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Same Location shortly after Sunrise the next morning:
Hayley had a Déjà vu of sorts, as she looked around: “Here we are again, checking our gear again, controlling our Weapons again” she looked around “It surely looks like the others have similar thoughts”
Again Sarah and Chris took the lead as they ventured into the woods, again Anna and Kate brought up the rear “The only one missing is Sophie” the American mused as she followed Kirsty, minding her step. The other notable difference was this time they were clad in winter gear to blend in better with the surroundings.
Rachel Weinstein stifled a yawn as she watched the recon party leaving, and soon blending in with the woods. This was the first time she saw Chris and her friends getting ready for action. All had acted calm and collected, and poised to strike.
Watching the contrast had been … interesting: Three days ago Chris and Anna had concerted at Carnegie Hall, now they were chasing villains in the Wilderness of northern New York, dressed in combat gear, carrying their weapons with the same confidence and ease they had displayed on stage.
The pianist carried her daisho across her back, Anna her sniper rifle. Rachel had known that Chris wielded the katana, but seeing her with the weapon was something different. Anna had told her a while ago about the story behind the weapon, why Chris´ Sensei Nakamura had presented Chris with the invaluable blades, which had been made by one of the most legendary sword smiths of Nippon.
What had Anna told her about the history of the swords?
“This daisho is 500 years old. It was made by the famous Senga Murasama and passed down from father to son, through the centuries. Nakamura San presented Chris with these swords, since there was no living heir left and he considered Chris worthy to carry those swords.”
The heiress knew not much about the way of bushido, or kenjitsu but that much she knew: These blades were invaluable. Their material worth was immense: any collector would have given his right hand for them; their sentimental value was immeasurable.
Rachel returned to the present:
She had decided to let Tabea getting some sleep. During the night her PA had obviously had some nightmares she had trashed around in sleep and screamed at some point.
The heiress had been able to calm her down and in the end Tabea had fallen into a deep sleep, difficult to tell though how the brutal attack of Anck-Sun-Amun and her people had touched her. Subconsciously she rubbed her wrists, where still faded marks of the ropes could be seen.
Rachel went inside and helped herself to a pot of strong coffee: “What will they find? Will they find anything?”
Her thoughts wandered back to a conversation she had had with Chris before they left for the Wilderness yesterday “Why do you do this Chris?” “What do you mean?” the blonde had returned “Looking after a man you barely know, don´t get me wrong, what I mean: you have no obligation to do this, you could leave this very well to the police, don´t you?”
The pianist had paused for a moment before she replied “No, we have no obligation to go after Al Mansur save the fact that we owe that Egyptian, right but here´s the thing Rachel:
We, as Anna, I and the others do not believe that this is just simple kidnapping, my guts tell me: there is more to that than meets the eye and we want to know, what´s behind all this. Call it professional curiosity.
And what is more: Kate told us, the NYPD is not taking this case seriously in her opinion, or more precisely they are encouraged to do so. For some reason they seem not interested or feel obligated to conduct a thorough investigation – so I say: It is up to us. Possible, that someone with much influence is pulling strings.
If that is the case, we have another reason to investigate. I´ll find it very disturbing that the authorities do not search the estate – it would be the logical thing to do, but they don´t.
How shall I put it, Rachel?
If we find nothing at Al Mansur´s estate I rest my case, and well leave it at that, but if we find something we will follow the trail – and wherever it leads us” Chris had spoken not loudly or raised her voice, but clear and firm, with a calm authority.
In the Wilderness:
Sarah had taken the lead with Chris following right behind her. The air was cool; the scents of pine and other trees filled the air with their tangy scent. The party followed a small trail, which lead upwards in narrow serpentines. After an hour they reached a small knoll, from there they had a good overview over the valley, in its centre the estate of Al Mansur.
Kate scanned the grounds down below with her glasses. In its centre a three winged complex, which reminded her very much of a southern plantation like “Oak Valley” in Louisiana. She had been there with Castle once. An alley of large live oak trees lead to the plantation building, probably 300 Metres long.
As soon as they had taken up position, the Dark Lady had opened the box she had carried on her back and made the drone ready. Skillfully she had directed it over the estate “The place seems deserted” she stated “Curious”
One hour later:
They had observed the complex for over an hour now. It seemed indeed deserted, inhabited, which seemed strange to Kate.
“What now?” She asked in her mike. “We wait still for 30 Minutes longer, then we enter” Chris replied calmly.
“Something is off here” Sarah mused and produced a tool, which looked like some sort of scanner. The thief scanned the compound, the enclosure and the mansion itself. She checked the readings, once, twice and a third time, frowning.
