In the market of Cairo one could find anything you desired, or so it was promised. There were rich spices, wonderful perfumes, and trinkets to bring back to the wife at home. Of course everyone came to the market because they knew they would find one thing: buried treasure. In the back of every shop you would find the remnants of the tombs of kings. Every tradesman had at least one dusty fragment of clay that they would tell you came straight from the tomb of King Tut. It was how they made their living. The shopkeepers would be able to convince almost any foreigner into buying their ancient treasure no matter how fake the piece actually was.

Ines Portal made her way through the market swiftly avoiding the men offering her gold and perfume. She knew better then to trust any of them. Her destination was a small stall with a big back room. It belonged to the only trader in Cairo reputable dealers could trust for ancient Egyptian artifacts, that is as long as they were willing to not ask where they came from.

The shopkeeper greeted Ines Portal with a warm smile. She was a regular supplier. Ines was what most Westerners would call a grave robber, though she preferred to be called "Dealer in Egyptian Antiquities. " The people who knew her by reputation all called her the Tunisian, her assumed country of origin, though she was obviously of European birth. "Ahlan wa sahlan," Ines greeted the shopkeeper while moving toward the carpet that blocked off the back room.

The dirt room in the back was home of shelves full of Egyptian treasure some replications some real. Only Sudi, the owner of the shop actual knew which from which. "Ahlan wa sahlan," he said when he saw Ines.

"Ahlan biki," she replied.

"What do you have for me today?" Sudi asked ushering Ines to sit in the table before him. Ines put her sack on the table and produced a golden statue.

"I found it in a beautiful tomb, completely untouched. This is just the first piece you will be receiving from me," she said proudly. Sudi grabbed a glass out his pocket and put it to his eye. He examined the piece thoroughly flipping it over on its end to see the base, then looking at every detail in the delicately carved face.

"This is a major find," he said while looking at the rear of the figure, "I'll give you 90."

Ines' face turned sour. "If you melted it down it would be worth more than that," she protested. "This is no fake. I know you will get far more than that when you sell it to a museum."

Sudi nodded and put the statue away in one of his shelves. They both knew he would buy it. It was only a question of price. "I think you will have many more such statues for me. Not so rare a find."

"I will bring you no more if you do not give me a fare price. There are people all over this market looking for a find such as that." Sudi nodded but spoke no further. He walked over to a small desk in a corner and counted out a stack of bills. Slowly his fingers moved from paper to paper counting out a sufficient number before binding it.

"Here," he said tossing the bundle over. Ines feigned a pouting look at him before counting the bills. It was nearly five times his original offer.

"I think 100 more will make us a deal," Ines said. The sum was not important to her but she never gave up on winning the right price. Driving a hard bargain was a sign of respect among the Egyptian traders.

"I will give you 25 more," Sudi replied testily, "no more."

"It is worth at least 60 more. Remember I came to you first." Sudi groaned and passed a few notes her way.

"30, no more."

"45 I insist," Ines said coldly adding the bills to her stack.

"30," Sudi growled.

"I will find a better dealer who will give me much more then you," Ines replied getting up to retrieve her statue.

"You make too much noise over so little," Sudi told her angrily. He trusted the remaining money into her hand.

"Thank you," Ines said with a smile.

"I do not know why I do business with you," Sudi retorted as he had before. His over-embellished anger was something Ines had learned to expect.

"I will see you soon," Ines said with a smile. Sudi grumbled something she could not nor cared to hear. She saw herself out.

Ines made her way through the streets already planning her next steal. She knew her find would mean that Sudi would find people to track her movements. With any great find people would want to know where it came from, so that they could reap the benefits as well. Ines would not return to the site for quite sometime. She had her ways that made her one of the best grave robbers in all of Egypt.

Ines was restless but she could not go to her new find in daylight, for risk of being followed. Ines had heard workers had descended on one of the tombs that had previously been a regular source of revenue for her. She decided to take a look at what they had found. Has she made her way across the desert she went over her plan. Everyone took their breaks in the afternoon when the sun overhead became to hot to continue work. It provided an opportune time to find her treasure and get out.

Evelyn O'Connell worked through the midday. It was cool inside the tomb and she was on the verge of a big find. She took a small brush to the wall in front of her while the eyes of the workers were working. She began reading the inscription out and loud in Egyptian. "Gentlemen," she said to the workers around her all cleaning up to leave, "I believe we have found what we are searching for." The men cheered while she moved over to the rectangle carved in the granite. What she was now sure was a door. She put her brush down and now felt the door with her hand, trying to find its handle. She felt up the top and pushed her fingers into the crevasse. There she felt something, what could be the mechanism. A small indent pressed a small lever and stepped back in expectation. Nothing happened. The workers began to leave.

