The old man was also healing well, occupying a bed in the same corridor as Nina. There was no sleeping on bloody sheets and tarps for him in this hospital, for which he was infinitely grateful.
“Looking good there, Peter,” Purdue smiled as he looked in on Marduk’s progress. “You’ll be able to go home soon.”
“With my mask,” Marduk reminded him.
Purdue chuckled, “Of course. With your mask.”
Sam came in to say hello. “I was just with Nina. She is still under the weather, but very glad to be herself again. Makes you wonder, doesn’t it? Sometimes, to achieve the best the best face to wear is your own.”
“Very philosophical,” Marduk teased. “But I am arrogant now that I can smile and taunt with a full range of motion.”
Their laughter filled the small section of the exclusive medical practice.
“So, all this time you have been the actual collector that the Babylonian Mask was stolen from?” Sam inquired, fascinated by the realization that Peter Marduk was the millionaire relic collector Neumand had stolen the Babylonian Mask from.
“Is that so strange?” he asked Sam.
“A bit. Usually wealthy collectors send private investigators and teams of recovery specialists out to get their stuff back.”
“But then more people would know what this damned artifact really does. I cannot risk that. You saw what happened when just two men knew about its abilities. Imagine what would happen if the world knew the truth of these ancient items. Some things are better kept secret…masked, if you will.”
“Couldn’t agree more,” Purdue admitted. It pertained to his furtive feelings toward Nina’s alienation, but he decided to bury that away from the outside world.
“I am happy to hear that dear Margaret has survived her gunshot injuries,” Marduk said.
Sam looked very proud at the mention of her. “Would you believe that she is up for a Pulitzer for Investigative Reporting?”
“You should be getting that one again, my lad,” Purdue remarked, quite sincerely.
“No, not this time. She recorded the entire thing on Werner’s confiscated cell phone! From the part where Schmidt explained the orders to his men to where he admits that he planned the hit on Sloane, even though he was at that point not sure if she ever really died. Now Margaret is renowned for the risks she took to uncover the conspiracy and the murder of Meier, et cetera. Of course, she spun it carefully so that no mention of a nefarious relic or pilots-turned-suicidal-madmen would disturb the waters, you know?”
“I’m grateful she decided to keep it secret after I abandoned her there. My God, what was I thinking?” Marduk moaned.
“I’m sure being a big shot reporter will make up for it, Peter,” Sam comforted him. “After all, if you had not left her there, she would never have obtained all that footage that’s now made her famous.”
“Still, I owe her and the lieutenant some restitution,” Marduk replied. “Next All Hallows Eve, to commemorate our adventure, I shall host a grand affair and they will be guests of honor. But it would have to be far away from my collection…just in case.”
“Great!” Purdue exclaimed. “We can have it at my manor. What will the theme be?”
Marduk gave it some thought and then smiled with his new mouth.
“Why, a masked ball, of course.”