The next morning, an exhausted Peggy had just dropped her belongings onto her desk when Agent Ramirez called out, "Hey Carter, the Colonel would like a word with you."
Wishing she had a cup of tea first before facing the firing squad, Peggy instead shrugged off her winter jacket. Wincing from the movement, she made her way toward the Colonel's closed door.
Along the way, she did her best to mask the slight limp. It had become a habit not to show any weakness, especially in a male-dominated workplace.
Unfortunately, the hits from those women had formed multiple bruises on her jaw, arms, and ribs. At least she could cover up her bodily injuries with clothing. For her face, she used concealer on the purpling blotches.
As for the low simmering headache, sleep would have done wonders, but as usual, after a fight, her mind had been too keyed up for a proper night's rest.
After giving her report to the Colonel over the phone, she had soaked in a hot bath. And though it had helped take away most of her aches, she still could not rest. Peggy kept thinking about how strong and agile those women were. She feared they were enhanced humans, and if that were the case, the SSR would have their work cut out for them.
She had also wondered what her next move should be. Did she hunt down those dangerous thieves or track down whatever was important to them? She guessed she best check in with the Colonel first to see if she still had a job. He did not sound too pleased last night after hearing what had happened to the prized exhibit.
Stopping at the Colonel's door, Peggy straightened her appearance and the tilt of her aching body as best she could.
Instead of her usual confident knock on the door, she lightly rapped on it.
The Colonel's gruff answer had her slowly opening the door. Once she had finally entered the room, a seated Phillips glanced up from a thick file he was reading. Peggy could feel his deepening scowl from across the room.
She tried to give him her brightest smile, but he saw right through it.
"Shut the door and sit down, Carter, before you fall over," he growled.
Exhaling, Peggy did as he ordered, and she sat gingerly on the edge of the provided chair.
The Colonel returned to reading whatever was so important in the file he clenched tightly. His sour mood was not a good sign.
Peggy was about to say something when he beat her to the punch.
"I just came from a very unpleasant meeting with the President and the Joint Chiefs of Staff," his gravelly voice etched deep grooves into Peggy's brain, causing her headache to pulse in rhythm to his rumbles.
She held back her wince and tried to look politely attentive as he grumbled dangerously, "You were in good standing with him until he heard about the sizable chunk of the damage you did in fending off those thieves."
Peggy protested, "Colonel—"
Phillips shot back, "Retired." He took a deep, calming breath and continued, "You should have called in backup. Then at least some of that exhibit would have been spared, as would our diplomatic relations with Egypt."
She knew Phillip's bark was without bite, at least when aimed at her. They had been through too much, and she had proven to him how often her instincts were right. "Sir, my team, was otherwise engaged, so I decided—"
He finished for her, "—to rush in while outnumbered and against more formidable individuals by yourself." The Colonel tapped the closed file with an index finger curved from arthritis, and Peggy knew it must have been her dossier. "You could have retreated."
Peggy shook her head, "I will not leave a man behind."
"From what I have been told, you had ample opportunity to pull Stark and yourself away instead of engaging against a superior enemy multiple times.
Loudly exhaling in outrage, Peggy knew that Agent Smith had told on her. Howard would never have dared tattle.
Before she could try to salvage her actions from last night, the Colonel admonished, "You've picked up some nasty habits of going solo over the years, Carter."
"Sir, I assure you, everything was going by the book until I ran into those thieves." She swore if she lost her job because Smith wanted to prove what a nasty enemy he could be, she vowed to show him that it went both ways.
After a heavy sigh, Phillip's face hardened with resolve, "Someone needs to take the blame for the damage done to that exhibit. Unfortunately, being the last one there and with the SSR the lowest agency on the totem pole, it is you."
Peggy insisted, "But this attack on the Smithsonian was not a standard heist. Those women were enhanced and extremely dangerous. There is more going on here than what we think."
His gaze quickly looked at the closed file in front of him and then back at her. Peggy wondered what it said about her.