"Maybe it needs oil," Rick O'Connell said behind her. Evelyn was not amused. She looked at the scattered tools on the floor for something. "I need a fine brush and a better light," she said pushing aside the useless instruments. "I'll get it," Rick said making his way to the surface.

The sun was blinding when he reached the entrance. It beat down harshly on the mere mortals ducking under trees, tents, anything that gave enough shade to escape it. Rick O'Connell put on his hat in a effort to protect some small part of his body from the intense light of the sun. He moved his way over to the large tents that served as the headquarters of the expeditions.

Ines Portal lifted a small corner of the bottom of the white canvas of the tent up and slid under it. There were tables lined up with bits of clay and fragments of all sorts of ancient things that were of no use for her. What she wanted was the amulet. She knew the market was all about flash, not historical importance. Museums wanted something to bring visitors in, and replications of historic objects only sold if it was something that would impress the friends at home.

The amulet was at the far end of the tent, she realized with a huff. She tried to make her way through the tables as silent as she could. She stayed close to the ground moving on her hands and knees. Though there was no one in the tent she knew there were people watching. Her erect shadow could betray her presence.

Once she got there she lifted her hand above the tables and searched around to feel the object of her choosing. She had nearly grabbed it when she heard someone come in the tent adjoining hers. She retracted her hand and hid under the table concentrating hard not to make a sound. She closed her eyes focusing on her hearing to judge the visitors proximity.

The person didn't stay long. Whoever it was came in got whatever he was coming for and left. Ines Portal was relieved when she heard the footsteps going out of the door already. She opened her eyes only to see something far more dangerous in front of her.

An Eygptian cobra was at the other end of the table. It was in a state of catalepsy, a coma that helped snakes escape the heat, which had meant hitherto the cobra was undisturbed. However she knew a sudden of a movement would wake it and it would strike her with a deadly bite. She slowly moved her hand and grabbed the ornament. When she pulled it off however the cloth slid with it. She dashed out from under the table as the cobra missed his first strike because of the white cloth that had both waken him and blinded him. Ines scrambled for an exit.

Rick O'Connell heard the commotion and quickly ran to the tent where he saw the artifacts lying on the floor, an angry snake, and someone running out the other end. "Hey!" he yelled running after her. The person looked around but it only made her run faster she jumped on her horse ran off into the desert.

The workers, forced out of their shade by the commotion were already busy killing the snake on his return. Others were busy picking up the pieces. Rick was only interested in what was missing and who the person was who had caused this wreck. It didn't take him long to see what had happened. He cursed and sped back down in the tomb to tell Evy.

Ines Portal left the horse as soon as she made it to the city. It was stolen and not worth much. She would steal another when she needed it. Her heart was still pounding as she made her way through the city streets. The snakes of the desert had such deadly power people both revered and feared them. For Ines it was mostly fear. After all one bite of that cobra and her life would end. That seemed more real a threat then any other she encountered in her work.

She made her way through the maze of alleyways and street stalls on her way home. At a dead end she climbed the familiar ridges in the walls to the small room hidden from view where she had slept since she journeyed to Egypt to find riches years before. She was tired already so she wrapped herself in the blankets and rags she had accumulated over the years that formed a small nest to sleep in on the floor. She knew she would have more work to do tonight. Best get her rest now.

It was dark outside when Ines awoke. She uncurled from her blankets and took a look out one of the holes in the wall. It was only recently dark, the sun still added some color to the sky though it had disappeared from sight. She grabbed her bag and made her way back down to the street. She had a dinner meeting soon.

The Ramses Hotel was already full of people when Ines got there, most of them at the bar, no one had ventured out to the dance floor. Ines swerved through the crowds to get to her usual table where her dinner partners were already sitting. The two men stood up as she came in. One was Sidu and the other Sabeen, a trader who had discovered Ines' talent in Tunisia and convinced her to join the more prosperous trade in Egypt.

"Gentlemen," Ines greeted as they all sat down, "forgive me for being late, I was working today."

"Already on the next find," Sabir smiled, "I saw the piece you gave Sidu today, very nice." Ines nodded and grabbed the amulet from her purse and laid it out on the table.

