Map of Bones by James Rollins Read Free Book Online Page B

protuberance with one of her shoes. “Despite the convenient handle here, the artifact is too large. The thief must already have an international buyer. The bust alone would be easier to smuggle across the border.”
    “Is there any hope of recovery?” Professor Giovanna asked.
    Rachel did not offer any false promises. Of the six thousand pieces of antiquity stolen last year, only a handful had been recovered. “I’ll need photographs of the intact statue to post with Interpol, preferably concentrating on the bust.”
    “We have a digital database,” Professor Giovanna said. “I can forward pictures by e-mail.”
    Rachel nodded and kept her focus on the beheaded statue. “Or Roberto over there could just tell us what he did with the head.”
    The professor’s eyes darted to the young man.
    Roberto took a step back. “Wh-what?” His gaze traveled around the room, settling again on his teacher. “ Professore …truly, I know nothing. This is crazy.”
    Rachel kept staring at the beheaded statue—and at the one clue available to her. She had weighed the odds of playing her hand now or back at the station. But that would’ve meant interviewing everyone, taking statements, a mountain of paperwork. She closed her eyes, thinking of the lunch to which she was already late. Besides, if she had any hope of recovering the piece, speed could prove essential.
    Opening her eyes, she spoke to the statue. “Did you know that sixty-four percent of archaeological thefts are abetted by workers at the site?” She turned to the trio.
    Professor Giovanna frowned. “Truly you don’t think Roberto—”
    “When did you discover the statue?” Rachel asked.
    “T-two days ago. But I posted our discovery on the University of Naples website. Many people knew.”
    “But how many people knew the site would be unguarded during last night’s storm?” Rachel kept her focus on one person. “Roberto, do you have anything to say?”
    His face was a frozen mask of disbelief. “I…no…I had nothing to do with this.”
    Rachel unsnapped her radio from her belt. “Then you won’t mind if we search your garret. Perhaps to turn up a hacksaw, something with enough trace marble in its teeth to match the statue here.”
    A familiar wild look entered his eyes. “I…I…”
    “The minimum penalty is five years in prison,” she pressed. “Obbligatorio.”
    In the lamplight, he visibly paled.
    “That is, unless you cooperate. Leniency can be arranged.”
    He shook his head, but it was unclear what he was denying.
    “You had your chance.” She raised her radio to her lips. The squawk of static echoed loudly in the arched space as she pressed the button.
    “No!” Roberto raised his hand, stopping her as she suspected he would. His gaze dropped to the floor.
    A long silence stretched. Rachel did not break it. She let the weight build.
    Roberto finally let out a soft sob. “I…had debts…gambling debts. I had no choice.”
    “Dio mio,” the professor swore, raising a hand to her forehead. “Oh Roberto, how could you?”
    The student had no answer.
    Rachel knew the pressure placed on the boy. It was not unusual. He was only a tiny tendril in a much larger organization, so widely spread and embedded that it could never be fully rooted out. The best Rachel could hope was to keep picking at the weeds.
    She lifted the radio to her lips. “Carabiniere Gerard, I’m heading up with someone who has additional information.”
    “— capitò, Tenente —”
    She clicked the radio off. Roberto stood with his hands over his face, his career ruined.
    “How did you know?” the professor asked.
    Rachel did not bother explaining that it was not uncommon for members of organized crime to ply, petition, or coerce cooperation among site workers. Such corruption was rampant, catching up the unsuspecting, the naive.
    She turned away from Roberto. It was often only a matter of discerning who in the research team was the weak spot. With the young man,