[Lady Justice 17] - Lady Justice and the Pharaoh's Curse

by Robert Thornhill

  “Before it’s shipped out, the Mayor wanted to wring as much publicity out of this thing as possible, so he’s made arrangements for Ahmed Abboud, the Egyptian Ambassador, to come to Kansas City. They’ve planned a big shindig at Union Station where the public can get a look at the genuine artifacts. The Ambassador wants all of you to be there as his guests, to thank you for recovering the treasure.”

  “But what about Rollins?”

  “Not to worry. The Mayor is really gung-ho about this thing, so he’s pulling out all the stops. With the treasure, the visiting dignitary and the Rollins threat, he’s authorized mandatory overtime. You and your crew will have an armed escort from your building to Union Station.”

  Naturally, my friends were overjoyed when they heard that they were being granted a temporary reprieve from their isolation.

  The moment that Jerry heard the name, Ahmed Abboud, he started singing Ahab the Arab. Bernice announced that she was going to wear her Queen Nefertiti earrings and Mary asked if she could get a selfie with the Ambassador for her scrapbook.

  I had no doubt that it was going to be an interesting day.

  It took two stretch limos to hold all of us.

  My neighbors stared in disbelief as we filed out of the building and into the waiting Caddy’s.

  With the motorcycle escorts, our little caravan must have looked like either a presidential cavalcade or a funeral procession. I hoped it wasn’t going to be the latter.

  When we arrived, we were escorted into the grand hall which had been decorated with colorful bunting and balloons.

  The treasure was in glass cases and a roped pathway had been erected where people could walk by and view the artifacts.

  There was a massive stage with an Egyptian flag on one side and the U.S. and Missouri flags on the other side. There was a lectern in the middle with chairs on one side for the head honchos. The chairs on the other side were for us.

  Uniformed officers were everywhere, and I had no doubt that cops in plain clothes were mingling with the crowd.

  One of the officers led us to our chairs. We had been seated just a few minutes when Mary leaned over and whispered, “Mr. Walt. I gotta pee.”

  “Really? You can’t hold it?”

  “Hell no! If them politicians get long-winded, this thing could take a couple of hours. How would it look if an old lady wet her pants right here on the stage?”

  I saw her point. “Okay, go! But make it quick.”

  She looked around. “Any idea where they hid the crapper?”

  Judy had overheard our conversation. “I know where it is. I’ll take her.”

  Actually, I was relieved. I wasn’t at all sure that Mary would make it back by herself.

  They had just left when the emcee for the event, a TV personality from one of the local stations, took the stage. He welcomed everyone and announced that the festivities would get underway with a performance by a local high school band.

  The band marched into the hall with drums banging and symbols crashing. Once in place, they blasted out two rousing John Philip Sousa marches.

  When the applause died down, the emcee welcomed the dignitaries to the stage. The Mayor, the Ambassador, the Chief of Police, Captain Short and the curator of the King Tut exhibit took their places.

  The emcee asked the crowd to stand for the National Anthems for the United States and Egypt.

  After the Star Spangled Banner, the band muddled through the Egyptian anthem which had no doubt been learned on the fly.

  As everyone was taking their seats, I spotted Mary pushing through the crowd. When she was seated, I whispered, “Where’s Judy?”

  “Damned if I know. There was a line in the bathroom, so it took me a while to get my business done. When I came out, she was gone. I just figured she had come on back here.”

  I looked at Ox and he just shrugged his shoulders.

  The emcee introduced the Mayor who strode proudly to the podium.

  Our mayor had a reputation for being long-winded, and I knew as soon as he opened his mouth that Mary had been right. I should have gone with her to take a leak.

  His oration came to a merciful end with the introduction of the Egyptian Ambassador. This was the moment when he would be thanking everyone that had a part in recovering the artifacts and I hated it that Judy wasn’t here to receive the recognition she deserved.

