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TWO DAYS LATER
THE NILE EGYPTIAN MUSEUM, FREMONT, CA
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EVERY SECOND OF THE day seemed like an eternity for Kaili. She tried to busy herself with other work. She spent time methodically cleaning each bone of the skeleton along with examining them all to locate additional choice for a second DNA testing to confirm whatever the first results might yield.
Her coworkers had come and gone for the day. Her long hours were not that unusual. She loved to work in the quiet. There was something about no distractions or noises to disturb her thoughts. She stepped back slightly to look at the skeleton as a whole. She had decided that she would probably use the thigh or femora bone to extract the second DNA sample from. Most scientists agree it yields some of the best results. It appeared to be one of the best bones still intact. The Greater Trochanter, or knob located right behind the head of the bone lent itself to a nice area in which to drill. It was both dense in bone material and easy to access.
But before she would attempt the second DNA sample, Kaili decided to take several pictures of the skeleton as it was laid out. It would be a great reference to add to her files and to keep as a record before extraction of any type.
She pulled her phone from her pocket and began walking around the table taking images from every angle. Then she decided to include some close-up images and finally a video of all of it, especially the entire skull.
A loud bang broke the silence. It made Kaili jump. “Is someone there?” she called out. But there was no answer. The silence returned. Kaili didn’t move. She stood still as if she was a statue. She waited to see if there would be any other commotion coming from the same direction. But there was nothing.
Slowly she placed her phone back into her lab coat pocket and slowly turned toward the noise. Cautiously, she walked toward the area she thought the clash had come from. Looking down each aisle of the racks she saw nothing until the third rack. There on the floor was a short silver dagger which appeared to have fallen from the shelf.
As Kaili bent over to pick up the article she began to examined it. It was rather light weight yet made from solid silver, almost eight inches long. The handle appeared to be the figure of Cleopatra, with the cross guard resembling an out stretched winged beetle. Thinking to herself “Is this a sign?” she pondered. She let out a little giggle as she was wishing in her heart it was true.
She placed the dagger back on the shelf and headed to the dressing room where she removed her lab coat and replaced it with her own. She headed out the double doors and headed home. A few minutes later the automatic lights went out.