Maggie dropped her laptop, a travel bag and box on her desk. "I'm just dumping these and then I am really not here." "Ah, you might have to be," Carmel said, waving a hand to get Maggie's attention. "A man has been waiting to see you for five hours. He was here most of yesterday too." "A man, indeed? Well he can wait until Monday," Maggie declared. "I'd rather not." Maggie turned in surprise to find a tall, angular man rising from the armchair behind the door. "My name is Richard Avonscroft," he said, offering his card. "Of Hudson & Bolt." "And?" Maggie prodded. "You are Dr Margaret Selby Tremaine?" Maggie scowled at him and rummaged around in her traveller's belt pouch for her passport. "We have been instructed," Avonscroft stated, after actually holding the picture up to compare it to the real thing, "by Professor Lloyd Marsden to deliver this personally to you." Maggie accepted the audiotape-sized package and tore off the paper. Written on the lid of a slim cardboard box where the words: If you are reading this my fears have been realised.