"What a beautiful piece," Sabir said inspecting it closer.

"I nicked it from a dig near by," Ines said causally while motioning the waiter over to order drinks.

"You have had made much better finds," Sidu said skeptically.

"You are only saying that so you can justify a bad price," Ines retorted bitterly. Sabirl et out a hearty laugh. Sidu turned red.

"Today, did I not give you a good price," he lashed back, "I swear she pouted about five pounds today!" Sabir continued laughing it was tradition for Sidu and Ines to fight about prices at these dinners.

"I'm sure you sold it today for three times what you paid me, perhaps more, that was in very good condition, yes. I let you rob me because you are a very good friend Sidu."

"Rob you!" Sidu yelled standing up to leave the table.

"Sidu, Sidu, sit down. We all know you make a very good business," Sabir intervened.

"I swear try to find a vendor who knows what I know. You will not find a dealer who can sell you junk like I can and you know you receive your cut, every time."
"We know Sidu," Sabir said placating him. Ines smiled to cut the foul mood.

"You want to hear how I came by this," she asked Sibu, "It is a pretty story."

"To be told over our meal," Sabir said motioning the waiter to bring food. They ate a huge meal while Ines told her tale, the laughed at the snake with a cloth over his head and how she narrowly escaped capture.

"I'm telling you it was scary," Ines said, "So you better find a big buyer for that."

"There are so many amulets in the market now."
"But this one is real," Ines pointed out, "or say it's cursed."

"Everything lowly shopkeeper knows that trick now. Everything in Cairo is haunted now."
"I could poison someone," Ines said with bread still in her mouth, "if you needed proof."

"You are French only in the face," Sidu said, "certainly not in manners." Ines did not to seem to care nor notice as she stuffed her mouth with another piece of bread. Sabir rich laughter filled the dinning room.

"It is true," Sabir said through chuckles, "a little more sun and people would not believe you were French at all." Ines said nothing, she was frozen staring at a face she had seen earlier that day.

"Merde," Ines hissed.

"What," Sabir said in a low voice, looking around for what spooked her.

"The man," she told them getting up, "from the dig."

Ines Portal's intention was to slowly get up and leave the restaurant but in getting up she caught the man's attention.

"You," he yelled making her way toward her, hurtling through the crowded restaurant. Ines turned and ran as fast as she could out of the building. Sabir and Sidu sprang up in an effort to stop or at least slow the man.

"It is okay friend," Sabir said, "No need to get worked up. Here I will buy you a drink."

"Get out of my way, " Rick O'Connell yelled pushing through them. He made his way out of the hotel just to see the woman ducking into a near by alley. He ran as fast as he could after her trying to not loose her in the maze of streets. "Stop," he yelled as so many do in a chase without expecting any results.

Ines realized she would not win a foot race she had to loose him in a crowd or in the streets. She made her way to a busy night market in an effort to lose him. She turned a corner and there was the mess of people she wanted. Her short stature helped her blend into the crowd and it made it hard for her pursuer to find her. He kept craning above the crowd for a better look but soon she was lost again. Ines made her way through the market until she convinced herself she lost him. She ducked into a street and let out a sigh of relief. She turned back and looked at the market but instead she saw the man she was avoiding.

"Miss me?" Rick O'Connell said grabbing her bag and holding her against the wall. Ines sighed this time in disappointment.

"Hal tatakalam al Arabi?" she asked.

"What?"

"Parlez-vous Français?"

"No."
"Ah! Do you speak English?"

"Yes."

"Good! Uh…oh! Don't hurt me! Don't hurt me!" she started screaming. Rick O'Connell laughed.

"That's a nice trick," he said but she didn't stop.

"Hey," a man said ducking his head in the alley, "Are you alright miss."
"She's fine," Rick said turning his head distracting him just enough for Ines to grab her bag back and make her way down the street, up a wall, and away from capture.

"Shit!" Rick swore. The other man, seeing his job was done returned to his evening shopping.

Ines Portal found Sabir waiting for her. "What are you doing here," she said in a bad mood.

"I wanted to make sure you made it home safely."

"I'm fine," she growled.

"You know that man was Rick O'Connell. He is not one I would cross."
"Why? He's a man isn't he? Or does he have a secret army I haven't heard of? Perhaps he can summon the undead?" Ines laughed cruelly. "I am fine," she repeated again. Sabir work worried. "That means go," she said testily. Sabir knew better then to pursue the subject when she was in this mood and left her.

