Unknown Location
G
erhard handed the guest list to Richter, along with a bundle of pages with quick bios on each of them prepared when he found out Peeters was planning something. “Highlights?”
“If you’re planning on what I think you’re planning, then I might have found who you’re looking for.” He pointed at a name. “Professor Yves Marchand. He’s the man of the hour, the one who discovered the Bible. He’s there with his wife and two children, but he also had two special guests with him that were added last minute.”
“Who?”
“Professors James Acton and Laura Palmer. Husband and wife archaeologists.”
Richter bit his lip. “Why do those names sound familiar?”
“They’ve made it into the press a few times over the years. They seem to have a knack for meddling.”
“Interesting. Solid reputations?”
“Impeccable, sir. He’s a well-respected professor, and she was head of archaeology at the British Museum until she took a position at the Smithsonian to be closer to him.” Gerhard paused. “And she’s rich.”
Richter’s eyebrows shot up. “Oh? How rich?”
“She’s almost one of you, sir.”
His eyebrows rose even higher. “Oh really? An archaeologist with that kind of money?”
“Her brother owned an Internet company and sold it before the bubble burst years ago. When he died, he left all the money to her.”
“Very interesting. So, they have means to pretty much do whatever they want in life.”
“Yes, sir, just like you.” Gerhard smiled slightly. “Nefarious or otherwise.”
Richter chuckled. “That’s exactly what I was thinking.”