  He had just started talking about the significance of the original King Tut artifacts when there was a loud scream from someone in the crowd.

  We saw the people in the hall begin to scatter like Moses parting the Red Sea.

  A moment later, the source of their concern came into view.

  Phil Rollins, wearing a flak jacket, with his arm held high, was pushing Judy along in front of him.

  My heart sank when I saw that Judy had some kind of explosive device strapped to her chest.

  My partner’s wife was a walking bomb and Rollins had the detonator in his upraised hand.

  Immediately, every officer in the building had their guns trained on Rollins.

  “Put ‘em down!” Rollins yelled. “Or I’ll blow this place to kingdom come.”

  The officers looked to the podium for direction.

  The captain stepped to the podium and made a downward motion with his hands. “Lower your weapons. Mr. Rollins isn’t going anywhere.”

  Reluctantly, the officers complied.

  “Phil,” the captain asked. “What’s this all about? Surely you’re not planning on hurting all these people. Put down that detonator. We can work this out.”

  “Nothing to work out,” he said, pushing Judy to the glass cases that held the treasure.

  He looked at it longingly. “Ten years of putting my life on the line busting whores and druggies and for what? That was gonna be our ticket out of this hell hole --- me and Gary --- but Gary’s gone, thanks to this bitch and the old fool up on the stage. Like I said on my notes, an eye for an eye.”

  He waved the detonator menacingly and every officer’s gun came back up.

  “Phil, let’s talk about this,” the captain said.

  “I’m done talkin’,” Rollins muttered.

  “All of you, lower your weapons,” the captain ordered sternly.

  I heard Ox move behind me. “The hell I will. My wife! My decision! My shot! Walt, hold still and cover your ears.

  I heard him click the safety off his weapon and rest it on my shoulder.

  Ox had one shot to hit the hand holding the detonator.

  I remembered our time at the firing range. In the next moment, one of three things was about to happen. By some miracle, Ox might just hit his target, or, like the first few rounds we fired at the paper targets, he could be off just enough to put a bullet in his wife. Or, he could miss altogether and Rollins would detonate the explosives that would blow us all to smithereens.

  One out of three wasn’t exactly good odds.

  I heard him take a deep breath and I did the same, doing my best to stand perfectly still.

  I wanted to close my eyes, but I had to see the outcome, either good or bad.

  I heard the report, felt the recoil and the smell of burned powder filled my nose.

  Rollins hand exploded and pieces of bone, skin, blood and detonator shot into the air.

  Rollins screamed and grabbed his hand.

  Judy twisted free and ran to the arms of nearby officers.

  Seeing his plan for revenge falling apart, Rollins pulled a gun from his waistband and charged toward the doors at the front of the building.

  Dozens of guns were pointed at the fleeing officer, but no one dared to fire for fear of hitting an innocent bystander.

  Someone must have called for backup because I had seen the flashing lights of cruisers as they pulled into the lot in front of the building.

  Rollins burst through the door firing. The thunder of the returned fire must have lasted a full thirty seconds, then there was silence.

  When it was all over, the body of Office
r Phil Rollins was sprawled, face down, under the sign that marked the spot where the Union Station Massacre had occurred eighty-one years earlier.

  His blood mingled with the blood of the five men that had died there so many years ago.

  There were new bullet holes scattered among the old ones in the grey granite of the Union Station wall, all bearing testimony to the tragic loss of life that occurred there.

  My heart ached as I stood over the body of the officer who had served his city proudly for over ten years.

  His was the sixth life that had been lost since the artifact had been taken from the King Tut exhibit.

  My rational mind told me that there was no such thing as a Pharaoh’s Curse, but then I looked over my shoulder and saw the giant Anubis standing guard in the corner of the parking lot, and suddenly, I wasn’t so sure.

  EPILOGUE

  After the aborted celebration at Union Station, Ahmed Abboud packed up the gold and jewels, hopped a private jet and headed back to Egypt. He was probably relieved that he was able to get out of Kansas City in one piece.

