Banna was also intrigued by Eddie’s absence. ‘Good morning, Dr Wilde,’ he said. ‘Is your husband not joining us?’
‘No, he’s not,’ said Nina.
‘After what happened yesterday, I am surprised that he would leave you alone—’
‘Something came up that he felt he had to deal with,’ she cut in with irritation. ‘Okay?’
Habib gave her a concerned look. ‘Is it anything to do with the relic?’
‘Yes, I guess, but… not directly.’
‘Then I will not need to change the security arrangements?’ The Egyptian raised a hand as if about to take out his phone.
She shook her head. ‘No, it’s fine. He got a potential lead about the people who attacked us, so he’s gone to check it out.’
Habib’s expression of mild relief was replaced by one almost of shock. ‘He has found them?’
‘No, like I said, it’s only a potential lead — we don’t know if anything’ll come of it.’
Deyab looked back sharply. ‘Dr Wilde, if you have information about the men who attacked the dig, you should have told us.’
‘I will, as soon as I know anything definite. But for now, I don’t even know if I can trust the source of the information. We’ll have to wait until Eddie tells me what he finds out.’
‘And when’ll that be?’ asked Macy.
Nina shrugged. ‘Hell if I know.’ The driver was unhappy at having been left out of the loop, but didn’t push the issue further, returning his attention to following the Mercedes.
A rustle of paper from the rear seats prompted her to turn. Banna was reading what she could tell even upside down was Greek. ‘Is that the text from the fish?’
‘Yes,’ he replied. ‘I am translating it into English for you. It will be finished soon.’
‘Thank you,’ she said, slightly surprised.
‘You saved the tomb — and my life. It is the least I could do. And now we are working together, you need as much information as possible.’
‘When did you do all that?’ Macy asked.
‘I came to the government office very early this morning to start work. Actually, it was still night,’ he admitted to Nina. ‘You said I should take time after what happened yesterday, but…’
‘That’s okay,’ Nina told him. ‘I totally understand.’
‘Yeah,’ said Macy with a small laugh. ‘A workaholic archaeologist — that sounds familiar!’
The convoy continued through the city. They soon entered one of its main arteries, heading southwards through the urban sprawl before finally reaching the long highway that would take them to Cairo. Once clear of the Alexandrian traffic, they picked up speed. Settlements and irrigated farmland rolled by, the desert encroaching more with each passing mile.
‘Well then?’ said Macy after a while, nudging Nina.
‘Well what?’ she replied.
‘You and Eddie. Come on, spill! You were about to start a big argument yesterday, and it obviously didn’t stop there. So what’s going on? Are you both okay?’
‘Oh, we’re super fine,’ Nina snapped sarcastically, before softening at her friend’s wounded look. She glanced at Banna and Habib to make sure they weren’t eavesdropping before lowering her voice. ‘We just had a… difference of opinion.’
‘About what?’
‘You know, you ask a lot of questions, Macy.’
The younger woman grinned. ‘Hey, you were the one who told me to sit up front with the teachers instead of having fun at the back with the jocks.’
‘Huh, I must be getting old if I’ve managed to become someone’s mentor… No, we’re both okay. We had a fight; wasn’t the first, won’t be the last. At least, I hope it won’t. Not because I enjoy fighting with Eddie, I mean, but because of what I told you about in Los Angeles.’
‘Your… illness?’
‘Yeah. I want to find out more about the Andreas relic, but that means spending a few days working on it here in Egypt. Eddie wasn’t happy about that.’
‘Yeah, I guessed. But I can kind of see why,’ Macy added. ‘If you don’t know how long you’ve got, then the way he sees it, it’s like work’s taking away some of the time you’ve got left together. I’d be pissed too.’
‘Straight to the point, as always. Have you been taking subtlety lessons from him?’
Another grin. ‘No, I’ve always been like this. Drove my parents crazy! But I always felt, why waste time dancing around what you want to say — or what you need to say? Hashtag YOLO, you know?’
‘I’ll… take your word for that,’ said Nina, feeling even older as she realised she had no idea what Macy meant. ‘But, yeah, my deciding to stay in Egypt definitely wasn’t what he wanted.’ She leaned back, running through the argument in her mind. ‘Did I do the right thing?’
‘You’re asking me for relationship advice?’ Macy sounded as if she couldn’t decide whether to be honoured or shocked.
‘Who else am I going to ask: those two?’ She looked around again to make sure the men behind her were still not listening…
Some wary part of her brain issued a warning: a silver SUV trailing their rear escort had also been there the last time she looked back. She decided to dismiss it. They were on the main highway between Egypt’s two largest cities, and another car might travel with them for a long time.
‘Okay, since you asked, I’ll tell you everything you’re doing wrong with your life.’ Macy gave her a devilish little smile, making Nina wonder what she had let herself in for, but she was only joking. ‘No, I wouldn’t do that. Not here, anyway. Maybe in a bar, after a couple of Fuzzy Navels!’ She giggled. ‘But I know what you’re like, Nina. Remember when we were at Abydos, trying to work out how to find the Pyramid of Osiris? You told me archaeology wasn’t just a job to you — it was something you had to do, like a calling. And that hasn’t changed, even after what’s happened to you.’
Nina remembered the day. ‘I suppose not,’ she said. ‘It’s part of me.’
‘Yeah, but so’s Eddie,’ Macy went on pointedly. ‘And you’re a part of him too — a big part. That’s why he was so upset about you wanting to go off and do your thing. He loves you, and he doesn’t want to be without you, not even for a couple of days.’
‘You’re right,’ Nina admitted after a moment. ‘I wasn’t thinking about it from his point of view. I… I just wanted to use the time I’ve got left to make one last big discovery, you know? Is that being selfish?’
‘I think that’s something you’ve got to decide for yourself. And then tell Eddie, when you see him again.’
Nina nodded. ‘Yeah, you’re right again.’
Pleased with herself, Macy settled back into her seat. ‘So, where’s he gone?’
‘Italy.’
‘What?’ she yelped. ‘You mean he’s not even in the country any more?’
‘Nope. He left hours ago.’
‘So he was mad at you for wanting to go off and do your own thing, and then he goes off and does his own thing?’
‘That’s about the size of it,’ Nina told her, though with an amusement that would not have been there earlier. ‘I tried to change his mind again before he went, but… well, he tried to change my mind, and you can guess how well that turned out.’ She felt a flash of regret for being angry enough not even to say goodbye, never mind give him any expressions of love, and resolved to remedy that the next time they spoke.
‘I can’t believe he did that! Man!’ Macy threw up her hands. ‘And after I just totally defended him as well. Why’s he gone to Italy?’
‘Like I said, he’s following a lead. There’s a guy there who might know something about the people who attacked us, so he’s going to—’