Alex Kava Bundle - Alex Kava [642]
He started taking each item out of the box, carefully setting them one by one on the desk. Then he took out the can of Brasso metal polish, the soft cloth and box of Q-tips he used to clean them. It wasn’t quite as elaborate as Sister Kate’s collection, but hey, he had to start somewhere.
So far he owned three medallions, two coins and one eight-inch silver crucifix. The message from the guy on eBay that he had bought the crucifix from said it had been adhered to a knight’s shield during the Crusades, that he had drawings and sketches that showed similar ones and that this one had the black welding spots on the back.
Gibson wasn’t sure he believed him, but he got the medallion for less than he expected to pay, and even if it wasn’t from a knight’s shield, it was pretty cool. It was definitely old. He spent almost three days cleaning the tarnish from all the intricate grooves. If he didn’t know it was a crucifix, Gibson would have guessed it was a dagger of some kind. Maybe he’d take it in to show Sister Kate. Yeah, maybe he’d take his entire small collection in to show her. He liked that idea.
He looked around his room, trying to remember where he had thrown his backpack. He dragged it with him everywhere, lacing it onto the handles of his bike or throwing it over his shoulder. It was a reflex action, like putting on one of his baseball caps. But he hardly ever looked in it, stuffing things in the side pockets like his keys and spare change. It probably needed to be cleaned out. He found it by the door to his closet where he had also kicked off his tennis shoes. And yeah, the backpack was bulging. He’d never fit his collection in there even if he put it all in a smaller box.
He threw the backpack on his bed, unzipped the main compartment as well as all the side pockets. He started digging everything out, separating the trash and shaking his head at the stupid stuff he couldn’t believe he still had in there. The bulge in the main compartment was something he didn’t recognize. Definitely something he didn’t own. He didn’t know where it’d come from. Who the hell put it in his backpack?
Gibson pulled out a brown leather portfolio, tossed it onto his bed and stared at it. How did the frickin’ thing get into his backpack?
CHAPTER 45
Omaha, Nebraska
Maggie didn’t get to her hotel room until almost midnight. She had to hand it to Cunningham, the junior suite at the Embassy Suites was more than the standard comfort level that she was used to on the road. It was also only a few blocks from the police station at the edge of a downtown area Pakula had called the Old Market. It was a quaint area with cobblestone streets and old brick warehouses remodeled into shops and restaurants that included hundreds of tiny, glittering white lights outlining the shop awnings and flat rooftops.
She had just replaced her street clothes with her nightshirt, made herself comfortable in the middle of the king-size bed and started to devour her room service when her cell phone rang. She swiped barbecue sauce from her lips as she lunged for her jacket. She had called Gwen earlier, leaving only a message when she kept getting Gwen’s answering service. Maybe she was finally returning her call.
“Maggie O’Dell,” she answered after swallowing a mouthful of food.
“Maggie, sorry to bother you so late.” It was Adam Bonzado. “Julia told me you were out of town and probably a couple of time zones behind us. I hope I’m not waking you.”
“Actually Nebraska is only one time zone behind you. But no, you’re not waking me. I just got in, winding down with some room service.” Room service which was her first and only meal of the day and which she was starving for. She licked barbecue sauce from her fingers. “What’s going on?”
“Julia will probably fill you in on everything, but I have something I thought I might