Free The Colossus by Ranjini Iyer Page A

a job for the police. Certainly not for catering company owners with anxiety issues. She should go to the cops. She would explain everything and they…they…
    They would sit back and laugh.
    She shivered and collapsed back into the chair. Truth was, the people who had caused her father’s death were out there somewhere. And they were possibly watching her.
    “Someone from DANK Haus emailed me right away!” Julian almost did a little jig in his office chair. “He has found information about Baston’s club. He’s going to make some calls. There’s a place in Hamburg that houses archeological records. He bets they will have Baston’s dig records. He’ll fax them over to me once he gets them faxed from Germany. Because of Baston’s medal, they preserved almost every single sheet of paper they could find on the guy. Max? Ms. Rosen?”
    “Huh?” Max looked at Julian. He was eager to help and so interested. And he was smart and resourceful. Of course it didn’t help that her entire being ached just to look at him.
    A phone rang. Julian answered it. “Yes Dr. Jackson, I got the email. Now? Well, all right. Be there in a bit.” He hung up and made a face. “I’m sorry. I would have loved to read the rest of the diary with you, but I have to see someone right away.” He rolled his eyes. “I’m really sorry.” He picked up a smart-looking tan briefcase and moved to the door.
    He looked at her with an expression of…was it regret? Max squared her shoulders. If she left now, she would not see him again. She held on to that thought for strength. “Would you like to have dinner with me tonight?” she asked, her voice turning hoarse.
    Julian seemed taken aback.
    “As, as a thank you,” Max spluttered. “I’m an excellent cook—and maybe we can read the rest of the diary, too. If you like. Not like a date or anything…” She gave a weak laugh and trailed off.
    A second later he broke her heart. “That’s sweet of you. But Raq…” He hesitated for several seconds, his eyes searching her face. “I have,uh, to work,” he stammered. He looked flustered. His cheeks had turned pink.
    Max managed to keep a straight face. All she wanted to do was turn around and run. She steeled herself. There was a lot more she wanted from this nice guy than a fun evening out. He probably had a girlfriend, maybe even a wife. And four adorable kids. But she wanted to see him again. How was that for conflicting feelings?
    She needed to make her offer enticing enough. She tried to be breezy. “It’s just that I realize you are far more capable of doing this than I can ever be. If you’re willing, this could be an extremely interesting historical problem.” She ran her tongue over her dry lips. This was urgent, important, and she didn’t have many choices. “Not to mention it involves a suspicious death,” she said. “But you’re busy. Never mind. Thank you so much for your time.”
    Julian, it seemed, had finally been stunned into silence. His jaw went slack. He started to say something, but his phone began to ring again.
    Max picked up her bag as nonchalantly as she could. Julian stood speechless, his phone still ringing. Max worried that she had frightened him. Oh well, it was too late now to change tactics and not look stupid. She had started the drama. She had to finish it.
    She took a few baby steps toward the door, hoping he’d stop her. But he didn’t. She turned. Julian had picked up the phone and was speaking in urgent whispers. He raised his arm and waved. Tentatively she waved back. His back was turned to her now.
    Inspiration struck. She took out one of her business cards, scribbled her home address and phone number on it, and placed it on his desk in a spot where she knew he wouldn’t miss it. She watched him for a while more.
    Then she left.

CHAPTER ELEVEN
    Max hung up her cell phone and pinched herself. She wasn’t dreaming. He was coming. Here, to her apartment. To drop off the papers the DANK Haus