The Spider Stone by Alex Archer

Author:Alex Archer [Archer, Alex]
Language: eng
Format: epub, mobi
Tags: Science Fiction - Adventure, Action & Adventure, Fiction, Science Fiction, Popular American Fiction, Adventure, General, Women archaeologists, Creed, Annja (Fictitious character), Fiction - Science Fiction, Senegal, Relics, Adventure fiction
ISBN: 9780373621217
Publisher: Toronto : Worldwide, 2006.
Published: 2010-05-11T04:00:00+00:00

Chapter 14

"Let me get this right," Doug Morrell said. "You're going to West Africa to go chasing after this Spider Stone?"

"I really can't talk about it." Annja pulled on her backpack and grabbed her suitcase. She'd packed light to come to Atlanta. Now she was paying for it because she didn't have everything she wanted from her Brooklyn loft.

"You can't talk about it," Doug repeated.

"That's right." Annja took a last look around the hotel room, then stepped through the door.

"Annja," Doug whined, "this is me. You can't hold out on me."

"I can. I am."

"That goes against everything our relationship stands for."

"We don't have a relationship." Annja stopped in front of the elevators. "We have an arrangement."

"That's cruel," Doug said.

The elevator doors opened and Annja entered. She hoped she'd lose the phone signal, but she didn't. "You had first dibs on sending me to West Africa," she stated.

"West Africa is big," Doug said. "Where are you going in West Africa?"

"You're not thinking of sending Kristie there." Annja wanted to scream because she knew that was exactly what Doug Morrell would be thinking.

"Hey, there's a story here," Doug insisted.

"No monsters."

"It's Africa. There's gotta be zombies."

"I thought you said zombie stories are out with the show."

"We got zombies and an ancient treasure map in this," Doug said. "That's really cool."

The elevator opened and Annja stepped out into the lobby. McIntosh stood near the checkout desk with four men in plainclothes. They looked like an NFL offensive line.

"Annja, you gotta let me in on this," Doug whined. "You're all over the news. CNN. Fox News. MSNBC. I've even heard Larry King is trying to get hold of you."

"Larry King?" That stopped Annja for a moment. She liked watching Larry King, but she couldn't ever imagine meeting the man, much less being interviewed by him.

"That's what I was told. You're major news right now."

Those were the magic words. Right now. Annja knew several archaeologists who had enjoyed momentary fame during unusual finds or when some popular legend or myth caught the attention of the public. It never lasted.

"You can't buy this kind of advertising," Doug said.

Annja knew that, but she was thankful for it, too. She liked living her life out from under the microscope. Obscurity was a good thing. She didn't care for the limelight despite the pieces she did for Chasing History's Monsters. Those were a means to an end, and she felt they gave her the opportunity to at least teach a little about what she knew and loved.

"Did you hear me?" Doug asked.

"I did." Annja walked to the checkout desk.

"I already took care of the paperwork," McIntosh said, taking her suitcase and handing it to one of his agents. "We're ready to roll. Finish your call."

"I don't think you're seeing the opportunity that you have here," Doug said. "This is freaking huge."

"Is that the television producer?" McIntosh asked.

Annja nodded.

"Let me have the phone." McIntosh radiated impatience. He held out his hand.

Pushing aside the immediate resentment she felt, Annja handed over the phone.

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