Read Online Pompeii's Ghosts (A James Acton Thriller, #9) by J Robert Kennedy - Free Book Online Page A
Authors: J Robert Kennedy
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the guards to rest.
And to
do so, he had to pass through the main chamber once more, and again he found
himself mesmerized by the sight of more wealth than any one man could spend in
a lifetime.
There
for the taking.
Edge of the Nubian Desert, Egypt
Present Day, Two days before the crash
“James!”
Professor
James Acton leaned out the window of the supply truck, waving as it made the
final turn into the Egyptian dig site his fiancée was running—and funding for
the most part. It hadn’t changed much since the terrorist attack of last year,
and the loss of the tomb they had discovered was heartbreaking, but the
original dig, of an ancient Egyptian village along what was once a tributary to
the mighty Nile, was back on track, albeit with more security.
An
Egyptian military checkpoint on the only road leading to the dig was constantly
manned with half a dozen men only five minutes away, with a radio at the camp
that could be used to call for help. And of course due to the fact the love of
his life, Professor Laura Palmer of University College London, was filthy rich
thanks to a massive inheritance from her late brother, they had a significant
contingent of private security, mostly ex-Special Forces, many of them former
Special Air Services, England’s most elite soldiers.
After
some had paid the ultimate price saving the lives of the two professors and
their students, the contingent had been doubled from four to eight, and the
self-defense training—voluntary of course—had continued. Though Acton had
experience from a stint in the National Guard years ago, what he had learned over
the past couple of years from these men had proved invaluable, saving his life
and countless others many times. He felt he was in the best shape of his life
and had more confidence than he could remember.
Though
he’d trade much of that in for a somewhat more peaceful life.
Far too
often they were in the thick of things, and he prayed the two weeks he was
about to spend here with Laura would be uneventful in every way except for
scientific discovery and a little nudge-nudge-wink-wink.
As the
truck ground to a halt in the dirt he jumped out the passenger side and into
the arms of Laura, her long auburn hair tied back in a ponytail, her
customary—when on the dig site—tan shorts and shirt, rolled up at the sleeves,
dusty from a day’s hard work, her cheeks glowing he hoped in the excitement of
seeing him for the first time in weeks.
Their
attempted marriage had been aborted by the Pope just before he stepped down,
and they had yet to set a new date, but neither were in a rush. They loved each
other—of that there was no doubt—and that was all that mattered. Formalizing it
wasn’t important, but was on the agenda.
Not to
mention his parents had nearly flipped when they had found out. His mother was
thrilled with the idea of course, but wanted to be there to see “her baby” get
married.
His dad
had grunted his agreement.
As he
breathed in her scent, feeling her body pressed hard against his, he lost
himself in the moment of true love that still burned with the passion he had
only before felt when the relationship was new. Perhaps it was the distance, he
in the US, her in England, his dig in Peru, hers in Egypt. Whatever it was, it
meant reunions were fantastic.
He eyed
the tent, then the midday sun.
Patience,
Jimmy Jr!
The
embrace broke and she wiped the tears from her face as the students gathered
around to greet him, many of them having returned after the events of last
year, determined to not let those who had died to have done so in vain, and
those who would spread terror win. As hands were shook, hugs and kisses exchanged,
he was gently led to the main tent by Laura, the whirlwind of excitement ending
as he stepped through the secondary entrance, the cool, crisp air from the
camp’s only air conditioner greeting him.
“Oh God
that feels nice!” he exclaimed as he took a wide stance and held
And to
do so, he had to pass through the main chamber once more, and again he found
himself mesmerized by the sight of more wealth than any one man could spend in
a lifetime.
There
for the taking.
Edge of the Nubian Desert, Egypt
Present Day, Two days before the crash
“James!”
Professor
James Acton leaned out the window of the supply truck, waving as it made the
final turn into the Egyptian dig site his fiancée was running—and funding for
the most part. It hadn’t changed much since the terrorist attack of last year,
and the loss of the tomb they had discovered was heartbreaking, but the
original dig, of an ancient Egyptian village along what was once a tributary to
the mighty Nile, was back on track, albeit with more security.
An
Egyptian military checkpoint on the only road leading to the dig was constantly
manned with half a dozen men only five minutes away, with a radio at the camp
that could be used to call for help. And of course due to the fact the love of
his life, Professor Laura Palmer of University College London, was filthy rich
thanks to a massive inheritance from her late brother, they had a significant
contingent of private security, mostly ex-Special Forces, many of them former
Special Air Services, England’s most elite soldiers.
After
some had paid the ultimate price saving the lives of the two professors and
their students, the contingent had been doubled from four to eight, and the
self-defense training—voluntary of course—had continued. Though Acton had
experience from a stint in the National Guard years ago, what he had learned over
the past couple of years from these men had proved invaluable, saving his life
and countless others many times. He felt he was in the best shape of his life
and had more confidence than he could remember.
Though
he’d trade much of that in for a somewhat more peaceful life.
Far too
often they were in the thick of things, and he prayed the two weeks he was
about to spend here with Laura would be uneventful in every way except for
scientific discovery and a little nudge-nudge-wink-wink.
As the
truck ground to a halt in the dirt he jumped out the passenger side and into
the arms of Laura, her long auburn hair tied back in a ponytail, her
customary—when on the dig site—tan shorts and shirt, rolled up at the sleeves,
dusty from a day’s hard work, her cheeks glowing he hoped in the excitement of
seeing him for the first time in weeks.
Their
attempted marriage had been aborted by the Pope just before he stepped down,
and they had yet to set a new date, but neither were in a rush. They loved each
other—of that there was no doubt—and that was all that mattered. Formalizing it
wasn’t important, but was on the agenda.
Not to
mention his parents had nearly flipped when they had found out. His mother was
thrilled with the idea of course, but wanted to be there to see “her baby” get
married.
His dad
had grunted his agreement.
As he
breathed in her scent, feeling her body pressed hard against his, he lost
himself in the moment of true love that still burned with the passion he had
only before felt when the relationship was new. Perhaps it was the distance, he
in the US, her in England, his dig in Peru, hers in Egypt. Whatever it was, it
meant reunions were fantastic.
He eyed
the tent, then the midday sun.
Patience,
Jimmy Jr!
The
embrace broke and she wiped the tears from her face as the students gathered
around to greet him, many of them having returned after the events of last
year, determined to not let those who had died to have done so in vain, and
those who would spread terror win. As hands were shook, hugs and kisses exchanged,
he was gently led to the main tent by Laura, the whirlwind of excitement ending
as he stepped through the secondary entrance, the cool, crisp air from the
camp’s only air conditioner greeting him.
“Oh God
that feels nice!” he exclaimed as he took a wide stance and held
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