Last Breath

“I probably am,” Daria admitted and started to get up. “But I can get it.”

“You stay put. I don’t mind.” Mia started toward the door.

“Hey, this is a side of you I’ve never seen before. I like it. I’ve never seen you wait on anyone before.”

“It’s a whole new me,” Mia told him as she left the room. “It’s living the small-town life, what can I say?”

“She was just telling me she’d left the FBI,” Daria said.

Co

“Do you think she will?”

“I think she has. She’s looking forward to starting a new job in the fall-maybe she’s told you about that?”

When Daria nodded, he continued. “Got herself a new guy, a great guy. I think she’s going to be okay.”

“I hope so. I like her a lot.”

“Yeah, she’s all right.”

Daria could tell by the way he said it that he thought his cousin was more than just all right.

He unwrapped the sandwich and began to eat.

“Anything new to tell me?” she asked.

Co

Daria listened intently as Co

“Wasn’t there a real guard there?” Mia asked as she came back into the room with a small tray.

“Yes, but he’d gone into the basement to check on an open door and was bashed over the head,” Co

“Was he killed?” she asked.

“No, just knocked out for a while, much like Daria. Though he had a few more stitches than she does,” he replied.

“At least he’s alive. How’d the door get opened?”

“That’s one thing I can’t find an easy explanation for. There’s no way to jimmy it from outside. I have to think someone on the inside either left it open by accident-maybe went out by the back door and didn’t close it all the way-or someone deliberately opened it for the killer.”

“Which means an accomplice.”

“There has to be more than one person working this thing. I’m seeing two, maybe three.”

“Like some kind of ring.” Mia bit the cuticle on one finger. “Have you given any thought to this being an organized theft operation? You know, stealing valuable artifacts to resell them to other collectors?”

“Why would they target these specific artifacts?” Daria asked.

“Because they’re very rare-didn’t you say the things in the museum basement are the only known artifacts from Shandihar?” Mia asked. “If you’re going to steal to sell on the black market, why not steal the stuff that’s going to bring you the greatest return for your effort?”

“It feels like more than a simple theft,” Daria told her. “You have these ritualistic killings. Whoever is behind this knows the Shandiharan culture well enough to know how they punished people they felt had committed some sort of transgression. That greatly limits the pool of suspects.”

“Could be a combination of both, though,” Co

Mia set the small metal tray on the table she’d earlier pulled over for Co

“I don’t mind at all. I’m grateful for your help.”

“Here’s a bottle of water for you”-she handed it to Co

“I should probably take them now.” Daria reached for the small orange container Mia held out to her.

“In other news, I had a chat with Stefano Korban a little while ago,” Co

“He’s the archaeologist on the faculty here?” Daria popped the pills into her mouth and swallowed them with some water.

“Right. Daria, what do you know about Sabina Bokhari?”

“I know she’s very well regarded in the field. So much so that I was surprised to find out she was on the faculty here at Howe.”

“Why’s that?” Mia asked.

“Because she could certainly be teaching at a much more prestigious university. She could pretty much write her own ticket anywhere,” Daria explained. “I really don’t understand why she’s here, frankly.”

“I’m guessing you didn’t know about her interest in Shandihar?” Co

“She did mention that she was familiar with the legends. She told me there was a curse…”

“Did she also mention that one of her goals is to someday follow in Alistair’s footsteps?”

“I don’t understand,” Mia said. “What does that mean?”

“It means she wants to rediscover the city, according to Professor Korban. Seems she’s envisioning Shandihar’s second coming, if you will.” Co

Daria looked dumbstruck.

“Yeah, that was pretty much my reaction, too,” Co

“She never said anything about that to me. She was in my hospital room with me for hours, and never said a word about that. She just mentioned reading some book about the Sisters of Shandihar, which was apparently another name for the priestesses, and some vague curse associated with them and the gallas.”

“The evil spirits who roamed the earth and did bad things for Ereshkigal,” Co

“Er…who?” Mia asked.

“The Shandiharan goddess of the Underworld.” Daria explained the dark goddess and her cult of followers to Mia, who rolled her eyes.

“Gallas and goddesses and evil sisterhoods, oh my,” Mia parodied. “You think any of these evil sisters or evil gallas are here at Howe University?”

“Maybe someone-or more than one-who believe they are,” Co

“You mean, like someone who knows that some items were stolen from the storage room, and who wants to get them back?” Daria thought aloud. “But that someone would have to know that the items were missing in the first place.”

Co

“Then it follows that someone else would have to have known exactly what was in those crates,” Daria said.

“Which means that someone had to have read Alistair’s journals to have known exactly what he’d brought back,” Co

“How much do you suppose she knew about the artifacts? And did she know they were missing?” Mia asked.

“Just two of the questions I’ll be asking her.” Co

He turned to Daria. “I’ll check in on you when I get back. Is there anything you need? Anything I can bring you?”

“No, thanks.” She shook her head. “Mia’s taking good care of me.”

“Great.” He patted her leg, then stood and turned to Mia. “I owe you one.”

“My pleasure, sport.” His cousin smiled.

“Mia, come with me and lock the front door after I leave.”

“Good idea.” To Daria, Mia said, “I’ll be right back.”

Daria watched Co