Disclaimer: see chapter 1

Marion Ravenwood couldn't stand it anymore. She needed to be with her daughter; she needed to know she was still out there. Maybe she was overreacting. Maybe Anna was only caught up in midterm papers or projects. All of this aside, she just plain missed her daughter. Now because of her maternal instincts to be close to her child, she was sitting in the copilot's seat of Tashi's tiny mail carrier.

"Thanks again for letting me tag along," Marion called over the roar of the engine.

"No problem at all, Miss Ravenwood," Tashi smiled back at her. "I must say, I do miss the younger Miss Ravenwood's company."

Now, there's a sense of propriety, She thought. That will come in handy when he decides to find a girl to settle down with.

"Are you sure you won't come with me?" Marion did her best to make herself heard despite being muffled by her tightly wrapped scarf.

"I suppose I could, I never did take the vacation time I saved up; and we do have some pilots fresh from the flight school waiting for some experience. They can take my route while I'm gone."

They made a banking turn as they came into view of the small airport in western Nepal, where after a short stay at the small lodge type building and a chat with the captain, both were off to the states.

Due to the fact that the air shaft was a straight shot to the surface, the two made it out of the idol chamber quite a bit earlier than Picarde and his men. Indy was the first to emerge from the small opening in the earth. He squirmed through the hole, and gripped the dry foliage tightly as he climbed up. He sat a few feet from it, and helped Anna through before examining his surroundings.

Apparently they had been in the temple all night, for the sun was barely peeking over the treetops. An orangey glow hung over the forest, giving everything a golden tinge. A few bright stars could still be seen in the sky above their heads. The Temple stood about twenty meters to the west, and the ancient marketplace was visible surrounding it.

"Alright. Now we need to do three things:" Indy said, sitting to gather his strength. "One: Get Picarde; Two: Get the radio; and Three: Hold off his men. If we can do that we're home free."

"Indy, I, --er,--Dad, I, um…" Anna stuttered, not sure what she should now address him as, "I really wouldn't mind if we just got the radio. I wouldn't be disappointed if we didn't get the bad guys."

"You said you wanted your toy back, and we're gonna get it." Indy resolved. "Besides, I've never gone out without the other side getting what they deserve."

"I can buy a new one!" Anna protested, but knew she wouldn't win.

Indy ignored her. "They should be outta there in about thirty minutes; give or take." Let's get over there and radio for help."

"What about numbers one and three?"

"When they come out of the corridor into the temple, Picarde will likely be leading the group. I can grab him."

"How am I supposed to hold off the others?"

Indy thought for a moment. "Use this." He tossed her his bullwhip.

"How…?"

"You mean to tell me your mother never showed you one of these?" Anna shook her head and he rolled his eyes at her. "Give it here, I'll show you." Indy deftly caught it and uncoiled it in one smooth whirling motion. Looping out in front of him, the whip arced gracefully to his side, then with a flicking motion of his wrist and forearm, a loud crack rang around them. He quickly re-coiled it and handed it back. "It's more of a self taught skill, I can only show, not teach."

Anna scowled, and let the whip fall from its looped form. She flung it in front of her and used the same sort of flicking movement, only to have it come back and make a neat slice along her hairline. "Ah!" She quickly dropped it, and her hand moved to her injured forehead. She stared at the whip, then her father, with a look of loathing and hurt.

"You'll get it, try again. This time though, try letting it fall more to your side, not so much in front of you."

Anna reluctantly picked the whip up again, and did as he had said. The whip obediently danced beside her, and a satisfying snap resounded from it. She grinned, in her a new feeling of strength and ability from this tool.

"Go ahead and practice, you'll get the hang of it." Indy moved off toward the temple, and Anna followed with the whip in hand.

Not even a minute later, Indy was working the dials on a small radio transmitter. "Attention, attention; does anybody read me, I repeat, does anybody read me? Over."

Crackling and static were interrupted by a voice with a local accent.

"Yes, this is Cuzco Police. What can I do for you? Over."

