The Arkana Mysteries Boxed Set

by N. S. Wikarski

  “It’s because there’s something in the sky that we’re supposed to be looking at,” the paladin explained.

  “As we’ve already discussed, this particular circle was used to mark the solstices and the heliacal rise of Orion’s stars,” Griffin said.

  “Heliacal rise. That’s got to be it!” Erik exclaimed.

  Griffin gave him a dubious glance. “Well, there’s no way we can determine the heliacal rise of Orion. Half the stones have been carried off.”

  Cassie finally understood what Erik was driving at. “Griffin, don’t you get it? The Minoans didn’t care about Orion. Sure, the emeralds on the dove’s back show Orion’s stars, but that was just to get us to the right circle. The rubies are pointing someplace else. What rises in the southeast?”

  “Of course!” Griffin exclaimed. “The Minoans were drawing our attention to a star that rises in the southeast, hence the clue about the dove waking the helmsman. Metaphorically speaking, one wakes a star at its heliacal rise—when it first appears above the horizon along with the rising sun. But who is the helmsman?” Griffin stared off into space murmuring the word “helmsman” over and over. “Ah, I can’t think!” he declared in frustration.

  “Let’s try it this way,” the pythia suggested. “Instead of figuring out who the helmsman is, maybe with your famous memory you can remember what stars rise in the southeast in this part of the world. What’s bright enough to see with the naked eye from here?”

  “Well, the two brightest stars at this latitude are Sirius and Canopus. Egyptian mythology is filled with references to both. Sirius, as you know, was always identified with the supreme goddess. In the case of the Egyptians, she would have been called Isis. Canopus was sometimes identified with her consort Osiris and sometimes with Horus. At this latitude, Canopus functions as the southern pole star. In ancient times it would have been used for navigation purposes. It—”

  Cassie cut him off. “What was that last part?”

  Griffin looked perplexed.

  “Didn’t you just say, ‘navigation purposes?’”

  The scrivener’s eyes flew open wide. “Great goddess!” he exclaimed.

  “We weren’t talking about Isis,” Cassie teased. “Stay on topic.”

  He beamed at her. “That’s it! And now that I think of it, the navigational references are everywhere. Canopus is a star in the larger ancient constellation of Argo Navis. You’ve no doubt heard of Jason and the Argonauts in overlord mythology. The Argo was the name of Jason’s ship. The brightest star in Argo Navis was given the name of Canopus, after the helmsman who piloted Menelaus’s ship to Troy during the Trojan War.”

  “Now we’re getting somewhere,” Erik said approvingly. “You just said the magic word—helmsman.”

  “I did, didn’t I?” Griffin sounded both surprised and pleased.

  “What else do you know about this helmsman Canopus?” Cassie urged.

  Griffin shrugged, at a loss. “Off the top of my head, not a blessed thing. I’ll need my reference books and computer back at the hotel to unearth more.”

  “Guess we’ve done all we can here,” Erik admitted. “We might as well head back.”

  Cassie moved toward the small stone marking the southeast position. She surveyed the arid expanse of sand. “There’s something out there waiting for us to find. And it isn’t far away now. I can feel it.”

  Chapter 31—The Rattler

  Leroy Hunt fished around inside the greasy paper bag sitting on the passenger seat of his truck. He was trying to grab the last French fry without taking his eyes off the shop across the street. Since nothing was stirring over there, he hazarded a glance at his food. Pulling out the limp sliver of potato, he stuffed it into his mouth and sighed with exasperation. Then he crumpled the empty bag and tossed it on the floor where it joined a growing collection of empty burger cartons, drained coffee cups, cracked taco shells, and shreds of wilted lettuce.

  He’d been twiddling his thumbs on this stakeout for a week with nothing to show for it. After his surprising discoveries about Miss Hannah at the apartment building, he thought he’d backtrack to the place she’d visited right before that. It was the antique shop where he first came looking for the stone key. There was more to this operation than met the eye. Every time he tried to connect the dots among the preacher’s doodad, Miz Sybil, Miss Cassie, and little Hannah they all led straight back to this spot.

