Free The Osiris Curse by Paul Crilley Page B

like a tour of the museum? Be happy to oblige.”
    Octavia felt a stab of remorse. She’d love that. She’d always enjoyed the museum, coming here with her parents. And a behind the curtain tour would have been something special. But they didn’t have time. “Unfortunately not,” she said. “We have an appointment to keep. We can’t put it off any longer.”
    â€œMuch as we’d like to,” muttered Tweed.
    â€œWell,” said Bainbridge. “Another time, perhaps. And I’ll see you this afternoon.”
    Octavia smiled, then she and Tweed turned and left the office.
    Time to face the music.

    â€œWhat part of ‘keep out of trouble’ didn’t you understand?” shouted Chase.
    They were back in the library at Ravenstone Lodge. Chase was pacing back and forth while Temple sat in a wing backed chair by the window, his hands steepled together.
    â€œJust let them explain, Barrington,” Temple said mildly.
    â€œI wish they would!”
    â€œIf you’d shut up for two seconds we might get a chance!” snapped Tweed. “Because although you seem to think we all love the sound of your voice just as much as you do, I’m afraid we don’t. It’s quite grating. Nasal.”
    Octavia sighed. Temple smiled at her and rolled his eyes.
    â€œExplain to me,” said Chase. “Make me understand. Why were you following this Benedict Wilberforce?”
    â€œBecause he is involved in Octavia’s mother’s disappearance.”
    Chase looked at Octavia, a puzzled frown on his face. “When did your mother disappear?”
    â€œOver a year ago,” said Temple disapprovingly. “You should know this. It’s in their files.”
    Chase waved him away. “And how do you know this Wilberforce is involved?”
    â€œHis name was listed as the person responsible for moving my mother from the Ministry prison.”
    â€œWhy was she being kept there?” said Chase in astonishment.
    â€œWe think it’s because she was investigating Lucien and the Tsar of Russia.”
    â€œSo why did this Wilberforce take her out of the prison?”
    â€œWe don’t know,” said Octavia.
    â€œIs he Ministry?”
    â€œWe don’t think so. At least, we’ve not been able to find any record of him. He vanished after my mother was moved. I sent his name around the docks and left instructions that I was to be notified if he tried to enter the country again. Last night he did.” She shrugged. “We followed him to the factory below the museum and witnessed him confronting another fellow—a person named Sekhem.”
    Temple put his tea down with a heavy clink. “Sekhem, you say?”
    Octavia nodded.
    â€œCan you describe him?” asked Temple urgently.
    Octavia was rather surprised at his intensity. Temple was usually a very laid-back person. “Of course,” she said. “We got a good look at him.”
    â€œGood.” Temple exchanged a knowing look with Chase. “We’ll get you to work with a sketch artist. We can get his face out to all the ports.”
    Octavia frowned. “All the ports? That’s a bit much, isn’t it? He hasn’t done anything to warrant that kind of attention.”
    Temple stood up. “That factory—”
    â€œTemple,” said Chase. “They don’t need to know.”
    â€œNo, but they deserve to know. They’re involved, however you may wish otherwise.” Temple turned to Tweed and Nightingale. “That factory was Nikola Tesla’s laboratory.”
    â€œNikola Tesla?” Octavia looked at Tweed in amazement.
    â€œHas he been kidnapped?” asked Tweed. “Is that why the Ministry is going so mental?”
    â€œI wish he had been.” Temple sighed. “Tesla was shot and killed there last night.”
    â€œNikola Tesla?” said Tweed.
    â€œYes.”
    â€œHe’s