Barbara spent a minute calming Arthur down and getting him to start from the beginning. The news from the lab that the document was genuine was all she could get out of him; she had never seen Arthur so excited.

"For heaven's sake, have a glass of water and calm down, Arthur. It's genuine. Are they sure? What else did they say?"

He gulped some water and took a deep breath. "Melvin said they did Carbon-14 dating on some of the pieces that had crumbled off the document, and they also did Non-destructive carbon dating on the whole page. Then they did a radiometric analysis, mass spectrometer – all of this confirmed the paper is from roughly the AD700s."

Barbara sat and tapped her chin with her finger. "That- that's incredible, Arthur! What about the paleontographers?"

"They digitized the script then enhanced it with one of their wonder programs and are running comparative styles – nothing matches yet."

"The ink?"

"They're waiting on that since the paper proved authentic, they want to see if the content is as well before they take samples. It's a rare find, Barbara."

"Yes, but not for us. It was stolen from the owner in France and for all we know, he's had all this done before." She made a facial shrug and watched Arthur process that fact.

"Why didn't our investigation uncover that then?"

"Arthur someone who could afford something like this could easily see that any relevant discoveries were buried and remain private."

The intercom buzzed and Janet announced Detective Railton wishing to speak with Arthur. Arthur asked him in and went to sit behind his desk. Barbara stood and started for the door.

"I'll go and get caught up from being off."

"You should stay – in case." Keith entered the office and Barbara had to step back and let him pass.

"In case wha-?"

"In case I need to ask you some questions too?" His wink made her blush and she shot a look at Arthur to see if he noticed.

"Mr. Galbraith, I understand you are having laboratory analysis done on the document."

"We are, and it looks like what you recovered is genuine!"

"That's terrific I guess, but I'm here to take custody of the item as part of the evidence in an ongoing investigation."

Arthur's face fell, and he stood to emphasize his protest. "But we're still studying it! We need to confirm the text yet."

"I understand your concern, sir but the chain of evidence is already coming into question and we need to close that door. Your lab people can keep whatever they've found and continue working, but the actual document must come with me."

"Barbara?" Arthur turned to her as though she may be able to sway the man, since she had made all the arrangements for having the piece sent to Canada.

"I have no say, Arthur. Detective Railton is correct – it's part of an ongoing investigation."

"Yes! Ours!" Arthur was beginning to hyperventilate.

Keith sighed and removed a paper from his jacket. "I had hoped this could be a less formal transaction but I have a warrant for the item in question."

Like a deflating balloon, Arthur took the paper and settled into his chair. Barbara went to the desk and retrieved the paper.

"I'll look after this, Arthur, it'll be fine, and we can still study the samples we have."

"Actually, you need to give all-" Keith started.

"We can discuss this on the way to the lab, Detective." Her voice suggested he agree.

The drive to the lab was fraught with debate over the contending positions. Keith's was straight from the hip legal procedure; Barbara's was the defence of an historical discovery that had untold possibilities.

"I understand what you're saying but I have to follow the law in this. That document is evidence and it needs to be stored and retained as such . . . with the police."

"But what if something happens to it. Some ham-fisted filing cler-?"

"Give me a little credit, Barbara. I know what the find means to you and the others. I'm not going to toss it in a filing cabinet, it'll be properly stored. Matter of fact, your lab people can do the preparation."

"But how will it be used? It can't be passed around at some hearing like a menu."

Keith pulled into the parking lot for the laboratory and parked, turning in his seat to face her.

"An official report will be filed stating all the facts known to date about the item. A receipt will be given to the lab people for all the physical material they have as well as copies of their analysis."

"How long will you keep it?"

"I have no way of knowing that. When we solve the case and it's no longer needed." He took her hand and smiled sympathetically. "I promise I will protect it. After all, look what we went through to get it. C'mon, let's get this done and then I'll buy you a lunch."

****

Melvin Dysart introduced himself to the detective and then queried Barbara, eyebrows dancing. She explained the situation and waited while he read the official warrant.

"This is most distressing, we are on the verge of a momentous discovery here!"

"You can continue your work with whatever you learned up to now, but, as the warrant say, I need the original item and copies of your findings."

"Those are privileged, sir!"

Barbara's hand restrained a reply and Keith deferred to her. "Melvin, perhaps we could see what you have to date in the lab and discuss the various methods of satisfying all parties."

"You're good," Keith whispered as they followed the little man through the offices to the laboratory.

In less than an hour, a brief tour had explained the different processes, and the promise of copies of the research results agreed upon. Barbara showed her skill in arbitration and ego massaging, much to the relief of Keith, who was ready to cuff the little scientist and cart him off to jail.

"I'm glad you handled that," Keith said as they drove off the lot.

"Melvin is a brilliant scientist in his field and like many of his cohorts, extremely territorial and defensive of the work." She said, adding with a grin, "Letting them prepare the document for transfer was a smart move, you may have had to agree to test tubes at twenty paces."

He laughed. "So tell me, the image on the computer that they enhanced, how do they use that?"

"They will do comparisons to their archive of authenticated documents to determine the language, if possible, then a comparison of writing style. Different styles were employed through the centuries – some were adopted for efficiency others to designate origin and some might have even been fads. Next a literal study of the text to see if it conforms to the period. It's not cut and dried. The text may not have been added until later or may even be a forgery. The thing is, they need to find out what it says and that is a slow process."

Keith pulled up in front of a restaurant and stopped the car. "You good for some Italian?"

"We've done French is that it?"

"For a while, yeah."

They were shown to a table by a window and left with two leather-bound menus, which Keith took and set aside, insisting on ordering for both.

"Have you heard any more about the Frenchmen that followed us?"

"Nothing that is giving us any worry; our people are still keeping tabs on them."

"Detective Purcell is still dogging my footsteps I presume."

"He is. And how did you learn his name?"

She explained and then went on to change the subject; talking about her protection made her feel uncomfortable.

"What happened when you presented your expenses?" Barbara asked.

"I was given my Captain's version of the riot act."

"Really? Did you get in trouble?"

"Nothing that some careful tip-toeing won't solve in time."

"So no grounding?"

He laughed. "No grounding."

Her satisfied smile had him doing double takes.