y

ned my face was probably caked with dirt. Looking around the people milling about the dig site, I knew I blended in. It was like there was

the area, searching the sea of white and beige against the dark earth being neatly piled around the holes being dug. I saw A

finally noticed me and headed my way. “

ot you

to be here. Therefo

?” I asked him, gettin

d the dig and I think it’s de

n charge arou

in a

ha

ll be up in a bit. Let’s go to the

ing to speed up the process of gettin

up. “Yes. Some of these things were uncovered over s

first table was filled with coins and other artifacts that were rather common. They didn’t interest me. I was mo

hat was different than the hundreds of others I had see

g to earlier appeared out of n

o Alec. “I’ll buy that one, and to sweeten the deal, I’ll

“Alec,” she said in a British accent. “Tell your friend

e to find something unique. Carl promised me unique. What I see he

“You are ve

that supposed

lder. “Let’s talk about th

I replied.

She was laughing at me, which I did n

s. I am not the kind of man that takes no for an answer. Your boss, Carl, told me he was excited to show me some thi

distinct impression there is v

like me. I had very little people skills. I was a nerd. I loved reading and studying. I had double-majored in college because I loved the idea of making money and I lo

uthenticity of a piece, he could. We could divide and conquer. I sent him all a

ointing to the statue that was larger than the others I had seen. I wanted to get my hands on it. I wanted to know whose tomb the statue had be

work out a deal

” Layla a

apped. “Why are you

’m telling you this isn

tall man. Some people thought I was intimidating. Deep down, I was convinced I was a soft teddy bear, but my exterior was on the rough side.

ated. Finally. She

rth to you?”

of history,” she said, ne

to you? You have a number in mind.

snapped it closed again

You put up a good fight. Now, what is i