Inspector Amaro smiled, genuinely this time, and took down one last note before closing his little notebook. “You're right. I'm not going to do that.”
Nina couldn't hide her surprise and her friends looked just as perplexed. Inspector Amaro was a very peculiar man, who seemed like a genius in one moment and then a nutcase in the next. It was astounding that he had risen so high in the ranks of the Italian police. It really must have been his deductive skills because it certainly wasn't for anything else. He was very observant, scarily so, and Nina already regretted letting the Order of the Black Sun's name slip in front of him. He’d probably locked it away in his mind, and already had hundreds of theories in the last thirty seconds.
If she could see what he’d written in that notebook, it was probably all of his thoughts on what that name could mean. Unfortunately, he tucked the notebook away in his jacket and held out a hand to shake.
“I must apologize, Dr. Gould. I was a bit abrasive there, wasn't I? Usually I’m quite good about refraining from much rudeness, but I let my excitement get the better of me. You’re right. You found the sword, so you should get to decide what to do with it. Take it for yourself, put it in a museum, or give it over to us as evidence...it's your choice. I shouldn’t try to take that from you.”
“What the hell is this?” August asked. “Why the change of heart?”
“Mankind is a fickle species, Mr. Williams,” Amaro said. “Opinions can change like a light switch. Arguments can convert people's thoughts, show them another way. I see now that you and...whatever the Order of the Black Sun is...deserve the sword. You were right about getting us the Third Triumvirate. That's more than enough of a win. Thank you.”
He shook each of their hands and Nina felt so uncomfortable. He was more than odd, she wondered about his mental condition. It was unnerving how quickly he’d changed his mind on the subject and just presented the sword. She half-expected him to suddenly order their arrests.
“It was a pleasure meeting you all, especially you, Dr. Gould. If you ever find yourselves back in Rome and in need of some assistance, don't be afraid to give us a call. Who knows? You may even want some police protection next time.”
“We'll have to see about that, inspector...” Nina said plainly. “I doubt it.”
“Please, call me Don.” It was the same request he had made before, and despite having known him for a little bit longer, none of them had any intention of calling him that. It just made them all uncomfortable.
With that, Inspector Amaro laced his fingers together and trotted away toward the police vehicles.
“What’s wrong with that guy?” Riley asked.
“I don't know...” Nina said honestly.
She really didn't, and she probably never would.
17
DR. GOULD'S DECISION
Nina looked at her team with immense pride. They’d all been so helpful to work with on this expedition. She never thought she’d ever think so positively about members of the Order of the Black Sun, but the order was so much different now than it had been. The secret society's members were good people, not just good at their jobs.
Riley had kept them smiling, even in the worst moments of the search. Even asleep, with a knife hovering over her, Riley had managed to make Nina smile just by her sheer obliviousness to the danger around her. She was young and inexperienced but was able to get things done during a crisis. Her cheekiness wasn't a hindrance, it was a help to her and to her teammates. The strong point of being an optimist was that they wouldn't give up even when danger lurked. Riley always had hope so was always able to laugh.
August had proven to be more than just muscles. Nina knew he was trustworthy, but she didn't realize that he was so thoughtful and determined where the sword was. Something as simple as reading up on their prize showed that he wasn't satisfied just being the brute force that was sometimes needed. He wanted to be more of a help than that and he’d proven that he could be. She remembered him as a quiet, hulking figure when he was working for Julian and was one of the guards keeping her as a prisoner. He’d already come so far since then and all it took was a change of management, better people to mentor and motivate him.
Then there was Elijah—stubborn, all-knowing, cold Elijah. He hadn't wanted to be part of the search for the sword. He just wanted to be the one to receive it and store it away somewhere safe, deep in the Black Sun's vaults. He didn't want to be out risking his life, he didn't want to be taking part in a big fight in a Colosseum, and he was understandably not very useful. Still, his knowledge had been a great help and his willingness to call the police when they needed backup had been a lifesaver. Nina could put up with his prickliness if he kept his resourcefulness.
She hoped that she hadn't been a bad leader. She knew she wasn't Purdue. She didn't have that unyielding stubbornness and refusal to surrender that Purdue always had. She wasn't always sure of what she was doing when it came to things that couldn't be found in history books. The more practical, current things were challenging for her, especially when it came to logistics right in front of her face and trying to kill her.
She surprised herself that she was able to overcome some of the obstacles that had been thrown her way; things that she never expected to address. She thought the search for the sword of Caesar would be relatively simple, that it would just be a matter of figuring out where it was, then going to find it. She expected maybe some challenges with the location maybe, but never so much resistance from other factors.
The Third Triumvirate, on one hand. They weren't as threatening as the Order of the Black Sun used to be, but they’d come close to killing her quite a few times, and had opportunities where they’d simply chosen not to end her life. She was lucky to have beaten them.
“Are we heading home now?” Riley asked. “I'm exhausted. I think I'm going to tell Purdue that I need at least a three-months break before I'm sent out again.”
Nina smirked. “I just have a few stops I need to make first.”
