Maggie and Henry dropped onto the couch across from her. “Well, after a while, we didn’t hear you guys working anymore. We agreed that if we didn’t hear anything by seven, we’d search for our own way out.
“Obviously, we heard nothing, so we searched the entire room and ended up pressing the heart carving again. It opened another passage. We followed it through, searching for another way out. Along the way, we found the third ankh! We found Marc Antony’s burial chamber. It was really amazing.
“Anyway,” Maggie continued, “after we found the ankh, we found a back door. It took some work, but we climbed out. And then after all that, some thug shoved a rifle in our faces and loaded us onto a helicopter with Uncle Ollie.”
“The nerve!” Piper quipped. “If you think that’s bad, try being zip tied to a chair while they beat some answers out of us.”
For the first time, Maggie noticed the bruises on each of them. Even Piper’s wrists were purple with bruises from the restraints. She shook her head. “I didn’t notice this before.” Maggie caressed a blue-black bruise on Henry’s cheek.
“I’m fine, princess.” He grabbed her hand and kissed it. “Now, what did you say about finding the library? How did they work it out?”
“They didn’t,” Maggie responded. “They shoved us in a room and gave us a few hours to work out the location. We almost didn’t make it! But finally, we figured out how the ankhs work.”
“Do you remember the location, Maggie?” Henry inquired.
Maggie nodded. “More or less, yes. It’s near the Valley of the Kings. But we can find the exact coordinates!”
“How?” Tarik questioned, his brow furrowing.
Maggie swung the bag across her chest around. She unzipped it and revealed the contents. “I have the ankhs!”
Henry’s eyes grew wide. “Maggie!”
Maggie bit her lower lip and smiled. “We can figure out the exact location again, and I’m sure these were just not for locating the library. I’d bet they’re also needed to open the library.”
“Which means we have a bargaining chip if we need it,” Henry added.
“How do the ankhs give the location?” Tarik asked.
Maggie pulled one from the bag. “These contours match topography of the area. You place these on the map on the location they match, and they form a ring. The center of the ring is where we proposed the library is located. We were on the way to check it out when you arrived.”
Henry nodded. “Let’s grab a map.”
Tarik shouted across the room to Sefu in his native tongue. “I requested a topographical map from them.”
“Oh, it has to be a certain scale,” Maggie said. She passed along the information and one of the men, who Tarik identified as Sefu’s brother, departed to retrieve the map.
“We need to arrange transport there,” Henry said. “I’ll speak with Sefu about it.”
Maggie’s eyes grew wide, and she creased her brow as Henry stood. “We’re… we’re not going to… will there be camels involved?”
Henry chuckled and kissed the top of Maggie’s head.
“This time we can drive,” Tarik answered with a laugh.
“With those special sand tires, huh?” Maggie answered with a wry glance.
“You got it,” Tarik answered.
With that information, Maggie leapt from her seat on the couch and paced the room. “Calm down, princess,” Henry called from across the room. “There're no camels.”
“It’s not that,” Maggie answered. “But… I hate this waiting. Anything could happen to Uncle Ollie and Emma.”
“They’ll keep them alive, especially when they discover they don’t have the ankhs,” Henry assured Maggie.
“I agree, Maggie,” Tarik added.
“But what if they’re already at the library and they don’t need them?”
“It’s likely they do,” Henry answered. “Plus, they aren’t there yet.”
“They were leaving for the site when you showed up on your rescue mission!”
Henry shook his head. “No, I doubt it.”
“He’s right, Maggie,” Tarik said. “They wouldn’t head into the desert with the sun setting soon.”
“They gave us a deadline of 6 p.m., that had to be for a reason!”
“Likely to give them time to make arrangements to travel to the location,” Henry conjectured. “Maggie, it’s fine. No one is going to that site before morning. Especially with Bryson’s detour.”
Maggie sighed and nodded. She collapsed to the couch, gnawing on her lower lip.
“So, while we wait, what else happened down in that tomb?” Piper asked. “Anything else?”
