Quinn and Janie walked through the halls and into the adjoining rooms. There was an overview of theGrand Canyon , which included a scale model. Some arrowheads and other objects were kept under glass with long descriptions nearby. It was a learning experience. And Janie wasn't in the mood to learn anything at the moment.
She entered another room that contained a huge stuffed black bear, reared up on its hind legs. She eyed it curiously.
"Janie, check this out."
Quinn stood next to a glass table that had thePhoenix and surrounding area in miniature relief.
He pointed down. "Look familiar?"
She was surprised to see that it was the drawings on their map. A ghost shape, a monster tree, and a phoenix. Each of the symbols was explained on small gold plaques. Semolina, the ghost town. More information on it in another room, including the treasure thatJebediah and Mary-Ann fought to the death over. TheAsesinodelMonstro . A sample of its branches was available to be inspected close up in another part of the museum. And there was a huge history and historic overview of the city ofPhoenix available in the museum, too.
No rectangle, but then again, she supposed they were standing in the middle of that landmark already.
"Bizarre coincidence?" he asked.
She shook her head. "We're close."
She felt something stirring within her. Where she'd almost given up, that empty, sick feeling was being replaced by a small amount of hope. Follow the vampire, the Boss had said. That's what the seers had told him.
Seers were rarely wrong. At least, not if they wanted to see another day. No pun intended.
"Maybe we could ask somebody." She looked around. Other than the two of them, the place was totally empty. She didn't even see any video cameras or security guards watching over the museum's contents.
"Tribal magic," Quinn said. He was reading another inscription next to the map. "That's why the symbols are so simple. Because they weren't drawn by hand; they were drawn with magic by a tribe that once worshiped the demon who owned the Eye."
"Magic,shmagic . Does it say where we can find it?"
He looked up at her and over her shoulder. "Holy shit."
She turned around. Enclosed in a glass case was a mannequin dressed in Indian wear, including a full ceremonial headdress. In its raised hand was a golden wand with a globe top. The plaque next to it read:
The Eye ofRadisshii
TheRadisshii tribe worshipped the demonRadisshii until he was vanquished. The tribe died off as a whole shortly after, and all that remains is this golden wand, which was recently unearthed from the sacred lands.
She blinked. She could hardly believe her eyes. Right there. Right in front of her. She didn't even have to check the drawing she still had shoved in her back pocket. That was the Eye. She glanced at Quinn.
"It can't be that simple, can it?" she breathed. "Why is it right here? Right where anybody can see it?"
"Malcolm told us. It might have always been here, but cloaked to anyone specifically searching for it in.
If we'd come here before the map was revealed, we probably wouldn't be able to see it at all. It would have been invisible to us."
"That is messed up."
He nodded. "So, what's the plan? Should we wait until they close and then sneak back—"
With a well-placed roundhouse kick, she shattered the glass case. An alarm immediately began to sound. She reached through and grabbed the Eye, taking the mannequin's arm off in the process.
"—in tonight and grab it?" He blinked. "Or that's good, too."
The alarm rang in Quinn's ears as he stood facing Janie.
She stared at him and bit her bottom lip. "I have the Eye."
"Yes, you do. And we should probably get the hell out of here right now." He bit his bottom lip. "Why don't you give it to me?"
She grinned. "Yeah, right. Remember, handsome, I'm the one who has the gun." She reached under her jacket to her holster and frowned. "It's gone. My gun is gone."
"Did you drop it earlier?"
She shook her head. "I could have sworn I had it before we came in here."
He eyed her warily, a distinct feeling of uneasiness coming over him. This wasn't right. None of it. "Janie,
we need to get out of here. Right now."
"Oh, you must stay," Malcolm said as he turned the corner. He had a gun in his hand—and Quinn was willing to bet, somehow, that it was Janie's. "We really didn't have much of a chance to catch up last night, did we?"
Quinn's stomach sank down to his feet at the sight of the old man. He'd thought he'd never see Malcolm again. Or maybe that was wishful thinking.
"You cut things short when you staked me and left me for dead."
Malcolm smiled. "We do what we must to protect that which we desire."
It was hard to concentrate with the alarm blaring in his ears. "Have you been following us this whole time?"
His smile widened. "I didn't have to. I made a copy of the map. I've been waiting here for you. I knew you'd eventually show up. I am very patient."
Quinn's shock and surprise faded away and were replaced by hot anger, which he fought back. He needed to keep his head clear. "Why didn't you just take the Eye and be done with it, then?"
Malcolm's brow furrowed. "Because I wanted to give you another chance, of course."
He glanced over at Janie and then back at Malcolm. "What?"
The old man smiled at him. "I know you weren't thinking clearly yesterday." He eyed a scowling Janie.
"She's very attractive. I can see why you might be taken by her, but there are bigger things for us to think about. I may have overreacted last night to your betrayal."
"You staked me."
"You're still alive. And as long as you're alive, every day presents new opportunities. I'll give you one last chance to change your mind."
"And if I don't?"
He raised the gun. "I will kill her. Right here, right now."