The Fortune Teller(43)

Right now she didn’t want to deal with the office either. She couldn’t care less about her meeting with Mikhail. They were supposed to discuss Beijing, but her focus on work was gone; at this point she barely had a grip on reality. She was immersed in Ionna’s story, still unable to fathom that Ionna had envisioned the birth of Baghdad and the House of Wisdom.

Had Ionna also seen the library’s annihilation in 1258 when Genghis Khan’s grandson razed the city? And what had happened to the Oracle’s cards? Where did they go after Rabka sold them to Jamal Azar?

Semele’s mind raced with possibilities. She was reading a bona fide prophecy, and the more she read, the more Ionna’s words were affecting her. Semele could no longer deny the sense of purpose that had begun to fill her. She was meant to find this manuscript. Two thousand years ago Ionna had foreseen that Semele would read her words, and Marcel had left them to her, knowing she was a part of the story.

How much did Theo know? This was the question burning in her mind now—and her gut told her he knew more than she did.

He is coming to see me on Friday.

Where did that thought come from? Goose bumps traveled down her arms. Was he really? And, if this was true, then why? The whole idea was unsettling. Even worse, she couldn’t stop the feeling that, before Friday, something terrible was going to happen.

*

A policeman stood at the entrance of Kairos’ building. “Ma’am, I need to see some identification before you can go in.”

“What’s going on?” Semele asked, digging out the work badge buried in the bottom of her purse. The officer scrutinized her picture and didn’t answer.

“Sign here,” he said. He held out a logbook and finally allowed her to enter.

Semele joined the huddle of people in the lobby, then spotted Cabe coming off the elevator. They made a beeline for each other.

“Hey. What’s going on?” she asked him.

“Didn’t you get my message?” He looked astounded. “I called you like five times.”

“Sorry, no … I had my phone off,” she mumbled, starting to feel light-headed.

“There was a break-in last night. On ten,” he stressed, lowering his voice. “That manuscript you told me about was taken.”

Semele covered her mouth in horror. The manuscript was gone? She could feel tears threatening to form and furiously held them back.

“I think you should tell the police you were being followed,” Cabe said.

“What? Why?”

“What if it’s the same guy?”

“That’s crazy.”

“No, this is crazy.” He motioned to the chaos in the lobby. “We were robbed. By professionals. Do you know how much security this place has?”

Semele did know and her head was spinning. She looked around as if the thief were still there. Of course the man following her was connected to the theft. He had to be. And now she had the only copy of what they had taken.

“Listen,” she said, lowering her voice. “Don’t tell anyone I made a digital.”

Cabe scowled.

“Promise me,” she insisted. “It’s safer if no one knows.”

“I don’t know.” He let out a deep breath. “This doesn’t feel right.”

“You’re telling me,” she agreed. Mikhail got off the elevator and headed toward her. In all her time working for him, she had never seen him this stressed.

He sounded rushed. “Semele, I uploaded the Beijing file to the server. We’re going to have to meet tomorrow.” His eyes scanned the lobby. “I’m dealing with the FBI and insurance agents today. They’ve closed off all the floors.”

“You mean, I can’t go upstairs?” She needed to see Marcel’s collection, to see for herself that the manuscript was really gone.

Mikhail shook his head. “Keep your phone on. There’s a chance the investigators will want to question you.”

Semele nodded, though the possibility of being questioned made her stomach lurch. She had brought the manuscript to Kairos. And she’d made a secret copy. She glanced over at Cabe.

“Fritz is handling things—for now.” Mikhail noticed their silent exchange. “But the investigators may want to speak with you too. Cabe, you’re with me.” He hurried to go shake hands with a suited man who had just entered the building, most likely the insurance agent.

Semele shot Cabe a look. They’d talk later.

*

Semele hurried to the subway station, looking up and down the street with a growing sense of panic. If she had the only known copy, would whoever stole it come after that as well?

Her cell phone rang and the number flashed across her screen.

Holy hell, why was Theo calling?

She picked up. “Mr. Bossard, I’m so sorry. Have you been informed about the incident?” she asked, floundering. She had no clue how to handle this call.

“Mikhail called me,” he said. “Are you all right?”

The question caught her off guard. “I’ve only just heard the news. I’m so sorry.” She apologized again. “I hope the investigators recover the piece.”

She waited for him to respond, but there was only silence from his end. She hedged. “Mikhail and Fritz will be following up with the investigators and keeping you apprised.” She heard him sigh, but still he said nothing. Just what did he want her to say? Why was he calling?