  The artifacts have been returned to Cairo and are now back where they belong with the other treasures from King Tut’s tomb.

  With the death of Phil Rollins, the captain was ready to close the book on the Anubis murders, but sadly, three of the six deaths will go into the ‘open-unsolved’ file.

  There will be a notation in the murder books of Bernard Maloof and Marty Ringer naming Lester Figg as the probable killer, but there was never any hard evidence tying him to either death, and once Figg was murdered by Rollins, the trail went cold.

  Undoubtedly, Rhonda Reams was killed by either Figg or Rollins, but again, no one was alive that knew for sure.

  There will be some that say that a curse was responsible for the six deaths, and will quote the inscription on the back of Figg’s novel, “Death shall come on swift wings to him who disturbs the peace of the King.”

  I will agree with them that the deaths were definitely the result of a curse --- but not a mummy’s curse or a Pharaoh’s curse, but a curse of human nature.

  Throughout written history, mankind has been plagued by what we have come to know as the seven deadly sins, and one of them is greed.

  It was greed, pure and simple, that was the motivational force behind each of the murders.

  Perhaps the ancients knew more about human nature than we do today, and realized that the opening of the sacred tombs and the discovery of the riches inside would trigger the greed that lies dormant in the human soul.

  As long as greed, along with the six other deadly sins, continues to manifest itself in the actions of men, Lady Justice will need a helping hand.

  My name is Walt Williams and that’s why I’m a cop.

  What Other People Are Saying About

  The Lady Justice Mystery/Comedy Series

  One can write a humorous book, a book of human sentiments, a mystery or thriller, but to have a mix of all of them in a single book requires special talent. Add to that the age of the characters.... senior citizens chasing criminals and succeeding, too.

  Robert Thornhill is a great web spinner. The books are easy to read, fast moving, touching and thrilling--all at the same time. Venky – Amazon Review

  My favorite series. I cannot stop reading these books. Mystery and humor. Can't ask for more. Keep them coming. I'll keep buying. The characters are becoming my best friends. Kat novo – Amazon Review

  Love these books! I've been a fan of Walt and his crew since the first book and have enjoyed following their adventures with each new book. Mary C. – Amazon Review

  You can't beat this series. It's funny, educational, serious, and attention-getting all in one series. And Mr. Thornhill writes really fast so I don't have to wait a year before the next book comes out - it's awesome! Lori – Amazon Review

  Love Love Love this book. I spent years in Kansas City, MO. and could picture everywhere the story took me. Loved the characters. A must read for anyone who wants a suspense story with comedy added for an added dimension. I am now downloading every Lady Justice book available. Sharon – Amazon Review

  Another great installment of the Lady Justice series. It has everything from laugh out loud moments, to some intense police work action, and let’s not forget some romance as well. I find it so refreshing that the main characters are not only very likable and easy to relate to but they also show that life is not over after 60 or even 70. I can't wait to see what trouble Walt and Ox will get into next. C. Toste – Amazon Review

  The writing is sophomoric, at best. It seems to have been aimed at a juvenile audience. The 'humor' was only funny if you were in grammar school. It was a slog to complete this book.

  Phoenix Rising – Amazon Review

  (Oops! How did this one get in here? Oh well, like Dirty Harry says, “Opinions are like assholes – everybody has one.” You can’t please everyone.

  I hope you enjoyed Lady Justice and the Pharaoh’s Curse.

  ABOUT THE AUTHOR

  Award-winning author, Robert Thornhill, began writing at the age of sixty-six and in five short years has penned seventeen novels in the Lady Justice mystery/comedy series, the seven volume Rainbow Road series of chapter books for children, a cookbook and a mini-autobiography.

