“I’d have to be more specific about what I’m looking for,” she said. “Otherwise I’m apt to get offered broken pieces of wall paintings covered in hieroglyphs, or a scarab ring. We have to narrow it down to some kind of vase.”
“See? You’re already thinking along the right track.” His praise made her smile. “I’ll call Hakim and get some names of shops where we can start looking.”
There was only one problem. “You realize I don’t really know what I’m looking for, right?”
“What I realize is that you’re the only one of us who has any shot at recognizing the significance of the vase if you see it. Wally must have been confident that you would, and that’s good enough for me.”
It sounded flattering, but it wasn’t like he had any choice. Neither did she, when she considered what was at stake. Donovan didn’t say it, but she couldn’t forget it: a young man and woman were held captive somewhere nearby, their future depending on her.
Donovan might be good at winging it, but she would feel better if she had just a few guidelines. “What do I do if I find the vase? Offer to buy it?”
“I don’t know. Maybe looking at it will be enough. Or maybe what we need to know is where it came from. I hope you’ll know once you see it, but if you don’t, then stall. Tell him you need time to think about the purchase.”
It wasn’t a great answer, but she knew it was the best she’d get.
“What’s my role?” Avery asked. “I’m not good at sitting around.”
“None of us are,” Kyle grumbled. “I say we scout out some of the shops, see if we think any are likely suspects for dealing in black-market items. It might speed things up.”
“I agree,” Donovan said. “What’s your cover story for poking around for information?”
“It’s probably best to stick close to what we are. We’ll be crass Americans with too much money to spend and a passion for owning what no one else has.”
“But you don’t know anything about the history or the artifacts,” Jess said.
“We won’t need to,” Avery told her. “We just want to know if someone might be willing to deal with us. If they are, we tell you and let you check them out. I just hope something comes of this, or we’re wasting a lot of valuable time while the hostages could be in danger.”
“If anyone thinks of better options, let me know,” Donovan said. “Meanwhile, finding a black-market dealer will be the plan.”
“Then it’s settled.” Mitch wadded up a napkin, stuffed it in a bag with their garbage, and stood. “If we’re set for tomorrow, I have things to finish tonight. I’ll see you all later.”
“Hold up,” Donovan said. “Where are you going?”
“Socializing,” he said, wiggling his eyebrows. “The night is young, and I made a date to meet up with those two other grad students. Turns out there are some hot chicks working in ancient Egyptian archeology, and they were happy to meet a studly American man.” Mitch slipped something small from his backpack into his pocket and flashed a rakish grin. “Don’t wait up.”
Donovan stood. “I don’t think that’s a good idea.”
Mitch came to a stop slowly, and turned. “You don’t.”
“No, I don’t.”
The air suddenly stretched tight with tension, and Jess knew she wasn’t the only one who felt it. Avery and Kyle had gone still, watching the exchange.
Mitch did his best to play it down. “Hey, man, it’s only eight o’clock. I’m a naturally gregarious young man with a healthy sex drive. I put in a long day, and my work is done. You can’t expect me to stay home and watch Egyptian sitcoms on TV.”
“That’s exactly what I expect you to do. There are people out there who want to stop us before we stop them. I don’t think they know where we are, but I can’t say for sure that Jess and I weren’t followed home after that attack. If we were, you’re not safe going out alone. And if they spot you and follow you back here, none of us are safe. Your social needs aren’t worth that kind of risk. We stay here, remain unobtrusive, and avoid going out alone.”
Mitch grew quiet, losing his easy smile. “I wasn’t aware there was a rule against mixing business with pleasure.”
“There is when it endangers the mission. There always has been.”
“And that’s your call,” Mitch said, as if double-checking to see if he had it right.
“It’s my call.”
The hairs prickled to attention on Jess’s arms as she waited to see if Mitch would push the issue. Donovan stood with arms folded, solid and unmovable, while Kyle and Avery kept their expressions unreadable. After a long moment, Mitch threw his arms up in a careless gesture. “Fine, whatever you say. I hope there’s something to watch in English besides CNN.” He flopped into a chair and began fiddling with the TV remote, switching it on. Laughter and Arabic words filled the room.