Tomb Raider: Deception
by Roger Pederson

Lara had not expected her entrance to cause such a stir, but she was wrong. Heads immediately started turning as soon as she appeared. Not because of who she was. Not because of her standing in society. Instead, heads had turned simply because of her exquisite beauty. And also because she rarely attended many functions like this. 

Instead of being dressed in her usual shorts, tight top and boots, ..... Lara was all cleaned up, wearing an elegant floor-length Versace evening gown with high heels ....... her long auburn hair flowing down her shoulders. 

Lara hated these pretentious get togethers for the wealthy and influential, but she knew it was necessary to keep up appearances. Damn, she thought, ..... "I'd like to kill the sadistic bastard who invented high heels!" 

She entered the home of Lord David Hanely. Hanely was a well respected man in London, coming from a wealthy family. He was a businessman and entrepreneur, and no one doubted his financial acumen. Unfortunately, he had some strange hobbies. Hanely had once served in the Royal Navy and was, at one time, targeted for assassination. He took no chances now.

Lara had cleared the security devices at the foyer entrance to the manor. She felt naked without her pistols. 

Butler: [taking her purse and wrap] "Good evening, Madam."

She nodded in acknowledgement and proceded to the greeting line. 

Lord Hanely: "Good evening, Lady Croft. You look ravishing, as usual. [remarking to his wife] Doesn't she, my dear?" 

Lady Hanely: [smiling politely] "Yes, ....... as usual." 

Lara: "Good evening David," ..... [nodding to his wife] ....."Marisa." 

Lord Hanely: "I'm happy you could join us. ...... No escort this evening?"

Lara: "No, I just returned from abroad. This was rather short notice." 

After shaking hands and saying hello to people she knew, Lara spotted an old friend of her father's across the room. She approached him. 
Lara: "Professor, " 

Professor Banes: [smiling broadly] "Lara, my dear!" [they hug] "It's been far too long, child. And look at you! A beautiful young woman, ...... and a very famous one in your own right. Your father would be so proud of you." 

Lara beamed. They talked for almost an hour. At times, Banes broke into old stories about himself and her father from years past. Stories she had heard many times before, but she listened politely just the same. He was in his late sixties now and had lost his wife two years ago. 

Professor Banes: "Lara, I'm attending an auction tommorrow afternoon at Sotheby's, would you be interested in accompanying me?" 
Lara: "Of course, I'd love to."

The next day, Banes and Lara entered Sotheby's main auction room and took their seats. An employee handed them each a list of the items that were on auction that day. 

Lara: "Anything in particular you're interested in Professor?" 

Banes: "No, no ..... I'm afraid I come to these things more for entertainment purposes than purchasing reasons. After all, you never know what may turn up." 

Lara: [whispering to herself] "Yes, ..... you never know."

Auctioneer: [announcing himself to those gathered] "Ladies and gentlemen, welcome to Sotheby's." 

And so, the auction began. Lara began to yawn after about forty-five minutes into the auction, until something caught her attention from accrss the room. It was Lord Hanely. He was alone. Strange, she thought, he hadn't mentioned anything last night about being here. But then, it was none of her business. That is, until she glanced at something on the list of items up for auction. 

Lara: [getting up] "Excuse me, Professor. I need to powder my nose." 

Once in the lobby, she took out her cell phone. 

Lara: "Bryce, .... I need you to confirm something for me. I'm at an auction and there's an item here, ....... a ring, fourteenth century. From the description it sounds very much like the Ring of Santiago." 

Bryce: [looking through his computer database at Croft manor] "Hold on, ..... searching for ............ the Ring of Santiago? .......... uhhh, Lara, according to this that's only a myth. And you're right, it's supposedly from the fourteenth century. The myth is that there's some sort of curse on it." 

Lara: "Yes, well ........ many myths are often based upon fact."

Bryce: "It says here that the Ring of Santiago gave the wearer the mystical power of transformation. Metamorphosis, .... shape shifting. But Lara, that's impossible. It's pure folklore, fantasy, ...... the kind of thing you only see in movies." 

Lara: [quietly, almost talking to herself] "Yes" ..........."of course." 

In the past, Lara had dismissed such a thing as pure fantasy. Now she wondered if she was wrong, and had the sinking feeling that something terrible was about to begin. She clicked off her cell phone and returned to the auction room where she sat down next to Banes again. The auctioneer finished and announced the next item for sale. A man brought a small box out onto the stage and rested it on a small platform, opening the box. 

Auctioneer: "Ladies and gentlemen, our next item up for bid. Item twenty-seven on the list. The fabled golden ring of Santiago." 
Lara was more than a little surprised to see Lord Hanely bid on the ring. True, it was pure gold and it was definitely a collector's item because of it's supposed age and history. But it was a plain golden band, ..... no inscription or jeweled setting. And the story behind the ring was only a myth. After just four minutes, the bidding was over. 

Auctioneer: "Sold." [banging his gavel] ....... "to Lord David Hanely."

She watched as Hanely walked over to a table, wrote out a check and collected the ring. He left Sotheby's ...... and Lara followed. Hanely went straight to his home. Lara turned her car around and drove to Croft manor. 

"Pure rubbish", she said to herself. Nothing but myth, ........ an ancient fable. But Hanely's latest acquisition had peaked her curiosity. 

The next few months brought some strange occurances. An unusual number of bank thefts had left authorities scratching their heads, since money had simply disappeared. No actual robbery. No suspects. The British stock market had also seen some unusual activity. Stocks that had once been considered quite stable (and profitable) had taken a tumble in recent months.

Lara sat reading the morning newspaper. She looked out the window. There was a storm on the horizon, she thought. Little did she know .......... 

Tomb Raider and Lara Croft are copyright © Square Enix and Eidos Interactive                
This story may not be published, or re-created. All rights reserved.                                 
Story by Roger Pederson