  Lady Justice and the Sting, Lady Justice and Dr. Death, Lady Justice and the Vigilante, Lady Justice and the Candidate, Lady Justice and the Book Club Murders, Lady Justice and the Cruise Ship Murders and Lady Justice and the Vet won the Pinnacle Award for the best new mystery novels of Fall 2011, Winter 2012, Summer 2012, Fall 2012, Spring of 2013 and Summer 2014 from the National Association of Book Entrepreneurs.

  Many of Walt’s adventures in the Lady Justice series are anecdotal and based on Robert’s real life.

  Although Robert holds a master’s in psychology, he has never taken a course in writing and has never learned to type. All 28 of his published books were typed with one finger and a thumb!

  His wit and insight come from his varied occupations, including thirty-three years as a real estate broker. He lives with his wife, Peg, in Independence, Missouri.

  Visit him on the Web at: http://BooksByBob.com

  LADY JUSTICE TAKES A C.R.A.P.

  City Retiree Action Patrol

  Third Edition

  This is where it all began.

  See how sixty-five year old Walt Williams became a cop and started the City Retiree Action Patrol.

  Meet Maggie, Willie, Mary and the Professor, Walt’s sidekicks in all of the Lady Justice novels.

  Laugh out loud as Walt and his band of Senior Scrappers capture the Realtor Rapist and take down the Russian Mob.

  http://amzn.to/16lfjnY

  LADY JUSTICE AND THE LOST TAPES

  In Lady Justice and the Lost Tapes, Walt and his band of scrappy seniors continue their battle against the forces of evil.

  When an entire eastside Kansas City neighborhood is terrorized by the mob, Walt must go undercover to solve the case.

  Later, the amazing discovery of a previously unknown recording session of a deceased rock ‘n’ roll idol stuns the music industry.

  http://amzn.to/1cDeiMK

  LADY JUSTICE GETS LEI’D

  In Lady Justice Gets Lei’d, Walt and Maggie plan a romantic honeymoon on the beautiful Hawaiian Islands, but ancient artifacts discovered in a cave in a dormant volcano and a surprising revelation about Maggie’s past, lead our lovers into the hands of Hawaiian zealots.

  http://amzn.to/15P6bLg

  LADY JUSTICE AND THE

  AVENGING ANGELS

  Lady Justice has unwittingly entered a religious war.

  Who better to fight for her than Walt Williams?

  The Avenging Angels believe that it’s their job to rain fire and brimstone on Kansas City, their Sodom and Gomorrah.

  In this compelling addition to the Lady Justice series, Robert Thornhill brings back all the characters readers have come to love for more hilarity and higher stakes.

 
You’ll laugh and be on the edge of your seat until the big finish.

  Don’t miss Lady Justice and the Avenging Angels!

  http://amzn.to/1i2yFDz

  LADY JUSTICE AND THE STING

  BEST NEW MYSTERY NOVEL ---WINTER 2012

  National Association of Book Entrepreneurs

  In Lady Justice and the Sting, a holistic physician is murdered and Walt becomes entangled in the high-powered world of pharmaceutical giants and corrupt politicians.

  Maggie, Ox Willie, Mary and all your favorite characters are back to help Walt bring the criminals to justice in the most unorthodox ways.

  A dead-serious mystery with hilarious twists

  http://amzn.to/1gS4JMA

  LADY JUSTICE AND DR. DEATH

  BEST NEW MYSTERY NOVEL --- FALL 2011

  National Association of Book Entrepreneurs

  In Lady Justice and Dr. Death, a series of terminally ill patients are found dead under circumstances that point to a new Dr. Death practicing euthanasia in the Kansas City area.

  Walt and his entourage of scrappy seniors are dragged into the ‘right-to-die-with-dignity’ controversy.

  The mystery provides a light-hearted look at this explosive topic and death in general.

  You may see end-of-life issues in a whole new light after reading Lady Justice and Dr. Death!

  http://amzn.to/H20Erx

  LADY JUSTICE AND THE VIGILANTE

  BEST NEW MYSTERY NOVEL – SUMMER 2012