Chapter 16

CHAPTER 16 Two hours later, Dan and Amy received a call on Nellie's phone in the coffin. The phone vibrated in Amy's pocket, shocking her out of her half slumber. Dan had fallen asleep, unmoved by the glowing green light as Amy held the phone to her eyes. Unidentified caller. Perfect. She decided to risk a whisper. "Hello?" The line was barely working underground, and Amy strained to hear the scarcely discernible, staticfilled voice on the other end. All Amy could make out was the word safe, which she took to mean the coast was clear. It was a female voice, so it was probably Nataliya. Or Irina trying to smoke us out. She pushed the thought aside. Amy nudged Dan hard enough to wake him and he grumbled, trying to nestle in. The bones

beneath them sounded hollow and dry. "I just got a call. Someone said it's safe." "You don't have to tell me twice," said Dan, pushing up on the coffin lid without another word of encouragement. They both peered into the darkness. The doors had been closed. There was no light at all. "Here goes," said Amy. She turned on the flashlight and they were blinded by the harsh light of the beam. Amy sent the light dancing from wall to wall, coffin to coffin, until it rested on the door that would lead them out of the tomb and into the church upstairs. They got out as quietly as they could, though to Amy's horror, she heard the sound of bones breaking under her weight. "Probably just ribs," said Dan. "It's not like he's using them for anything. Who called?" "I'm not sure. I think it was Nataliya." They arrived at the exit. The card deck symbols did not appear from the tomb side of the door. It simply opened, and they were free.

The next morning, ensconced in a Yekaterinburg hotel with Nellie on her way, Dan made a phone call. "You're not driving a monster truck, are you?" Dan asked Hamilton Holt. "Not yet, but the day is young." "Got your clue. Are you ready?" "I've been ready for two days. Lay it on me." "One gram melted amber." "Dude, that's gross. Who's Amber?" Dan laughed. He could imagine Hamilton Holt grinning on the other side of the line. Eisenhower grabbed the phone and yelled into it. "Don't think this means anything. We're done partnering! Siberia and back was a raw deal and you know it. You used us!" "Okay, Mr. Holt, whatever you say. Game on." "Game on!" Amy agreed.