Passage to Queen Mesentia Read Online Free PDF Page B

“I mean, before we get to the last one.”
    Wade clicked the side of his cheek, recognizing and not believing her embarrassment over something so ridiculous. He wanted to shout, “I get it!” But he held his tongue because this was actually a crack in the stone wall she had put up. It was a very tiny crack, but at least she hadn’t called someone else over to help her. So he took it.
    He sat with his legs out in front of him and his back against the wall and opened the notebook dated January 2005 - March 2005. The last notebook Mrs. Steward had worked in. For a busy woman, he didn’t see how she found the time for such detail.
    He read a few passages on the front page about how they planned their trip home. It had pictures of them saying their goodbyes and visiting places for the last time, and so on. He skimmed through until he’d reached the month of February. There, something actually caught his attention. “Hey, Lilly,” he said. “Listen to this. ‘There was a strange man outside of the apartments today. He didn’t see me but was clearly observing our window. He lingered for at least ten minutes before walking away. I wouldn’t have thought much of it, seeing as the street is often busy mid-afternoon, but something about him—something about the way he tried to be discreet—gives me cause to be alarmed.’
    “Here it says,” he continued, “‘The same man came back. Ben had warned us to be on the lookout. Perhaps that is why I’m so off-nerved. Phillip keeps saying that I’m overly paranoid. I’m glad we’ll be leaving soon.’”
    “Do you think he followed them all the way from Egypt?”
    “I don’t know. It could be.”
    “Maybe this is the person who killed them?” Lilly bit her thumb nervously.
    “Let’s not jump to conclusions. Don’t get all upset.”
    “I can’t help it. Well, does it say anything about the statuette or Ben?”
    “Nothing yet. I’ll keep reading. I’ll let you know.”
    Wade carefully read through the notebook but didn’t see anything else. After closing it, he checked his watch, 2 a.m., before glancing over to Lilly. She sat crossed legged on the floor, her skirt slightly up and revealing her sexy thighs, one of the many things he missed terribly. And even though he wanted to crawl over to her and make her remember some very memorable moments, he couldn’t help but sympathize with what she must have been going through.  “Lilly, why don’t we call it a night? We can finish this tomorrow.”
    She absentmindedly tucked her long, dark hair behind her ears and looked up at him, her brown eyes blood shot and determined. “You go on. Thanks for helping.”
    “No, that’s not what I meant. Both of us.”
    “I have to get through these. I know you have work tomorrow, and I’m sure you want a cigarette.”
    “I quit,” he whispered.
    Lilly stared at him blankly and then lowered her eyes to read again.
    He recognized the lost opportunity to ask her if she blamed him for her parents’ murder. But he couldn’t do it: it didn’t seem like right time. Instead, he picked up his next notebook, dated October 2004 - December 2004.  It told of the excitement of the find, the tomb of Queen Mesentia. It was as boring as the lecture had been. He skimmed through for about fifteen minutes and then grabbed another one.
    In the next journal, dated July 2004 - September 2004, Mrs. Steward wrote about the beginning of their dig at Saqqara. After reading through from beginning to end, he found nothing remotely odd.  He glanced up at Lilly. “What date are you on?”
    She looked at the front of her book. “July of 01.”
    He exhaled loudly and picked up the next one. His interest finally piqued, and he read to Lilly, “April 5, 2004, we met a remarkable man today. He said his name was Ben but wouldn’t give us a last name. He told us the most fascinating story about Mesentia.” He turned the page.
    “Well?” Lilly asked after a few seconds.
    “It’s been torn