Sands of Time (Out of Time #6) by Monique Martin Read Free Book Online Page A

Elizabeth was happy people’s urge not to get involved was stronger than their desire to help. Even the policeman seemed more put-out by the crime than eager to solve it.
    The carriage ride from the busy train station to their hotel was a blur. Elizabeth was hungry and tired and had sand in places where sand should never go. She was too tired to take in the city as their carriage paced along. The splendor and insanity of Cairo would have to wait until tomorrow. She needed a sandwich and a bath, preferably at the same time.
    Their rooms were large and elegant, and it took all of her strength not to simply plop down on the large brass bed and call it a day. But she knew she wouldn’t feel completely human again until she’d bathed and brushed her teeth.
    The bathroom was big and bright. White tiles covered it from floor to ceiling, and a lovely small chaise sat in the corner. She plopped down on it and felt herself melting into the cushion. She took off her shoes and wiggled her toes. Her filthy toes.
    That was enough to get her moving again and she walked over to the tub, pleased to see that it came equipped with a shower. It was one of the few in the hotel. Apparently, Americans were keen on them, but Europeans hadn’t made the leap yet. Showers were generally reserved for athletic clubs, barracks and other manly places. Women were considered by many to be too delicate to withstand the powerful blast of water.
    Elizabeth turned the tap on the overhead shower. Not exactly a fire hose, but water, and running water was all she needed. She shed her clothing and stepped in, pulling the fabric curtain closed to keep the water from splashing all over creation. From the large shower head above her, a cool drizzle of rain fell down onto her. She stood there in an exhausted stupor for a few minutes before summoning her reserves and shampooing and bathing.
    She would have been content to stand there for an hour, but Simon was waiting. She toweled off and slipped on her robe.
    “It’s all yours—” she started to say, as she re-entered the bedroom, but the sight before her brought her up short.
    Simon sat in one of the large wing backs in the sitting area, one boot on and one boot off. His head was tilted back against the cushion, his eyes shut and his breathing deep. A lone sock dangled from his fingers. He’d fallen asleep mid-undress.
    Elizabeth couldn’t help but smile. He was such a giant doodlebug. The poor man probably hadn’t slept in days. His hyper-awareness and perpetual DEFCON-3 status had finally caught up with him. Elizabeth walked quietly over to his chair and gently moved his disheveled hair away from his eyes. She thought about leaving him and letting him sleep there, but chair sleep was no sleep at all.
    She caressed his cheek, the stubble rough under her palm.
    Slowly, his eyes blinked open and a gentle smile came to his face. He looked down and realized where he was. “I fell asleep,” he said needlessly.
    Elizabeth nodded. “I think the bed will be better.”
    Simon nodded and stood, giving an enormous stretch and dropping the sock onto the floor. He frowned as he noticed he still had one boot on.
    “Do you want to shower first or just conk out?” Elizabeth asked.
    He took in a deep breath and wrinkled his nose. “Unless that’s you, I think a shower is in order.”
    Elizabeth laughed and pointed him toward the bathroom and then turned back to their room as he closed the door behind him.
    Feeling strung out, but oddly invigorated now, Elizabeth opened their trunks and aired out their clothes. She found her hairbrush and sat down at the small vanity. She frowned at her reflection. Ugly dark circles hung under her eyes. She looked as tired as she felt. She tossed a silk slip over the mirror so she wouldn’t have to look anymore.
    It had been a hell of a few days and hardly what she’d expected. They’d been planning on moving down Sebastian’s list. Having a list of people, places and times where