Page 15 (2/2)

“Tell them that Ask for more time” Joe lifted the phone and walked to Patricia “It’s iet more time Make them believe you can find the mummy Got it?”

“Got it” She didn’t look like she did, but Joe had no other option than to hand over the ringing phone

“Hello?” Patricia said in a tremulous voice

She listened while everyone in the room leaned in towards her

“I don’t have it Soot there” As she listened, Patricia paled “No! No I can find it I just need soony on her face “I n-need more time than that”

The caller said so else, and then Patricia’s hand fell to her side, still clutching the phone “He says we have three days If he doesn’t have the mummy by Friday, Alice will lose her usefulness”

A grim silence enveloped the room

“I really need wine” Patricia headed for thethe phone carefully on the table when she passed It was her only lifeline to Alice

Joe looked at Julia, whose face was athe phone,from it that will help us?”

“I’ll email the details to her now” Julia looked less terrified now that she had a task to keep her mind occupied

“In theyou know about this uys are so hot to trade your friend for a corpse that wouldn’t sell for asabout this particularyou obv

iously know”

Patricia ducked her head as her cheeks turned pink Oh yeah, she knew exactly as going on, and it was ti kept in the dark Especially when there were lives on the line

“And Gran?” Julia looked up fro about him?”

Joe’s eyes snapped to Julia “I thought that was her husband”