Ines lit a candle and sat down with her back against the cold stone. She had two close calls in one day. A small stack of books formed her library, they were tomes she had stolen or bought from the bazaars. Most were about Egypt though she craved more about Tunisia, about Carthage, about home. She picked up the top one and moved the candle closer to her.

Ines had gotten into the trade out because she loved being close to something so ancient. She loved the thrill of it certainly but she also loved to sit in the dim light of her lantern and look at paintings that hadn't seen a fellow human in hundreds of years. She was one who could easily tell the worth of the trinkets she found in the temple but she longed to want to know what it all meant. Her books were her only answers and they were not good tutors.

She thumbed through and found a section on amulets. She slipped her hand in her sack and found something important missing. She cursed bitterly. She would have to see this O'Connell once more. He must have slipped the item out of her bag sometime when she didn't see it. He was good, she would give him that. Defeated she went to sleep.

Ines Portal dismounted a camel near the O'Connell site. She had cursed for nearly the entire way there. She at least didn't have to worry about hiding now. She strode up to the table where a woman seemed to be directing people and thus seemed in charge.

"Do you know where Rick O'Connell is?" Ines said as politely as she could. Evelyn O'Connell was in startled by the new comer and her question.

"Why, yes, uh, may I ask why you are here – "
"What are you doing here!" she heard a familiar voice yell. Ines Portal turned to see Rick O'Connell advance on her, his gun raised.

Ines smirked as she put her hands up. "What are you doing, Rick?" Evelyn said in a scolding tone.

"This is our thief," Rick said. Ines turned around and shook her hand.

"Ines Portal," she introduced putting out her hand for Evelyn to shake. "I'm here because you have something that belongs to me," she said turning to Rick.

"I believe it was ours first," he said not budging.

"I'm not talking about that," Ines said coldly. Rick began to lower his gun. Slowly he reached in his pocket and pulled out a box.

"You mean this," he said holding it up, "Surely stolen like the rest."

The box was made of stone and had never been opened. A Tunisian sorcerer had told her that the box was surrounded by a curse and was never to be opened. The markings, she knew said they contained the ashes of Queen Dido, and warned not to awaken the dead. She never dared to open it but it had been with her since childhood. She believed it brought her luck, and that this Queen Dido was watching over her since Ines had done such a good job protecting her ashes over the years.

It was a precious item to her. One of the few things she owned that was of sentimental value. "It has been with me for years. It isn't even from Egypt, as you will see the from the writing." Rick took a look at the box and tossed it to Evelyn.

"This is ancient Phoenician, isn't it? " she said sitting down to give it a closer look, "where did you get it?"

"Tunisia," Ines said keeping her eye on the box, "I found it as a child in a tomb not far from Carthage."

"Are you from Tunisia?" Evelyn asked taking a good look at her.

"Yes, my father was French. I grew up in an orphanage."

"What brought you to Egypt."

"The trade."
"Yes, and um, how does one become a uh-"

"Dealer in Egyptian Antiquities."

"A grave robber," Rick corrected.

"Rick, she's come to her peace, haven't you Miss Portal was it." Ines nodded. It was true she had no intention of stealing from the O'Connells it had caused her too much trouble already. She wasn't like the pickpockets and petty thieves who stole more out of joy and compulsion rather than survival. She had convinced herself that her trade was nobler. After all Sidu always insured that the pieces went into the right hands, people who cared about the piece and had the knowledge to appreciate the finds.

"It is a good pay. Exciting work. I'm not all that different the you I'm sure," Ines said looking at Rick.

"We don't steal," Rick snapped back.

"Neither do I, I knew of this site long before you came here. That door you are looking to open. It was a pretty little mechanism that opened it that set off a pretty little trap. However a few months ago a less cautious robber tried to get in with brute force broke it completely. You only need to move the stone to the side. It is no longer connected to the wall."
"We figured that out this morning," Rick said unimpressed.

"Then you'll realize there isn't much left, only what couldn't be sold or moved. I tell you a secret though," she said leaning in, "On the north side there is a hollow wall, I didn't have time to explore last time I was in there, no thief has discovered that yet, I think." She sat back with a smile, "May I have my box back?"

Ines walked back to her camel with her artifact safely back in her bag where it belonged. On her ride home she thought of the night she left her orphanage in Tunisa. It was one she thought of often. The children in the orphanage huddled together in the corner of the girl's dormitory. They were all listening to the conversation on the other side of the wall between a fancy French woman and mother Superior.