  Leroy had a hunch that Daniel was about to get one of his brain fits any day now, and they’d have to hit the road to collect the next gewgaw. The cowboy knew he was running out of time. Since sitting here getting fat on fast food hadn’t done any good, Leroy figured it was time to stomp on the ant hill and see what scurried out.

  He climbed out of the truck and shook his denim jacket to get rid of any food crumbs. Taking off his Stetson hat, he gave it a cursory inspection before dusting it off with his sleeve and setting it back on his head. Then he crossed the street with the intention of getting some answers.

  The shop bell tinkled when he entered. Fortunately, there were no patrons inside. The storekeeper was alone behind the counter.

  “Good afternoon, how can I help—” The words froze on her lips at the sight of him. It was the same woman he’d spoken to last fall. Plump, fortysomething, good at playing her cards close to the vest. This time her poker face had gotten knocked a little sideways by his unexpected arrival. She looked worried.

  “I know you,” she said. The words sounded like an accusation.

  “Yes, ma’am.” Leroy began mildly enough. “I was here some months back lookin’ for a little runaway gal.” He mechanically flashed the photo of Hannah before pocketing it. He noticed the woman’s name tag this time.

  “Miz Rhonda, is it?” He continued. “I thought I might check again to see if I could jog your memory a tad more.”

  The shopkeeper scowled at him. “As I told you last time, I sent her away and haven’t seen her since.”

  Leroy rested his hands on the edge of the plate glass counter and leaned forward. His bland expression never changed. “Funny thing about that,” he drawled. “I tracked little Miss Hannah all the way to your dead partner’s apartment.”

  “You did what?” She grew pale.

  “And while I was there, I found out that our gal sat outside waitin’ for somebody to show up. I recollect you tellin’ me Miss Cassie wasn’t around no more. So, why would Miss Hannah bide there like she was expectin’ to meet somebody?” Leroy made an elaborate show of rubbing his forehead in puzzlement. “It don’t hardly add up.”

  “How am I supposed to know why she went there? I told her Cassie had gone missing. That’s all I know.” The woman started flipping through store receipts, trying to avoid eye contact.

  “It’s a brain-teaser for sure,” Leroy continued conversationally. “And you ain’t gonna believe what happened after that.”

  Miz Rhonda stopped thumbing through her papers. “What?” she asked tensely without raising her head.

  “Turns out one of the neighbors heard the little gal talkin’ to somebody in the hall. Then a week later, the apartment got cleaned out. Movers toted all Miz Sybil’s stuff away and Miss Hannah with it for all I know. Have you ever heard the like?”

  She raised her head and glared at him. “I have no idea what you’re talking about!”

  “That’s just the thing, ma’am.” Hunt gave her a lazy smile. “I think you know all about it. Why don’t you take a couple days to think it over and maybe you’ll remember? When I come back next time, we can have a nice long chin wag.”

  Rhonda leaned toward him until they were practically nose-to-nose. “You listen to me. If I ever see you in this shop again, I’ll call the police!”

  Leroy turned on his heel and ambled toward the door. Over his shoulder, he said, “No need to worry about that none. You won’t see me less’n I want you to. And by then it’ll be too late.” He tipped his hat. “Have a nice evenin’, ma’am.”r />
  As the door shut behind him, Leroy couldn’t help but chuckle to himself. He knew he’d rattled Miz Rhonda good and proper, just as he’d intended. She was so worked up she hadn’t noticed the bug he planted under the lip of the display case while they were talking. His threats had put such a flea in her ear that she was bound to send up a distress signal to somebody. And when she did, Leroy would be sure to hear who answered the call.

  Chapter 32—The Lady Banishes

  Rhonda scurried into her apartment building lobby. After her frightening conversation with the man in the cowboy hat, she’d been looking over her shoulder all the way home. Cassie had warned her about him, but Rhonda hadn’t believed he would come right out and threaten her. He was probably the same man who had killed Sybil. Would she be next?

