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Mr. Shepheard frowned and shook his head. “A horrible business, that,” he said. “But no, Mrs. Foster hasn’t returned, I’m sad to say.”
Helen nodded, swallowing. Her heart twisted for Rhys, and she considered her own siblings. Although Edmund could try her patience at times and she and her sisters didn’t always see eye to eye, she couldn’t imagine a more painful existence than to lose a loved one in such a dreadful manner and be helpless to find them again. To never know their fate. But Rhys was no longer alone in his efforts. The sooner she could appeal to Sir Rupert, the better.
CHAPTER TWENTY-ONE
The back of Rhys’s neckitched as he made his way through Cairo’s narrow streets back to Shepheard’s Hotel. His eyes swept the shadows, searching but finding nothing.
He’d made himself a visible target, hoping someone would approach him about making a trade. No one had, and he’d begun to worry Fiona’s captors had lost interest, despite Helen’s assurances. Or worse—that they’d lost Fiona. His sister could be imprudent at the best of times, and he’d no doubt she would have tried the patience of even the staunchest of villains.
His questions for the day had been equally unproductive. He’d confirmed what Masri had hinted—the Collector was indeed in Cairo—but he hadn’t gained any more insight into the man’s identity or his precise whereabouts or those of his henchmen. His jaw and fists were tight with frustration. But then, as he passed through an alley opposite the hotel’s entrance, a figure emerged from the shadows to block his path. Finally.
“Evelyn,” the man growled.
“Akeem.”
“Your tricks in Alexandria were unwelcome. I was surprised to learn you mean to keep the amulet for yourself, no matter the danger to your sister.”
“I do not,” Rhys assured him. “Alexandria was a misunderstanding, that is all.”
“The Collector was not pleased, and your ‘misunderstanding’ has complicated matters for me.”
Rhys wasn’t particularly concerned with Akeem’s matters, complicated or not, but he had to know: “How does my sister fare?”
The other man hesitated a beat before saying, “She lives still, despite your failure.”
Relief surged through Rhys. “I still have the amulet. Let’s make an exchange and have done with it,” he said as his heart pounded in rapid, anxious anticipation.
“The time for trading has passed. I will have the amulet now.” A blade flashed in Akeem’s hand and Rhys tensed.
“Wait,” he said, thinking. There was nothing to stop Akeem from trying to seize the amulet. Helen’s book may have been sufficient to hide the artifact from the guards at Cairo’s gate, but it wouldn’t withstand Akeem’s motivated search. And once he had the amulet, there was nothing left to protect Fiona, nothing left to trade. Unless…
“How pleased would the Collector be,” he said slowly, “if you were to present him with more than one piece of the Pharaoh’s Trinity?”
The knife stilled and Akeem straightened. He considered Rhys for a long measure before saying, “You know of the Trinity?”
Rhys nodded.
“And you are in possession of all three pieces?”
Rhys swallowed. He wasn’t a gambler, and certainly not with something so valuable as his sister’s life, but they’d reached an impasse. He needed something to tip the balance in his favor, and the cautious interest on Akeem’s face suggested he might have finally done just that.
“I don’t have the other pieces,” he cautioned before Akeem and his knife could begin a thorough search of his person. “But I have information on where they might be found. Surely, that will be enough to regain whatever favor you’ve lost with the Collector. He might even elevate you to a position of greater authority for bringing him such information. I will tell you what you need to know in exchange for my sister and our safe passage from Egypt.”
Akeem’s eyes narrowed. “I am not a fool. There is nothing to assure the rest of the Trinity will be where you say it is.”
“No,” Rhys agreed. “But you’ve nothing to lose and quite a bit to gain.” The noise of the traffic beyond the alley dimmed beneath the steady pounding of Rhys’s heart as he waited for the other man’s agreement.
“I will give you this chance,” Akeem finally agreed. “Meet me tonight—”
“In two hours,” Rhys countered. When it looked like Akeem might argue, he said, “I would see this matter settled.”
Akeem considered this, and Rhys waited, wondering again at his sister’s location. Surely, two hours were sufficient to retrieve her if she were in the city.
His breath resumed when Akeem finally gave a curt nod. “Two hours. I will bring your sister, and you will bring what you’ve promised. Do not be late.” He named a street in Old Cairo before leaving Rhys in the alley’s shadows.
Now, he only needed information to trade.
——
