39 |

Marseilles, France

 

Alexie Tankov sat with the others from his team of professional art acquirers, their services available to the highest bidder, though that wasn’t their only criteria. The collector had to be willing and able to preserve what they acquired.

They weren’t destroyers of history, though they didn’t mind killing if it became necessary.

He was not the good man his mother thought him to be.

Though he wasn’t pure evil like some of his competitors.

Nor were the others, all former Spetsnaz, Russian Special Forces. Highly trained, highly motivated, and well equipped, living the dream between jobs, and keeping their skills honed while on the job.

That was why when the proof was offered up after the hundred thousand was deposited, he spotted the problem right away. “Bring up that invoice, the second one with the generator on it.”

His second in command, Utkin, tapped away at his tablet, the large screen they were all watching on mirroring his display.

Could the guy be that stupid?

He held out his hand. “Give it to me.”

Utkin handed him the tablet and Tankov zoomed in on the blacked out address at the top of the invoice.

And smiled.

“Gentlemen, we are definitely dealing with an amateur here.” He handed the tablet back to Utkin. “Clean that up. Is the person who placed the order who I think it is?”

Utkin worked his magic, and with a few taps and drags, the contrast was adjusted, the weak black marker and the crisp dark of the invoice now clearly different.

Revealing the name of the person who had placed the order.

Laura Palmer.

And the delivery address of Aksum, Ethiopia.

Tankov smiled. “How did I know they’d somehow be involved? Find out where Acton and Palmer are. I’m guessing you can start looking in Aksum. Wherever they are, that’s where the Ark is.”

Utkin chuckled. “Unbelievable.” He frowned. “Do you think the others will figure it out?”

“Probably. If not, they deserve to pay the winning bid.”

Utkin pointed at the screen. “You’re right. Look at the logged in user count. It’s dropping. Looks like they’ve figured it out.”

Tankov shook his head when the number dropped to two. “Us and the seller, I’m guessing.” He sighed. “Let the idiot know why he just lost out on what could have been the biggest payday in history. Then find me those professors.” He turned to the others. “Start prepping our gear and load the plane. I want to be wheels up by the top of the hour.”