“This is odd” The Dark Lady stated “What is it?” Chris asked curiously “There are no active emissions of any sort” “That means?” Anna asked intrigued “That means at least that there are no active sensors: Electromagnetic radiation, UV, IR, laser …and that is highly unusual. The heating seems to be on though, but that´s it – and no signs of human live inside”
“There could be passive sensors” Kate added “Of course” the Dark Lady agreed “But my guts tell me, they are off too”
Chris made a decision “We will still wait another 30 minutes – and then go in”
Kate scanned the wall encircling the estate “I think the cameras are not working too” The thief took her own glasses, did a quick scan then nodded “It seems that way”
The time passed slowly. Nothing had happened in the last 30 minutes. “Okay then” Chris stated “We go in – through the front door”
30 Minutes later they stood in front of the large entrance gates. “Shall we climb over them?” Anna looked dubiously at the sharp spikes on the top of the gate wings. “That won´t be necessary” The Dark Lady produced some tools and began to work at the com-pad at the right gate post.
“It is always a pleasure to see a true master at work” Anna quipped. The thief shot her a dirty look “You know Anna, I am a master at many things”
“Be nice children!” Chris chided them
The Russian and the Canadian shared a look – then laughed “Yes Mother Superior”
Hayley, Kirsty, Kate and Chris had formed a semi-circle around Anna and McKenzie and were scanning the area for any suspicious movements. But only the sounds of the woods disturbed the silence.
A soft click could be heard and the gates swung wide open. Carefully and fully alert they entered the compound and followed the alley which leaded to the main building. An eerie silence hung in the Air.
The alley was flanked by old Oak Tree´s which seemed to be as old as the house. There was no sign that their entry had alarmed anybody.
“It looks like a piece of the Old South planted right in the middle of nowhere in northern New York, Kate thought aloud to nobody in particular.
“Indeed it is” Hayley offered “I looked the history of the place up: “It was built by a Southerner in the Reconstruction Era after the Civil War. For some reason he ended up here in the far North and wanted to recreate some piece of home – Al Mansur bought the place about 15 years ago and had it renovated and rebuilt”
“Is anybody here who finds it not strange that nobody has reacted to our trespassing??” Kirsty interrupted her lover “This is most strange indeed” Anna agreed. “If somebody is in the house he or she would have shown their faces as soon as we entered”
They reached the imposing façade, which consisted of 14 Doric columns; two smaller wings flanked the main building, which were connected to the Corps de Logis by arcades. “What do we do now?” Anna asked “politely knocking at the door?” as they stood before the large vaulted white double winged door.
“Nope” the thief smiled “we press the doorbell” and pointed to a rectangular pad with a large button in its midst” The thief pressed on it. A deep melodious bell rang through the silence. One minute passed, two minutes. But nothing happened. McKenzie pressed the button a second time. No reaction.
Chris exchanged a look with the thief “It seems, your expertise comes in handy again Sarah” she smiled
“I would have never expected that you of all people ask me to break into a house” The thief grinned. “Special circumstances demand unusual methods” the Pianist shrugged “I will not make a habit out of it - can you pick the lock?” “The look I cannot pick has still to be invented” the Dark Lady graciously returned and set to work.
In the end it took the thief still five minutes till a soft click signalled that she had been successful. The thief gave the right wing a light shove – and so perfectly balanced was the door that it swung wide open, without a sound
As they crossed the threshold they stood into a large entrance hall, three stories high that ran from the front to the rear of the house. The walls betrayed the owner´s love for the Egyptian art. Drawings and pictures decorated the walls. No sound could be heard. The heating seemed to be indeed on, because the room temperature was pleasant.
“This place is huge” Hayley observed who was clearly impressed “If we search it from bottom to top we need hours – are you open for a suggestion Chris?”
“Shoot” the Pianist nodded curtly
“We shall first pay Al Mansur´s Private and Office Room´s a visit. If I recall the floor plan correctly, they are located in the main building on the first floor then we shall go for the collection, which is housed underground” Hayley proposed
“Sounds like a good plan to me” Chris agreed “any objections?” “No? Then we shall do it that way” she concluded.
“I am looking forward to have a look at the collection” the glitter in the Dark Lady´s eyes was unmistakable “You will keep your greedy paws to yourself” Chris told her off sternly, but her undertone betrayed her. The Dark Lady was the Dark Lady after all.
With Chris and the thief in the lead they walked up the imposing curved stairwell. “I feel like Gone with the Wind” Anna whispered excited at Kate. “Indeed it looks like that Scarlett o´ Hara might descend the Stairs at any moment” the Investigator returned smiling.