  She smiled with relief at the sight of the security guard seated at his console. Thank God, she lived in a safe building. At least she felt protected here. She took the elevator up to her flat on the ninth floor. Her hand was trembling as she fitted the key into the lock. What was she going to do? There was no way to reach Cassie. The police wouldn’t believe her if she reported the incident. She couldn’t remember the man’s name. How could she convince the authorities that he wasn’t a figment of her imagination?

  Still lost in thought, she entered her apartment and mechanically switched on a table lamp. A dark shape was seated in one of her easy chairs out of the range of the light.

  Rhonda’s hand flew to her mouth to stifle a scream.

  “Whoa, take it easy. I’m a friend of Cassie’s,” the shadowy figure said.

  At the mention of the name, Rhonda almost sobbed with relief. Could it be she wasn’t alone in this, after all?

  The dark shape flew out of the chair. “You need to sit down before you pass out. I’ll get you some water.”

  Rhonda collapsed in a heap on the couch until the stranger returned and handed her a glass.

  “Drink all of it,” the voice instructed.

  She obeyed. By the time she finished, her breathing had returned to normal. She sat back and eyed the stranger who was now sitting beside her on the couch. It was a woman. A very large woman with olive skin and jet-black eyes. Her hair was a mass of frizz dyed a burgundy shade of red. When she took the empty glass out of Rhonda’s hands, the shopkeeper noticed her nails. They were long and sharp as an eagle’s talons. Like her hair, they were red.

  “My name is Maddie,” the stranger said. “I’m here to help you.”

  “You are?” Rhonda asked weakly. “How did you get in here?”

  “We’ve got our ways,” the woman replied mysteriously.

  “But how did you know I needed help?”

  Maddie gave an arch smile. “Cassie told me to keep an eye on you. She was afraid Leroy Hunt might come around to pester you. I’ve had a team watching your shop since last October.”

  Rhonda rubbed her temples wearily.

  “Do you want me to get you an aspirin?” Maddie offered.

  “No, it’s not that. I’m just trying to take all of this in.” She looked up. “Are you one of Cassie’s associates?”

  “That’s right. You might say I’m in charge of keeping things running smoothly.”

  Rhonda sat up. “Is Cassie alright? I mean if this is the sort of person she’s dealing with now—"

  “She’s fine,” Maddie cut in. “That kid is a quick study. She learned how to take care of herself in no time flat. Right now, I’m more worried about you. You looked like death when you came through that door. Tell me everything Hunt said to you today.”

  The shopkeeper related the cross-examination and the cowboy’s threat to return and make her talk.

  Maddie raised her eyebrows. “Well, that doesn’t give us much time. He’s been watching your shop for about a week now, but I never expected him to try the direct approach.”

  “You mean to tell me that man has been camped out on my doorstep and you didn’t do anything?” Rhonda felt a wave of terror wash over her.

  “It’s OK, really. My team would have charged in at the first sign of trouble. We just figured he was on a routine stakeout. His stunt today took us all by surprise.”

  “What do you think he hoped to gain?” Rhonda asked bleakly. “Besides frightening me out of my wits, I mean.”

  Maddie gave a bark of a laugh. “He was hoping to find out who’s pulling the strings. That’s why he planted a bug in your shop.”

  “A bug?” Rhonda squeaked. “He can hear everything that’s said in my store?”

  “Not only hear what’s going on, he can see everything too. I got a call from my people a few minutes ago. After you locked up for the night, Hunt let himself in and installed two smoke detectors with hidden surveillance cameras. One by the front door and one by the back. You’d never know they were there.”

  This time Rhonda really did think she was going to faint. Maddie caught her as she listed to the side.

  “Hang in there.” Her visitor propped her back up. “This is a good thing.”

  “H... how can you say that?” The shopkeeper stared at her in disbelief.

  “Because it gives us a tactical advantage. We can feed Leroy whatever information we want.”

  “But how did you even find out about the bug? He must have only put it there this afternoon.”

  Maddie chuckled. “If you’ve been doing the kind of work I do for as long as I have, you develop an instinct. When my team called to report that Hunt had come inside to talk to you, I told them to do a remote sweep and, sure enough, they picked up the signal. They saw him plant the cameras later because I told them to tail him all night just in case he decided to follow you home. Luckily, he seems more interested in the shop than in you.”

