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“Hogwash! Don’t defend that pompous windbag. I’m going to see that he’s brought to justice for this.”
“Calm down, Raven. We don’t know all of the facts. Let’s uncover the rest so I can make a thoroughly informed identification.”
They brushed away more of the shavings.
The search was over. She could translate the name of the temple. It was all so thrilling and wonderful. So why wasn’t her heart lifting with joy?
Because this means you won’t have an excuse to spend time with Raven.
She stroked her hand across the surface of the stone, pushing deeper, and then... the stone ended. Far too abruptly.
“It’s not big enough,” she blurted.
“What do you mean?”
“It can’t be the stone. It’s not long enough.”
His hands scrabbled faster, clearing away the shaving.
The stone ended abruptly in a jagged, blunt edge. “You’re right,” he said, his face falling.
“It’s only a fragment of a tablet.” She sat down with a thud on the wooden lid of the crate. “It’s not the Rosetta Stone.”
Raven placed a hand on her shoulder. “I’m sorry. I know you need the stone for your research.” He turned back to the crate. “Could it be one of the missing piece from the stone?”
She perked her head up. “It could be, at that.” She examined the tablet, tracing the blunt edge. “It might be the right shape. If it’s a missing piece, then Beauchamp has even more of a motive for stealing the rest of the stone. And it would explain why a replica was placed in the museum. He could have been arrogant enough to think that no one would discover the deception.”
Raven’s gaze searched the room. “But there’s no other crate big enough to house the stone.”
“Back to the hunt,” said Indy. “We can—”
A loud bell alarm sounded. Indy jumped. “They know we’re here. They’ve raised the alarm.”
“Don’t panic.” Raven helped her replace the shavings and the lid. She took his hand and they raced for the door.
“There’s no one here,” she said, scanning the corridor.
She heard the sound of footsteps but they were running away from them, not toward them.
No one tried to stop them or arrest them for trespassing.
A guard raced by but he paid them no attention. The clanking of the alarm sounded again.
“What’s happening, do you think?” asked Indy.
“I’ve no idea but they’re not after us.”
“Thank heavens.”
They returned to the Egyptian gallery not a moment too soon. Seconds later, Beauchamp walked through a door with a stricken expression.
“Victor, what’s wrong?” asked Indy.
“You’ll have to leave now, Lady India. Your Grace. The entire museum is being shut down. The police are on their way.”
“Why, what’s happened?” she asked.
“I’m not sure I can tell you until the authorities have completed their search.” There was a coldness about his demeanor now, a reserve that hadn’t been there earlier.
