This is perfect.
Bashir inspected all the cases once more, excited about the prospect of adding a manuscript that had been lost for hundreds of years. He hustled back to his computer and checked his email again. A reply from Dr. Ngozi was already awaiting, asking to meet in a day and a half.
Depressing the intercom button, Bashir called for Sattar.
“What is it, sir?” Sattar asked.
“The meeting is on. Two days from today at 10:00 a.m. Have you found any extra guards to vet Dr. Ngozi yet?”
“I’ll do it myself,” Sattar said.
“I knew I could count on you. That is all.”
Bashir watched Sattar hustle out of the room before sitting down and reading up some more on the Severus Scroll. He couldn’t wait to see it for himself and hold it in his hands.
Fewer things in life gave Bashir more joy than acquiring any ancient object unearthed and rarely seen. And the thought of getting the Severus Scroll was no different.
CHAPTER 15
Jabad Salwa, Saudi Arabia
HAWK TUGGED ON THE MASK that gave him the appearance of Dr. Ngozi. The technology that produced such a striking image of the archaeologist was frightening. In a world fraught with fraud and deception, the last thing he wanted as an assassin was to actually verify a target’s identity through a fingerprint scan or a blood sample. He preferred to make that step his final one after the person was dead.
He was thankful he didn’t have to worry about it in this instance. Technology was on his side, even the voice imprint device hidden inside the mask to make him sound like Dr. Ngozi. Hawk had spent a day grilling Ngozi about everything he might encounter at Bashir’s hideout as well as the vetting process.
Despite Hawk’s fear, Ngozi insisted that it likely wouldn’t be as stringent as the first time he was ushered up to Bashir’s place. Each subsequent visit meant less scrutiny and an easier time. However, Ngozi warned Hawk that he would be blindfolded.
Hawk sat in the booth at the cozy mud brick bakery in the village of Rejal Al-Maa, awaiting the four-man vetting team Ngozi had said would be the first to greet him. Hawk nursed a cup of tea and admired the beautiful mountainside scenery extending all around him. It was a side of Saudi Arabia he’d never experienced before, a far cry from the barren deserts dotted with oil derricks that had formed his perception of the country’s topography. This area, however, was strikingly different.
Hawk felt a tap on his shoulder. He turned around to find a man standing there. The man settled down into the seat across from Hawk. The forward nature of the man caught Hawk off guard, especially since he’d been expecting four men.
“Is this seat taken?” the man asked.
Not that it matters.
Hawk then stated the first line of the riddle that was to confirm that they were dealing with the right person.
“Leave me, and you will never find the treasure,” Hawk said.
“Use me, and you will attain Allah's pleasure,” the man said, offering his hand. “It’s a pleasure to see you again, Dr. Ngozi.”
“And you as well,” Hawk said.
“Come with me,” the man said, gesturing toward the door.
Hawk exited the bakery and was directed by the man toward an SUV with only one other passenger inside. The absence of the other two men made Hawk uneasy. Ngozi had stressed it was four men. But Hawk continued on in good faith, though it didn’t stop him from asking questions.
“Where are your other two men?” Hawk asked.
“Budget cuts, Dr. Ngozi,” the man answered. “I’m sure you can appreciate that.”
“Budget cuts?” Hawk asked, attempting to open the backseat door. “Am I about to waste my time? This manuscript is worth more than twenty million dollars on the black market, even more if I go through proper channels. I don’t want to be needlessly exposing it to the elements if this isn’t a serious inquiry by your employer.”
“He’s serious,” the man said, pushing Hawk’s door shut. “More serious than he should be—and definitely more serious than he should be with the lack of money he possesses right now.”
Hawk scowled at the shut door but then returned his gaze to the man. “It’s hard times for everyone right now.”
“You better hope that he doesn’t decide to ask for a discount and you refuse him,” the man said, wagging his finger at Hawk. “It might be a very short visit, trumped only by your short trip back down the mountain.”
Hawk wondered if the man meant for his comment to be taken literally or figuratively. Either way, Hawk wasn’t interested in finding out.
Hawk tugged on the door handle again, but the man put his hand on it again.
“Has it been so long that you’ve forgotten our procedures?”
Noticing the wand in the man’s hand, Hawk stepped back and raised his arms.
“Our standard practice, remember?” the man said, sighing loudly as he checked Hawk for any devices. Then the guard proceeded to pat down Hawk.
The man called for the driver to join him. The driver climbed out of the SUV and lumbered over toward Hawk.
“He’s clean,” the man said. “Prepare him for the ride.”
Hawk wasn’t surprised by the move. Ngozi had told Hawk that he’d be blindfolded once he’d been vetted but not to worry.
With his hands jammed into his pockets holding the small tracking device, Hawk prepared to turn it back on so Alex could follow him to Bashir’s hideout. Just as he was about to flick the switch, the driver yanked on both of Hawk’s arms, preventing him from turning on the mechanism.
“No hands in pockets,” the driver said. “That’s a rule.”
Had his blindfold been off, the panic in Hawk’s eyes would’ve been visible to the man. And it wouldn’t have ended well.
I’ll just have to turn on this tracker for Alex.
Hawk paused and prepared to step inside the vehicle when he felt a strong arm pulling him back outside.
“Where
