Book 2 - The Oxford Order ⁽¹⁾

The telephone rang once, stopped, then rang again. Daniel de Jager let it ring a third time before answering; the office line was not widely circulated and those who had it tended to use it sparingly. “De Jager Antiques.” he said. “Daniel,” Croker replied. His voice was clear and unhurried. “Good afternoon.” “Afternoon, you caught me between . . . things.” “I apologise,” Croker said. “Did you receive the email I sent this morning?” “I saw it come in, I haven't opened it yet.” “Would you mind doing so now?” Daniel rolled his chair back from the desk and reached for the mouse. The computer took a moment to wake. Daniel opened it and scrolled. He read slowly through once, then again from the beginning. When he…