Decision made, Phillip's stated, "Something has come to light regarding that cello assassin and his connections to those thieves. The poison he took was analyzed. It was the same type that Hydra agents used during the War."
Pain forgotten, Peggy lurched to her feet, "What! But I thought they were either all dead or in jail. Any idea who is still left to lead them?"
"No, and though the Egyptian government wants no foreign involvement in this, Truman is very concerned about what Hydra is after."
Easily reading what he implied, Peggy stood as straight as possible, "Sir, due to my presence being a liability here, I think it is best if I go on holiday. My mother has been asking me to visit her in England." She waited for a beat, "Or perhaps I should head to a warmer climate nearer the equator first."
He quirked a smile, and Peggy swore it made him look ten years younger, "Understood, Carter. And good luck." He added dismissively, "Oh, and talk to Stark before you leave."
Resisting the urge to salute, Peggy smartly nodded to him with the declaration, "Yes, sir. And I promise to be out of your hair long enough until all this blows over."
She then turned on her heel and marched out of the Colonel's spartan office.
A jittery Howard met her outside the door. By how quickly his facial expression was twitching, Peggy guessed that he already had one too many cups of coffee and hadn't slept a wink.
He followed Peggy as she grabbed her belongings from her desk. Barely glancing at him, she was too preoccupied with going over her mental checklist to focus on him entirely. Distracted, she asked, "Yes, Howard, what is it you wanted to tell me?"
As she limped out of the bullpen and down the hallway, Howard spoke in an excited hushed whisper, "Just that I will pick you up in an hour, and then we are off on our little Egyptian adventure."
Noticing her hardening glare, he stated, "Didn't the Colonel tell you I was going?"
"He only told me what was necessary. This is an unsanctioned operation, Howard."
Empathic, he stated, "Exactly, which is why you'll need my help getting into Egypt. From what the Colonel told me, their government is none too pleased with you."
She grumbled, "It's not as if I broke the Tutankhamun exhibit."
Howard chuckled, "Now since we are taking my private plane, our cover will be rich tourists hankering to see the sights."
Peggy shook her head, "With Hydra involved, it is far too dangerous for any civilians to accompany me."
Unconcerned, Howard shrugged, "Well, that's one of the reasons why the Colonel agreed for you to join me on this excursion. You'll be my bodyguard, a protector of my body if you catch my drift." He grinned, his mustache rising devilishly. She had to urge to rip out those tiny hairs, one by one.
Instead, Peggy rolled her eyes. Though tempted to deflate Howard's ego, she knew he was mostly kidding. But lord help the woman that finally settles this man down.
"Besides, you can't face them all by yourself. Those thieves were deadly, and it sounds like their male counterparts were just as troublesome. Come on, Peg. I promise I won't bite."
Snorting, she replied, "I highly doubt your teeth could even leave a dent. So why are you even involved in all this?"
"It's my patriotic duty."
"So it has nothing to do with finding that vast knowledge and wealth?"
"Well, sure. But whatever we find might also save the SSR." Howard clocked her reaction, "Hey, even I know what is going on behind the scenes. You think that this new intelligence agency hasn't approached me?" He shook his head, "The CIA are dangerous, pal. Besides, I trust you and the Colonel, not them."
Peggy was heartened that he was so loyal to the SSR and her.
Before he could wheedle more, Peggy realized that she would need a fast means to get to Egypt, and stealth would work best.
And honestly, it would not hurt to have his vast resources available. Since this was a covert expedition, all the expenses would have to come out of her pocket. That would certainly put a crimp in her plans for the future. She and Daniel were trying to save up to buy a house someday, and things were already expensive in DC as it was.
"Alright, you can join me. But you have to do what I say, no arguing."
"You got it, pal. I'll follow your lead." Howard suddenly snapped his fingers, "Hey, that reminds me. Last night I was thinking. Your last name is Carter, and my first name is Howard. Howard Carter, get it, you know, like the archeologist who found Tut's tomb. It's kismet that we are doing this together."
