put his feet up on the desk and sat back. And then..he swung the chair around, showing his face for the first time..and……
Lara burst out of the passageway, gun pointed straight at his face. The figure jumped in surprise and fell out of the chair to the floor.
"Chase!! You God-Damned Bastard!!! You never take a hint do you. You have till I count to 5 to tell me what you are doing in my house, in my study, in my father's chair with your stinking feet up on my desk"
"Hey honey!" Chase said in a shaking voice. He had clearly expected Lara to be asleep and not bursting from bookcases.
"Surely if this is your father's chair and desk, then its his study?"
"1. Don't pull wise cracks with me! HILLY!"
"I just came to see you"
"2"
"Really, I did"
"3"
"Lara, please?!?"
"Try harder. 4"
"I came to ask you about a certain expedition which I know your about to go on, and I…I"
"4 and a half"
"I came to see Alexa"
"5"
"I swear, I swear"
"Bang" - Lara whispered, mockingly. She took all but one bullet out of the gun. Hilly came running in. His trusty shotgun in hand. He stopped, shocked.
"Lara. Do you know this man?"
"Unfortunately, Yes! Hilly, I'd like you to take some notes please. Extensive ones. Take a seat. .Oh. There's paper and a pen in my drawer in the bureau. Mr Carver here is about to share his information with us. Take a seat Mr Carver"
Alexa came running in.
"Lara! What's going on? I thought I hea…. YOU!"
She pointed accusingly at Chase, and then backed off a few paces, and stared. Lara stood watching her. She felt sorry for her, and then furious.
"Chase!!" she roared. Chase cowered in the chair. He gave a weak smile and whimpered.
"I hate guys who cower. You're a weakling Chase. Now spill. Blood or Info. I have no preference"
"Ok Ok. I have been hired by an anonymous client who asked me to follow a woman called Alexa Munroe, and anyone who she met up with. I have been doing that. It was just an added bonus when you bumped into me at the airport. I knew instantly"
Lara limply pointed the gun at Chase - in an area he didn't want blown off!
"Keep talking Chase"
"Anyway, this guy mentioned something about a sword, some kind of treasure and a giant sapphire, which I could have in payment if I completed my job. That's all, I swear Lara. I can't tell you anymore cause I don't know anymore"
"Sure?"
"Yes!"
"So, why did you come to speak to me about Egypt then?"
"I was listening at the door Venice, and I heard a lot. Well, when you shot at me, by the way, ruining my pants..thanks a lot Lara"
"No problem. Keep talking"
"Well when you saw me run away, well, I ran back"
"Bad Move Chase"
"You didn't catch me"
"No, but I have now"
"Err" Chase closed his mouth and looked downcast.
"And tell me, why does Alexa seem to know you"
"I'll tell you that Lara. He'll leave something out" Alexa glared at Chase, who smiled sheepishly and then caught Lara's look, and turned away quickly.
"He's been following me for weeks before I contacted you. I saw him everywhere. If I was in the shops, he was round the corner, in the street he'd always be just a few steps behind me. If I whipped round he'd suddenly stop and then turn to look at some stall or something. And, he just scared me!"
"That would be what Chase calls "following", however to the rest of us it's stalking. Subtlety is not Mr. Carver's strong point"
"Please, Cherie, call me Chase"
Lara whipped the gun round, eyes blazing, and 'BANG!' She pulled the trigger. For a moment, smoke obscured her view. When it cleared……………..
"Lara!" exclaimed Lexa and Hillary together. Chase lay slumped in the chair, head hanging forward.
"You killed him!" said Lexa.
"Unfortunately, I didn't. Get up Chase, you measly piece of shit. Get Up!"
Chase's head slowly moved up..he had a disappointed look on his face.
"Doesn't anything make you feel bad Lara?" asked Chase
"If it's anything to do with you, NO!"
"You are so harsh. That's what turns me on about you"
"CHASE!"
Although, Lexa noticed, Lara had blushed at this comment.
