The bullet serves its purpose: the man in black drops to the ground before he can even get a shot off.
Though the woman lowers her weapon, she cocks it again and doesn’t release her finger from the trigger. Dropping my suitcase to the floor with a thud, I lunge for the dead man’s gun with trembling hands. Though I’ve just seen someone shot—again—and can barely stomach the thought of having to shoot another person today, I won’t be next.
“Miss Hawkins, wait,” a familiar voice commands from behind me before I can take aim.
Bes.
Damn. They found me.
Though I stop moving, I keep my hand steady, tightening my grip on the Luger’s handle. “And why would I do that? This woman just shot someone.”
“I jus’ saved yer life,” the woman explains. “‘Specially considering ‘e wanted youan’the Amulet of Amun.”
My brow furrows.She knows about the amulet too?Honestly, at this point, who doesn’t?
“Of course, he did.” Bes comes to stand beside me, Cec at his other side. “Det är som mörkast innan gryningen.”
She bows her head. “Det är som mörkast innan gryningen.”
I take a beat before asking, “Was that… what was that?”
“Swedish,” Bes says.
I huff, keeping one eye on the woman. I haven’t studied much Swedish, but I know enough to recognize it when it’s spoken.
“I know that. What does it mean?”
Cec answers. “It is darkest before dawn.”
They must know each other, then; perhaps another acquaintance of Uncle Arturo. Still, I refuse to drop the gun. If they know each other, then they wouldn’t need a passcode.
This is getting strange, I think, then realize it’s been strange all along. We went right past strange when Claude turned out to be one of the God Men. And now, I’m dealing with Scottish saviors and Swedish passwords and all this other spy shit that I didnotsign up for. It’s not as if I’ve been given much choice in the matter, but it’d be nice to get some sort of explanation.
“So, you three are acquainted,” I surmise.
“You could say that,” Cec says. “This is one of Arturo’s friends.”
I glare at him, wishing he could appreciate it.
“Good ta see ya Bes, Cecilio,” the woman interjects before I can ask him to elaborate.
At the sound of their names on her lips, solidifying their connection, I come to the realization that Bes and Cec and their damned uncle truly are my only option of escaping Egypt. If this “friend” already brought a seaward vessel to take us away from this place, then I’m going to be on it.
Besides, the womandidsave my life.
I slowly straighten and tuck the gun into the back of my waistband. Taking a step back, I keep my attention trained on the woman.
She draws out her silence, the mask over her face unnerving.
“And thus mus’ be the famous Amelia Hawkins.”
I close my eyes for a moment and consider drawing the gun again.Fantastic, another person who already knows too much about me.
Working to conceal my anger, I speak to Bes out of the side of my mouth. “Did you and Cec telleveryonein Egypt that I was here?”
“Just the ones who can smuggle us out of the country,” he replies, matching my tone.
“I’m Ailsa,” the woman says, finally removing her mask.