Peggy huffed, somewhat amused. She then looked at her watch, "I better talk to Professor O'Connell before we go. Where do you suppose she is? Don't tell me she has already raced off with her husband to look for this supposed 'treasure?' Or did you try something with her?"
Registering Howard's unhappy expression, she hid her smirk. It seemed that the renowned Casanova had struck out again.
He mumbled, "No, she is still here. I imagine she is using a barrel of glue to try to put all those artifacts back together."
Lightly patting him on the back, Peggy's smile was excessively wide, "Buck up, Howard. I am sure you will have other potential conquests on this adventure. So will she be joining us then?"
Howard became wistful and sighed, "No, but she did wish us luck. Too bad she wasn't coming with us. Rumor has it that she and her husband actually fought a real mummy."
Peggy looked at him, astonished, "Oh please, Howard. That is the most ridiculous—" Howard ginned, and she wondered which of her legs he was trying to pull. Changing the subject, she asked, "Any luck on tracking down that linguist Professor from Harvard that she recommended?"
"Yeah, I had Professor Spencer flown down here this morning, and he agreed with what Professor O'Connell translated." Howard sighed, "He just disagrees with what she thought it meant."
Peggy raised an eyebrow.
"Yeah," Howard's laugh was soft. "Boy, did those two go after one another over it. Never get in the way of the egos of academia, Peg. They're a fierce bunch."
"Why, what does he think?"
"Well, he concurred that it had to do with Pharaoh Khufu's pyramid but to look in the upper chambers instead. He thought that since the subterranean tomb had never been completed, 'Underworld' referred instead to the burial rooms above."
Peggy frowned. "But the clue said to descend. I think it's best that we check that blind passage in the subterranean chamber first."
Solemnly Howard intoned, "Agreed."
She smiled, pleased that they would not have any arguments this early in their little adventure, "And what about those odd Cuneiform markings on the parchment?"
"Spencer said they were not like any script he has ever seen before, Cuneiform or otherwise. Oh, and if this was only the start of the treasure hunt, I made sure to have other transport standing by to navigate the Mediterranean or anywhere else."
"Thanks, Howard. Now, does Professor Spencer have any idea what this treasure is?"
He shrugged, "Nope, he hadn't heard of it before either. And since we'd need his expertise in translating any more clues we come across, he will be joining us. Well, for a certain price, that is. I already sent him to my plane, where Jarvis will guard him until we arrive."
"It sounds like you have everything all covered, Howard."
"I would hope so. Now pack light, Peg, and I'll be by in an hour."
Since the weather would be hot in Egypt, she wouldn't need to bring much. It was her plethora of weapons that would fill up the suitcase. On second thought, Peggy was very grateful that she was taking Howard's private plane. Fewer questions that way.
Before they parted, Howard threw out, "Oh, and don't forget your swimsuit."
Peggy thought, why on earth would she even have time for a swim? But then she would have brought one anyway. If anything, the military had taught her always to be prepared for all contingencies.
An hour later, Peggy had just made it down to the curb in time. Up the street, she saw Howard's lavish vehicle approaching. As she straightened her outfit, she was relieved to have gotten in touch with Daniel before leaving.
Through veiled conversation, she explained the circumstances of her trip. There was always the chance that her phone was bugged, so they had worked out a system for passing covert information. After wishing her a safe trip, they exchanged loving regards, and then she hung up.
In moments, Howard's Cadillac pulled up. Leaping from the driver's side, he dutifully headed to the trunk and popped it open.
Peggy met him at the back, and Howard nodded approvingly at her travel attire. She had put on a light linen pantsuit and matching beige fedora. A blue jacket completed the ensemble.
She wished she could have worn a skirt instead to combat the heat of Egypt, but she had a feeling they might be scrambling about the Pyramids.