Maggie glanced at Piper. Piper raised her eyebrows at her. “Well? Did you two just waltz through the corridors admiring the hieroglyphics before you strutted out into the desert in your designer duds?”
“Not quite,” Maggie answered.
“So, let’s hear it!”
“Well, we had a few mishaps along the way, including a scorpion attack, a collapsing ceiling, a pit full of spears that we had to jump over and…” Maggie hesitated. “Some other stuff.”
“Other stuff, chicky?” Charlie questioned.
“Yeah. A few other odds and ends.”
“Such as?” Piper prodded.
Maggie shrugged. “What we thought was a dead end that turned out to be an exit that we had to climb out of. And,” Maggie’s voice lowered to a mumble, “a big stone ball that almost killed us.”
“And you found Antony’s tomb?” Tarik inquired.
“Wait, wait, wait, wait, wait,” Piper interrupted. She leaned forward in her chair, her jaw slack. She cocked her head to the side. “Did you say… big stone ball?”
Maggie glanced sideways and licked her lips. She shrugged. “There might have been.”
“I KNEW it!” Piper said, slapping her thigh. “I TOLD you there would be an Indiana Jones rolling ball ready to kill someone in that tomb!”
Maggie pursed her lips and shook her head at Piper. “And to answer your question, Tarik, yes. We found Antony. Emma was beyond excited.”
“Was his tomb grand?” Tarik queried.
“Very!” Maggie said with a nod. “The jewelry was AMAZING! The statues, the items they left him for the afterlife, wow!”
Henry rejoined them. “All set?” Tarik asked.
“Yes. We leave at daybreak.” Henry wrapped his arm around Maggie, pulling her close to him. Maggie squeezed his hand and smiled up at him. “We’ll get them back, princess.”
“I know,” Maggie answered. “You promised.”
“Ah…” Piper hesitated. “When you say ‘we…’” Her voice trailed off again.
“I mean Tarik, Maggie, Charlie and I,” Henry answered. “You don’t have to go. Sefu and his family will make sure you’re safe.”
Maggie checked Henry’s watch. “How much longer do you think Sefu’s brother will be?” she questioned.
“Got a hot date, princess?”
“I’d like to have a date with a shower and a bed,” Maggie admitted.
“Why don’t you hit the shower now. By the time you’re done, he should be back. We’ll mark the location, and you can get some rest,” Henry suggested.
“Should be back?” Piper repeated. “He could have driven to Cairo and bought a map in the time it takes Maggie to shower.”
“Very funny, Piper,” Maggie answered. “Okay, I’m heading for the shower.”
Maggie disappeared through the doorway Sefu pointed out. She spun the handles on the faucet and removed her clothes while she waited for the water to warm. Maggie tested the water with her wrist as she stared blankly at the wall.
After adjusting the water, Maggie stepped into the steamy shower. The events of the past twenty-four hours exhausted her. Maggie struggled to stay upright as exhaustion overcame her. Worry for her Uncle Ollie and Emma plagued her. She sniffled as a few tears ran down her face.
Maggie bit her lower lip as she wiped the te
ars away. She recalled her conversation with Henry. They would find them, she assured herself.
Maggie finished her shower and toweled off. The simple act of washing the dirt and grime helped improve her outlook. She dusted her clothes off as best she could before slipping back into them.
Maggie emerged into the living room. “Feel better, princess?” Henry queried.
“Phenomenally,” Maggie answered. “Is the map here?”
“Right here,” Sefu answered her. He referenced the open map on the table. “Just what you wanted.”
“Perfect!” Maggie answered.
Henry already had the ankhs placed on the table near it. “Now, what are we matching here?” he asked.
Maggie picked up one of the ankhs. “See these peaks and valleys? They correspond to topography on this map. Here,” Maggie said, pointing out a curved depression. “This matches the river here.” Maggie pointed to an area on the map. She set the ankh on top.
“Ah, I see!” Tarik responded. “Yes, it matches the terrain. It makes a three-dimensional copy of it.”
“Right,” Maggie said, nodding her head.
Piper picked up the second ankh. “So, this one would go here.” She plopped it down on the map.