Odion probably never expected to see Nina again, yet there she was, standing in front of him. Despite being blindfolded when she was brought to Odion's warehouse, Nina hadn't been blindfolded when they had run away from him with the slab. She remembered the general location well enough to return on her own.
There were at least twice as many, maybe even three times as many, guards positioned throughout the warehouse room. Odion's crew had understandably beefed up security since Nina's last visit. Frankly, they probably owed her some gratitude for showing them that their priceless heirlooms of Egypt weren't as secure as they’d believed.
Odion didn't look pleased to see her—not one bit. He’d every right to be angry. He’d been weary of her at first but had trusted her and her team enough to show them the hiding place of some of the most sought after relics that Egypt had, all on the condition that they weren't interested in any of them and only cared about Caesar's sword. She’d thought that she could stay true to that. Regrettably, she broke that agreement when she took the stone slab but only because it would help lead to the sword of Caesar—and it had. In her mind, it was all worth it even if it meant feeling a bit guilty about breaking her word with the Egyptian collector.
“Brave of you to come back here. If I were you, I would’ve never shown my face in these lands ever again. You came under the banner of friendship and understanding but that was nothing but a dirty lie. You took from us, just like all the rest have taken from us. You said you’d no interest in our property, and yet, you stole it all the same.”
“I didn't steal it,” Nina said calmly.
She wanted to argue her reasoning more with him, explain the whole situation that made the mess but he didn't look like he’d be willing to listen anytime soon. Making it a heated argument wouldn't do anyone any good. This whole thing was a big enough catastrophe as it was. Hell, they might even kill her for what she did to them—but she knew that when she made the choice to return.
“More lies,” Odion hissed, risi
ng from his chair and walking toward her. “I watched you take that slab and run away with it. I followed you all the way to that airfield. You did all of that, took what was mine without asking permission. In your language, and in all languages, that’s considered stealing. You’re nothing but a lying thief, just like every other outsider that has come to Egypt.”
Odion came up close, putting himself right in her face but he didn't see what she was holding behind her back. She brought it around and plopped it down into Odion's arms. It was the slab that she’d taken from that very room.
Odion froze, staring down at what was in his grasp. He probably never expected to see that rock again, but there it was, back with him like it’d never been taken.
“I told you that I didn't steal it,” Nina said. “I just borrowed it for a little while. It was actually an incredibly big help so thank you for that. Really. Thank you.”
Odion was bewildered, looking over the tablet in his hands. He was inspecting it closely like he expected to find that it was nothing more than a fake.
“I didn't want to take it,” Nina continued. “But it was the only way to get me closer to finding the sword. I had to make a hard decision to go back on my word. It's not something I usually do, but there wasn't much of a choice at the time. I really am sorry. Seriously.”
Odion took a step back away from her and still looked over the piece of rock that had been returned to him. “So that's it then? This is supposed to be some sad attempt at a peace offering? You brought it back, but the deed is already done. The act of thievery has already been completed. It doesn’t matter that you gave it back later. That makes no difference. You steal from me, then come back with an apology and expect everything to be settled. That’s not how we operate. That’s not how the world works. That’s not how anything works. Some people in Egypt would take your hand for stealing from them. Perhaps we should take yours just to remind you to never do it again?”
She could see how serious he was. He really was contemplating mutilating her as a punishment, to remind her to never dare cross him again.
Nina waved her right hand around a bit. “I’d very much like to keep my hand, thanks. So if you’d refrain from dismembering me, that would be brilliant...and I'm not here just to give the slab back. That was the right thing to do, but there’s another reason.”
“Tell me then.”
“There are other ways to maybe rectify this whole situation that I started. I brought one possibility with me, actually.”
Odion laughed in disbelief but also looked slightly intrigued. He put the stone slab back where it belonged among the other treasures and then sat back in his chair. He waved her forward and then leaned back, ready to listen to whatever it was she had to say. He didn't look convinced that it was going to be worth his time, though. She’d have to change that.
“Go on then,” Odion prodded. “What else have you brought me? What magic remedy will make all of this better?”
“An invitation,” Nina said. “An invitation to join a group dedicated to the preservation and protection of historical artifacts from across the globe.” She waved her hand toward the pieces of Egyptian history that lined the warehouse. “Obviously, the safeguarding of these relics is of paramount importance to you. I understand that more than you know and that's why I completely understand why you were so angry when I took the slab.”
“Am so angry,” Odion corrected. “I’m still quite incensed about it.”
“Why are so pissed?” Nina said. “The group I was with...it's just a fraction of the actual size of the people who I work with. Historians, curators, and all other kinds of people from all different parts of the world. We’ve connections and resources that go beyond most official organizations. If you join us, we can get you some place much bigger and more fitting to guard your items than this. Our deep vaults house some of the most famous artifacts to ever exist. It's impossible to break into.”
“Ah, yes,” Odion said, scratching his brow. “So we can turn over all of these items to you and this secret society you have. We just throw away our history for the sake of supposedly gaining more protection. You bring back one artifact—one which you stole—to convince us that this is all some mistake and that your intentions are good. You recruit us, bring us under your wing, and then take everything we have at that point, so it’s also now yours. That’s the scheme, yes?”
