The Pharaoh's Secret (NUMA Files 13)

They followed this command as well.

With his gun trained on them, he edged over to the captain of the dive boat and used his knife to cut him free and remove the gag from his mouth.

“They have my men down below,” the dive master said in broken English.

“Don’t worry,” Kurt said. “Your men are okay.”

The dive master shook his head. “Those men have been down there since first light and our decompression tank was on the barge.”

“We have one on our boat,” Kurt said. “We’ll bring it over.” He called the Sea Dragon on the marine radio.

“What about the D’Campions?” the dive master asked. “They run the conservancy.”

“What about them?”

“These people have them.”

“Should have guessed,” Kurt said. He pointed a gun at one of the thugs. “Radio or phone?”

“Phone,” the man replied. “In the backpack.”

Kurt pulled a satellite phone out of a green backpack and forced his prisoner to punch in the number.

“Go ahead,” a gruff voice said. “What progress are you making?”

Kurt took it from there. “Are you the man holding the D’Campions hostage?”

“Who is this?”

“My name is Austin,” Kurt said. “And who do I have the displeasure of speaking with?”

“If you don’t know my name, it seems prudent that I keep it that way,” the man said.

“I’ll find out soon enough,” Kurt said. “Once we’ve interrogated your men, we’ll know all about you and what you’re after.”

Laughter was the first response. “Those men know nothing of consequence. Go ahead and torture them. Do your worst. You’ll learn nothing you don’t already know.”

Kurt was at a disadvantage, one he had to reverse quickly. “Maybe,” he said. “But we’ll definitely learn something from the artifacts they recovered. Egyptian relics must be a thrilling hobby. I’m curious what this big green guy is all about. Seems to have magical powers to raise people up.”

It was a gamble, but it seemed to have worked. This time, instead of laughter, there was silence. A far better response, Kurt thought. He knew he’d struck a nerve.

“You have the tablet?”

“Actually, I have three,” Kurt lied.

“I’ll make you a trade,” the man on the other end of the phone said.

“I’m listening.”

“You bring the tablets and I will give you the D’Campions alive.”

“Deal,” Kurt said. “Just tell me where.”

34

“Are you sure it was wise to bring these guys?” Renata asked, pointing to the men now tied up on the foredeck. They were traveling toward the rendezvous at high speed.

“We promised them a trade,” Kurt said. “We’d better at least show them the goods.”