  “And he did all that to get to whoever is, as you say, ‘pulling the strings.’” Rhonda peered hard at her visitor. “Is that you?”

  “In part. Give me a second.” Maddie reached into a voluminous handbag resting on the floor next to the sofa. Her bracelets jangled as she poked around for something. “Thank goddess! One stick left.” She popped some gum into her mouth and began to chew vigorously. “I’m trying to quit smoking, but my timing sucks. This is the only thing that’ll stop the cravings for a while.”

  She turned her attention back to Rhonda. “Now, where were we?” she asked brightly as if murderous cowboys were part of her everyday experience.

  “So, this Hunt character might be a threat to Cassie too,” the shopkeeper said in an anxious tone.

  “No. He thinks he killed her already.” Maddie waved her hand dismissively. “His mission at the moment is to find Hannah, and she accidentally led him straight into the middle of our operation. That’s why we had to relocate her and clean out Cassie’s apartment.”

  “Is Hannah alright?”

  “She’s doing great. Staying with a very nice lady out in the sticks where the bad guys won’t find her.” Maddie focused her piercing eyes on Rhonda and scowled. “Now we have to figure out what to do about your predicament.”

  “You’re not going to rub me out, are you?” Rhonda quavered.

  Maddie threw back her head and laughed until her whole body shook. Wiping tears from her eyes, she said, “Thanks, I needed that! I haven’t had a good laugh in weeks.” Composing her features, she added, “Seriously, we’re the good guys. We don’t rub people out. We just need to get you to a neutral environment.”

  “A neutral environment?” Rhonda repeated cautiously.

  “Here’s the situation. Leroy is bound to leave the country soon since he’s chasing the same artifact as Cassie is. Before that happens, he might decide to find out where you live and it would be a good idea if you weren’t here to be found. We’ll move you to a safe house, and you can have somebody else mind the shop for you. Do you have an assistant who can handle things for a week or so?”

  Rhonda nodded uncertainly. “I can have Lupe take over. She’s been asking for more hours. Guess she’ll get her
wish.”

  “Don’t forget that Hunt is listening in,” Maddie cautioned. “It’s important for you to call Lupe every day so he’ll think you’re just out sick. We don’t want him getting suspicious before we’ve been able to arrange a more permanent solution for you.”

  “Just exactly what do you mean by permanent solution?” Rhonda still wasn’t convinced the large woman with the scary fingernails wasn’t going to rub her out.

  “Think of us as a witness relocation program. When Leroy got too close to finding Hannah and Cassie, we whisked them out of harm’s way. We can do the same for you.”

  “But I own a business,” Rhonda protested. “You can’t just snap your fingers and make me disappear.”

  Maddie didn’t seem fazed at all by the objection. “Sure, I can. I already know you don’t have any family in the area. My people have done a background check on you. We can set you up with a new identity and a new antique shop anywhere you like, though it might be best for you to stay out of the Midwest for the foreseeable future.”

  Things were moving too fast. Rhonda could feel herself babbling, “But... but... I mean... I’d have to sell the existing business. How am I supposed to live if my shop closes down? And Cassie’s my business partner.” The shopkeeper could feel a panic attack coming on.

  Maddie patted her arm reassuringly. “Take a deep breath! You let us handle the details. As a matter of fact, it might be best if you were out of the country entirely while we arrange things for you.”

  “But where am I supposed to go?” Rhonda asked feebly.

  Maddie gave a mischievous smile. “I’ve heard the sea air is very good for what ails you. How would you feel about an all-expense-paid cruise around the world?”

  Chapter 33—Serpentine Logic

  Cassie rested her head against the back of her lounge chair and lazily contemplated the star-spangled Egyptian night sky. Abu Simbel wasn’t a big enough town to create much light pollution. The trio had made an uneventful trip back from the desert that afternoon. After dinner, they had gathered around a poolside table at their hotel to discuss the next step in their artifact quest. Thankfully, none of the hotel’s other occupants felt inclined to take a swim this late in the evening.