The Texas Kreweher unit of their section within the FBIwas supposed to investigate whatever couldnt be answered by the evidence. Usually it wasnt because of incompetence or because leads werent followed by the local police. They were called in when the leads themselves were unusual. Some people described those leads as paranormal.
But in this instance
A diver had jumped the gun. Hed jumped the gun on an incredible discovery mainly because he was the scientist whod been determined to find the wreck of the Jerry McGuen. Hed been looking for ancient Egyptian treasures lost along with the ship.
And those treasures included a mummy.
It just had to be a mummy! she thought, wincing as she conjured up an image of Brendan Fraser and his hit movie. And of course there was the mummy in The Unholythe recent Hollywood remake of a 1940s film noirhad been that of an evil Egyptian priest whod turned out to be real.
Sad beginning to this whole thing, huh?
Startled, Katya looked over at Dr. Alex McFarland, the M.E. who walked her down the corridors and past offices, vaults and autopsy rooms. He seemed a decent enough sort, cordial and receptive. Bald as a billiard ball and wearing spectacles, he reminded her of Dr. Bunsen Honeydew of Jim Hensons Muppets fame, the epitome of what the general public expected a doctor or scientist to look like.
Very sad, she agreed. The victim had been in his thirties, an expert on Egyptology and an expert diver. A young man with his life stretching out before him.
And now that life was cut short.
McFarland rolled his eyes. Tragicand almost no ones talking about the boys death. Of course, the disappearance of the Jerry McGuen has been one of the great mysteries of Lake Michigan since she went down in the late-nineteenth century. Theres more coverage given to the discovery than to the poor boys death. And God help us allthe curse! But, then again, although Chicago is hardly considered to be one of the worlds great dive spots, the lakes hold a lot of wrecks where divers frequently go. I dont dive myself, but we have many professional and recreational divers in the area. Many of them say he was being careless, that he took chances in his excitement and shouldnt have been diving at seventy-five, eighty feet on his own.
You should always dive with a buddy, Kat said. Sadly its often the diverseven expert diverswho go out on their own who wind up in autopsy. There are no guarantees in the deep.
You dive?
Yes, she told him.
Well, then, Im sure youll enjoy this. Like I said, the Great Lakes are filled with shipwrecks. I find the lakes and wrecks fascinating. Ive studied them all my lifeto the point of obsession, Im afraid. Many are known, but many are not. Lake Michigan has a surface area of 22,400 square miles and its average depth is 279 feet with its greatest depth being about 923 feet, McFarland said. Its the largest lake completely contained in one country in the world, and ranked fifth largest on the globe.
McFarland obviously loved Chicago. He sounded very proud of the lake.
But then he sighed. Lots and lots of room for tragedy over the years, and lots of room for ships to disappear. Sure, finding wrecks in the deep, frigid waters of the North Atlantic is a challenge, but if youve ever looked out at the lake, you might as well be staring at an ocean, its so immense.
She glanced over at him; McFarland knew the power of water, and he seemed well up on his history of the area. He was as fascinated as everyone else by the discovery of the sunken ship.
The exploration is still going on, she said.
So I understand. The world doesnt stop spinning because one person has died. McFarland shrugged. You have heard that everyones talking about a curse, right?
Yes, she said. Thats why Im here.
Normally, of course, they would never have been called in because of an accidental death that occurred while a man was scuba diving. Such deaths would be handled by the medical examiners office, but there usually wasnt any hint of paranormal activity, so no reason for their unit to be brought in.
You cant stop the wheels of progress when theres been a great discovery, I guess, McFarland said.
Every day is money, she murmured. Someones livelihood. In this case, many livelihoods.
That was true. Kat didnt know nearly as much about film as Sean Cameron or a few of the others who belonged to one of the Krewe teams, but from their time in California shed learned how much money could be involved. In the file Logan had given her shed read that production prep had already begun; crew and talent had been hired. Of course, Alan King was, according to Forbes, a billionaire, so if he lost money on the enterprise, hed probably be just fine. But making the documentary meant much more to the struggling historians running a nonprofit organization dedicated to preserving the past.
Sean would arrive soon. Hed taken a short holiday with Madison Darvil after their last case. When they got back from Hawaii, Madison would resume her work in California, and Sean would come here.