Ines Portal was among them though her fair skin stood out from the children. She looked more like the Mother Superior and the sisters from France though she associated herself more with her Tunisian playmates and would only speak Arabic even though the sisters taught them all French.

Ines was the bastard child of a famous French archeologists who had fallen in love for the ruins of Tunisia and on of its beautiful current residents. His love died in childbirth leaving him to raise the small child until his death years later. His French wife came to collect his things but had no stomach for the small girl which she left for the sisters to deal with. Ines was eleven now, one of the oldest orphans and their unofficial leader. The sisters, though impressed by her biblical study, could not persuade her to give up her play time to pursuit the Lord's wishes more piously.

The entire group jumped at the sound of a door opening. The girls scrambled back to their tables as the Mother Superior came in with the woman.

"This is the child of Monsieur Portal," she told the French woman pointing out Ines in the punch, "You must understand with the war coming how dangerous it would be if she was left here."

"Very well," the woman said.

"Come here child," the Mother Superior said motioning to Ines, "This is Madame Portal, she has come to take you to France."

"But I am Tunisian," Ines whined in Arabic. She did not budge from her seat.

"What did she say?" the woman said. Ines could already see that she was a cold woman and was not impressed by her fineries like the other girls.

"Nothing," Mother Superior said but you could see she was going to begin one her rages the children were so afraid of, "Come here," she said sternly. Ines knew better then to disobey.

As soon is she was in reach the Mother Superior grabbed her. "You must leave now," she told Ines and started walking out of the door with the French woman, dragging Ines behind her. "This is for your own good," the Mother told her, "Madame Portal has a great house in France and she will send you to a great school. You will become a little lady, how will like that."

Ines scowled and continued to tug at the nun who gripped harder. She howled when the nun's nails dug into her flesh. She temporarily went along then looking for a chance to escape.

When they reached the carriage Ines knew it was now or never. She bit the Mother who screamed but let go enough to allow time for her little legs to leap up to the stir ups and on to the horse. The other nuns were not close enough to stop her before she got on a horse to gallop towards them and out of the city. Mother Superior, now nursing the bite, had had enough. They would not chase her.

Ines was free in the country she loved. She rode in the desert unsure of where to go. She knew that soldiers roamed on both sides and she would not get caught. However she remembered ruins one of the local orphans had told them about. She longed to go there and she had traced the route on the big map in the school room so many times she was sure she would get there and as fate would have it the route would take her away from the fighting.

She could barely see the ruins of Carthage when she arrived and she was so tired she was nearly falling off her horse. She slowed it down and struggled for a little bit to climb down. She led it into the ruins and led it toward some light. She could see tents as she got closer and it became a camp in front of her eyes.

However the closer the she got the more she was heard. A shot rang out and a few people scurried out of her tent into the night. She abandoned her horse and ran hid in a small nook on the opposing side of a ruin. She tried to make no sound as the men searched and found her horse. Her small body fit so well into the hole that the night shaded all of her and the spot was so small no one looked closely assuming it was a grown man. Soon the voices died down though they now were alert. Guards patrolled the ground they were excavating during the rest of the night but they would see nothing. Ines fell asleep suddenly and she was not found until morning.

In the early morning, before the sun had brightened up the sky a pair of grave robbers roamed the ruins in search of treasures to sell. Ines was in the waking stage but had not fully come to awareness. She did feel some soreness from the odd shape she slept but had not really become awake enough to remember where that was. She nudged and moved out of her shape and the world slowly came to her as the sunlight hit her eyes. The sunlight was short lived as she remembered herself and jetted back in the notch.

The stir though had attracted attention. One of the grave diggers, whose ears had become attune to the little sounds perked up. He moved toward the sound slowly. Ines heard him as well and tried to move forward back but she bumped her head in the process. She exclaimed a curse which in turn cursed her to be found. The man moved closer and seeing no other solution she scurried out of the notch.

"It's alright, little one," the man said, "what is your name?"

"Ines Portal," the girl told him boldly, "and I am not scared of you or the Franks." The man laughed.

"I am not interested in the Franks. What are you doing here, little one. Where are your parents?"

"Dead," Ines said candidly as children can be.

"Where is your home, then?"
"Gone. I live here now."
"These ruins are no place for children. There are ghosts, curses, and –"

"I know my way, I have been here before, see?" She reached into the bag she always kept with her where she kept all the small trinkets she found. Among the mundane candy wrappers and notes from friends she produced a box with ancient writing on it, the box she kept to this day. She gave it to the man as proof of her exploration.