“Yep!” Maggie confirmed.
Piper swung the last one into place. “And this one fits here.”
“You’re good at this!” Maggie said.
Piper shrugged. “I’m good at spatial reasoning. So, is the area outlined by the three of these where the library is located?”
“Yes, that’s what we concluded.”
Henry marked the map before replacing the ankhs in the carrying bag. “Okay, we have our location. We leave at dawn. Now, you, princess, should try to get some rest.”
Maggie stifled a yawn and nodded.
“There is a bedroom just through that door,” Sefu informed her.
Maggie glanced at the doorway, then turned back. “Thanks, though if anyone else wants the bed, I’m good on the couch.”
“On the couch? You’ve been up for over twenty-four hours! You should go to bed!” Piper argued.
Maggie poked Henry’s side. “I’ll just use this big lug as a pillow. It’ll be fine.”
“Big lug, huh? We’ll see who lets you lay on him later,” Henry quipped as he wrapped his arm around Maggie. He kissed the top of her head. “Go get comfy, I’ll be over in a minute.”
Maggie nodded. She yawned a second time. “Okay. I think no matter where I sleep, I am going to be out the minute my head hits a cushion of any kind.”
Maggie settled on the couch, pulling her feet up and curling into a ball. Tarik offered her a blanket, and she draped it over herself. Despite her statement moments before, Maggie laid awake until Henry joined her on the couch. Piper opted to take the bed for the night. Charlie and Tarik settled into armchairs near them.
Maggie lifted her head as Henry plopped onto the couch next to her. He wrapped his arm around her and she laid her head on his shoulder. “I’m really glad I got you back, princess,” Henry whispered.
“I’m really glad you came for me. I can’t wait to get Uncle Ollie and Emma back, too.”
“Tomorrow, princess. Tonight, you rest.” He kissed the top of her head again.
Maggie shut her eyes and within seconds, drifted to a dreamless sleep.
Chapter 25
Maggie shot up to sitting in the darkened space. A shrill ringing echoed in her ears. She blinked several times as she tried to get her bearings. It took an extra moment for her to realize where she was. Sefu’s safe house, she reminded herself, as she felt Henry stir next to her. He grabbed his ringing phone from the coffee table.
“Taylor,” he said into the phone after swiping it open.
He leapt from the couch a moment later and stalked across the room. He disappeared into the hall. Maggie followed him. “Who is it?” she whispered, squinting against the corridor’s lights.
“I want to speak to both of them,” Henry snapped.
“Who is it?” Maggie breathed again.
Henry pulled the phone from his ear and toggled the speakerphone on.
“… no position to make demands, Taylor,” Bryson’s voice answered on the other side.
Maggie’s heart stopped at the sound. She stared wide-eyed at Henry. Her pulse quickened and her mouth parched as Henry answered.
“You called me, remind me again how I’m in no position to make demands,” Henry answered.
“Oh, how terribly imprecise of me. Let me qualify. You’re in no position to make demands if you want to see your friends alive again.”
Maggie bit her lower lip at the statement. Henry held up his hand, signaling for her to dismiss it. “See, I think you’re lying, Bryson. If you wanted to kill them, you wouldn’t have called me. They’d be dead.”
“We can continue to trade threats back and forth, Taylor, or we can get down to business. Rest assured I possess the conviction to end your friends’ lives if I must.”
“I’m not discussing anything with you until I’ve heard from Ollie and Emma,” Henry answered.
A sigh sounded on the opposite end of the line. Maggie heard a scuffle and then Ollie’s hoarse voice came through the phone’s speaker. “Henry!” Ollie called.
“Ollie!” Henry answered. “Are you okay?”
“More or less. Emma and I are okay. How is Maggie?”
“She’s fine,” Henry assured him. “She’s with me now.”
“That’s quite enough, professor,” Bryson barked. “Now, Taylor…”
“Uh-uh,” Henry interrupted. “I want to speak to Emma.”
“The professor just told you she’s fine.”
“I want to hear that for myself,” Henry countered.
Another tussle sounded on the other end before Emma’s voice came across the airwaves. “Henry?”
