‘Yeah, I got that impression,’ said Nina, taking a closer look at one of the display cases. It contained an ancient papyrus scroll, carefully preserved between two sheets of glass.
Osir saw her interest. ‘I think you know what that is.’
‘The fourth page of the scrolls that led to the discovery of the Hall of Records, I’m guessing.’
‘Yes. The Osirian Temple funded an archaeological dig just beyond the Egyptian border in Gaza, which my experts - who are also my followers - thought might uncover something interesting. They were more right than I could have imagined.’
‘So you kept the final page for yourself.’
‘I had no problem with the Egyptian government taking possession of the Hall of Records. It’s a national treasure. But once I found out what was inside it,’ he gestured at the papyrus, ‘I knew it was something I had to keep for myself. Whatever the price.’ He indicated the other exhibits, which ranged from carved figurines of the ancient god to large sections of stone, seemingly cut from walls, bearing more hieroglyphs. ‘This is the greatest private collection of Osirian artefacts in the world. I’ve been collecting them for years - but I hope the collection will soon become much larger.’
‘Once you find the Pyramid of Osiris,’ said Nina.
‘Indeed. And apparently you are willing to help me do that.’
‘If she can be trusted,’ Shaban growled.
‘We’ll see. This way, Dr Wilde.’ Osir guided her towards a door. They passed a space amongst the exhibits which to Nina seemed the perfect size to accommodate the zodiac, but she had no time to remark upon it as Osir led her into the next room.
Despite the Egyptian theme to the decor, the luxurious lounge was decidedly playboyish in style, all chrome and pale wood and black leather. ‘Please, sit down,’ said Osir. Nina took a place on a plump leather couch with white sheepskin cushions and drapes. She expected Osir to sit in the chair facing her, but instead he joined her on the couch. Shaban remained standing. ‘So,’ said Osir with a smile, ‘can I get you anything?’
‘No, thank you.’
‘Then I hope you don’t mind if I have something myself.’ There was a stylish speakerphone on a glass coffee table; he pushed a button and said, ‘Fiona? My usual coffee, please.’ A glance at Shaban, who scowled and shook his head. ‘Just the one, thank you.’ He leaned back and rested an arm along the top of the couch, fingertips almost touching Nina’s shoulder. ‘Well then, Dr Wilde . . . or may I call you Nina?’
‘Sure, I guess,’ she said uncertainly.
‘Call me Khalid, if you like. Whatever makes you most comfortable.’
‘Okay . . . Khalid.’ She managed a faint smile, which Osir returned with added magnitude.
‘So, Nina. You want to offer me a deal.’ The smile was still there, but it was now businesslike. ‘I am very interested to hear it.’
‘So am I,’ Shaban said coldly.
‘Let’s put all our cards on the table,’ Nina said. ‘You’ve got the zodiac from inside the Sphinx - you know it, and I know it.’
Osir looked to Shaban. ‘We scanned her,’ Shaban told him. ‘No bugs, no wires - just a phone.’
‘I don’t want anyone knowing about this any more than you do,’ Nina told them. ‘So, the zodiac. You have it?’
‘Yes, I have it,’ said Osir.
‘Ha, you admitted it! Busted!’ She jabbed an accusing finger at him - then withdrew it, grinning at the angry Shaban. ‘Psych.’
Osir chuckled. ‘I think I am going to like you, Nina. But yes, I have the zodiac.’
‘Which you intend to use to locate the Pyramid of Osiris, right?’
‘Again, you are correct.’
‘I usually am.’
‘Except about the Garden of Eden,’ Shaban said scathingly.
Nina shot him a nasty glance. ‘No, even about that. Except that I got utterly screwed over by people who wanted to keep its existence a secret.’ She looked back at Osir. ‘Which is one of the reasons why I came to you. I can help you find the Pyramid of Osiris . . . but I want my cut.’
One eyebrow twitched quizzically. ‘I hadn’t expected the famous Nina Wilde to be quite so . . . mercenary.’
‘It’s new. I’m trying it on for size.’
‘I don’t believe her,’ said Shaban.
‘Yeah, nobody has, lately.’ Nina’s voice was cutting. ‘You know why I came to you? Because those bastards at the IHA ruined my life. They destroyed my career and took away everything that mattered to me.’
‘What about your husband?’ asked Osir.
She smiled sarcastically. ‘Eddie and I are . . . on a break. We had a fight - over this, over coming to see you. He said he wouldn’t go along with it, and I knew he wasn’t going to change his mind. He never does. So I came on my own.’
‘And what made you decide to come?’
‘Everything,’ she said, then more bitterly: ‘Everything! They made me into a joke, a goddamn joke! And I’m sick of it. The IHA can go fuck themselves!’ Osir, and even Shaban, seemed surprised by the vehemence of her outburst. ‘You want to know the truth? I enjoyed making the IHA look like a bunch of incompetent assholes in front of millions of people. Screw them. I already took the Hall of Records away from them - so now I want to finish the job with the Pyramid of Osiris too. So long as I get well paid, I don’t care any more.’
‘Money will not be a problem,’ said Osir in a concerned yet soothing voice. He lightly touched her shoulder; she didn’t pull away. ‘But are you sure about leaving your husband?’ His tone suggested that he approved of the decision.
‘My husband,’ said Nina, almost growling. ‘My husband makes me so goddamn mad sometimes. He’s inflexible and sanctimonious and - and an idealist. He’s an idealist in a pragmatic world. Well, this is me being pragmatic. I’ve had enough of sitting around and hoping the world takes pity on me. If everyone else is getting ahead by playing the system, then screw it, I want my share.’ Her gaze dropped to her hands, her voice lowering. ‘If Eddie doesn’t like it, then to hell with him.’ She was breathing heavily and her cheeks were flushed, realising she was genuinely angry as pent-up grievances boiled to the surface.
After a moment of silence, she looked back up at Osir to find his dark eyes regarding her intently - he was reading her, as one actor scans another. Judging her performance.
If he thought she was faking, he would turn her over to his brother—
Osir’s face broke into a broad smile. ‘I think we can make a deal, Nina. If you have something to offer me.’
‘I do,’ she said, relieved. ‘I’ve made some deductions about the pyramid’s location.’
‘How?’ demanded Shaban. ‘You never even saw the entire zodiac!’
‘I saw enough. Let me guess - you’re trying to work out how to read the zodiac as a map.’
Shaban sneered. ‘You hardly need to be Sherlock Holmes to deduce that.’
‘Maybe not - but how about if I also deduce that you’ve had no luck relating what you see on your star map to anything in the real world?’
It was clear from the tightness of Shaban’s mouth that she was right. Osir nodded. ‘But you have?’
‘Like I said, it’s one of my deductions. And I’ll give you this first one for free. Just to prove I’m serious about helping you. Everything after this’ll cost you.’
Another small smile from Osir. ‘I’m intrigued what you could have discovered without even seeing the full zodiac.’
‘Pretty simple, really.’ She explained what Eddie had shown her at the Louvre: that a map intended to be viewed on the ceiling would have to be mirrored left to right when viewed more conventionally. ‘I’m taking a guess here, but I’m fairly sure you haven’t stuck the zodiac to the ceiling.’