Chapter 4

CHAPTER 4 Had Michael and Dr. Gomez left their hotel room just one minute earlier, they would have seen Ruben wheeling a large birdcage down the block and around the corner toward the bus station. Instead, they hopped in their rental car and headed to the Museum of Ancient Nazareth— in the opposite direction.

"What would I want with squirrels?" the curator asked, looking around the museum's courtyard in what seemed like a nervous way. "I have no use for squirrels." She handed the photo of Merle and Pearl back to Michael. The bead of sweat trickling down her temple and the shift of her eyes made Dr. Gomez suspicious that the curator was not being completely honest. "We have reason to think they may have been headed here or perhaps to some other museum in the area. Can you let me know if you hear any word— anything at all— about them?" Dr. Gomez asked as he handed her his card. "Yes. Absolutely," she replied halfheartedly as Michael and Dr. Gomez exited the courtyard. As soon as they were out of sight, the curator pulled out her cell phone. "What is it?" the voice on the line answered. "There are Americans asking about the..." "Relax," cautioned the voice. "There's been some complications, and the cargo has been rerouted." Back in the rental car, Dr. Gomez also made a phone call, but Dr. Simon's phone went straight to voicemail.