Peggy began to pick up her suitcase, but Howard brushed her off. "What sort of gentleman would I be if I made you do that," he sounded indignant that his chivalry was questioned.
As he strained, lifting her heavy suitcase, she quipped, "Probably a man without a backache."
Huffing, he struggled to put it in the truck. It landed inside with a thud, and the rear shocks of the car dipped. Howard groused, "Jeez, Peg. I thought I told you to pack light, not bring your entire apartment with you."
"Well, a woman needs to be prepared, Howard. Besides, you should have seen what I left behind." She was disappointed that she could not take her entire stockpile of weapons, but sometimes sacrifices had to be made.
She easily picked up her hatbox, placed it next to her suitcase, and then shut the trunk.
Smirking, Howard opened the vehicle's passenger door, and after she entered, he closed it with a bang. She swore she heard him grumble under his breath, "This is going to be an interesting trip."
It was a short drive to the small airstrip that was located on the outskirts of DC. Noticing the size of the compact airfield, Peggy frowned. She was used to Howard maintaining his immense private hangar in New York. She nearly joked that the millionaire was slumming it until he pulled the car around to the back.
Ahead, she saw the gigantic hanger and swallowed loudly. One of the massive doors was open, and many airplanes of various sizes and designs were inside.
One of the aircraft had already been taxied out, and Edwin Jarvis stood next to this sleek transport's boarding ramp. The plane was a twin-engine DC-3 that shined bright silver with a proudly embossed Stark logo on the tail section.
Peggy shook her head, "So much for keeping a low profile."
Once Howard had driven the Cadillac onto the tarmac, the whine of the cylinder engines on the plane started up, and the propellers began to spin.
Stopping the car next to Jarvis so the butler could open the door for Peggy, Howard stared wistfully at his "baby." Peggy could see his widening grin as he surveyed the airplane in front of him.
Catching Peggy's stare, Howard beamed, "Ain't she a beauty, Peg? I just bought her. It is one of the best ever built." He exited before he could hear her mumbled reply.
"No doubt," Peggy muttered as she got out of the vehicle and nodded to Jarvis in thanks. She had to speak louder, for though the plane was the best of its kind, its engines were still very noisy. "I am sure you would never buy a poorly made transport," she yelled over the car to the millionaire. Howard certainly did love his toys.
Turning to face Jarvis, Peggy gave him a big hug. The last time she had seen him had been weeks ago when he dropped off something at work that Howard had forgotten from home. She wondered if Howard kept him in mothballs to preserve the faithful butler when he was not needed.
For propriety's sake, Peggy quickly released Jarvis and stepped back. She wore a grin of affection and could not help but feel better now that the gang of three "troublemakers" were once more working together. Jarvis had saved her life numerous times and vice versa, and like Howard, she would trust him with her very being.
Honestly, there were very few people she could say that about, especially in her line of work. Peggy could count the number on one hand, with Jarvis being considered the thumb. She smiled fondly at him, "Mr. Jarvis, it is good to see you."
"Likewise, Miss Carter," the tall stalwart butler's relaxed grin faltered when they heard the sound of the car's trunk opening. Reminded of his responsibility, Jarvis curtly bobbed his head to her and strode to the vehicle's rear.
After various grunts and groans, all as dignified as possible, Jarvis heaved Peggy's suitcase free. However, when Howard went to grab her hatbox, Peggy pushed forward and insisted on carrying it herself.
"Extra guns, Peg?" Howard asked. His curiosity was always on the brink of pouncing.
She shook her head, "No, it's my lucky hat. I am worried you two might crush it." Then, noticing their incredulous looks, she explained, "Where we are going, there will be a lot of sun, and I don't want my fine English complexion to burn unnecessarily."
Howard snorted, "You do you, Peg." He then asked his manservant, "That reminds me. Everything set, Jarvis?"
Ever dutiful, Jarvis replied, "Yes, Mr. Stark. All your belongings are packed aboard. As are the other items that you requested."
