Chapter 51
CHAPTER FIFTY-ONE
ORION
I’d never brought a woman to Quintile Island, and I’d never shared the Reimann Telescope with anyone until today. Elena didn’t know she was seeing so much of me.
I saw how much the news about The Condor had affected her. I’d feel the same way. But I also saw the wisdom she possessed. She was aware of her situation and understood she needed time to adjust. I’d met many people who couldn’t see the obvious. Or maybe they refused to because change was difficult to accept.
If I’d had her wisdom back then, I wouldn’t have had so much anxiety. I opened the glass ceiling, prepared the telescope, and let it ascend, shifting it toward the sky.
“This is so magical.” She tilted her head up, looking through the ceiling at the starry night. “It’s breathtaking.”
“I have a portable telescope we can take out to the beach. You can still see a lot, but this is the king of all telescopes.”
“Can we take the portable telescope tomorrow?” Her eyes widened with wonder.
“You can do whatever you want.”
“Really?” She angled her head. “I’m going to hold you to that.”
Curious about what she’d do, I said, “Yeah.”
She narrowed her eyes at me, half-believing me.
“Look.” I stepped aside for her to look into the telescope.
“Oh my God, Orion,” she muttered. “It’s a whole new world out there. Oh! Is that the Orion constellation?” She stepped back, her eyes beaming at me.
“It is.”
My heart swelled at the bewilderment in her eyes and the joy on her face. Loving Elena had softened my edges. Was that a good thing? My time with Kate had been different. She couldn’t soften my edges. It wasn’t her fault. I just didn’t respond to her in the same way.
Elena and I had a deep connection that was like the mysteries surrounding the universe. Certain things weren’t meant to be explained or understood. The beauty was the quiet mystery that whispered beyond space and time.
“I’m speechless, Orion. I know this sounds weird, but it feels as though the stars are speaking to me, or to us, through the silence.”
“That’s what my mom said too. Did you know the connection between the Orion constellation and the three pyramids of Giza?”
“Do tell, Mr. Know-It-All.” She peered in, but turned to me. “How do I zoom in and out?”
I took her hand and placed it on a knob. “Here.”
“Oh, thanks.” She returned her attention to the telescope. “So what’s the significance with the pyramids?”
“Whoever built the three pyramids of Giza aligned their positions to the three stars on Orion’s Belt.”
“Really? How?” She lifted a brow. “They didn’t have the technology to know the exactitude of their locations back then, did they?”
“There are several speculations. Most people don’t know about this alignment until they look at it from a bird’s-eye view. Some say the pyramids represent portals to another world. Some say it’s just a mathematical coincidence.”
“What do you think?” she asked.
“I like to keep an open mind. My technology and designs allow me to see and do things that are inexplicable. Those inexplicable things are beautiful to me.” I touched her face. “I don’t believe in coincidences. But I also understand that there are certain things better left untouched. How about you?”
“I think someone created magic on Earth. I imagine some beautiful aliens, angels, dragons or otherworldly creatures from far away coming here with their entourageand building these architectural pieces for humans to appreciate. Maybe they’re having a party inthese pyramids when no one’s watching.” She smiled, her eyes gleaming with mischief. “Because denial of these masterpieces would be a denial of the imagination. Aren’t you glad you asked me?”
I laughed, admiring her humor. “Always, Madame Sarcasm. I’m sure the Nile River appreciates the plug.”
“Oh!” With delight, she held up a finger. “I just realized something.”
“What?”
“The three rocks your mom gave you . . . They kind of look like the Orion’s belt placement, don’t you think?”
She left something for you on the island, but I don’t know what or where it is. She was going to tell me the day she died.
My heart raced as I remembered my conversation with my father.
How the hell did I miss that?I knew the rocks meant something. They were precious gifts from my mother, and I didn’t want to disturb them. Each rock represented a family member. I didn’t look at them as anything other than tokens of love.
I cupped her face. “You’re a genius. Thank you.”
“Takes one to know one.”
After gazing at the stars for hours, Elena went to bed. I waited until she was sound asleep before I snuck out with my flashlight and equipment to move the rocks aside. I found a metal box filled with information and knew my mother had been murdered because of it.