Senator Aldan Nicholl pulled up to the Egyptian museum at 12:32. His business here was to meet with some of America's most acclaimed archaeologist and historians who had traveled to Cairo for a convention being held by Dr. Zahi Hawass. He wanted to make sure that they were comfortable in this setting.
However, what greeted him was not what he expected. Several men of the Egyptian guard walked towards him as he exited the car. He looked up at them in surprise.
"May I help you?" Asked the senator, speaking with awareness.
"Senator Aldan Nicholl," Asked the closest guard to him. "We would like you to come with us, if you don't mind."
"Is something wrong?" asked Senator Nicholl.
"We will inform you once we are inside," said the guard. The Senator followed him with no objections.
The door burst open, and in its frame stood Lieutenant Ashraf. The veins in his neck were pulsing with rage. "You called someone and told them, didn't you!"
"What are you talking about?" André sat peacefully on the desk in the center of the room.
"Don't act smart with me!" Lieutenant Ashraf walked towards the desk. "No one knew about the kidnaping and now everyone does. We've done our absolute best to keep things secret until we have more information. Yet, somehow, they found out. I just wonder how that could have happened?"
"Don't look at me," said André, his face was completely relaxed. It didn't matter whether he fooled the Lieutenant or not. He can't do anything to me, André thought.
"Give me your phone," said the Lieutenant, holding out his hand.
"I'm not giving you anything," André objected.
"I'm ordering you!" the Lieutenants raised his voice. André did nothing, he remained quietly seated on the desk.
"Lieutenant," Robert stood up from the floor. "I can assure you he did not use the phone."
"That's beyond the point now," Ashraf didn't move his eyes off of André. "I know he will eventually, and I want to keep him from doing so."
"You're not getting it," said André.
With one fluid movement, the Lieutenant stepped closer and thrust his hand toward André's pant pocket. André jumped off the desk, trying to push the large man away. "Vous excusez!"
André's attempts to push the man away failed, as he felt the weight of the phone leave his pocket. "The evidence of you being a suspect is becoming more and more evident," said Lieutenant Ashraf, as he exited the room with André's phone in hand.
"Damn it!"Robert Langdon cursed at the door.
"What are you so angry about?" said André, feeling rather violated of rights and privacy at the moment. "It was my phone! Do you know how much information I've got on that thing?"
"I don't care about that," he said, turning away from the door, and towards him. "Do you honestly think I said what I said to help you? We need that phone."
"Using me now, are you?" asked André, his green eyes widening in pretend surprise.
"Just as much as you have me," said Langdon. "Now we have no way of talking to the outside."
"I have a phone," said Indiya, who was standing quietly beside them. She un-clipped a small, flat cellular device from her waist, and handed it to Langdon, which André immediately snatched away.
"Good girl!" he said, opening the phone. He dialed for a call outside the country.
"Who are you calling?" asked Indiya.
"My editor," André replied. "I need to tell him not to call my phone."
"Get the number of your reporter friend, while you're at it," said Langdon.
"Who, Michael Ware?" asked André. "Why?"
"You said he knows more about Terrorist groups that anyone you know," said Langdon. "If it is a terrorist group that has kidnaped Dr. Hawass and the others, we need to know where to look."
"Are you thinking of picking this investigation up yourself?" asked Indiya, turning towards him.
"Even if they find out the exact group that is doing this, they wont negotiate with them," Langdon explained. "The government has always made it a point to not negotiate with terrorists. The Egyptian government might possibly do something to get Dr. Hawass back, but I know America can't and wont do much to get Dr. Weeks and Dean back. And as for Venghram, he's German. I can't wait to here what his government will do. They already hate America, I can't imagine this will improve things."
André had apparently gotten through, because he'd interrupted the conversation and asked Indiya for the number to her phone.
"So, whatever you do, don't call my phone," said André to the other end. "Now, I need a favor."
"A favor calls for another favor in return," said Pane.
"I already gave you the information about the kidnaping," André replied. "You were sure quick to put that out on the market. How do you think my phone got taken away?"
"That's all said and done," said Pane. "Now, give me the names."
"I can't do that, Mike," said André. "That will risk any chance of me getting more information."
"Look, André," Pane began. He heard a sigh on the other end of the phone, and knew what was coming. "I know you want to cover this, and by every right, it is your story. But your to new of a journalist to be doing this. Hostage situations call for experience. We are already sending someone else to cover it, and we are going to tap into some of CNN's sources as well."
"Experience?" André voice rang with anger. "I've been doing this for ten years! Just because this is my first time at a big name, doesn't mean I'm not qualified. You need me to do this. I am on the inside when no one else is."
"Don't start,"said Pane. "I already feel bad enough as it is."
"Justé", grunted André, severely doubting that Mike Pane had feelings at all.
"Now, just give me the names," said Pane.
André paused, and thought for a moment. He looked at Robert and Indiya, who were looking back, waiting to know what was being said on the other end. "Hold on," he told Pane, and he rested the inside of the phone against his shirt so that his conversation couldn't be heard.
"What does he want?" asked Indiya.
"The names," he replied.
The three of them were silent for a moment, all thinking to themselves. "Do you think maybe it could help?" asked Indiya.
"Most likely not," said Robert. "That's just what a terrorist group wants isn't it? To get their message spread."
"Yes, it is," said André. "It will definitely feed their expectations. In turn, it is the only way we could possibly get Ware's number, by releasing the names."
Indiya crossed her arms. "Let's just hope it doesn't do any damage."
André picked up the phone. "Are you ready?"
"With post it in hand," said Pane.
"The names are," André began. "Dr. Zahi Hawass, Dr. Kent Weeks, Kevin Dean, and Johannis Venghram."
"Some tricky spelling there," said Pane, sound enthusiastic. "Hopefully I got them right."
"Now," said André, not forgetting his purpose. "I need Michael Ware's number."
"Why?" asked Pane.
"Just give it to me," answered André. "I did you a favor, now you do me one."
"I've been around journalists far to long to know a plan when I see one," said Pane. "Forget it, André." And he hung up the phone.
André cursed aloud at his stupidity. He knew Pane wouldn't give the number, yet he still got fooled by that 'a favor for a favor' bullshit. He felt his career sinking away. Before he knew it, he would simply be sitting in a cubicle doing proofreading. His worst nightmare, the God forsaken 8-5 job.
"He didn't give it to you?" Indiya was looking at him with eager eyes. André shook his head.
"Are you sure you can't remember the number?" asked Langdon.
"That's the disadvantage to having technology at our service," said André. "It's surprising that I even knew Mike's number. I have so many to keep up with, I just put everything I get in my phone."
"There is no one else you could possibly call?" asked Indiya.
"No one," answered André. "If Mike wont give it to me, I can't imagine anyone else doing so."
"We need to get your phone back," said Langdon.
"An how do you propose we do that?" asked André.
"We'll just have to figure something out," Langdon replied.
Author's Note: I'm sorry it's been awhile since I've updated. I've been sort of stressed when it comes to time, but I have more now. I hope you will continue to read, and please review. Thanks!
