Epilogue

In the morning they had seen some rainy showers but now the clouds had drifted to the east and a bright spring sun cast its beams over the grassy hills of the Surrey countryside.

Raindrops were hanging from the leafy trees at Croft Manor and twinkled in the sun. The mansion lay majestically at the end of a broad gravel driveway. A concrete fountain marked an intersection, taking the way in four directions across the front lawn.

From the back an enormous garden stretched out to the south, giving room to trees, hedges and lawns. Closer to the house a tiled terrace was situated near an ivy-grown wall, from there a small pathway was leading to an assault course.

The door of the bay window at the backside of the house swung open and a woman dressed in some linen pants and a shirt stepped outside. Tones of Mozart's 40th symphony came from inside and seem to escort the lady on her way out. Her hair was hanging loose at her shoulders and under her arm she carried a book.

Lara walked up to some terrace chairs standing in front of the kitchen window. She pulled the sleeve of her shirt over her left hand and wiped some water from the chair before sitting down. It was very quiet and peaceful here, she heard birds singing in the trees and a soft rustling sound of a slight breeze in the tree tops.

She settled down with her book and enjoyed this relaxing moment. A few weeks had gone past since she had returned from Cuba. Without a real trophy this time but at least she was alive and already doing research for new hidden treasures or unsolved secrets around the globe. She didn't really think see would see Kurtis Trent again. He seemed born with the same stubbornness as she and wouldn't come round just to chat. Lara was not sure if she regretted that or not.

She was about to turn her attention to the book again when the familiar figure of Winston appeared at the door.

"Lady Croft?"

She looked up and put the book down. "Yes?"

"You have a guest, he is waiting at the front door. Shall I let him in?"

"Who is it?"

"He didn't say."

"Okay, let him come."

The old butler shuffled back into the house and returned two minutes later with Kurtis at his tail. Lara stared at him for a moment before she produced a grin.

"I would've never thought..."

"Miracles happen all the time", said Kurtis with a smirk. He was wearing some bleached jeans, leather shoes and a neatly ironed white shirt. A packet of cigars was sticking out of his pocket and he carried a small suitcase.

"Have a seat", said Lara without standing up. "What would you like to drink?"

Kurtis sat down on a chair next to her and dropped the suitcase at the ground.

"Anything."

Lara turned to Winston. "Winston, bring us a bottle of Pimms and two glasses please."

Kurtis looked around and seemed impressed. "You live nice here", he said. "Very British."

Lara smiled. "What brings you here Trent?"

Kurtis laid his hands in his neck and stared at the sky for a few seconds.

"I have something for you that will make you very happy I think. But now I'm here we might also be able to just... talk a bit."

Winston returned carrying a tray with Pimms and two glasses. Lara took it from him and poured Kurtis and herself a glass of the pink beverage.

"What you have for me?" she asked curiously.

Kurtis picked up the suitcase and gave it to Lara. "I found this at the office of Smertin's boss."

"Are they dead?"

"Yes."

Lara zipped the suitcase open and looked inside. She stared at the content and from there back to Kurtis.

"Kurt, this is unbelievable."

In the suitcase she saw three cups of pure gold. They were engraved in a beautiful pattern of lines and figures. Lara immediately recognized the artwork of the native people of South America.

"These are the cups from the temple in Patagonia", Lara exclaimed. "How did they end up in Moscow?"

Kurtis happily watched her amazement. "Kristina Boaz sold them to Alexei Korneev the mob boss who worked with the Cabal for a few years."

"Korneev?", said Lara. "Oh yes, of course! That was the name mentioned in her diary. Remember how I told you in the hotel room in Buenos Aires?"

Now it was Kurtis' turn to look surprised. "Oh yeah, now I remember", he said. "I knew I had heard that name before."

Lara placed the cups in front of her at the table and watched them closely.

"Thanks Kurtis, these will find a place in my trophy room."

They sat together for a while drinking Pimms and enjoying the nice weather.

"So, you want to talk", asked Lara eventually.

"About our experiences", said Kurtis and laughed awkwardly. "We've seen a lot Lara..."

"We did", said the lady. "I have lived this life for years. Traveling around the world, getting myself into trouble… but always find my way out."

Kurtis looked at her. "Where have you been?"

"All over the world, believe me. From Antarctica to India. I could tell stories..."

"I bet", said Kurtis and moved a little closer.

Lara looked in his eyes and smiled. "In a cheap movie", she said. "I should now say that I love you and start kissing you passionately."

"But I'm not like that", she added and gently pushed his face back with two fingers.

Kurtis tried to hide his disappointment and took a swig of his drink.

Lara watched him. "But you're a nice guy, you should come round more often", she said and kissed him playfully on his ear.

The End