Indy elaborated on the situation and fed him their location, before turning off the radio and walking over to Anna, who was still practicing with the whip. He laughed at how quickly she picked up on the talent. Then he became serious. "Let's get this over with." He said to her. Anna nodded, and curled the whip up. They quietly positioned themselves at the entrance into the temple; Indy off to one side, out of sight of anyone inside, and Anna sat rigidly above it. They were poised and ready to spring their little trap.

Marion and Tashi soon found themselves in the San Francisco airport, claiming what little luggage they had brought with them. Tashi tried to flag down a taxi while Marion clutched a letter from her daughter asking for directions to the return address on it.

"Any ideas?" Tashi asked, no luck outside.

"Everyone I've asked said it's only four blocks from the high school, and that's on the other side of town," Marion said, examining her scribbled directions.

"Let's head out then," Tashi moved to the doors and finally managed to hail a cab.

The two rode in silence on their way to the address on the letter. Marion watched lazily out the window, taking in the surroundings that Anna had come to recognize as home for the past few months. Buildings rushed past, and the car slowed as they entered heavier traffic. They came to a stop as they approached a red light, and Marion's gaze came to focus on a single telephone pole. A poster was plastered to it, and the letters M-I-S could be clearly read on the side visible from the road.

"Let us out here," she said, still staring at the poster. "We can walk the rest of the way."

She absently handed the driver a couple of bills and motioned for Tashi to follow. She walked slowly up the sidewalk as her companion struggled with the bags.

"What's in your head that says we can walk the rest of the way?" Tashi pulled the two suitcases from the back seat and onto the sidewalk, and was horrified to see Marion falling to the cement. He darted over barely in time to catch her unconscious form. Her eyelids fluttered and her breathing was weak and shallow. Her face was deathly pale. Tashi put his overcoat under hear head and looked for someone to help. He glanced up and read the poster on the telephone pole she had been standing by:

MISSING

Anna Ravenwood

Age: 17 years

Height: 5'7"

Approx. 130 lbs

Dark brown hair and hazel eyes

Last seen on February 21st with high school teacher Dr. Henry Jones Jr.

If you have any information please contact the San Francisco Police Department.

Just then, Marion began to come to. "Marion, Marion! What happened? Are you alright?" Tashi held her close. "Everything will be alright. We'll find her. Don't worry."

"I'm alright," she whispered, trying to sit up. "Let's get to that house. I need to know for sure."

Tashi helped her to her feet, and grabbed the bags. The walk to the house seemed as if it was only a dream.

Julia Cook sat quietly on the couch by the telephone; waiting for a call that would never come. She was waiting for a phone call that her friend and charge was safe and sound and out of harm's way and would be home shortly. Alex played in her lap and Harriet tugged on her skirt. She asked her mother yet again, "When will Anna come home?"

Julia sighed, wishing she knew the answer. "I don't know." She told her for what seemed like the millionth time. Just then the doorbell rang. It was a welcome distraction. She rose from the couch and opened the door, Harriet close behind her.

"Anna's back!" the little redhead exclaimed excitedly.

In the door stood a petite woman with kind blue eyes set in a thin face framed by ebony black hair. One silver streak in the dark tresses was the only immediate sign of age. Behind her was a young man of Asian origin.

"Are you Julia Cook?" the woman asked hopefully.

"Yes, I am." Julia said, already knowing who this woman was.

"My name's Marion. Marion Ravenwood? Anna's Mother." She took in a deep breath at the mention of her daughter. "This is Tashi; a dear friend of ours."

A heaviness descended upon them, a shared emotion that was almost palpable.

"Please, come in." Julia offered. "Coffee?" she made her best effort at hospitality. After all, that's all she could really do. Cabinet doors clattered as she fumbled in the kitchen.

"Thank you," Marion said, sitting on the sofa.

Julia returned a few minutes later from the kitchen, coffee mugs in hand. She handed one to each of her visitors before sitting in the chair opposite their positions.

"I saw the poster," Marion admitted, staring into her mug.

Julia's eyes filled slowly with tears. "You can stay as long as you'd like."