(6) Clothes doesn't Always Make the Man

As the household ate, Wasser walked into the lobby of the British Museum. Though a large man, he moved fluidly. His steps making a tapping sound as he walked across the marble floor towards the curator's office. After rapping on the glass panel of the door he waited. Almost immediately the door was opened by a short elderly man who peer up at Wasser over the brim of his glasses. "Yes, may I help you?" Wasser smiled down at the man. "I am seeking the Curator. Dr. Cornelius Hardisty is expecting me. Nodding the older man smiled. "You must be Mr. Wasser. I am Cornelius Hardisty. I was not expecting you this early but please come in."

Wasser stepped into the office and grimaced as he looked around. The small cramped office had an old desk with two hard back chairs with filing cabinets and bookcases filled with clutter. Fossilized bones, paper, books, baskets, small statues, old tools, seemed to cover every inch of the office. Taking a handkerchief from his pocket, Wasser dusted off one of the chairs and sat down in it. Then he waited while Dr. Hardisty pushed papers aside and sat behind the desk. "The crates arrived about 3 weeks ago. We still have one more to go through but so far the treasures we found were all from Akhenaten's dynasty. We also found a wooden coffin lid. Remarkable actually due to it's history. We assume the rest of the coffin and the mummy is in the other crate. But we waited until your arrival as you requested." Wasser quickly stood. "Then I wish to see the items now. I have far and long for this moment." Dr. Hardisty stood and quickly walked to the door, ushering Wasser out. The two of them quickly walked down to the basement of the Museum.

As they walked into he cavernous cellar, Wasser's expression seemed to change. He actually smiled as they headed towards the crates. Seeing them opened he looked over to the adjoining tables at the items that laid there. Jewelry, clothes, canopic jars, and leaning upright was the coffin lid. With a shaking hand he reached out and stroked the etchings lovingly. His body shook slightly as he took an uneven breath. Leaning in closer he examined each detail of the lid. His heavy breathing filling the quiet room. He studied the face, an exact match to that of Amen-Ra. Her death mask etched in the wood. Bowing his head, Wasser fought to fight back tears. How he had loved her. Still loved her. But soon, so soon she would be his.

Turning back to the curator he gestured towards the final crate. Dr. Hardisty walked towards it then stopped. It had been opened. The lid off and the inside now empty. Wasser seeing this growled in anger and stormed towards the large crate. Almost diving inside he scooped hands full of packing material and tossed them onto the floor. His motions were that of a dog digging furiously into the dirt to find a bone he had buried. His deep pitted eyes bore white pupils veined with red. Finally Wasser stopped, his hands filled with tattered, soiled wrappings. He held them to his face and inhaled deeply. The musty scent filled his nostrils as his fingers clenched around the old linen. With a hard glare he turned towards Dr. Hardisty who was watching silently. Fear and amazement lining his face.

"Where is the mummy Doctor? I see nothing but old bindings." His voice hard and gravelly he stepped towards the Curator causing the older man to step back. "M..Mr. Wasser, " he stammered, "I swear it was fine yesterday before I left. I can ask the guards." Wasser stood right in front of the frightened man and spoke softly yet coldly. "I will return tomorrow morning. If you do not have any information about my mummy then I shall simply have to replace it. Do you understand my meaning?" The terrified doctor simply nodded. His mouth opened and closed as he tried to talk but nothing emerged. Wasser seeing his point was made turned and walked out of the basement.

As he exited the museum, Wasser took a deep breath and momentarily looked at his surroundings. His face, once again expressionless, he took out a cheroot and lit it. The driver, having seen him exit the museum, opened the rear door of the car and stood there. He knew better than to hurry up any of his passengers. Wasser smoked quietly for a few moments, ignoring the driver. After he a few more drags from the cheroot he tossed it to the ground and stubbed it out with the toe of his shoe.

Fixing his tie, smoothing back his hair and then tugging on the bottom of his jacket, with valise in hand he walked to the car. Ducking inside of the vehicle he leaned back and waited for the driver to close the door and get behind the wheel. Stating Paddington Hotel he then sat back and stayed quiet. The sights and sounds of London sped pass him without so much as a glance. Lost in thought and trying to hide his disappointment.