The museum closed, and the sun faded. As darkness fell over the city and streetlights flickered to life, the crowds did thin, with most pedestrians disappearing into cars or walking back across the river to their hotels and condominiums. An hour after dark, almost nobody surrounded the museum, save a few hippies sitting next to the river, talking in indistinct murmurs and smoking weed. Wolfgang wondered if it was legal here or if you could even grow weed in the desert.
He stood and stretched, walking casually down the sidewalk. He’d maintained sharp surveillance of his position all afternoon and was confident nobody had given him a second glance. But after dark, with fewer pedestrians around, it would be a lot harder to go unnoticed. Pollins had better hurry.
“Charlie Lead, sitrep all stations,” Edric said.
“Charlie One, on-site,” Megan said. “No sign of target.”
“Charlie Two, on-site,” Kevin said. “All clear.”
Wolfgang rubbed his hands together, a shiver running down his spine as wind whipped off the surface of the Nile and tore through his thin shirt.
“Charlie Three, on-site,” he said. “No sign of target.”
“Copy that,” Edric said. “We’re deploying the drone now.”
Wolfgang impulsively glanced skyward, but he knew he’d never see Lyle’s toy. The drone would hover hundreds of feet up, high enough that its whirring blades would go unheard by people on the ground, and dark enough that it could never be seen. Its giant eye of a camera would stare down, providing crystal-clear imagery of the museum and those around it. For two hours, anyway. Then the battery would need to be changed. He assumed Lyle had a spare.
“Stop picking your nose, Charlie Three,” Lyle said.
Wolfgang grinned and casually flashed the peace sign at the sky. He returned to the bench and waited another forty-five minutes. The museum grew darker and more still, with lights fading from its windows as the staff departed one at a time. Wolfgang checked his watch, but it read 12:42 p.m. It was still set on Saint Louis time, and he had no idea how many hours ahead Cairo was. He cursed himself again for his lack of preparation and swore it wouldn’t happen again. He’d been distracted leading into this operation. The team deserved better.
“All channels, I have a possible contact,” Kevin said suddenly. “Exiting the north side of the building and moving toward Charlie One.”
Wolfgang stiffened and looked instinctively toward the north-facing side of the museum, where Kevin covered the back entrance. The employee entrance, probably.
I should have taken that side.
Moments ticked by in slow motion.
“Charlie Lead, I have a probable target,” Megan said. “White female, about five foot six, exiting via the side entrance. I can’t see her face. Charlie Eye, do you have a visual?”
There was a pause, and Wolfgang imagined he could hear the soft whirring of the drone high above, though it was probably just the wind.
“Copy that, Charlie One,” Lyle said. “I have a visual, but not a face. Target is moving northbound on the east side of the museum.”
“Close in and identify, Charlie One,” Edric said. “Do not break cover.”
Wolfgang tapped his foot on the ground, suppressing an overwhelming urge to stand and walk toward the museum. If that was Pollins, they’d need to move quickly. The thief could be anywhere, waiting in the shadows, ready to lunge out and kidnap her. Maybe he was in a car, planning to rush out and throw her in the trunk before she could resist. At five feet tall and under a hundred pounds, she’d fit just fine. Pollins would never have a chance.
“Target is turning toward me . . . hold one . . .” Megan said.
Wolfgang licked his lips. The dry desert wind, dampened by the Nile or not, was sucking the moisture from his skin.
“Target confirmed!” Megan hissed. “It’s Pollins.”
Wolfgang stood and began walking toward the east side of the museum even before Edric spoke.
“Close on the target, Charlie One,” Edric said, “but remain in the shadows. Charlie Three, move in to assist. Charlie Two, return to the 4Runner and stand by.”
“Come again, Charlie Lead?” Kevin said, an obvious challenge in his tone.
“You heard me, Charlie Two. Recover the vehicle and stand by.”
Wolfgang could feel the tension on the line, but he understood Edric’s rationale. Kevin was a capable operator, but he possessed the stealth ability of a charging rhinoceros. Better for Kevin to get the 4Runner.
“Copy that, Charlie Lead,” Kevin said.
Wolfgang quickened his step, then took out his phone. It was lit up with a map of his current location, with blips on the screen where both he and Megan stood. A moment later, a new blip lit up the screen, moving slowly northward, then turning east at a much faster pace than he or Megan. That would be the drone.
“I have eyes on the target,” Lyle said. “She’s moving deeper into downtown.”
Wolfgang quickened his stride. He caught sight of Megan moving through the shadows on his right, and then he saw Pollins about fifty yards ahead, stooped over and hugging herself. He guessed she must be cold and wondered why she hadn’t brought a jacket to work. If this woman knew everything about Egypt, she should have expected the chilly winds. The temperature had to be below sixty now and still dropping.
“I see her,” Wolfgang whispered.
“Fan to your left, Charlie Three,” Megan said. “And don’t crowd her.”
Wolfgang moved to the north about twenty yards, keeping Pollins in sight as the blocks passed beneath his shoes. Half an hour dragged by, and they were still walking, now moving east of downtown and into a tightly congested neighborhood. Buildings were crammed together with no rhyme or reason to their geometry, with streets switch-backing and twisting around like the strands of a web woven by a drunk spider. These streets were narrower, too, providing Wolfgang with only glimpses of Pollins as she hugged the brick walls of the looming structures and plowed ahead in a straight line, only
