CHAPTER EIGHTEEN

As Elena stepped from the car, her phone began to ring. At first, she just ignored the call, tucking the phone back in her pocket, but when it continued, she excused herself.

"Hello. Yes, sir, this is Elena."

"Elena, Dr. McPhersen said you took leave. This is Director Mohamed, by the way. You took leave but should have called me right away. Why?"

"Why? It's personal, sir. I've been relegated to the museum for the next few years anyway, so it seemed a good time to get out and do some things I've been wanting to do."

"A special guest has been asking for access to the mummy of Queen Sitre." Elena looked at the others, biting her lip.

"I'm not sure how that concerns me, sir. I don't oversee that exhibit, but I do know that the mummy is in unstable condition, and no one should touch her but the restorers."

"No, but you know more about Queen Sitre than anyone. She's requesting you personally, and I'd consider it a favor if you came in. Now." Major shook his head.

"I'm sorry, sir. I'm not available. I'm traveling with friends, and we've got a full plate of things we're doing."

"I'm asking this as a personal favor, Elena."

"I understand, Director, but I can't do it. Not right now." She could hear the anger and disappointment in his voice.

"We'll discuss this on your return, Elena. It will be reflected in your review."

"I'm sorry to hear that," she whispered. She hung up, silencing her phone, and then looked at the others with tears in her eyes. "It's alright. It might be time for a change."

"Elena, we can take you back and see what this woman wants," said Ellie. "We'd all be there with you. Nothing would happen."

"We know what she wants. She wants access to that mummy and to any DNA, which will be nearly impossible to get without destroying the mummy itself." She looked at the opening of the tomb, then back at her new friends. "No. This is where I need to be. Come on. Let's do this before any tourists arrive."

Once again, she led them down the long tunnel, explaining the tomb as she went.

"The queen's tomb was probably commissioned for her by her son, Pharaoh Seti I. It actually looks very similar in design to her husband's tomb, which is in the Valley of the Kings. From what we can tell, her death was unexpected. The tomb wasn't finished when she died and had to be placed in here.

"She has two rooms. One is the burial chamber, the other stores the items that she hoped to have in her afterlife. The four niches would have held artifacts for her as well. You can see the numbers playing into her tomb."

"What are these?" asked Alistair, stopping near an opening in the wall. Elena stared at the wall, walking back toward him.

"I don't know. They shouldn't be here. They weren't here just a few days ago." She rubbed her hand against the stone, the cutouts disturbing because they were so precise. "The guards should have seen this on the cameras."

"If the cameras were working properly," said Leif, staring at the others. He turned to Elena. "If this tomb was destroyed, what other tombs would be damaged?"

"On this side of the valley, it would be hers and several princes."

"Princes. Which ones?" asked Brix.

"Princes Seth'herkhopshef, Pra‘herunamef, Kha‘emweset. They are the Rammeside Princes."

"What does that mean?" asked Garr.

"They were the sons and grandsons of one of our greatest pharaohs, Ramesses."

"So, if this tomb was destroyed, those would be destroyed as well. Sending a message that the greatest rulers in Egypt's history no longer matter," said Leif. "Maybe this isn't all about the queen. Maybe this is about the princess."

"But what are those markings?" asked Elena.

"We think they may have been preparing the walls for explosives," said Ellie. "If they did it like this, little by little, then no one would be wiser, thinking that the pieces of crumbling rock are normal."

"I'm so confused," said Elena. "Why would she do this? If she believes she's a direct descendant, she would need proof."

"Or if she's not, she would want to destroy the proof," said Leif.

"Oh, no. The mummy. The mummy at the museum is the real one. I need to warn my director."

Elena took off running back toward the entrance of the tomb, the others following. As the light became brighter and brighter, Major reached for her arm, pulling her backward. A shadow was at the door.

"You know too much," smiled the woman.

"Please don't do this," said Elena. She looked over her shoulder, seeing Ellie, and tilted her head.

"You're the same, but not." Leif pulled her behind him. "Very gallant. Very handsome."

"They'll find you. Eventually." The door slammed, and they heard the lock engage on the outside. The sounds of tires against gravel echoed, and then Elena turned to them all.

"That's the only door. It's the only way out," she whispered. "I'm sorry. I'm so sorry. I led you all right into this."

"It's not your fault. She's a madwoman," said Ellie. "Egypt is in turmoil right now, and she's going to play that in her favor."

"Brix? You, Alistair, and Garr follow the tunnels and be sure that no explosives were left today. They could be hoping that no one will find us because it's a weekend."

"It's a holiday weekend," said Elena. "A banking holiday. This will be closed for three days. We'll die from the heat."

"No, we won't," said Major. "You three go check for the explosives. I'll see if we can find something to break down the door."

"It's steel, and the lock is solid," said the woman.

"I know, honey," said Major, pulling her in for a hug. "Let us figure this out."

"Pigsty? Hiro? Please tell me comms are working," said Leif.

"Working. Why are you in a tunnel?" asked Hiro.

"Brother, I need a lock broken off a metal door of this tomb. On the outside. What do you have?"

"Not asking for much are you?"

"Hiro."

"Right. I've got a defense drone in the area. Just in case. Give me twenty minutes."

"A defense drone? What does that mean?" asked Elena.

"It means that the drone will have firing capabilities. Our team is good enough that they'll be able to line up to the lock and, hopefully, shoot it off. Then we should be able to open the door."

"If it misfires, this whole tunnel could come down on us. Have you thought of that option?" said Elena.

"It's that or die from the heat," said Leif. She nodded.

"We're sorry we got you into this, Elena. I'm so sorry," said Ellie. She looked at the woman and then at Major.

"I'm not sorry. I'm not sorry at all."