Free The Cult of Osiris by Andy McDermott Page A

too.'
    Logan Berkeley's many things,' said Nina drily, but I don't think he's a crook.
    He didn't believe me, anyway. He already had some problem with me, I don't know why. He's kind of a jerk.'
    Nina couldn't help a sardonic smile; that was certainly one of the many things'. The police, then. The Egyptians take artefact theft very seriously.'
    T couldn't go to the police.'
    Why not?'
    They kinda . . . wanted to arrest me. They think I stole a piece of the Sphinx and hit Dr Hamdi.'
    What?
    I didn't!' Macy reconsidered that. 'Okay, I did hit Dr Hamdi. . .'
    Nina stood. I think I 've heard enough.
    No, wait, please!' Macy jumped up; across the room, Joey half rose, watching Nina suspiciously. 'Look, they chased me, they were going to kill me! I had to get out of Egypt.'
    So why come to me? Why didn't you tell the IHA?
    Because they wouldn't listen; they thought I was a thief. I came to you because . . .' Her expression crumbled to downcast disappointment. 'Because I really thought you'd believe me.'
    Despite herself, Nina felt a pang of sympathy for the young woman. Whether she was paranoid or just the victim of a hyperactive imagination, Macy had still gone through a lot to meet her 'hero' - only for the meeting to fall short of her hopes. Look,' she said, more quietly, right now I don't exactly have the highest opinion of the IHA, but that doesn't mean they won't listen to you. Okay? There aren't bad guys hiding round every corner - you can go to them and tell them your side of the story.'
    1. . . suppose,' said Macy unhappily.
    You don't have to do anything right now.' Nina glanced at Joey, who had relaxed. Go home with your friend, sleep on it, then call the IHA in the morning. I promise, it'll be okay.'
    Macy didn't appear convinced, but she nodded reluctantly, then moved to meet Joey near the door.
    Nina sat again, deciding to wait for them to go before leaving herself. The meeting certainly hadn't been what she expected, but at least it had been different, a break from blankly vegging out in front of the TV.
    Though that was all she had to look forward to when she got back to the apartment. Eddie probably wouldn't finish work for hours. She sighed.
    Macy and Joey turned to go. The door opened before they reached it.
    And Macy shrieked.
    Nina looked up in surprise. In the doorway was a greasy-looking man in a snakeskin jacket, his straggly goatee twisting as he leered at the young woman.
    Macyjerked back. 'That's him! He's one of them!'
    Hi again, li'l girl,' said the man, his grin widening unpleasantly as he advanced. Jaw set, Joey stepped in front of him—
    And crumpled to the floor, doubled over as the man smashed a punch - and a set of brass knuckles - into his stomach.
    The other customers reacted in shock. The man stepped over Joey as Macy fled past Nina to the back of the room.
    He followed—
    Hey!
    He turned towards Nina's shout - and she flung Macy's untouched cappuccino into his face. The cup hit his jaw, foaming coffee splashing everywhere.
    She kicked a chair at him as he lurched back. 'Macy! Run!'
    4
    Macy shoved past a waitress to a door behind the counter, hesitating as she looked back at the moaning Joey. 'Don't stop!' Nina ordered as she ran after her. Macy went through the door. Nina followed. The manager moved to bar her way, but flinched back at her shout of, Not me, him\ Call the cops!'
    The man in the snakeskin jacket hurled the chair aside. She slammed the door, seeing several large boxes full of bags of coffee beans on shelves. A pull, and a box slammed to the floor.
    Macy reached a fire door, barging through it into an alley—
    A thick arm lashed out, clotheslining her to the ground
    Snakeskin had set a trap, an associate lying in wait outside.
    Another shelf held several hefty Pyrex coffee pots. Nina snatched one up and ran for the fire exit. The door behind her was kicked open. The box crumpled - but the beans inside it absorbed the impact, stopping the door from opening wide enough to get