She smiled just thinking about it. She loved Sean; they were old Texas friends. She felt sure that he and Madison would be able to keep up with their demanding jobshe with the unit, she with her work at a special effects companyand maintain a relationship.
Kat returned her attention to Dr. McFarland and the situation. At the moment, however, that didnt seem to help. Whatever had happened to Brady Laurie was still confusing.
But in every case, someone needed to speak for the dead.
Well, from what I understand, Alan King doesnt care if he loses money on a film as long as he produces a documentary that makes him proud, Kat said to McFarland. King already has his director and shipboard cameramanwho are two men my team and I actually know. Theyre from San Antonio. I understand that King also has underwater videographers on-site, ready to detail every single step of the ships recoveryand that they were there when members of the Preservation Center found Mr. Laurie.
Thats the information I have, too, McFarland said. I wasnt at the site. The body was brought here. And I swear that man hadnt been out of the water for more than two seconds before the curse hysteria started.
She didnt believe in curses; she did believe in the way a curse could be used to prey on peoples minds. Shed seen people die because of what they were convinced was true, hearts that had stopped beating because of fear.
I dont think theres an Egyptian tomb that doesnt come with a curseor at least a rumored curse, Kat said.
McFarland grinned. I see youve read up on all this. The man who discovered Amun Mopats tomb, Gregory Hudson, was aboard the Jerry McGuen when she sank, which, of course, gave rise to the belief that the curse is real. To tell you the truth, the only curse I see is the wicked Chicago weather. But youve probably heard our old saying. If it werent for the weather, everyone would want to live here!
The Jerry McGuen carried the mortal remains and effects of the New Kingdom, nineteenth dynasty priestor sorcererAmun Mopat, beloved of
Ramses II, Kat said. He had his own burial crypt and chamber built before his death. Hed filled it with treasures andin his own hand, the story goeschiseled a curse into his tombstone, damning anyone who disturbed his eternal life. Or disturbed the place where his body rested while he joined with the pharaohs and gods. He was apparently quite taken with himself. He wanted to be a god like the pharaohs. She smiled. According to some of the research a colleague pulled for me, he had blood ties to Ramses II. He felt he should have been seen as a god all his life.
The Jerry McGuen carried the mortal remains and effects of the New Kingdom, nineteenth dynasty priestor sorcererAmun Mopat, beloved of
Ramses II, Kat said. He had his own burial crypt and chamber built before his death. Hed filled it with treasures andin his own hand, the story goeschiseled a curse into his tombstone, damning anyone who disturbed his eternal life. Or disturbed the place where his body rested while he joined with the pharaohs and gods. He was apparently quite taken with himself. He wanted to be a god like the pharaohs. She smiled. According to some of the research a colleague pulled for me, he had blood ties to Ramses II. He felt he should have been seen as a god all his life.
Yes, very good. You seem very well informed. McFarland shrugged. But I dont understand why theyve called the FBI in on this, except thatcurses and ghosts are your specialty, right?
I assure you, Im qualified to be here, Dr. McFarland, Kat told him. I received my doctorates in medicine and forensic pathology from Johns Hopkins.
Yes, I heard you were well qualified, Dr. Sokolovand Im sure youll understand what were dealing with better than the fellow whos already here.
Agent Chan is here now? she asked. She wished shed had a chance to meet with him earlier. Introductions over a corpse were always a bit awkward, even if she was a medical examiner and far too familiar with morgues.
Yes, he arrived about ten minutes ago. He said you were informed that youd be meeting him. Hes not a doctor, McFarland said, his tone irritated and more than a little condescending.
But he is an agent, Kat reminded him.
McFarland opened the door to the autopsy room; they were both gowned and gloved.
Kat usually noted the corpse first.
But this time she noted the man who belonged to the original Krewe.
He greeted her as she entered, with words rather than a gloved hand. Hello, Dr. Sokolov, Im Will Chan. I believe you were expecting to meet me here?
Yes, of course. Logan told me you were already in the city, Kat said.
She didnt mean to stare at him in obvious assessment.
But she did. She probably wouldve been tempted to stare at him anywhere. He wasnt just an appealing, attractive or handsome man, he was different, and not merely because of his striking appearance. There was an aura about him, an energy that immediately caught and held her attention.
