Then we’ll let you rest. I promise.”
Holly usually talked to her mummies. Some people questioned her about it, wondering if she was a little batty. But she explained that it was a gesture of respect. These former human beings had gone to considerable expense and effort to ensure that their afterlife would be comfortable and dignified. Who was she to thwart their final wishes?
The radiologist was waiting behind the glass window to begin the scan. She joined him in the adjacent room, which served as a control booth.
“This is one patient who won’t be squirming around,” the young radiologist said with a grin.
“I can guarantee this one’s not budging.”
He pushed the button and they watched the ancient figure slide into the machine.
“It’ll take about twenty minutes. Mind if I step out for a sandwich?”
“Sure, no problem,” Holly agreed. “Why don’t you set the timer for a few minutes longer. Because he’s dead, we can get a lot more detail without risk of overexposure.”
“I’ll set the clock at forty-five minutes. The body will come out automatically. But I should be back.”
“OK, don’t rush.”
Holly sat down on a chair and watched the monitor. Every angle of the figure—both internal and external—would be scanned. They would image the body at 2-millimeter thicknesses at 1.5-millimeter intervals. New techniques in the medical field were helping Egyptologists every day: radiography, computer tomography, endoscopy scanning, electron microscopy, and even DNA testing. Looking at the high-resolution images, they would be able to determine what the man died of and any medical conditions that he suffered from while still alive.
But all that would come later. Right now, there was really nothing to observe. She tipped her head back and closed her eyes to rest.
Holly woke up with a start, surprised to find herself in the hospital imaging room. She had been dreaming about the gala. Her body was stiff from being immobile, and she was again aware of the fatigue from the late night. The lab was empty. She looked through the window and saw that the mummy was still inside the machine.
The door behind her opened. But it wasn’t the lab worker. There was a handsome man standing there. Tall, possibly in his early fifties, dressed in a blue blazer and gray slacks.
“Sorry to disturb. The attendant said I could come in.”
“How can I help you?”
“I’m looking for a Dr. Hollis Graham.”
His voice was soft, and he gave a slight smile. Holly sat up, adjusting her white coat.
“I’m Dr. Graham.”
“I’m Ted VerPlanck. I believe your friend John Sinclair told you I would be in contact.”
“ Mr. VerPlanck, nice to meet you! I was expecting to hear from you, but not in person.”
“I called the museum and was told you could be reached here. I was wondering if we might talk after you are finished?”
“This scan will take a few more minutes, so I have time now.”
“Excellent.”
“Won’t you sit down?”
She offered him the only other seat in the room, a rolling stool. He perched there and started explaining how a rare Egyptian sardonyx cup had been stolen from his home. Did she think it could be recovered?
Halfway through his account Holly realized that he was talking about the Sardonyx Cup—the famous artifact that had been fashioned from an Egyptian drinking vessel, carved from a single block of sardonyx. Holly had always assumed the chalice was in a museum in Europe, not a private collection!
“What did the police say when they looked at the crime scene?” Holly asked.
“I didn’t call them.”
“Why not?”
“There can be absolutely no publicity,” he replied brusquely.
“I assume you have photos of the object.”
“Yes, for the insurance records.”
Holly considered that for a moment. He didn’t look like someone who was involved in insurance fraud. But she had her reputation to consider.
“I must admit, I’m not comfortable with
Holly usually talked to her mummies. Some people questioned her about it, wondering if she was a little batty. But she explained that it was a gesture of respect. These former human beings had gone to considerable expense and effort to ensure that their afterlife would be comfortable and dignified. Who was she to thwart their final wishes?
The radiologist was waiting behind the glass window to begin the scan. She joined him in the adjacent room, which served as a control booth.
“This is one patient who won’t be squirming around,” the young radiologist said with a grin.
“I can guarantee this one’s not budging.”
He pushed the button and they watched the ancient figure slide into the machine.
“It’ll take about twenty minutes. Mind if I step out for a sandwich?”
“Sure, no problem,” Holly agreed. “Why don’t you set the timer for a few minutes longer. Because he’s dead, we can get a lot more detail without risk of overexposure.”
“I’ll set the clock at forty-five minutes. The body will come out automatically. But I should be back.”
“OK, don’t rush.”
Holly sat down on a chair and watched the monitor. Every angle of the figure—both internal and external—would be scanned. They would image the body at 2-millimeter thicknesses at 1.5-millimeter intervals. New techniques in the medical field were helping Egyptologists every day: radiography, computer tomography, endoscopy scanning, electron microscopy, and even DNA testing. Looking at the high-resolution images, they would be able to determine what the man died of and any medical conditions that he suffered from while still alive.
But all that would come later. Right now, there was really nothing to observe. She tipped her head back and closed her eyes to rest.
Holly woke up with a start, surprised to find herself in the hospital imaging room. She had been dreaming about the gala. Her body was stiff from being immobile, and she was again aware of the fatigue from the late night. The lab was empty. She looked through the window and saw that the mummy was still inside the machine.
The door behind her opened. But it wasn’t the lab worker. There was a handsome man standing there. Tall, possibly in his early fifties, dressed in a blue blazer and gray slacks.
“Sorry to disturb. The attendant said I could come in.”
“How can I help you?”
“I’m looking for a Dr. Hollis Graham.”
His voice was soft, and he gave a slight smile. Holly sat up, adjusting her white coat.
“I’m Dr. Graham.”
“I’m Ted VerPlanck. I believe your friend John Sinclair told you I would be in contact.”
“ Mr. VerPlanck, nice to meet you! I was expecting to hear from you, but not in person.”
“I called the museum and was told you could be reached here. I was wondering if we might talk after you are finished?”
“This scan will take a few more minutes, so I have time now.”
“Excellent.”
“Won’t you sit down?”
She offered him the only other seat in the room, a rolling stool. He perched there and started explaining how a rare Egyptian sardonyx cup had been stolen from his home. Did she think it could be recovered?
Halfway through his account Holly realized that he was talking about the Sardonyx Cup—the famous artifact that had been fashioned from an Egyptian drinking vessel, carved from a single block of sardonyx. Holly had always assumed the chalice was in a museum in Europe, not a private collection!
“What did the police say when they looked at the crime scene?” Holly asked.
“I didn’t call them.”
“Why not?”
“There can be absolutely no publicity,” he replied brusquely.
“I assume you have photos of the object.”
“Yes, for the insurance records.”
Holly considered that for a moment. He didn’t look like someone who was involved in insurance fraud. But she had her reputation to consider.
“I must admit, I’m not comfortable with
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