Dead Guilty

kidding.’’
‘‘Not at all,’’ said Kendel. ‘‘The guests would sit around and watch the host unwrap a mummy. We’re lucky this one survived. Most from unwrapping parties were burnt as firewood.’’
‘‘We were just about to take it up to the conserva tion lab and have a look,’’ said Korey.
Diane motioned toward the elevator. ‘‘By all means. Let’s have a look at our mummy.’’

Chapter 7
    The conservation laboratory on the second floor was spacious, containing six shiny metal worktables, each with a microscope and a large swivel-mounted magni fying glass and light. Cabinets filled with chemicals used in conserving fragile objects of wood, paper, fab ric, metal, and bone lined the walls. There were a fume hood, sinks, and more microscopes on the countertops. From the ceiling hung the framework for mounting cameras.
    It was a cool, shiny, clean room managed by Korey. Three of his assistants were seated at tables, busy at work.
Across from the lab was the X-ray room, complete with used endoscopy and low level X-ray equipment— Korey’s newest babies that he’d found at a medical surplus auction.
They wheeled the mummy case past the tables into the temperatureand humidity-controlled storage vault in the back of the lab. The small room was crowded with the five of them and the mummy. They all gathered around the case of heavy wood and inlay and lifted it onto a worktable.
‘‘We’ll lay the lid on the table,’’ said Korey. ‘‘I checked it when it came in. It’s not sealed. Okay, on three.’’
It was heavier than Diane had suspected but man ageable as the five of them lifted the top off and laid it aside.
‘‘Oh, this is nice,’’ said Jonas as they looked into the coffin.
The mummy, a mixture of brown, red and dark gray, looked as if it had been fashioned from resin. The face was especially well preserved. The skin ap peared as though it were pulled tight, and the outline of bones and ligaments could be seen under the flesh. The brow ridge and jawline looked male.
The arms were crossed over the chest. On its legs were piles of yellow-brown wrappings that looked like a bundle of well-worn rags.
‘‘Other than some patches of fungi, he looks really good,’’ said Korey.
‘‘He does, doesn’t he?’’ agreed Kendel.
‘‘It’s a he ?’’ asked Andie.
‘‘I believe so,’’ said Diane.
‘‘A pharaoh?’’ she asked.
‘‘I doubt it,’’ said Diane.
‘‘We may never know,’’ said Kendel. ‘‘However, his hands are crossed. That’s significant.’’
‘‘It is, indeed,’’ agreed Jonas.
‘‘How is that significant?’’ asked Andie.
‘‘It’s a royal burial position,’’ said Jonas. ‘‘Plus he had a top-notch embalming job done on himself.’’
Andie rubbed her hands together. ‘‘I’ll bet we got ourselves a king.’’
‘‘Arrange a CT scan at the hospital,’’ said Diane.
They all looked at one another, sharing the excite ment, both surprised and pleased that Diane had de cided to spring for the expense of a scan.
‘‘Korey, you’ll have to package him so he doesn’t contaminate the hospital,’’ Diane said.
‘‘I can do that. I’ll take care of any infestations first, then we’ll wrap him in plastic wrap on a board.’’
‘‘Plastic wrap?’’ said Andie.
‘‘Sure. He’ll be wrapped up like a mummy.’’
A groan from Andie. ‘‘Oh, please.’’
‘‘We’ll need tissue samples for dating and other analysis,’’ said Diane. ‘‘Jonas, I’ll depend on your knowledge of embalming techniques for the various dynasties to help us narrow in on the time and place of origin for this guy.’’
‘‘Already been collecting my references,’’ he said.
‘‘Korey, let me know when you set up the scan.’’ Diane left them excitedly discussing the mummy and headed for her office.
She sat down behind her desk, closed her eyes and lis tened to the water bubbling over the rocks of the fountain decorating the side table in her office. She had designed and constructed the fountain to remind her of the inside of a cave. When she closed her eyes and listened, she was in some deep dark grotto. She could almost feel the cool of the rock around her—the perfect peace.
‘‘Damn, I’m sorry to disturb you.’’
Diane opened her eyes. Peace was always shortlived. ‘‘Mike. Can I help you?’’
Mike Seger, graduate assistant to the geology cura tor, pulled up a chair and laid a folder on her desk. ‘‘Saw your