He cut her off. “I’m afraid that’s not possible.”
Dallas blinked. What? “If I give you his number will you call him?”
“You could give us any phone number, anyone who is trained to say what you want them to say.”
Boy, these guys were like the freaking KGB. Was she dreaming? Maybe she never really woke up? Was she suddenly thrust into a James Bond movie or something?
Trying to infuse her voice with as much patience as she could muster, Dallas said, “Okay. How’s this? Call the main number and ask to be transferred to Colton McCloud in the archeology department. Is that good enough for you?”
The man’s chin jutted down. “Yes. I will be back when we reach him.”
He left and Dallas put her head down on the desk. Please, please, please be in the office today, Colton.
Four hours later, beefy guy came back in. At this point, Dallas had dozed off. She jumped up, startled.
“You can go now.”
He didn’t need to tell her twice. She practically raced out of the room and to the front door. As she swept through the lobby, she dimly noted that the Good Samaritan Intern was nowhere to be found. Whatev.
As soon as she got back to her room she plugged her cell phone into the charger on her nightstand and dialed Colton.
“Oh my God, Colton. Did you get a call? I mean, holy hell, this is so not cool. Thank you for getting the approval for me to be here.”
Colton didn’t answer.
“Colton? You there.”
“Oh, yeah,” he sounded distracted. “Sorry it took so long.”
“I’m just happy to be out of there. Hey, how did you get the school to approve my sabbatical, anyway?”
“Hey, listen, Dallas. I’m flying over to supervise your work. I’m looking at flights right now. Unfortunately, I won’t be able to be there until Saturday.
“What?” Dallas practically screamed the word. “You’re coming! Oh my god! This is the best news ever.” Cool it, Dallas. “I mean I really could use the help.”
“Will you still be in town? Your message said you were leaving for Alexandria.”
“I was. But this—this—changes everything. Do you want me to wait for you and we can go to Alexandria together?”
She would wait. Even if it meant changing her train ticket, her hotel room, and extending the time she’d hired the translator. Colton. Was. Coming.
“I don’t think you need to wait, might as well get started since I have limited time. I have to get back in time for classes, but thanks,” Colton said. “I’m looking at landing and immediately catching the train so I’d be in Alexandria by Saturday night.”
She laughed with delight.
“What?” His voice sounded playful.
“Just that it will be great to see you.”
It was quiet on his end for a second and then he said, “Same.”
“It’s great here,” Dallas said. “But can you believe I’m in Cairo and within a stone’s throw of the pyramids and yet have not seen them other than from twenty thousand feet up.”
“What? You haven’t seen them? You’re not going to see them?” Colton sounded astonished.
“Yeah. Well, at least not right away. I’m anxious to get to Alexandria. What about you? Do you want to delay meeting me for a day so you can see them?” She held her breath hoping he would say no. She wanted to see him asap.
“I’ll catch them on the way back. Before I fly back.”
“That’s what I was thinking,” Dallas said.
“Hey!” Colton said, “If it all works out, we can visit them together and coordinate our flights back home.”
Dallas closed her eyes for a second. A mixture of conflicting feelings soared through her. She couldn’t help but feel a small thrill that Colton was so excited to see the pyramids with her, but also a large heap of guilt. Because going back wasn’t part of her plan. Not if she could help it.
She didn’t want to take the wind out of his sails so she tried to muster enthusiasm in her voice when she said, “That would be awesome.”
She wasn’t lying. Not really. Seeing the pyramids with Colton would be awesome. But she planned to stay in Egypt. After all, she had an earth-shattering discovery to make—finding Cleopatra’s tomb.
“Can’t wait to see you, Dallas,” he said.
Dallas tried to hide her smile even though Colton couldn’t see it over the phone line. But she knew her excitement was in her voice. Colton was coming to Egypt to help!
“I better go and get ready to visit the minister. I’ll call you as soon as I’m done,” Dallas said. “Oh by the way, you should pack some of that sugar crap you like to eat because you aren’t going to find any donuts here.”
He laughed. Dallas hung up and went to grab her bag, only to remember it had been stolen the night before. She’d forgotten to tell Colton about that in all the excitement.
She rushed out. She had to meet with the interpreter she’d hired. She was nearly late after being detained for hours.
Seven
Abet was small and wiry and had a huge grin. He had a full head of gray streaked hair and weathered face. He looked like somebody’s kind grandfather who had worked on a farm most of his life. He stood from the café table where he was seated and thrust out his hand. “Dallas Jones?”
“Abet Mahmoud?”
They laughed and shook hands.
“Coffee?”
“Oh god, yes,” Dallas said and slunk into the chair opposite his. She’d hired him online through a company recommended by an archeological organization.
After a few minutes of sipping coffee and Dallas explaining why she was in Egypt, she glanced at her phone.
“First stop I need your help with is the minister of antiquities office. I’m trying to get a permit to visit the temples.”
The interpreter raised his eyebrow.
“You’re meeting with Zawa Harif?”
“Yep,” Dallas said, standing. “Shall we? I know his office closes soon.”
They headed to the elaborate building that housed the antiquities office and several other government bodies. The building had