At this enigmatic sentence, Peggy arched one of her eyebrows, but Howard grinned back at her, "I too have my own secrets. Don't worry. You'll love the surprise I brought for you."
He then turned on his heel. Peggy followed close behind, scanning the airfield for any surprises. She hoped they could take off without issues, but who knew who was watching them? Sure enough, the agent noticed a light bouncing off of something in the distance. She quickly hurried Howard up the boarding ramp if it was due to a rifle scope and not binoculars.
Oblivious to her worrisome fears, Howard indicated for her to enter the plane ahead of him.
"Always so gallant, Mr. Stark. But since I am to be your bodyguard, I insist that you go first." Not wanting to risk either of them getting a bullet in the back while they bantered aimlessly, she shoved him through the open hatch.
Naturally, Howard protested, "Alright, pal, keep your shirt on."
She countered, "Around you, Howard, that is how it will always be."
After her luggage had been stowed, Jarvis followed right behind them. Once inside, he moaned in effort but finally managed to pull the boarding ramp up and secure it closed.
Standing in the aisle, Peggy only partially relaxed as she took in the spacious interior. She would not wind down until they were up in the air and far away from prying eyes.
Suddenly, a tall older gentleman, thin in stature but not facial hair, came out from the back of the plane behind her. He was wiping off his hands and was startled to see Peggy on board.
Peggy automatically raised her fists to strike, but Howard placed a cautioning hand on her arm to stop any punches.
The older man was oblivious to nearly getting pummeled and instead stated, "Good, you're here. I could use a cup of coffee."
Howard spat out a laugh until Peggy's glare was then turned on him. Gulping loudly, he explained to the man quickly, "Professor Marcus Spencer, this is my associate, Miss Peggy Carter. She will be assisting me on this adventure."
The Professor studied them both, and a slightly wicked grin appeared on his whiskered face. To Peggy, it made him resemble some sort of lecherous badger. "I say you keep the most alluring company, Mr. Stark."
Peggy was about to physically correct him when Howard whispered into her ear, "I thought it prudent that we kept up appearances for now."
Gritting her teeth, Peggy nodded subtly. At least Howard knew enough about the espionage business not to trust everyone.
"Professor Spencer, it is a pleasure to meet you. So glad you are joining us on this journey." She forced herself to shake his damp palm. Already she disliked the man and his assumptions, but they needed him, so he stayed. Peggy also reminded herself that he was possibly putting his life on the line to help them. She would give him a chance, slim as it was.
That sentiment did not last long.
The man's knowing smile hardly faltered, but he seemed to remember his manners, "And the pleasure is all mine, young lady." He raised her hand to his mouth, and his thin lips kissed her knuckles. Repulsed, Peggy barely stopped herself from yanking her hand free. It felt as if a small rodent's lips had nibbled her skin.
Hiding her grimace, Peggy murmured, "So glad we have the extra… help." Spencer finally released her hand, but not before his thumb had caressed against the underside of her palm intimately.
She nearly slapped him for such insolence. Peggy was usually more tolerant of people, but by God, she really wished Professor O'Connell had joined them instead.
Not succeeding in keeping all the venom from her tone, Peggy asked, "And what is your specialty, Professor?"
His arrogance seemed to be the only thing that could overcome his lechery. He puffed up and hooked his thumbs in his tweed vest. Eagerly he boasted, "Young lady, besides being an Antiquities Specialist, I am an Epigraphist. In layman's terms, I study and interpret ancient inscriptions."
His gaze fell on the photocopies of the papyrus that were strewn on a nearby table. Thankfully, Howard had enlarged the small paper's image so it was easier to read.
Among the many different detailed prints, Peggy noticed that one copy was an x-ray, while another had some pencil marks added in a nearly illegible scribble. She assumed that was the Harvard Professor's translations of the Egyptian hieroglyphics.
