“They drove straight through the desert?” Megan asked.
“Yep. The research team from Cairo hasn’t been seen or heard from in six days, but one of the Land Rovers used in convoy turned up in southern Egypt earlier this week, riddled with bullet holes.”
“Shit,” Kevin muttered.
“What’s the value of the scroll?” Wolfgang asked.
Edric shrugged. “The Egyptians bought it for one hundred twelve thousand Libyan dinars. About twenty-five thousand dollars, US.”
“Not a lot to kill for,” Wolfgang said.
“No, not really,” Edric said. “Except the Egyptians believe the scroll was worth more than ancient porn. Almost none of it was readable without restoration, but what snippets they gathered indicate the document to be some kind of burial record. The map to a tomb, if you will.”
Silence filled the room as the morbid quality of the words sank in.
Edric nodded slowly, then sat down at the end of the table. “At least a dozen tombs of the pharaohs have yet to be found,” he said. “When King Tut’s tomb was discovered in nineteen twenty-two, they valued the contents at tens of millions.”
Wolfgang let out a low whistle. “Plenty to kill for.”
Edric nodded. “Grave robberies have accounted for the destruction of numerous ancient artifacts and national treasures in Egypt. The Egyptian government wants to be sure that whatever tomb is documented on the scroll isn’t the next victim.”
“So, they hired us to catch a book thief?” Kevin laughed.
“You could say that,” Edric said. “Only, this book thief is well armed, probably not alone, and lost in the biggest desert on the planet.”
Wolfgang fingered the dripping condensation on the outside of the Sprite can, evaluating the story and searching for inconsistencies or missing information. Then he grinned. “Well, procurement is in our name, right? Let’s go procure a grave map.”
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(Launches April 23, 2021)
About the Author
Logan Ryles is the author of the action-thriller Reed Montgomery series, and the Wolfgang Pierce series. Originally from Alabama, he now lives with his wife in Tennessee. You can learn more about Logan’s books, sign up for email updates, and connect with him directly by visiting LoganRyles.com.
Also by Logan Ryles
The Wolfgang Pierce Novella Series
Prequel: That Time in Appalachia (coming soon)
Book 1: That Time in Paris
Book 2: That Time in Cairo (coming April 23)
Book 3: That Time in Moscow (coming May 7)
Book 4: That Time in Rio (coming May 21)
Book 5: That Time in Tokyo (coming June 4)
Book 6: That Time in Sydney (coming June 18)
The Reed Montgomery Thriller Series
Prequel: Sandbox, a short story (read for free at LoganRyles.com)
Book 1: Overwatch
Book 2: Hunt to Kill
Book 3: Total War
Book 4: Smoke & Mirrors
Book 5: Survivor
Book 6: Death Cycle (coming soon)
Book 7: Sundown (coming soon)
Visit LoganRyles.com to receive a free copy of Sandbox.
LoganRyles.com