The man said nothing. He closely examined it. He seemed pleased. Ines trusted him enough to climb out of her hole to further examine him. His skin was dark from days of labor in the sun and scars on his arms depicted a rough life. Ines could tell her was smart though, and that she liked about him.

"This is a great find little one," the man said. I will give you good money for this.

"No, I found it but I can show you where you can find more."
"There is more?" the man asked.

"Yes lots more," Ines said. The trinket she found was in a tomb near her orphanage. There was a small hole in one of the walls that she could barely fit through. Inside was a trove of artifacts that hadn't seen the light of day in centuries. In the center on an alter was the small box she kept. The rest she would soon help sell and begin her career.

Ines knew Sidu and Sabir would be waiting to hear the story of her sudden departure during yesterday's dinner. Though Sidu and Ines did not always join him, Sabir took all of his meals at The Ramses Hotel so she returned to the scene of last night's commotion. Sabir was sitting at the same table and as she expected Sidu was next to him. "My friend!" Sabir said with a bright smile.

"Gentlemen," Ines said joining them once again.

"Sit down you must tell us what you have been doing since you dashed out of our lives last night."

"It is a tale that must be told over food," Ines said and at once Sabir had the waiter fill their table with the best the restaurant had to offer. Ines's smile quickly vanished from her face however when she saw a familiar face. Evelyn O'Connell had entered the restaurant. She turned back to her friends hoping Evelyn would not see her. "Sidu, did I ever tell you the tale of the Mongoose and the cobra?"
"Hello, Miss. Portal," Evelyn said approaching the table. Ines turned to face the couple.

"Mrs. O'Connell," Ines said with a fake smile.

"I'm sorry to bother you but I was wondering if we could have a word."

"Of course," Ines said getting up and turning to her friends to flash a smile in an attempt to ease their nerves.

"You were right about the wall," Evelyn said as they sat down at another table. Sidu and Sabeen's eyes followed them though they tried not to show it. Ines nodded but said nothing. "We were thinking," Evelyn continued though Ines doubted the other part of the we did not agree with her, "well perhaps you could lend us a hand. We asked around about you today and it seems you have an impressive knowledge of the sites here and we could use that. What if you legitimized your career? You could show us where to dig and we could give you solid pay and the chance to travel with us and learn our trade. Perhaps you could go to university, if you wanted."

Ines Portal was taken aback by Evelyn's kindness and trustfulness. It wasn't a trait commonly neither seen nor appreciated in her work. However there was something comforting about it all the same. She touched something deep in Ines' heart, something she would never be able to describe. She felt something inside her want to say yes despite her fears. It was as if Queen Dido had whispered into her ear that it was time to go.

Ines saw before her the chance she had always dreamed of. To learn what it all meant, to be able to read the strange pictures she had grown up with. She thought of all the books Evelyn must have read, perhaps she had a library at home, Ines liked that thought.

She had her doubts. She was a street urchin not a student. The life of a grave robber was the only one she had known and how could these people be trusted? Could she reveal her secrets even if it might destroy her livelihood? "Yes," Ines said trying to conceal a real smile, "I think I can assist you."

"You would have to give up your…profession."
"You mean robbing graves. You could teach me how to read the walls in the tombs?"
"Yes," Evy said with a smile, "then you will join us tomorrow?"

"Yes, and I can show a tomb full of such riches that I discovered just recently," Ines blurted, though she had told no one else of her find.

"I look forward to the find, it was a pleasure meeting you, Miss. Portal, I will see you tomorrow." Ines nodded and watched her turn and go.

Ines walked out soon after. She had nothing more to say to Sidu and Sabeen, since there was no more business to be done. In her world there was no one who would miss her. You had partners not friends and her disappearance would only mean one less dealer to steal the prize. Sidu and Sabir would find a new young catch to keep them in business. That was her life.

Evelyn O'Connell wasn't sure why she had done why she had just done nor why the young girl had said yes. The truth was Evelyn also felt something draw her to Ines though they had met on the most unfortunate of circumstances. She had learned to trust man who at first blush might be dismissed as common criminals. She remembered seeing her now husband nearly hanged for a crime when she first me him. It was now only a matter of convincing that same man There was something in her gut that trusted Ines and she saw no harm in seeing whether or not it was right.

For what it was worth she was right. And thus began the second career of Ines Portal, as a legitimate archeologist.