Howard's voice came over the intercom, "Strap yourselves in until we are safely in the air."
Jarvis, Spencer, and Peggy quickly buckled up as the plane traveled down the runway. Peggy made sure that she was nowhere in reach of that libidinous Professor. She would not put it past the vile man to abruptly grab her if the plane suddenly banked or plunged.
Thankfully it was a smooth takeoff, and once they were in the clear, Howard came out of the cockpit. Smiling, he clapped his hands and proclaimed, "We have a long flight ahead, so let's get to work."
Peggy looked at the millionaire curiously, "I am surprised you are not flying us the entire way there."
Howard explained, "I trust my pilot Fleming to get us to Egypt in one piece. He has been with me for ages."
Jarvis then staggered forward, carrying a large stack of books. Peggy grinned when some books appeared to be 'borrowed' from the library or possibly from the Smithsonian itself.
Among them were multiple volumes of early civilizations located around the Mediterranean, including the Egyptians and Greeks. There were also all sorts of bound hardbacks on different Antiquity subjects, and she wondered if some might be part of Professor Spencer's private collection.
As they flew over the Atlantic, Peggy joined Howard and Professor Spencer in pouring over these texts for answers.
While they reviewed the information, Jarvis ensured they had coffee, food, and anything else they might need. And when he wasn't serving them, he joined them in trying to figure things out.
During their research, any notes taken were either crushed into a tight ball from frustration or were set aside for further review.
After a time, the pile of books had become scattered on the few tables throughout the plane. They had tried to organize them by subject and use, but some overlapped other areas of interest.
Many of the books had been folded over, their spines creased to the point of cracking. Peggy frowned whenever Howard did this. She would turn them face up or add a bookmark and close them. The War had made her appreciate something that some would deem trivial, such as a book, as being a gift. Seeing such prized possessions being treated like this made her jaw clench tightly.
Once they had combed through all the pertinent books, they still had no answers. There was nothing regarding a supposed treasure located inside the Pyramids of Giza.
Frustrated, Peggy turned and stared at the newest member of their team, "Professor, are you sure you have never heard anything about this through your studies?"
Having stopped helping a while ago, Professor Spencer was sitting on one of the lounge chairs. After enjoying an ample meal, he was on his second piece of chocolate cake. Because of his thin frame, Peggy wondered where he was putting it all.
Before shoving a large portion of the gooey ganache into his wide mouth, he tutted his answer, "No, I am afraid not, my dear. But not to worry, the clue said to descend to the Underworld, and the Giza Pyramids have an unfinished subterranean chamber. Ergo that is where we must go."
Peggy rolled her eyes so hard she feared they might fall from their sockets and bounce away. Spencer acted as if the underground chamber had been his idea the whole time, not the top section he had insisted on earlier.
It was even more insulting that he would not give a mere woman credit for having thought of it first. Peggy did not know how Professor O'Connell dealt with pompous individuals in a field dominated by such men. Then again, Peggy worked among the same like-minded types, so like her, Evelyn must have always persevered.
To make matters worse, Spencer had the infuriating habit of assuming Peggy was there to wait on him. He even expected her to get him coffee, which she nearly did. She would have poured the entire pot on his head if Jarvis hadn't grabbed the container from her in time.
And Jarvis was as insulted as she was. It was his job, after all.
Trying to ignore Spencer's loud contented noises, Peggy thumbed through one of the Egyptian books again. Finally, she stopped on a page that showed an aerial view of the iconic three Pyramids. Intrigued, she noted, "Interesting. I thought they would be three-sided, not four."
Always ready for a lecture, Spencer stated between bites, "Yes, and it is believed that where they sit had once been a sacred place of worship. That was probably one of the reasons why these specific pyramids' corners line up with the four points of a compass perfectly."
"What else can you tell us about them?"
Spencer nodded at the picture and explained, "Those pyramids were built by three separate rulers from the 4th dynasty known as the Old Kingdom period. That time was thought of as the first great era of Egyptian civilization, which lasted from 2686 to 2181 BCE."
