The Cult of Osiris by Andy McDermott Read Free Book Online Page B

trembling with anger. What you're doing in Egypt is an embarrassment to the archaeological profession, and you know it.'
    We both know who the real embarrassment to the profession is,' Rothschild countered. Nina gave her a hateful look, threw open the door and left the office.
    There was a park north of the United Nations; Nina strode round it, her anger barely lessened even twenty minutes later. In some perverse way, part of her actually wanted to keep stoking it - once it was gone, all she would be left with was misery, deeper than ever.
    But she knew she couldn't keep it burning indefinitely.
    Taking a long, slow breath, she took out her phone and called Eddie. To her surprise, his cell was switched off, rather than on voicemail. Odd. Eddie never switched off his phone.
    Even that brief distraction took the edge off her anger, depression roiling back in like a wall of fog. Not in the mood to do anything but go home, she headed west along 42nd Street to the subway station at Grand Central. About halfway there, her phone rang. Thinking it was Eddie, she snapped it up, only to see an unfamiliar local number on the screen. She composed herself, then answered.
    'Is that Nina?' said a Jersey-accented voice.
    Yes?'
    It's Charlie, Charlie Brooks.' Eddie's boss. Oh, hi,' she said. How are you?'
    Fine, thanks. Listen, I've been trying to get a hold of Eddie, but his phone's off. Is he with you? I need to talk to him about a new client.'
    'No. I've been trying to call him myself.'
    Really? Huh. Not like him to be out of contact when he's not working.' Isn't he with Grant Thorn?
    Nah, not till later. Well, if you talk to him in the next hour or so tell him I called, else I 'll pass it on to one of my other guys.'
    I'll tell him.' She disconnected. If Eddie wasn't working, then what was he doing, and why was his phone switched off?
    More to the point. . . why had he told her he would be with Grant Thorn all day?
    In her current frame of mind, she couldn't help constructing scenarios. None of them were good. Was he doing something he didn't want her to know about? The past months had not been ideal for their relationship. What if he was seeing someone else?
    She shook her head, refusing to countenance it. Eddie wouldn't do that to her.
    Would he?
    She reached Grand Central and rode the subway back to Queens, taking the gloomy walk south to Blissville. Along the way, her phone chimed - not a call, but a text message. Eddie. Terse as ever.
    Sony I missed call in middle of somediing. Talk later. How did UN go? Eddie x Super fine,' Nina sighed.
    The black Cadillac limousine cruised through midtown Manhattan. 'Almost there, Mr Thorn,' said the driver.
    Good, cool,' said Grant. He was wearing the formal suit he had bought the day before. He was also on edge, a far cry from his usual cocky self as he fingered his collar.
    You okay?' Eddie asked.
    Yeah, yeah, fine. Just, you know, this is a big thing. Even bigger than winning the People's Choice award.'
    Eddie kept his opinions on that to himself as they arrived at their destination. The Osirian Temple's New York 'church' was actually an unimposing East Midtown building with a neon sign over its entrance, an Egyptian-style eye superimposed over a triangle, which he assumed was meant to be a pyramid. But while the building was nothing noteworthy, the crowd outside resembled the crush surrounding the red carpet on Oscar night.
    Lot of people,' he said. Several men in tailored dark green blazers cleared a space so the Cadillac could pull over.
    Fast-growing religion, man. I mean, who doesn't want to live for ever?
    Depends who you're living with.' The limo stopped. You want me to wait with the car?'
    No, come in with me, check it out. Maybe you'll even want to join up.
    To his credit, Eddie just about managed to hold in a sarcastic comment as he got out of the limo and opened the door for Grant. The crowd responded enthusiastically as the star emerged.
    Hi, everyone, hi! Great to see you,' said