“Wow,” Nina said, and couldn't help but let out a giggle. “You really think I'm a devious, criminal mastermind, don't you? I couldn't even steal that rock right. I nearly died in the attempt and then I brought it back to the person I stole it from. I wish I was able to actually be conniving sometimes but unfortunately, that's just not me.”
Odion was still staring at her like she was about to make a move against him but she just kept calm and continued with her pitch.
“If its helps ease your mind, we could even come up with a scenario where we don't move these items to our facility. Instead, we could just help bolster the security here and make it something of an Egyptian stockpile for the Order of the Black Sun. You’ll still have complete control over all of this, with the added benefit that the things you’re trying to protect will be much more secure. No random historian like me could take off with it like I did before.”
“You expect me to just trust that?”
“I expect you to at least listen to what I'm saying, to really listen. Please. You don't want these artifacts to leave Egypt. I understand that. So they won't. We'll keep them here in their homeland but will just improve the defenses that guard them. That's it.” She knew how a man like Odion worked. He’d spent so long fighting through the mud and muck to get where he was. He’d need more than just promises of assistance. He’d require something that he could actually hold that meant a lot to him; a good faith gesture that went above and beyond of what he would ever expect to hear. “I’ll even see what I can do about transferring any Egyptian artifacts that the Order of the Black Sun already possesses to you here. It might take a bit, but I can try to get them returned home. They’ll be strictly under your care.”
That seemed to get Odion's attention and his stubbornness seemed to waver ever so slightly.
“And what would I need to give in return to do that? Only my soul, yes?”
Some of his friends laughed. Nina didn't expect this to be an easy sell, but Odion was being even more resistant than she ever thought he would be. She understood he was still upset about what happened with the stone slab; she would be too if she was in his situation, but what she was offering more than compensated for it.
“No one is forcing you to join. I just saw your operation here and was impressed. That's all. You’re clearly passionate about protecting history and that's all we care about in the order. That's what we strive to do. I just think it would be a good fit if you're willing to try. If you disagree, that's fine. I just thought it was worth passing along an invitation. That's it.”
Nina turned to leave. She was fine with him declining, but there was no reason to stay there and be ridiculed for trying to do something nice to make up for how she had wronged him. The slab was back where it belonged and her invitation to join the Order of the Black Sun was given. That was all she could do. The rest was entirely up to Odion.
“Wait.”
She turned around and found Odion looking very conflicted. His crew standing in front of him all looked just as surprised as Nina.
“If what you say is true, you really think it would help us here?”
“I do,” Nina said honestly. “It’d be a huge help to you. The Order of the Black Sun has everything you need to ensure that no one can ever steal from you again. Not even me.”
Odion surprisingly smiled and nodded his head.
“Very well then,” Odion said and all of his men looked stunned by what was taking place. “Then I accept. I’ll become part of this group, but you’ll make good on what you offered me. Any Egyptian relics that this Order of the Black Sun possesses will be handed
over to me and stored with what we already have. They’ll be kept safe and away from outsiders.”
“Yes,” Nina said and couldn't help but smile too. “It's a deal.”
“I expect you to honor this one,” Odion said and half-jokingly made a cutting motion over one of his wrists. “Or else.”
“Don't worry,” Nina said. “I will.”
The sword of Julius Caesar sat behind the reinforced glass of its display case in the Palazza Nuovo. Nina stood on the other side of the glass, admiring the blade that she had wielded for only a few fleeting moments. It was crazy to think that she and Julius Caesar had both held the same weapon, thousands of years apart. She so rarely felt such a connection to the past but in those passing seconds, swinging that brittle sword around, she felt like she could feel Caesar making similar movements, using that sword to fight for his life just as she had. That brief time using the blade and that feeling it gave her made it even more difficult when it came time to decide where the sword should go.
She knew that she was going to upset quite a few people if she didn't bring the sword back to the Order of the Black Sun's deep vaults—mainly Elijah—but this was her expedition and she’d had to make the hard decisions. It was up to her to do what she felt was right, not what anyone else thought. She didn't have to appease everyone or make sure that all of her allies were happy. That wasn't what was important when it came to finding a priceless artifact from the past.
Would it have been safer and more secure in the deep vaults back at the Black Sun headquarters? Probably, yes, but that didn't mean that the sword was supposed to be there. It was an heirloom of Rome's most important leader. It should be in a place where the old Rome once stood, close to where Caesar himself had been.
Most of all, she felt she owed it to Santino. She’d agreed to bring the sword to the museum after it was found. At the time, she wasn't sure that she was going to keep that promise but now that he was gone, it would’ve just seemed to be very poor taste to go back on her word. Elijah argued that their deal didn't matter now that Santino was gone; that if he wanted the sword to be in the museum so bad, he should’ve gone out and found it himself. Elijah's argument had its merits but as usual, it lacked any real empathy. She knew that Elijah just wanted to lock the sword away himself, like he’d done for so many items as the Black Sun's curator.
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