Poor Emma, Maggie lamented to herself. She sounded exhausted and frightened. “Emma, are you okay?”
“I’ve been better, but I’m unharmed for the most part,” Emma answered.
“There,” Bryson’s voice said immediately after, “you’ve heard for yourself. Now, let’s stop playing games. My employer wants the ankhs back. Your troublesome little girlfriend stole them from me during our last encounter.”
“Stole them from you? You stole them from us, you jerk!” Maggie shouted at the phone. Henry held up his hand again to shush her.
“Ah, the illustrious Ms. Edwards. I’m sorry I didn’t manage to eliminate you from this equation earlier.”
“Believe me, buddy, the feeling is mutual,” Maggie snarked.
“Unless you’d like me to eliminate your friends, let’s discuss returning the ankhs to my employer’s possession.”
“We do nothing until we see our friends in person and can verify they are unharmed. After that we’ll exchange the ankhs for Ollie and Emma,” Henry answered.
“That’s not going to work, Taylor. We’ll return your friends after we have the ankhs.”
“No dice, Bryson. Even exchange in person.”
“I’m afraid that’s impossible. My employer requires the professor’s assistance in finishing the search for the library. Without him, the ankhs may be useless to us.”
“Not my problem. Emma and Ollie for the ankhs, final offer.”
“No deal, Taylor. I suppose we’ll simply have to take them by force from you. Consider the offer for a peaceful end to this situation rescinded. The next time I see you, I shoot first and pry the ankhs from your cold dead hands.”
The line went dead. Maggie threw her hands in the air as Henry toggled off his cell phone. “Ugh!” she exclaimed. “Now what?”
“Now we continue with our plan. They’ll be searching for the library tomorrow, too. We’ll get Emma and Ollie back then.”
Maggie grimaced and shook her head. “I should have bit that guy harder.”
“It’ll be all right, princess,” Henry reassured her. Maggie didn’t answer. “I promise.” Maggie offered him a hal
f-smile. “And you know…”
“How you are about your promises,” Maggie finished for him.
Henry grinned at her and smiled. “So, we’ve got no worries! By this time tomorrow, princess, we’ll be right as rain.”
Maggie wrapped her arms around him. “I’m holding you to that,” she whispered before she gave him a peck on the lips.
Henry winced. “That was a little scary, princess.”
“Good,” Maggie said with a wink. “Call it motivation.”
They returned to the apartment and Maggie sprawled on the couch next to Henry. “Can you sleep? We can get a few more hours before we leave.”
Maggie considered it for a moment. “I hope so,” she began. “I think so. I’m worried about Emma and Ollie, but I’m also exhausted. Adrenaline only goes so far.”
“Close your eyes, princess. Get some sleep. Tomorrow we get our friends back.”
Maggie nodded as she closed her eyes and snuggled closer to Henry. Her mind wandered to Ollie and Emma. Guilt coursed through her as she imagined them stuck with those horrible men. Soon they’d be home, Maggie assured herself. They would find them, and they would get them back. With that thought, Maggie drifted off to sleep again.
Maggie awoke to the smell of coffee and eggs. She climbed from the couch and glanced out the window. Darkness still hung over the city. A large white moon brightened the night sky. Maggie meandered to the kitchen. Henry handed her a cup of coffee before she even requested one.
“Thank you,” she murmured before taking a sip.
Henry set a plate of eggs in front of her. “Scrambled, your favorite.”
“Mmm, thank you,” Maggie murmured as she picked up her fork and dug in.
“I have been meaning to thank you, Maggie,” Tarik said as he piled eggs onto his fork.
“What for?” Maggie queried.
“I’ve never gotten breakfast from this guy before. But since you’ve arrived, Henry makes me breakfast all the time.”
Maggie chuckled. “I’m glad this is working out for you.”
“Oh, it is. He’s so much more pleasant these days.”
“Watch it, mate,” Henry warned. “You’re about to get yourself into trouble.”
Secret of the Ankhs: A Maggie Edwards Adventure (Maggie Edwards Adventures Book 2) Page 28