Finding the private study of Hiram Al Mansur posed no difficulty. A large window opened on a balcony to the Front. The Walls were covered by thousands of leather bound Volumes.
Two pieces of furniture stood out: A large and massive working desk, made from highly polished teak and a grand piano. The surface of the desk seemed empty at first sight except the exquisite bust of a Pharaoh, made from polished diorite.
It was the grand piano though which caught Chris´ attention “This is a historical Steinway” she explained, with gleaming eyes “built around 1900” – I haven´t seen such a well maintained one often.
Then something happened that anybody surprised who knew Chris not by heart. Next to all the many things she was, she was a fully-fledged musician. The pianist could simply not resist open the lid of the keyboard, she sat down, adjusted the seat and played the first bars of Schumann´s “Träumerei” out of impulse, the piano was perfectly tuned and the keyboard reacted to the lightest touch of her fingers.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9zVQk0YviAA
Lang Lang plays “Träumerei” by Robert Schumann
Her friends followed mesmerized as the fragile melody of the German composer filled the room. When Chris had played the last note, there was silence for a moment. Schumann´s works were one of Chris´ trademarks as pianist. And the way she had played it would have brought a stone to tears.
The blonde smiled apologetically at her friends, and blushed a bit, and grinned a bit sheepishly “Sorry I could not resist” “So you are human after all” the Black Lady teased her
“Give the woman a piano and the world could go down around her and she wouldn´t even notice” Anna seconded “I guess I deserved that the blonde smiled before she became serious again “This keyboard has been tuned very lately, or it wouldn´t sound that way!”
In the meantime Kate had gone to the book shelf which covered the western Wall of the Room from top to Bottom, something seemed strange to her, but she could not place it, she took a few books out, those were real books no replica. But a few shelves looked different than the others. Those books were covered with dust. She turned to the desk made of highly polished teak:
Being ever the professional the investigator pulled a pair of latex gloves out of one the many pockets of her gear and began to examine the desk more closely, checking for any hidden compartments. The drawers were empty
She examined the bust of the Pharaoh closer. To her surprise the bust could not be lifted. She did not know why but she tried to turn the bust to the right, it moved easily, there was one soft click, she turned it to the left another click: And in the book shelf right of the desk a hidden compartment opened. The same shelves which had looked different than the others.
Curiously the others looked down on the content of the compartment “Judging by the amount of dust it has not been opened for a long time” Hayley stated. Inside laid a rectangular wooden box with hieroglyphs on it. Carefully lifted Kate lifted it out of the compartment and set it on the desk. Gently she opened the lid: She spotted a leathern container inside.
The Canadian appraised the container and the box with professional interest: “The box is antique, the container I cannot tell … McKenzie thought for a moment, while the others looked expectantly at her. At last she spoke: “We should take the chest with us and Rachel must find us an expert to analyse its content” No one argued that point - the expertise of the Canadian in such matters was undisputed but deciphering a papyrus scroll was above her pay grade. There were few people who could.
Chris nodded “sounds the most sensible thing to do”
Carefully Sarah stowed the box in her backpack. A thorough search of the study produced nothing of interest. The lasting impression was that the room had been used until recently. Kate studied the titles of the numerous volumes: “They are mostly about Ancient Egypt” the investigator stated “but we would need an expert for a profound expertise”
“Something is strange” Hayley cut in “What?” Kirsty asked her partner “Did anybody found a laptop or something?” the blonde explained. “That is peculiar indeed: No laptop, no scanner and no hard drives” Chris agreed “No electronic device at all”
“The complete estate looks like it was inhabited until very recently. Where is the staff?” Chris was lost in thought for a moment, she looked at her watch: “It is getting late, let us going down in the vaults and leave then”
The entry to the vaults was in the entrance hall on the right side. It stood out because it looked very much like one of the entrance gates of an old Egyptian temple: Black highly polished marble stairs leaded down. It was lit by small spotlights on the left and right, creating a mysterious atmosphere.
Carefully they navigated the steps in single file. With each step the air became cooler. After 20 steps they stood into a cavernous room, its walls also black marble, which were covered with exquisite reliefs and inscriptions. And they reminded the thief of those they had seen in the desert at Hurghadda last year “We should photograph them” the Canadian proposed “Good thinking” Kate agreed.
A long vast corridor, it´s walls and floor and ceiling made from large polished blocks of black marble led them to another Temple gate, whose door leaves stood slightly ajar. Again they opened after a slight touch of Anna´s palm without any noise at all.
