FORGOTTEN DIAMOND - Softcover

Charles Ranald And John Sorrell

Softcover

ISBN 10: 1847283586 ISBN 13: 9781847283580

Publisher: Lulu Press, Inc., 2006

Synopsis

A fast moving thriller involving the rekindling of jealousy, greed and thirst for revenge. Vengeance is sought when a Lloyd's Insurance market investor desperately struggles to meet massive and potentially bankrupting losses. His rediscovery of a disputed family inheritance pre-dating the Russian revolution sparks a dramatic struggle to wrest a near priceless jewel from the possession of its keeper. The unwitting involvement of two modern time pilgrims seems mysteriously to repeat an ancient medieval legend as present cunning reflects past cruelties.

About this title

About the Author

THE CO-AUTHORS OF FORGOTTEN DIAMOND

Charles Ranald

He retired early from a successful City career to pursue his interests in aviation. In 2001 he undertook a 1000 mile pilgrimage on foot from Le Puy en Velay in France to Santiago de Compostela in Spain. He lives in Hampshire with his wife and two Dachshunds.

John Sorrell

Having formerly been a member of the London Stock Exchange he is now retired from a senior position within a major French finance house. He has lived in France for the past 25 years.

From the Back Cover

The comatosed young pilgrim, lying in a northern Spanish hospital after being garrotted by his own rosary, feverishly dreams of a creaking wooden gibbet with a tragic disabled youth swaying beneath. Suddenly the present seems to reflect the past.

Elsewhere the romantic history of an incredible uncut diamond newly discovered in the vaults of a London bank rekindles a bitter ancient vendetta, together with the vengeance and avarice of ruthless and powerful antagonists each determined to possess this jewel with its provenance of such historical importance.

When past meets present innocent bystanders become the victims of an international intrigue.

Excerpt. © Reprinted by permission. All rights reserved.

CHAPTER ONE

NAJERA NORTHERN SPAIN

He had done everything he humanly could. Now the patient's fate was out of his hands and in the lap of the gods. It had already been a very busy day before this last case had arrived and he was tired as he left the ground floor intensive care room feeling helpless to do more but looking forward to some well earned sleep. Wearily he turned to one of the two policemen who had been keeping their sentry like vigil just outside its door since the patient had arrived and, in answer to the unspoken question, said, "He is in a very deep coma indeed, heavily traumatised and probably dreaming all sorts of nightmares, poor kid. Only the next thirty-six hours - if he survives that long - will tell, and while there's life there's hope I suppose, but from everything I have seen, I'm afraid the most likely outcome is that you're going to have a case of murder to investigate." Earlier he had been having a snatched meal with a colleague when his mobile rang and he'd had the warning that an ambulance was bringing in an emergency case - a victim of a serious assault. The doctor and his specialist nursing team had quickly assembled and were waiting with quiet professional calm for the patient's arrival. A second call from the accompanying medics in the ambulance had warned them of a delay caused by the victim suffering a cardiac arrest, which luckily they had dealt with by using their portable fibrillator - shock starting his heart by several large electric shocks, which had rocked the whole ambulance. There had been two more short stops as his pulse seemed to vanish and then fortunately return. Pacing the room the doctor looked at his watch as, at last, the waiting team heard the vehicle's siren getting louder as it forced its way through the traffic on its final approach to the clinic in the Northern Spanish town of Najera.

Immediately it arrived nurses accompanied the inert body of the young pilgrim as the ambulance staff wheeled the trolley into the prepared room, one of three emergency intensive care units which

the clinic maintained. Supervised by the sisters the porters gently transferred him onto the bed. Although pleasantly cool, with the window blinds pulled down against the sun, the stark white painted walls gave the room an extra impression of brightness and space. Two nurses methodically attached the various monitors which would give a continuous record of the patient's blood pressure, breathing, heart beat and temperature. A third set up the intravenous drip feed through which the necessary liquid, drugs and sustenance could enter his body. As this was going on the grey-haired doctor, assisted by a young houseman on his staff, began his examination.

The rosary which had apparently been used to garrotte the victim had been cut from his throat, but the frayed ends were still tightly gripped in the right hand of the young man. Gently a nurse opened his fingers and removed these and put them carefully in the drawer of the bedside table. A vivid red weal, now beginning to blacken as the severe bruising developed, was clearly apparent. The doctor noted the slightly deeper indentations where the larger beads of the rosary had dug viciously into the skin at regular spaces - the whole thing, he thought, gave the impression of a badly done tattoo. He continued his inspection in silence, only occasionally mumbling the odd remark to his assistant. When he had finished he gave instructions for the neuro-surgeon to be contacted urgently so that as well as all the other data, the patient's brain function and any possible damage resulting from the short cardiac arrest could be assessed. Finally he told a nurse to arrange that his dangerously shallow breathing should be assisted by a supply of oxygen.

Leaving, he gently brushed away the young man's lock of hair which had fallen over his closed eyes - he thought of his own son about the same age safely at home and his prayers went out to this one's parents. They can only hope for a miracle he said to himself.

Edition details

• Publisher: Lulu Press, Inc.
• Publication date: 2006
• Language: English
• ISBN 10: 1847283586
• ISBN 13: 9781847283580
• Binding: Paperback
• Number of pages: 322