Beams of light ignited all around Baahir. He would have leaped to his feet and run, but he was trapped beneath the truck. Someone reached beneath the automobile and latched onto his jacket’s collar, ripping him out from under the vehicle. Baahir and the scroll went rolling, bouncing along the asphalt like a ping-pong ball. He landed flat on his back and hurriedly rolled onto his hand and knees. Baahir climbed to his feet and took off running but collided with an unmovable object. Through strained eyes, he saw that the barrier wasn’t one constructed of brick and mortar. It was made of flesh and blood, and it was the last person he wanted to meet up close.
“And where do you think you’re going?” Khaliq asked, staring down at him with a carnal smile.
Terrified, Baahir curled his knees and the scroll into his chest. His protection of the artifact didn’t go unnoticed. The unarmed boss stood tall and crossed his arms. Baahir recognized the look of a man putting together a plan. Khaliq stepped closer and knelt into a catcher’s squat.
“I see that you appreciate the scroll as much as I do.”
Baahir didn’t say a word. He just tightened his grip around it and waited.
Khaliq’s eyes narrowed. “I’ll make you a deal, Dr.
“And what is that?” Baahir asked, voice soft. “What do you have planned?”
“Something that you might just live through.”
Khaliq never once broke eye contact.
It didn’t matter what it was. If Baahir wanted to see the next sunrise, he was going to have to play ball. Baahir wasn’t sure what stunned him more, the fact that the leader of the Scales of Anubis knew who he was, or the fact that he was trying to recruit him into the fold. Baahir’s gut — his emotions — told him to shout “No!” and spit in the man’s face. But his logical mind overruled him. If Baahir agreed to help, maybe he could delay Khaliq until help arrived? Either way, he needed to know what was going on, and why the group, all of a sudden, wanted to include him.
“Why me?” Baahir asked, speaking softly.
Khaliq stood and reached out a hand. Slowly, timidly, Baahir accepted the offer and was hauled to his feet. “Because, Dr. Hassan,” Khaliq replied, squeezing hard, “I need every learned individual I can find. And few have dedicated as much time to the subject as you.”
“The Temple of Anubis is on the horizon.”
Baahir cocked an eyebrow up. “The ‘Temple of Anubis?’ We found that already.”
“No, you just found the scroll’s resting place.” He held out his hand and waited for Baahir to take it. “I thank you for that.”
“Uh, yeah, no problem.” Baahir had never felt so uncomfortable.
When they parted, Khaliq’s eyes locked onto the tube in Baahir’s hands. “With this, I will find the temple and fulfill my destiny.”
“A map?” Baahir was shocked. “You need my help to read a map — written inside the original
Khaliq gave him a wicked grin. “Yes, but I also need an insurance policy against your sister, just in case she decides not to cooperate with my people in London. Speaking of which…” He glanced at his watch. “They should be at the museum by now.”
Zahra wasn’t one to simply roll over when trouble arose. If anything, the tougher and more ruthless the conflict became, the harder she fought back. Whoever had been sent to steal the canopic jar from Zahra was about to get a rude awakening into the woman that she was. Baahir had never seen his sister in action, but he knew what she was capable of. Even now, he was sure that she was devising an effective counterassault.
Rahal’s phone rang. The agent answered it, and quietly conversed with the caller. The conversation was short, and he ended the call. “Khaliq, we should go before—”
Khaliq drew his pistol and shot Rahal in the head, dropping him where he stood. The agent’s blood splattered in all directions. Some of it reached Baahir. With shaking hands, he wiped away a droplet from his cheek, and returned his attention to Khaliq.
“W — why?” Baahir’s voice was barely audible.
Khaliq turned toward him, gun dangling by his leg. “Fahim was no longer of any use to me. Let this be an example of what happens when someone makes themselves expendable.”
Baahir knew what he had to do. “I–I’ll help you.”
Khaliq holstered the weapon. “Smart man. Come, we have much work to do.”
“What do we do, Zahra?” Grant asked, his voice shaky. Based on the look on the younger man’s face, he wasn’t being stealthy. The college kid was terrified, and could barely speak.
Unfortunately, the only answer Zahra could come up with was, “Uh…”
