The Mummy by Barbara Steiner

surprised to find Rod Newland waiting for her at the door. “I have permission to sketch some of the artifacts, today, Lana. I did that in Cairo. I have a whole notebook full of sketches.” He was going to show them to her, but she stopped him. Somehow she wasn’t in the mood.
    â€œWhere’s Antef? He was supposed to open up. I don’t have a key.”
    â€œI haven’t seen him.” Rod closed the notebook, obviously disappointed that Lana didn’t seem excited about his work.
    She wasn’t totally out of touch. “I’ll look at them later, Rob. Let’s try again to have lunch together. We have to open now. People will be in line here in no time.” She glanced down the hall. “I’ll go get another key.”
    She hurried to the museum office, but happened across one of the custodians on the way downstairs. “Mr. Lowman, can you open the exhibit for me? Antef Raam was supposed to be here, but I don’t see him and the door is locked.”
    â€œSure, Lana.” The elderly man followed Lana back up the escalator, which had yet to be turned on. “There’ll be a huge crowd today.”
    â€œI know. That’s why we have to get ready. Thank goodness I came early.” Lana was at least forty-five minutes early, so early no other volunteers had arrived, nor had all of the employees. She had planned to look at the entire exhibit carefully, to make sure that everything was in place.
    She was becoming paranoid about anything having to do with the show. Maybe what was happening was some elaborate scheme to steal some other artifacts. Annoying her — well, frightening her — was just an extra part of their game. Someone was entertaining himself at her expense but at the same time planning to steal the relics.
    Did this have something to do with her deliberately trying to look like an ancient Egyptian? She had thought it would be fun. She was so taken with the exhibit coming, with the whole life of these ancient peoples. Had she gone way too fat in identifying with them? Someone had noticed her immediately. Be truthful, Lana, she said to herself, everyone noticed you immediately. But one person thought that making her a part of his game was irresistible.
    Was it Rod? She remembered Blair’s question, her suspicion. Rod and Darrah together? Did they need money that badly? Rod acted so innocent, but maybe he had the ability to do that. Or he was another person around Darrah. She knew girls with that kind of power. They could talk a guy into doing anything.
    Mr. Lowman got the door opened and propped back. Lana darted inside, flipping on the lights, looking from case to case, display to display, fully expecting something to be out of place, something to be missing. The first room was exactly as it had been from the night the exhibit had opened.
    â€œYou okay?” Rod had noticed her nervousness.
    â€œSure. I guess I was spooked because Antef wasn’t here and we had to open. Put your stool down anyplace, and we’ll stumble over you all morning.” She teased Rod, but gave him a big smile to make up for it. Maybe she should tell him some of what had been happening over lunch, and watch his reaction. She wouldn’t mind unloading on someone else. Her mother didn’t count, since she was too distanced from the museum and the people working here. Would Josh be sympathetic? He’d care, but he might just laugh at her fear.
    At first glance, the second room of the exhibit looked all right, too. The case that had replaced the one holding the wedding necklace looked awfully bare. Dr. Walters had deliberately left the top shelf vacant to receive the necklace once they found it. He wanted the public aware of what had happened, and to have everyone in Denver looking for the jeweled collar.
    Nefra lay just as he’d been for two weeks. Lana was almost getting used to the warmth she stepped into as she walked to the coffin. The aura was