She had to look up at him, but she was only five-four, so it seemed that she looked up at most of the world. Somehow, with him, it wasdisconcerting. Or maybe it was the circumstances that were disconcerting. We dont know each other, except for what we know about each other. And yet
Shed been given so many files to read on the plane, she had to mentally put what she knew about Will in order. Hed become an agent with the original Krewe of Hunters when theyd solved a case at a historic mansion in New Orleans. Before that, hed performed as a magician and an illusionist. He was also astute with video, film and discerning what was really just smoke and mirrors, recognizing what lay beneath the surface. Will had gone through the academy and passed with flying colors. He was a talented agent.
And, of course, hed happened to be in the city.
She cleared her throat, not wanting to seem gauche. Logan gave me an extensive file, she said. Youre a film expert, as well?
I know a few things about it, he said, lowering his head with a quick smile. I come from a long line of illusionists.
He was tall with intriguing features. His background was Trinidadian and hed spoken with a slight accent that made her think of the Caribbean island. His hair was dark. His eyes, just as dark, were slightly almond-shaped. His features suggested Asian and perhaps Indian antecedents, and then again, there was something classic about them. His face seemed to be sculpted in the mold of a Roman statue, but with the rugged chin of an American cowboy. She found herself studying himand almost forgetting that he was standing beside a corpse.
Yes, and Im one of Jackson Crows team, and most important, I was in Chicago when this happened, he said.
Right. Kat nodded. And sowhat have you learned?
He hasnt learned anything yet, McFarland said. I havent gone over the autopsy report with him, he added. We knew you were on your way.
Kat nodded again, but looked at Will Chan.
McFarland had no idea just what this mana Krewe member who could speak with the deadmight have learned.
She glanced away from Will Chan with determination, unable to still the curiosity stirring within her. As part of Jackson Crows team, hed been specifically chosen for his position.
Because of a special talent.
McFarland drew out his report and frowned as he studied it. As we all know, Mr. Laurie was a white adult male, thirty-six years old. No alcohol in the system, no drugs. His body was found drifting in the hold of the Jerry McGuen, at a depth of eighty feet in Lake Michigan, Chicago jurisdiction. Autopsy revealed no sign of violence and showed that Mr. Laurie was in perfect health at the time of his death. The lungs were filled with salt water, so Im planning to officially sign off on this report as death by drowning, accidental.
Kat gazed at the corpse. When it came to their unofficial role with the Krewe of Hunters, she was always glad of her medical degree and her specialization in pathology.
People didnt think she was crazy when she touched the dead.
She moved forward, inspecting the dead man and then touching his arm.
She waited, hoping for something. A sense that he was still there, and that she could communicate with the remnants of his life, spirit or soul.
But she heard nothing in her mind, saw nothing at all in the part of her own soul that was different from other peoples. Her skill, or gift, or whatever one chose to call it, was out of the ordinarybut shared by some. Like Will Chan
She glanced up at him again. He was watching her, and his striking dark eyes divulged none of his thoughts.
Stepping back, she gave her full attention to the visual aspect of the corpse.
Drowning. She hadnt done the autopsy herself. She saw that Dr. McFarlands Y incision was neatly cut and just as neatly sewn with small, competent stitches. It didnt take a brilliant doctor to detect when the lungs were filled with water, and she didnt doubt his conclusion on that.
She turned from the body to the report. The man had definitely drowned.
But she didnt like the coloration of the corpse. Blue lipsnatural, given what had happened. However, the lips were also puffy, and one side of his mouth seemed more swollen than the other. And there were curious bruises on the arms.
Youre aware of the bruising? she asked McFarland.
Of course. He was obviously indignant at her question. I make painstaking notes. Every bruise is listed in the report, and you will have a copy of it for your files.
She forced herself to ignore McFarland and Chan, studying the body once again. She was certain that McFarland was adept at his workand from what shed seen thus far, his notes were painstaking, just as hed said. But the medical examiner needed to note the condition of a corpse and assess possible causes for that condition. McFarlands Y incision on the dead man had been nothing short of artistic, and she was sure hed inspected the mans vital organs and taken all necessary samples for the pathology lab.