“I do? Well, here’s a few that roll right off the tip of my tongue—”
“Before we get to that,” Drake hastily interrupted. “Shall we start packing? We should put a fair distance between us and Transylvania over the next few days.”
Smyth looked unhappy. Hayden reminded him that Lauren was going to volunteer all the information. Hopefully Crowe would get involved.
Hopefully, they could trust Crowe.
Either way, they were in Lauren Fox’s hands for a while now.
Drake walked over and took his first proper look out of the window that morning. The night mist had cleared away to reveal a rolling valley, dotted by trees and small houses, bright colors against the green and brown of nature. The skies were covered with gray clouds and a light drizzle greeted the rising dawn. People were moving out there, going about their business. Since they had chosen a guesthouse right on the edge of town they could see for miles — at least in two directions. The shambling old place also had the advantage of several egress and exit points.
“Meet at the cars in an hour?” he suggested.
A muted chorus of agreement met his ears. The team were rising when there came one more loud knock at the door.
Drake couldn’t help but glance at Smyth.
“Don’t look at me,” the angry soldier snapped.
Hayden sprang to the side of the door; Mai sidling to the other side. Kinimaka took cover behind the sofa and then started to shout: “Who is it?” his head visible just above the cushions.
Hayden waved him down. They shouldn’t reveal themselves yet.
Drake and the others edged to the sides of the room. No sound was heard inside or outside, and of course, there was a rear exit. Yorgi was already there, inching the door open a crack and Kenzie was right at his side.
The Israeli signaled that they keep quiet. Most of them rolled eyes back at her. Dahl was at her shoulder and then the three of them were gone.
Drake waited, imagining them creeping around the side of the house, vigilant in every direction. It shouldn’t take long…
Another knock. Of course, anyone seeking to do them harm wouldn’t be knocking, but it could be some kind of diversion. They could take nothing for granted.
“Hold it!” Kenzie’s voice, commanding and harsh.
“Not a problem. Just don’t shoot.”
Drake frowned. That voice sounded familiar.
Alicia narrowed her eyes, staring at the front door. “I’m sure—”
“What do you want?” Kenzie asked. “Best be quick, old man. I haven’t killed anyone for a week.”
“I want you to take it easy,” the familiar voice said. “And I want Drake and Alicia to get their arses out here.”
“Bloody hell,” Drake said. “I’d know that voice anywhere. Eventually.”
Alicia used the comms system to stand Kenzie down in her unique manner. “Put it away, bitch.”
Drake walked straight to the door and pulled it open. “Michael Crouch,” he said. “Been a while, mate. How did you manage to find us?”
His old boss grinned. “You know me. Contacts everywhere. I don’t like to reveal my secrets.”
They dragged him inside, confronted him gravely. “This time,” Dahl said, “you do.”
“Alicia here—” the Englishman shrugged “—I have her personal number of course, for getting in touch when we need her help. I simply tracked it.”
To a person, the entire team turned to stare at the blond woman.
“Are you kidding?” Drake said.
“What?” Alicia protested. “Only the chosen few have access to my personal number. Do you have it, Smyth? Kenzie? Mai? No, I rest my case.”
“And what if they’d kidnapped this Crouch person?” Kenzie asked, staring at Alicia.
Drake managed to stifle a laugh. Alicia did no such thing. “Don’t be a fool.”
Crouch maneuvered his way to the center of the room. Though absent from their small circle for some time, Crouch had previously worked alongside them and separately with Alicia. His loyalty was absolute and unquestioned and it was a testament to the allegiance and trust he inspired that everyone in the room simply stood and listened to what he had to say.
“I need your help.”
“That’s easier said than done…” Hayden spoke fast and then deliberately let the sentence hang.
“I know your situation. I know what happened. Well… I’ve chosen to believe a certain one of the conflicting reports — let’s put it that way. Someone across the pond is seriously pissed at you, my friends, and that needs taking care of.”
“Is that why you’re here?” Kinimaka asked.
“No. My mission is much more important.”
Drake blinked. “What could be more important than unravelling a conspiracy that may stretch all the way to the President?” he asked.
“Egypt,” Crouch said.
“Egypt?”
“Yeah, sandy place with a big river running through it. Turn left at the top of Saudi.”
“All right, I know where Egypt is,” Drake said. “What’s the problem?”
Crouch reached for a glass of water, settling himself on one of the room’s long, sagging sofas. “I wouldn’t bother you if it weren’t vital. And I do believe you’ll hate what I have to say.” He took a breath and another gulp of water.
“An ancient Egyptian tomb is about to be unsealed and unveiled to the public. Barely disturbed by the authorities except to make it safe, it will be unveiled with everything in-situ. The Egyptians are billing the event as top-level, all sorts of socialites, celebrities and well-known figures are attending. They’re going to feed it across the Internet for maximum exposure.”
Drake sighed. “And that’s a problem why?”
Alicia smirked. “You weren’t invited?”
Even Crouch cracked a smile. “Well, no. But that’s not the worst of it. They will unveil that tomb and then they will go inside. They’re planning to unseal an inner chamber on the night itself to ramp up the drama of it all.”
Hayden shifted on her feet. “I still don’t see where we come in.”
“It’s the first seal,” Crouch said with some fear in his voice. “And when the first seal is broken the curse is unleashed.”
“What curse?” Alicia looked around. “Is this something to do with a bloody mummy?”
“What are you looking for, Michael?” Mai wondered.
Alicia spoke first: “You know, the usual. Scarabs. Dead things wrapped in bandages. I don’t like the sound of where this is going.”
Dahl leaned over to whisper. “But can it be worse than sleeping just a few miles from Dracula’s castle?”
“Shut the hell up.”
“Listen.” Crouch sounded genuinely shaken, which surprised Drake. He’d rarely seen his old boss so anxious.
“The curse simply points us toward the final seal, of which there are seven. All the seals need to be broken, but the seventh is literally — Armageddon. The problem is—” he gulped more water “—as explained, when they break the first seal the whole thing is going to play out, right down to the wire, right down to the seventh seal.”
“You’re talking an ancient Egyptian curse?” Hayden said doubtfully. “Kinda like Tutankhamen? They say his tomb was cursed.”
“No,” Crouch said. “Nothing like that. I’m not talking about a curse as described by Hollywood or sensationalist press. This curse is very, very real, and very, very deadly. Believe me when I say I need you on this. I need the best. Anything less…” he sighed and looked out the window.
“And we’re doomed.”
CHAPTER THREE
“Hold on, hold on,” Dahl said. “I think this needs a little more explaining before we start purchasing plane tickets, don’t you?”