Relics by Shaun Hutson Read Free Book Online

from the soil.
    Cooper recognized James Cutler. The land developer was tall and wiry, his slim frame topped by a pinched face and thin, bloodless lips. Approaching his fortieth birthday, he was sole owner of Cutler Developments, one of the most successful private businesses in the country. The black Jensen parked on the nearby ridge testified to his material status although it looked out of place amidst the organized chaos of the archaeological paraphenalia which surrounded it.
    Beside him stood a man Cooper did not recognize: He guessed that the man was a year or two younger than Cutler although his pale-grey suit was a similar colour to his hair.
    Cutler smiled at the archaeologist and the two of them shook hands.
    ‘Mr Cooper, I’d like you to meet Stuart Lawrence,’ the land developer said, introducing his companion. ‘He’s been working as surveyor on my project.’
    Lawrence looked at Cooper with ill-disguised distaste. He disliked scruffiness of any kind and this man was positively grubby. He shook hands stiffly, checking his palm to ensure that no dirt or dust had been left on his skin.
    ‘I hope you don’t mind us having a look at your little venture,’ Cutler said, smiling.
    ‘Not at all,’ Cooper told him. ‘After all, if it hadn’t been for you and your building project we might never have found out about this site.’
    ‘Quite so,’ Cutler added. ‘By the way, I was sorry to hear about the death of your colleague. As they say, bad news travels fast.’ The land developer began walking slowly, Lawrence and Cooper alongside him. ‘I’m afraid that I’m a carrier of bad news today, Mr Cooper.’
    The archaeologist looked vague.
    ‘My building project is set for expansion in the next few weeks,’ Cutler explained. ‘That expansion will more than likely encompass this site.’
    Cooper stopped walking.
    ‘Are you trying to say that you might have to close the site down?’ he asked.
    ‘I’m afraid so, Mr Cooper.’
    ‘But when? We made an agreement. You said that my team and I could work here.’
    ‘Until I needed the land for my own purposes,’ Cutler reminded him.
    ‘What we’ve unearthed here is one of the most important finds of its type ever. I’m not about to let it be closed down.’
    ‘You don’t have any choice,’ Lawrence snapped.
    ‘Mr Lawrence is right,’ Cutler continued. ‘As you yourself said, it’s due to me that you and your people are here at all. It was my men who first unearthed the artifacts which led to the discovery of this site. I called you in to investigate it and we both agreed at the time that there would be a time limit on your work.’
    ‘And you’re telling me that the time’s running out?’ snapped Cooper.
    ‘I gave you six weeks,’ Cutler said, a note of condescension in his voice. ‘When that time is up . . .’ He shrugged resignedly.
    ‘You can’t do it,’ Cooper said.
    Cutler smiled humourlessly.
    ‘I’m a businessman, Mr Cooper. This land belongs to me. I own it. I can do what I like with it. You would have been forced to move on eventually anyway. For the moment, you can continue with your work.’
    ‘How very generous,’ Cooper sneered.
    The land developer smiled again and turned away from Cooper, ushering Lawrence along with him.
    ‘Nice speaking to you,’ Cutler said without turning.
    Cooper glared at the backs of the two men as they walked to the waiting Jensen.
    ‘Bastard,’ he rasped under his breath.
    ‘Can he really stop the dig if he wants to?’ asked Perry, joining his colleague.
    Cooper watched the car pull away. He sucked in an angry breath, the knot of muscles at the side of his jaw pulsing.
    ‘God help him if he tries.’

 
     
     
     
Twelve
     
    The dull glow from the television screen provided precious little light and Kim found that she was squinting at the notes before her, so she rose and flicked on the lamp behind her chair.
    While she was on her feet she pulled the curtains closed, warding off the