Curse of the Egyptian Goddess Read Online Free PDF Page B

At least the stewardess still served me and I felt better, almost numb when I entered the airport back in Madison. Unfortunately, I had a feeling the man rushing toward me in the terminal was about to kill my buzz.
    Detective Cade wore another crinkled suit. He had his cuffs in hand, dark circles under his eyes, and deep lines of irritation streaked his forehead. I smiled and waved but the stuffy ass wasn’t amused.
    He growled as he pulled my wrists behind my back and slapped the handcuffs on. “You can’t leave a note that says you’ll be back in two weeks when I told you not to leave town.”
    “Ow!”
    “Christ! Are you permanently bruised?” He sounded cross, but he loosed the cuffs a little.
    Buzz gone, I sighed before I turned back. “You’re going to have to carry my bag now. You realize that?”
    He didn’t respond to my second attempt at humor. He picked up my bag and threw the strap over his shoulder before he curled his hand around my upper arm and pulled me along.
    The serious look on his face unnerved me. I’d never been good with serious. Normally, I used sarcasm to fend it off and today was no different. I knew he was only doing his job, but I prayed for him to lighten up just a little if I was going to be stuck with him.
    “Isn’t it bad luck or something to arrest someone on the Fourth of July? You haven’t even read me my rights.”
    “I’m not arresting you, I’m taking you in for questioning. But if you’d like me to read them to you, I don’t have a problem with that. You have the right to remain––“
    “No, no, thanks anyway. I understand.” Glancing around, I finally noticed how everyone in the busy airport had stopped to stare. I subtly ducked my head and started to move faster until Cade yanked on my arm. The ache jolted me enough to slow. “So, why the cuffs if you’re not arresting me?” I asked between clenched teeth.
    “You already fled the country once. I’m just ensuring that I get my interview. You really are lucky that I’m not arresting you right now.”
    “That’s funny. I don’t feel very lucky.”
    His chuckle echoed through the terminal entrance. “I’ve done some checking on you and let me just say, you have quite a family history.”
    Oh shit! I am so going to fry in the electric chair!
    “So, where are your two girlfriends today?” I asked in an attempt to change the subject.
    “Officers Coy and Wilder are back at the station. I told them I could handle this.”
    When we made it to his car, my cell phone rang and I instinctively tried to reach for it without success. “Please, can I answer that? It might be important.”
    I had left my number with Calvin just in case he changed his mind, and the thought of missing his call made me frantic. He was still my only hope.
    “Sure. Tell me where you were and I might make an exception.”
    “I was in Egypt. Please , answer it quickly.”
    “I know you were in Egypt. I want to know where in Egypt.”
    “Siwa.”
    “What the hell is Siwa?”
    “ My phone! ” I pleaded impatiently.
    He sighed and scowled before he dug into my backpack. When he found my phone, he pulled it out, opened it, and held it to my ear.
    “Hello?”
    “Hi Miss Patrix, I’m sorry to call you on such short notice, but I’m leaving town for the day and the night shifter called in again.”
    All hope I’d concocted about Calvin’s call disintegrated with my employee’s voice. “I thought we hired a fill-in for that,” I grumbled.
    “Apparently she’s sick too.”
    “It’s all right. No one wants to work on a holiday. I can cover it.” I took a deep breath before I glanced up at the detective. “Let me call my lawyer, take a nap, and I should be able to make it in time for the late shift.”
    “Your lawyer?” she asked, her voice straining nervously.
    “Long story. Thanks for calling.”
    Cade leisurely replaced the phone in my bag before he opened the back door and gestured me inside.
    I glanced inside the car