They entered “That cannot be!” Hayley exclaimed in surprise. The vast room was empty, it´s many podiums and cabinets were empty, with one notable exception: In the centre was one cabinet that was not empty: a golden death mask very much like the one found in Tut-Anck-Amun´s tomb seemed to look at them.
“This becomes more and more mysterious” Chris stated “You do not clear out such a large room in a few hours”
“Somebody went to great lengths – not only to kidnap Al Mansur but to steal his collection also” Kate added thoughtfully.
“That somebody possesses vast resources and is highly organised, that much is for sure” Kirsty mused.
“Room full of treasure and they left this mask behind, only question is what manner of trouble is it? I want a look at it” the thief proposed, following her professional instincts and strode purposefully nearer, drawn to the beautiful piece of art.
Then it happened: she stepped on the stone plate directly before the mask, there was a soft click. The Thief froze “shit” she muttered as red lamp began to blink and a computer generated voice intoned a sequence “2.59, 2.58, 2.57 ….”
It took them a fracture of a second to realize what was happening. The countdown went on.
The Canadian got her grip first “Run” she bellowed – this place will blow up!”
Hayley hesitated “Are you sure?” “I intend not to stay and find out!” the Canadian snapped.
That broke the spell: they began to sprint through the hall, through the long floor up the 20 stairs
“0.30, 0.29, 0.28” the voice counted down
They cleared the hall, charged through the entrance door, sprinted down the stairs which led up to the entrance, trying to get away from the building as far as possible.
0.05, 0.04, 0.03, 0.02, 0.01, 0.00”
They were just 20 Metres from the building as a gigantic explosion shook the ground and threw them on the floor, a horrendous blast wave rolled above them, an even stronger explosion shook them to the ground again, splinters, earth and other things rained down on them – they were lucky though, they were not hit by any major debris.
Chris ears were ringing. She waited, for another explosion, but there came none. Carefully she stood up. Her pulse was still racing, she turned around: The beautiful plantation had vanished. What was left was a smouldering ruin, smoke and flames raged in the ruins.
“I´ll be damned” she heard the voice of the Canadian behind her, the others had gotten to her feet too. “That was close” Anna stated “Yep” Kirsty nodded, “someone spared no effort to destroy all evidence” the Briton stated dryly - Chris looked from one to another: They all looked a bit worse for wear, shaken – but most importantly: nobody was hurt.
The pianist pulled herself together: “Let's get out of here I have no intention to be here, when the authorities arrive on scene. Is everybody okay?” She looked from one to another a second time, they all nodded, shaken but unhurt “Let' get moving then.”
“What a shame” the thief muttered as she followed Chris who had taken the lead “This death mask was beautiful”
They walked on in a brisk tempo in silence.
One hour later they were back at their quarters, where Rachel and Tabea Walker already awaited them anxiously ”What happened, tell me? We heard an explosion in the distance!“ the heiress pressed them, agitatedly.
“Well” Anna fumed “Nothing special, Rachel. Someone wanted us to blow to us pieces, we found an old scroll only 48 hours after someone threatened to kill us, tortured us, slapped me on my butt and mistreated my poor tits” and added “So nothing out of the ordinary, don´t you think?”
Weinstein starred at them in shock and was obviously lost for words after this outburst
“Someone wanted what?”
“Blow us to pieces” Chris confirmed, calmer than Anna, but clearly not amused “Al Mansur´s estate is gone”
“Did you find something – or anybody?” Rachel inquired further “Look Rachel” Chris sighed “We had just a brush with death - let us have a shower and change and then we talk, okay?”
The blonde´s tone made it clear, that this was no request but a statement – and the heiress was wise enough not to press the point any further.
One hour later:
“To sum it up: Hiram al Mansur has been kidnapped, his Collection has vanished as if it has never existed, his estate is destroyed and all we got in return might be a sealed papyrus scroll” Chris concluded her report.
Rachel Weinstein nodded, mulling things over “Where does that leave us?”
“The way I see it” Kate said after a short while: “We have to find us an Egyptologist first who translates and analyses the scroll. Only then we can decide how to proceed.”
Anna seconded “I concur too, any other avenues to explore?” Obviously the Russian was in a more harmonious frame of mind now
“This is settled then” Chris conceded “Rachel can you help us finding an Expert?”
“I think I might just know the right person for the job, if she is available, I will have to make a few calls first” the Heiress smiled “You will like her”
“Right” Chris smiled, “Inform us when you have spoken to her” she yawned “We will reconvene in the afternoon”