Xander strolled across the field towards the huge tent indicated by security. Acting as the HQ for all dig sites involved in the Robinson Project, he was hoping to find the site manager and start work. He had heard good things about Serenity Néville apart from her odd refusal to work in the UK. He wandered what Robinson had done to overcome that? Many others had tried but, so far, none had convinced her to come back. It was a shame. Such a talented archaeologist was needed in the UK. She always got the job done, with great procedures and preservation and recording methods. Her team was top notch.

He hoped it wasn't money that convinced her, she didn't seem like that kind of person. He had heard a story from a colleague that when she was offered three times the going rate to stop a job halfway through and join a team in Egypt, she had blown her lid, yelling at the poor messenger until he had handed over his phone so she could yell at the idiot of an employer who had made the offer. Word was, he was so enamoured with her spunk, he delayed his own dig and waited until she had finished before offering again. Apparently, she only took the job because the elusive Nubian Pharaohs were involved and she insisted on taking base line pay so she could put the excess back into the dig.

Xander smiled at the thought. Looking around, he began to wonder if Serenity really was in charge of this dig. It looked like utter chaos. She was the only reason he had agreed to come on. He didn't like the trappings that came along with a sponsor like Andrew Robinson. He was a good guy and genuinely interested in archaeology, Xander just couldn't stand the way he threw money about. It was dangerously close the being cavalier. Oh well, the money would come in useful. It was so hard to get the equipment they really need on a dig, especially spread out over to many different sites. And it helped pay for experts such as himself. Expert on William the conqueror thanks to a lot of hard work and some, never before seen, documents hidden away on his family estate. It was amazing how much was squirreled away by these old families like his. It's what first got him interested in archaeology, exploring the old manor and the dusty papers in the attic on wet afternoons.

Finally reaching the tent entrance, he walked into a buzz of activity. Well, at least some work was being done. What why the blazes wasn't anyone out digging. It wasn't like the weather was a problem. He hoped a modern skeleton hadn't been found mixed in with the others. The police would cause innumerable delays. Making his way through the throng to a table full of harassed looking people, the glimpse of a florescent police jacket confirmed his fears. Walking up to them with purpose he cleared he throat.

"Ahem, I'm looking for the site manager, Serenity Néville. Can any of you direct me to her please?"

A young but tired looking red head looked up. She seemed sad and dark circles hollowed under her eyes.

"I'm the deputy site manager, Beth. Who are you?"

"Oh, excuse me, I'm the expert Andrew Robinson brought in, Xander. I'm sorry I'm late, I was delayed in Bath."

"Oh Mr -"

"Just Xander is fine. Um, can you tell me where Serenity Néville is? If the dig is delayed, I'd like to get a preliminary overview of the situation to begin forming theories before we get stuck into the details."

There was a loaded pause and the whole table seemed to hold it'd breath. Xander had a very uncomfortable feeling at the pit of his stomach that shivered up to the back of his neck, making the hairs rise. The red head, Beth, frowned. She looked close to tears.

"Mr Robinson didn't contact you? All the work on this site is on hold for now. We can't… the police need… you see…"

"What's happened?"

"Serenity's missing"

Beth's face crumpled and she began to sob into the shoulder of a capable looking man in designer glasses. Xander felt stunned. He blinked and tried to catch his breath. He didn't understand what affected him so badly, all he knew was that this woman, that he had so looked forward to meeting, his idol, was gone, possibly in danger. He had to do something, he had to help.

"Tell me."

The young man answered, stretching out his hand to shake Xanders. He too looked haggard and sad. Xander realised in a spark of memory that these two were a part of Serenity's standard team. She rarely dug without them.

"Sam. I just got in from Serenity's last dig in Cyprus. She was last seen here in the command tent after dinner last night. Security cameras show she worked here into the night before heading out to one of the trenches. She smiled to one of the cameras as she walked past. She’s like that, likes to acknowledge the security guys and the work they do. The camera at the dig site shows her kneeling by the trench when something off screen caught her attention. She appeared to turn and lean down, at which point she was off camera. Noting has been seen of her since. I don't know if it's relevant, but a volunteer from her Cyprus team also disappeared shortly after she left for the UK. No trace of either of them. They're just… gone."