Curse of the Pharaoh: A Brock Stone Adventure

They emerged on the street to the sound of screams. Across the way, he saw Trinity being forced into a Rolls Royce Phantom limousine. Stone broke into a run. He dodged an oncoming Buick Roadster. The driver shouted something in Arabic, shook his fist, and screeched away in a cloud of dust. Stone zigzagged through a group of camel riders, vaulted a horse-drawn cart, and reached the other side of the street.

He was too late. The Phantom was already far down the street. Pedestrians leaped out of the way as the driver made his reckless escape. Stone took off at a dead sprint, but there was no hope. Trinity was gone. He clenched his fists, shook with impotent rage. How was he going to find her? He turned and stalked back to the club, where Alex and Constance waited.

“Do you think it was somebody working for John Kane?” Alex said hotly.

“Where are they going with her?” Constance added, talking over him.

“Kane seems the most likely culprit, but I don’t know where to begin looking.”

Behind him, a woman spoke in a voice smooth as silk. “I can answer both of your questions.

Stone whirled around to face the woman. If any doubt about her identity had remained, now he knew for certain.

“Rose!”

14 The Brothel

Stone’s first instinct was to seize Rose by the collar and demand answers, but he knew that wouldn’t work on her. She was not easily intimidated. He took a deep breath, calmed himself.

“How are you alive?”

“That’s not important right now,” Rose said. “Your friend was taken by a collector, a man who works for a local man, what you might call a low-level crime boss. Most of the pickpockets in this part of town also work for him. But his most profitable business is much more unsavory.”

“Meaning?”

“He occasionally abducts people. The men he sells as slaves, and the women…”

Stone understood. “Tell me where I can find her.”

“I will show you the way.”

“I’ll handle it.” Stone didn’t want her help, didn’t deserve it.

“There’s little time. Not only can I take you there, I can get you inside,” Rose said.

“How?”

“He occasionally pays me to provide entertainment at his… club. Not that kind of entertainment. Only singing.”

“Fine.” Stone knew there was no arguing with her, and if she truly could get him inside, it would be worth it.

“What about me?” Alex said.

“He means, what about us,” Constance corrected. “Unlike Alex, I actually work in law enforcement.”

“Neither of you can come,” Rose said bluntly. “You both would stick out like sore thumbs, if for different reasons.” She held up a hand as the pair started to argue. “But you can help. Go two blocks that way, turn right, and look for the house with the purple door. Tell Iko that Rose needs transportation for five waiting at the docks. Run!”

To their credit, neither Alex nor Constance batted an eye. They took off down the street as fast as Constance could manage in her dress and heels.

“All right,” Stone said, “show me the way.”

Rose smirked. “First, you will need a disguise. Follow me.”

She led him to the back of the club and into a private dressing room. There, she gave him a russet-colored false beard and mustache, and slicked his hair straight back. She swapped his tight-fitted suit for one of the draped style that was becoming popular among young men around the world. He now wore a tartan vest that matched the pattern of the square of fabric she tucked into his breast pocket.

“I look ridiculous,” he said.

“That’s the general idea.” Rose cupped his chin and locked eyes with him. “Listen carefully. You are the wayward son of a rich American businessman. You are here celebrating your purchase of an old Scottish castle. The seller tricked you into believing you are now a Scottish lord. You’re the only one who isn’t in on the joke. You’re a buffoon. Shouldn’t be too difficult a role for you to play.”

“I understand.”

“Good. I’ll fill you in on the rest along the way.” She led him outside to a waiting Hudson Roadster. “You drive. It’s not strictly forbidden, but in this city, a woman behind the wheel draws far too much attention.”

Stone fired up the engine, pulled out onto the street, and hit the gas. He wanted to put the pedal to the floor, but discretion was in order. Assuming Rose could be trusted. Until now, it hadn’t occurred to him that she likely still held a grudge. What if she was in league with the abductor and this was all just a ruse to get Stone and his friends to a vulnerable place where they could be captured with ease?

He turned and gave Rose a long look. She didn’t turn away, didn’t even blink.

“Why are you doing this?” he asked.

Now she looked away. She cast her eyes toward the heavens, where the moon shone brightly above. “I owe you my life.”

“Quite the opposite, I would think.” Stone’s gut twisted at the memory.

Rose laughed. “You can lie to yourself, but not to me, Brock Stone.”

“How did you find out my real name?” Stone asked.

“I did some checking. Wasn’t all that difficult, mister football hero.”