Addison Cooke and the Treasure of the Incas Read Online Free PDF Page A

gang members yanked Uncle Nigel’s arms behind his back and bound his wrists. Uncle Nigel twisted and struggled. “What do you need me for?”
    â€œYou, my old friend, are going to help me solve the riddles to the three Incan keys and find the treasure.”
    â€œYou were an archaeologist once. You don’t need my help.”
    â€œIncas were always your department, Dr. Cooke. You found the first key, no? And you will certainly help me if you hope to see your family again.” Professor Ragar reclined in Uncle Nigel’s chair, propped up his feet, and took another deep puff from Uncle Nigel’s favorite pipe.
    â€œWhy are these men loyal to you, Vladimir?” asked Uncle Nigel. “They must know you’re insane.”
    â€œWhen I freed them from prison, they made me their
pakhan
, their boss. They are mine now.”
    â€œIt’s not too late to let me go.”
    The professor shook his head. “You know how I escaped the Siberian prison?” Ragar leaned close. “Malazar. He rescued me. And I rescued these men.”
    Uncle Nigel’s eyebrows lifted in surprise. His face turned ghostly white. “You work for Malazar?”
    Ragar nodded and slowly grinned.
    From their hiding place, Molly looked at Addison. He shrugged. They kept on listening.
    All the life seemed to have leaked out of Uncle Nigel, like air from a flat tire. He slumped in his chair, his head sinking to his chest. “Vladimir, you’ve made a deal with the devil.”
    Professor Ragar drew himself up to his full, towering height. His cold gray eyes narrowed to gleaming crescents. “Take Dr. Cooke to the car,” he ordered his men. “If he gives you any trouble, knock him out. But do not kill him, not yet. Dr. Cooke is going to help us find the greatest treasure in the world.”
    And at that precise moment, to Addison’s horror, Molly loosed a sneeze that was only slightly quieter than a sonic boom.
    Professor Ragar’s six bodyguards spun to face Addison and Molly. A dozen angry eyes locked on their hiding place behind the sarcophagus.
    Ragar snapped his fingers at his men.
    All six bodyguards lunged for the siblings.
    Addison turned to Molly. “Run,” he suggested.
    And for once, Molly willingly accepted his advice. They flew down the dark hallway as if launched from a catapult.

Chapter Three

On the Run

    A DDISON AND MOLLY GREW UP in the museum. They celebrated birthdays in the Ming dynasty court. They earned allowance tending the rooftop garden during summer vacation. When Uncle Nigel was out of town, they held impromptu jam sessions on Beethoven’s piano in the Hall of Musical Instruments.
    When they were young, they played hide-and-seek in the Neanderthal exhibit and King of the Castle in the Aztec temple. When they grew older, they played Capture the Flag in the Roman gladiator arena and Frisbee Golf in the Hall of Crowns and Jewels. It was safe to say they knew every secret passageway and shortcut in the museum. Yet Addison and Molly never imagined this knowledge might one day be needed to save their lives.
    Knowing where to go, and how best to get there, made them faster than the men chasing them. They tore through the medieval art wing, flying past tapestries depicting the entire blood-soaked history of the Crusades, zipping through the centuries in a matter of seconds. Addison’s dress shoes slipped and skittered on the slippery marble floors. Molly’s cleats clomped loudly.
    â€œThis would be much easier if Uncle Nigel would let us use Rollerblades in here!” Molly said.
    Addison slid to halt in the main atrium. The bodies of the four night watchmen, bound and gagged with duct tape, lay piled on the floor behind the information desk.
    Molly dropped to her knees. “Sam, Vinny, Carlos, Tom! Can you hear me? Are you okay?”
    One man stirred; the rest were unconscious. Addison spotted nasty bruises swelling on their foreheads. He