He indicated the largest of the three, "The one that we are interested in is the oldest and tallest of the three pyramids. The Great Pyramid of Giza was the tomb for the Pharaoh Khufu and has been estimated to be over 4600 years old."
Peggy asked, "Was anything of interest ever found inside?"
Spencer pursed his lips, "No, there was nothing of any earthly value. All that was discovered were two empty burial chambers within the interior. While below is the unfinished burial chamber carved in the bedrock."
Jarvis muttered, "I wonder why it was never completed."
Shrugging, Spencer explained, "Some say it was because the Pharaoh had died before completion, and they wanted to inter him right away in the upper King's Chamber."
Howard enthusiastically stated, "Since the underground chamber is empty, that would be the perfect place to hide the treasure. Why else would you have a blind passageway that just dead ends?"
Spencer shook his head, "Perhaps you are right. But more than likely, that small corridor was originally going to be used as a false lead to fool any tomb raiders."
Undeterred, Howard stated confidently, "We'll see. I have a gut feeling that something is there." He tapped his head, "The Egyptians were amazing architects, but they are no match for my magnificent brain."
Annoyed that his opinion was being easily dismissed, Spencer declared haughtily, "Yes, I am sure that you know more than someone who has studied Antiquity's for a living." He tilted the comfortable sleeper chair back into a reclining position. "Now, I can't speak for all of you, but I am exhausted."
"Professor, perhaps after your nap, you could start translating these odd-shaped symbols," Peggy held up the image of the seven large curved-shaped glyphs centered on the page.
Spencer's condescension was so thick that she was surprised his breath did not come out in puffy little clouds, "Young lady, it is not so easy to translate unknown ancient language as you seem to believe. Unlike Mr. Stark, I prefer to think things over first before making any assumptions."
She persisted, "Well does it help to know that Professor O'Connell believed them to be a form of Cuneiform?" Peggy wished they had a book to compare them to, but there were none among those that had been brought.
Shaking his head, Spencer frowned, "And as I had already stated, they are nothing like known Cuneiform script. These are curved shaped, not wedge-shaped."
"Well, can you compare them against known Cuneiform symbols?"
"I've tried, and it is just gibberish. They are some sort of new language that has yet to be discovered. That infernal woman should stick to working in a museum."
Peggy snorted and thought that Evelyn O'Connell was not the one who should have been in a museum, stuffed as an exhibit or otherwise. Then, trying honey instead of vinegar, Peggy sweetly replied, "Well, you are the specialist in interpreting ancient inscriptions. Perhaps you know the significance of why these seven symbols are larger than any of the others on this page?"
"Sorry, my dear, but traveling makes me sleepy. Wake me up when we land." And he plopped his hat over his eyes.
Her voice became that of command, "Frankly, we do not have time for lollygagging, Professor. Many dangerous individuals are also interested in this, so time is of the essence."
Spencer snorted, "Typical female hysteria. The world is always crashing and burning if the men don't take care of things right away for you."
And then he scooted his chair back and rested his feet on the nearby coffee table.
Disregarding Jarvis' gasp that his highly polished mahogany table was now being used as a footstool, Peggy coolly said, "It is called being prepared."
Smug, Spencer reached over and patted her arm, "My dear, you should relax." His gaze darted up and down her voluptuous figure. "Someone with your … talents should not worry their pretty little head so much."
The look she gave Spencer shut him up quickly, and he smartly pretended to go to sleep.
Before blood could be shed, Howard suggested, "Maybe he's right about taking a break, Peg. I am nearly cross-eyed from reading all these books."
"Yes, Miss Carter, perhaps having a fresh mind would give us better luck later."
Peggy smiled wearily at her two friends, "Alright. I suppose we can rest our eyes for a bit."
But just like the knowledge regarding this mysterious treasure, sleep would prove elusive for Peggy as well.