The Chaos Code by Justin Richards

her.’
    â€˜I can hardly remember my mother,’ she said. ‘It’s not a problem.’
    â€˜She seemed very happy,’ Matt said, turning back to face her. ‘They all did. In the pictures. They were having fun.’
    Robin nodded. Her reply was so quiet it was almost a whisper: ‘The girl that broke your father’s heart.’
    As she said it, another voice cut across the low murmur of Venture’s. The voice was louder, deep and resonant. It carried, the words reaching Matt clearly:
    â€˜Which still leaves us the problem of what to do about Arnold Stribling.’
    Robin and Matt stared at each other.
    â€˜Dad?’ Matt mouthed, feeling suddenly cold and empty inside. Why were they discussing his father? He again wished he had spoken to Venture about Dad when they met the day before. The man knew something – perhaps Dad had tried to tell Matt that.
    â€˜No, Matt,’ Robin said. ‘Wait.’
    But he was already turning, walking quickly to the half-open door without pausing to think about it. Pushing it open wide and stepping into Julius Venture’s study. Finding Venture and Atticus Harper turning in surprise to look at him as he stood in the doorway.
    â€˜This is Doctor Stribling’s son, Matthew,’ Venture said, standing up and gesturing to Matt to take a seat. ‘Do join us, Matt. I think you’ll find this … interesting.’
    He was aware of Robin coming into the room behind him. ‘What about my father? Do you know where he is?’
    Venture and Harper exchanged a look. ‘Not exactly,’ Harper admitted. ‘But in a sense it’s because of your father that I’m here. Tell me, have you ever heard him mention the lost treasure of the Knights of St John of Jerusalem?’
    Matt shook his head as he sat down. ‘I don’t think so. What’s it got to do with my dad?’
    â€˜I employed your father to find it for me,’ Harper said.
    Venture sent Robin to find Aunt Jane. ‘She should hear this too,’ he explained to Harper. ‘She is Doctor Stribling’s sister.’
    Harper raised a grey eyebrow. ‘Quite a family gathering.’
    â€˜Indeed.’ Venture offered no further explanation. Instead he turned to Matt. ‘Please forgive me, I knew nothing at all of this when we spoke yesterday or I would have told you. I didn’t realise you came here to your aunt because he is missing. You must be very worried about him – I’m sorry. Arnold has been a dear friend of mine for many years.’
    Matt nodded, unsure what to say to this. While they waited, he looked round Venture’s study. Avoiding the man’s deep, blue gaze. Venture himself was seated behind a large desk made of dark, polished wood. The top of the desk was clear apart from a computer screen and a largeleather-bound notebook. Behind the desk, the wall was shelved from floor to ceiling and the shelves were packed with books. Two of the other walls were panelled with wood up to about chest height, then shelved. Matt could see DVDs, video tapes, CDs, computer discs … The fourth wall was dominated by a large window that gave out to the front of the house. Matt could see the black shape of Harper’s helicopter standing silhouetted on the lawn. Making an impression.
    Harper himself was sitting in front of the desk, a metal briefcase standing close to his feet. He was a big man – tall and broad-shouldered, but not overweight. He seemed to be composed entirely of greys. His hair was steel grey, his suit was dark grey. His long face seemed somewhere between the two. Even his eyes were a blue-grey. His bloodless lips twitched faintly, but whether into the ghost of a smile or a sneer it was difficult to tell.
    He angled his chair so he could speak to Matt as well as Julius Venture. There were a couple of other upright chairs against the wall beside the door. One of them, Matt could see, was hinged at