“Don’t waste your time with that pile,” one of the workers shouted from across the room. “We’ve got more pressing matters over here.”
Alex exhaled and relaxed as she watched the fork lift back up again, spin around, and head in the other direction.
She worked furiously for the next few minutes until she was able to hack into the surveillance system. Scanning the different camera angles, she finally found one and forced out a slow breath through a pair of puffed cheeks: Hawk was alive. She quickly notified Blunt that she was in and had access to almost everything in the facility.
Alex pulled out her comlink from her bag and put it into her ear.
“If you can hear me, Hawk, nod,” she said softly.
She enlarged the image of Hawk posing as Dr. Ngozi speaking with another man and assumed it was Malik Bashir. The video feed and the sound coming through the comlink weren’t synched, but the two weren’t more than a second apart.
Hawk proceeded to nod almost imperceptibly, giving Alex the confirmation she required.
Alex listened as the man she presumed to be Bashir grilled Hawk on a number of questions related to the Severus Scroll. He handled them like a pro.
“I’m anxious to see it,” Bashir said. “I’ve heard so much about some of the discrepancies between the accepted version of the Torah and the Severus Scroll.”
Hawk smiled. “I look forward to showing it to you.”
“Before we begin, I’d like to see the letters of verification from the different scholars you referenced in your email.”
Hawk furrowed his brow. “I don’t believe I promised to bring anything like that.”
“Your letter said that your colleagues believed it to be the Severus Scroll. I’m sure you weren’t referring to those fellow archaeologists who were assisting you on the dig, were you? Who else has verified that this is the Severus Scroll?”
Hawk grunted and narrowed his eyes. “If you think this isn’t what I say it is, I’ll be leaving now. Have your men return me to whatever little village it is you brought me from. I’ll find my way back to the airport from there.”
Bashir shrugged. “Now, you and I have a good relationship so I was more willing to be lenient by entertaining you and inspecting your findings. But I didn’t build my vast collection by accepting without proof every wild claim from all the archaeologists who have contacted me over the years.”
“Now is your chance, Hawk,” Alex whispered. “Make him show you the room.”
Alex typed busily on the computer and kept her ears attuned to the ongoing conversation. The mission’s success hung on Hawk’s next move.
Hawk paced for a few seconds before turning to Bashir. “I understand how you feel, but I never promised to bring any other certificates verifying the authenticity of this scroll. Had I done that, word would have leaked out to my employers, and we would’ve all been subject their wrath, not to mention exorbitant lawsuits. However, I can assure you it is as I claim it to be.” Hawk held up the case containing the document. “This is the Severus Scroll.”
“I have no doubt that you believe that it is,” Bashir said. “But for me to part with twenty million dollars, I need to know unequivocally that is as you say.”
Hawk nodded. “I understand. But in the meantime, would you mind showing me your collection. I’d like to picture the Severus Scroll at such a happy home surrounded by artifacts from a similar age.”
Bashir shrugged. “I guess it can’t hurt. After all, it is my favorite room in my palace—which, by the way, what do you think of it?”
Hawk stared upward at the vaulted ceilings, covered in replication of the Sistine Chapel ceiling. “For a man committed to jihad, you sure do have an inordinate amount of Christian imagery in this place.”
“I am a man with refined tastes,” Bashir said. “I refuse to let art and religion mix, as you should’ve been able to gather from the sheer fact that I continue to collect antiquities from the Judeo-Christian world. Plus, the things I collect of great value are simply objects from religion, not a member of the religion itself.
Hawk clasped his hands behind his back and walked slowly as if absorbing the surroundings. Less than a minute later, he stood in Bashir’s museum. Every item was well lit and displayed beautifully. As Hawk bent over to inspect several items more closely, he glanced upward at the security cameras nearby.
Alex notified Blunt again that Hawk was in position as she prepared to do her part. She typed furiously as she listened to Hawk and Bashir continue their conversation.
“This Phoenician medallion is exquisite,” Hawk said. “How did you acquire it?”
Silence.
Alex swallowed hard and put her task on hold, fearing Hawk had just put himself and the entire mission at risk.
“You . . . you don’t remember?” Bashir asked.
Damn it, Hawk.
“Hawk, you sold it to him,” she said.
“Of course, I remember,” Hawk said as a grin spread across his face. “I sold it to you. Just wanted to make sure I wasn’t being fooled by you.”
Bashir smiled. “You had me concerned there for a moment, Dr. Ngozi.”
“Well, I think I’ve seen all I wanted to see,” Hawk said. “I guess it’s time to be going since we can’t conduct any more business on this matter. It’s such a shame, too.”
Hawk continued to walk toward the exit, but he froze when he heard the click of a gun.
“Stay cool, Hawk,” Alex said. “I’ll get you out of this.”
“Hand me the Severus Scroll,” Bashir snarled. “I think you’re right. It’ll go nicely in my collection.”
Hawk turned around slowly. “Wouldn’t you like to see it first?”
Bashir nodded and directed Hawk over to a table in the corner. “Show it to me here.”
Hawk went to reach inside to pull out
