Read Online The Cabinet of Curiosities by Douglas Preston, Lincoln Child - Free Book Online

already are interested.”
    Nora fumed at the man’s presumption, although what he said was perfectly true. “And just how will I explain this to the Museum?”
    “That, Dr. Kelly, is the nature of our appointment.”
    He pointed to a door at the end of the hall, with the name of the occupant in gold lettering on a wooden plaque.
    “Oh, no,” groaned Nora. “No.”
    They found Roger Brisbane ensconced in his Bauhaus chair, crisp Turnbull & Asser shirt rolled up at the cuffs, looking every inch the lawyer. His prized gems still nestled in their glass box, the only touch of warmth in the cold immaculate office. He nodded toward two chairs opposite his desk. It did not look like Brisbane was in a good mood.
    “Special Agent Pendergast,” Brisbane said, glancing from his appointment book up to Pendergast without acknowledging Nora. “Now, why is that name familiar?”
    “I’ve done work in the Museum before,” said Pendergast, in his creamiest drawl.
    “Who did you work for?”
    “You misapprehend. I said I did work
in
the Museum, not
for
it.”
    Brisbane waved his hand. “Whatever. Mr. Pendergast, I enjoy my quiet mornings at home. I fail to see what the emergency was that required my presence in the office at such an hour.”
    “Crime never sleeps, Mr. Brisbane.” Nora thought she detected a note of dry humor in Pendergast’s voice.
    Brisbane’s eyes veered toward Nora, then away again. “Dr. Kelly’s responsibilities are here. I thought I made that clear on the telephone. Normally the Museum would be delighted to help the FBI, but I just don’t see how we can in this particular case.”
    Instead of answering, Pendergast’s gaze lingered on the gems. “I didn’t know the famous Mogul Star Sapphire had been taken off public display. That
is
the Mogul Star, is it not?”
    Brisbane shifted in his chair. “We periodically rotate the exhibits, to give visitors a chance to see things that are in storage.”
    “And you keep the, ah, excess inventory here.”
    “Mr. Pendergast, as I said, I fail to see how we can help you.”
    “This was a unique crime. You have unique resources. I need to make use of those resources.”
    “Did the crime you mention take place in the Museum?”
    “No.”
    “On Museum property?”
    Pendergast shook his head.
    “Then I’m afraid the answer is no.”
    “Is that your final word on the subject?”
    “Absolutely. We don’t want the Museum mixed up in any way with police work. Being involved in investigations, lawsuits, sordidness, is a sure way to draw the Museum into unwelcome controversy. As you well know, Mr. Pendergast.”
    Pendergast removed a piece of paper from his vest pocket and laid it in front of Brisbane.
    “What’s this?” Brisbane said, without looking at it.
    “The Museum’s charter with the City of New York.”
    “What relevance is that?”
    “It states that one of the responsibilities of Museum employees is to perform pro bono public service to the City of New York.”
    “We do that every day by running the Museum.”
    “Ah, but that is precisely the problem. Up until fairly recently, the Museum’s Anthropology Department regularly assisted the police in forensic matters. It was part of their duties, as a matter of fact. You remember, of course, the infamous Ashcan Murder of November 7, 1939?”
    “Pity, I must have missed that particular piece in the
Times
that day.”
    “A curator here was instrumental in solving that case. He found the burned rim of an orbit in an ashcan, which he was able to identify as positively human—”
    “Mr. Pendergast, I am not here for a history lesson.” Brisbane rose out of his chair and flicked on his jacket. “The answer is no. I have business to attend to. Dr. Kelly, please return to your office.”
    “I am sorry to hear that. There will be adverse publicity, of course.”
    At these two words, Brisbane paused, then a cold smile crept onto his face. “That sounded remarkably like a threat.”
    Pendergast