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CHAPTER

12

THE CAMPSITE CONSISTED OF A large main tent and seven smaller ones surrounding it. If it was one person per tent, this was a small team for such a monumental expedition.

Jeff pulled up beside where Jasper had parked and everyone got out, congregating at the rear of the Jeeps.

“How many of you are working the site?” Matthew asked.

“Seven,” Alex answered. “Jeff and Jasper, you’ve met. Me, obviously. Then there are four laborers. Two of them are at the dig site right now, keeping watch. The other two should be around here somewhere.”

Matthew glanced at Robyn, who was struggling to haul her backpack out of the vehicle. Cal helped her with it and received a mild glare and a reluctant thank-you for his trouble. It was just like Robyn to appreciate the help but prefer to take care of things herself.

Robyn pushed her sunglasses up her nose and looked around, searching the horizon. “And how far from here is the site?”

“About a ten-minute drive. Just past that.” Alex pointed to a large sand dune in the distance.

Matthew kept his gaze on the dune and took a deep, slow breath. He didn’t think he’d ever come back here, and yet, here he was. And it felt right. But it also felt like they were running against the clock somehow. Just the significance of what was at stake, he supposed. From the look of it, though, they didn’t have other teams encroaching on their territory. But if word got out about the Tablets, that could change at any time.

“You struck it pretty lucky,” he said. “Finding the tunnel this close to where you set up camp.”

“Uh-huh, very lucky.” Alex wet her lips. “Our early probing missions proved to be very informative.”

“So what was it that brought you out here in the first place?” Robyn lifted her sunglasses to the top of her head but quickly put them back in place.

“The tunnel. Well, what we believed to be aqueducts running beneath the desert to divert water from—”

“Tombs,” Robyn finished with a knowing smile.

“That’s right,” Alex said. “More specifically, hopefully a pharaoh’s tomb.”

“Many famous archaeologists believe aqueducts are false readings on ground-penetrating radar,” Robyn continued.

“Guess we’ve proven them wrong. At least in this case. Although…” There was a slight curl to Alex’s lips that hinted at a personal victory. “It’s technically not an aqueduct. It’s a tunnel. Which is even better. And we have found something else since we spoke.” Alex glanced at Matthew. “A couple discoveries, actually.”

His heartbeat hammered with anticipation. “What are they?”

Alex let out a small chuckle. “I appreciate that you’re excited, but I suggest that you guys get your tents set up before it gets too hot out here. Then we’ll meet in the main tent and go over everything.”

Matthew’s jaw dropped open slightly. “Now you’re just being cruel.”

“Come on, suspense is good for the heart.”

“Not sure about that.” It had been four days since Alex had called him, but it felt like much longer than that. He hadn’t even seen the hieroglyphics that had spurred her to seek him out in the first place. But she was right about the sun. It was rising in the sky, and in about two hours, it would reach its peak. As if encouraged by his thoughts, a fresh stream of sweat trickled down his back. “But I guess we should get set up before it warms up any more.”

“I’d say so.” Cal hoisted his bags from the Jeep. He put his arms through his backpack straps and grabbed his other bag.

“Now, you can set up your tents wherever you wish around the main tent, but I suggest you stay as close as possible to the rest of us,” Alex directed. “The toilet and shower are around the back side of the main tent. Unfortunately, we have to share with the men.” Alex pressed her lips into a frown and passed a sympathetic look to Robyn.

Both women smiled then, leaving Matthew to take minor offense to the connotation until his mind veered into the gutter. “You heard her. You have to share the shower.” He bobbed his eyebrows.

“Matt!” Robyn swatted his arm with the back of her hand.

Alex laughed and so did the guys.

“You have to watch him sometimes. He can take things very literally.” Robyn squinted at Matthew. Sunglasses or not, he could still make out her eyes.

“Only when it suits me.” He smiled, certain his grin was stretching ear to ear.

“Brat.” Robyn shook her head as she donned her backpack and grabbed her suitcase. She headed off in the direction of the main tent and turned left. Cal wasn’t far behind her.

“Well, I’m going to check on Andres and Danny at the dig site,” Jeff said, hopping back into a Jeep.

“Andres and Danny are two of the laborers under Jeff’s management,” Alex explained.

Jasper walked off toward the main tent without a word, leaving Matthew alone with Alex.

She was smiling at him, but her eyes were prying, and Matthew sensed a bit of jealousy. But that had to be his imagination. She’d have no reason to be jealous. That was, unless…

“Do you need any help setting up your tent?” She was staring blankly at him now.

She’d make for good company, and he’d like to spend more time with her, but he had a method that got his tent erected in no time. He gulped at his own double entendre. This was all Robyn’s fault—asking him if he liked Alex. That had messed with his mind.

“I’ll be fine.” He grabbed his backpack by one strap, put it on, and then took out his second bag.

“Suit yourself. I’ll see you in the main tent.” She stepped away, leaving him wanting more. And he wasn’t just referring to the information she had yet to share about the dig.