~~:~~:~~
Lara's jet was parked on the private runway at RAF Northolt. She had friends at the base, and it was much better than trying to get through Heathrow on a busy day.
RAF soldiers was buzzing around the plane, making sure than everything was ready. Lexa sat on some of the crates, chatting to Bryce who, as Lara had come to hate, had an adoring look on his face.
"I can't believe he's trying to chat up Lexa. Although, he isn't ugly exactly, but I don't see how he could be her type? Well, oh forget it..who knows"
Hillary had stayed behind at the house to look after it, and to do any research that was needed while they were away.
Chase had left finally last night, with Lara's Uzi pointed neatly at his retreating head. She had gone back inside and back up to her father's study. Hillary sat..a happy smile on his face.
"Great Stuff Lara". Lara didn't respond or smile, so Hillary shut up.
"Lady Croft?"
"Yes" She smiled at the young sergeant who had come to her side.
"Your jet is ready and loaded Ma'm. Colonel Hicks would like to speak to you in his office though. If you'll just come with me?"
"Sure. Lexa, Bryce, I'll be back in a minute. You can get on the plane if you want"
She turned back to the young officer.
"Who's flying the plane?"
"I am Ma'm. Is that OK?"
"Fine, I'm Co- though. You don't mind a woman do you?"
"Not at all" The Sergeant smiled. They had arrived at the office.
Lara knocked on the door.
"Come in" came a voice that Lara knew very well. She opened the door.
"Hello Steve" She smiled her warmest smile.
"Lara! What a pleasure to see you. I was so happy when the request came through for here. I knew I'd see my best friends little girl again, and what a beautiful woman she has turned into"
"Stop Steve….I wonder if you…"
"Yes Lara. I got your special request. I've put 1 crate of Uzi's, 5 auto-machine G's, and a few grenades. I know how you like those… and there are crates of ammo on too. There is a long distance scanner, infra red camera, satellite…well, everything you asked for. And here, a map of the area…the oldest one. It was found in the 1400's. This is an exact copy."
"Thank you Steve. You are a wonder"
"Anything for my little Goddaughter. Now go on… you'll miss your window"
"Bye Steve"
"Sergeant Brayle!"
"Sir"
They saluted to each other.
"Lara. This is your pilot. Best one I have. Take care of her Brayle"
"Yes Sir. This way Ma'm."
And so, Lara left England………
~~:~~:~~
They were in the air at 30,000 feet. Lara loved flying. They had been in the air for 2 hours when..
"Ahhhhhhhhhhhh!!!!!"
A high pitched scream echoed throughout the plane. Lara was in the cockpit with the pilot. She told him to keep flying the plane, and never mind about what was going on back in the cabin. She went thorough the door… Bryce was hiding behind one of the seats.. Alexa was floating in mid-air, a blue haze around her….Lara pulled out her guns, but the light vanished, and Lexa was dropped to the floor. She opened her eyes - they had gone a startling blue…She appeared to be blind!!!
~~:~~:~~
By the time they arrived in Egypt, all a little shaken up, Lexa's eyes were back to normal, and she didn't even remember what had happened. She thought she had slept through the entire journey. Lara thought it best to leave it like that, and told Bryce so.
"Don't you mention a word of this. I have a feeling that this journey is going to have an unexpected, though now not quite so unexpected conclusion"
Lara remembered a story - and a blue light!!!
"Hmmmmm"
They walked on..
"Where to now?" asked Lara
"To the Pyramids"
"But I've seen them…there's nothing interesting there"
"Have you found the lost one?" Lexa said with a grin on her face.
Lara smiled. "Lead the way…oh.. how come archaeologists haven't found it?"
"Cause it's part of the legend. And one's just about to"
Lara smiled again.. this was going to be fun.
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Disclaimer - I do not own Lara Croft or any characters in this story except Alexa Munroe. If you wish to use the name in one of your stories, please contact me at athlete@talk21.com
Any similarities to any body are purely coincidental.
This story is dedicated to my best friend…..Jaina
See you soon.
X
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