Mystery Of The Maharajah's Tomb Chapter 6

Mystery of The Maharajah's Tomb

Chapter 6

Yes, I'll be there, I said gravely, looking at Raj and Fuad. I hung up and related what the caller had said.

They have Taran, Raj said.

Yes, I said. They're getting serious now. We have to go. They want to meet in half an hour. It's 11 now, so we're meeting at 11:30.

I will drive you, Qasim said.

We'll all go, Fuad decided.

After locking up the apartment—double checking this time, we headed to the limousine.

We arrived at the university about 10 minutes later. Qasim parked on the street and shut off the engine. We waited and watched for any suspicious activity.

At 11:25 I spotted Taran approach the entrance, but he was alone. He looked around nervously. I got out of the limousine and approached him.

Justin? He said squinting in the darkness. Is that you?

Yes, Taran. What happened?

Someone attacked me as soon as I got home. They were waiting for me in my apartment. Whoever they are they're watching us right now. We have to meet in the library in 15 minutes. It closes at midnight.

Did you recognize anyone?

No, one of the persons was a woman, he related. I’ve never seen her before. And someone else was with her. I didn't see them. The woman blindfolded me and told me she knew about the tomb and that I knew where it was. She wants me—us to show her where it is. You didn’t tell anyone about the tomb—where it’s located?

No, I said as we started walking toward the library. I told Raj’s uncle that I confirmed it is here on campus but I didn’t say anything about it’s location. It was a woman—his business associate who wanted him to find the tomb. I’ll bet it was the same woman who attacked you tonight.

Taran nodded. We walked along the path that led to the library building, passing groves of trees whose shadows seemed to be extra dark and foreboding.

We reached the library at 11:45. Two people were waiting at the entrance. There was a woman I didn’t know and a youth—who I recognized but wasn’t expecting.

Taran’s friend Sahay. The shy stocky youth I met the day before in the cafeteria.

The two came out of the shadows and approached us. The woman was tall and slim and wore a dark pantsuit. She was an older woman with long dark hair pulled back in a bun, and she wore glasses. Mr. Chopra, the woman said in an oily voice. You will take us to the tomb.

How are you involved in this?, Taran hissed at Sahay as we moved into the library. We headed to the basement.

This is my mother, Kali, Sahay remarked. She and my father wanted the tomb for years.

Shh, Kali hissed. You shouldn't have revealed my name.

Sahay lowered his head.

But you told us your father was dead, Taran said, confused.

He is, Sahay said sadly. My father searched for the lost tomb for many years. He died before he could find it.

Then Sahay became friends with you, Kali remarked, looking at Taran. It was when we found out that you were the one who found the tomb and we were ecstatic.

 We were waiting for the right time to come forward and demand you show us where it is located, Sahay continued as we descended the stairs into the basement, Taran leading the way.

You are Fuad Mistry's business associate, aren't you? I asked Kali. She turned to me. Who are you? A detective or the police, she added with a sneer. You are nothing but trouble. Fuad is a fool, she went on. I have worked with him for years.

Why did you ask him to find the tomb? You must have asked him before you knew that Taran was the one who had discovered it last month?

Yes, she said coolly. I thought that he would ask his insolent son to try to find it, but he refused. We don't know why he refused though.

We passed the door that was labelled restricted. The corridors turned left and right a few times then we came to the door that had no knob. Inside was the storage room and beyond the tapestry was the room with the hidden tomb.

Wait, Taran, I said, grabbing his arm as he was about to open the door with a jackknife. Are you sure you want to do this? I mean, no telling what these people are going to do with the tomb. Why do they want it so badly. What is it's secret?

Kali and her son exchanged glances. It's not your concern, she said simply. Sahay nodded in agreement.

It is my concern if I'm down here in the basement of the library walking around in cobwebs. I've been locked up had to escape, and my apartment's been trashed. I'm involved now. So what's the secret?

You'll never find out, Sahay hissed. Now show us the tomb.

Or what? You'll overpower us.

Justin, Taran said. Leave it, will you. We'll just show them then it'll be done.

But if they take it we'll never know why everyone wants it so badly. There's more here at stake. The tomb may be lost or desecrated—and that's it. A cultural artifact will be gone forever.  It was stolen all those years ago for a reason and everyone wants is now for a reason.

Taran was silent as he looked between me and Sahay and Kali.

We were here earlier, I said, turning to Sahay. Why did you trap us in the chamber? You must have known we—or at least that someone was in there.  Suddenly it hit me—you would know where the tomb is, then, I added looking at Sahay. Why all these theatrics, then? Why didn't you just come here on your own, if you already know about it?

Sahay looked confused. I haven't been here before, he said simply, shaking his head. I don't know what you're talking about.

We're wasting time, Kali said. Open the door and show us the tomb. Now.

Taran shrugged. He pulled out his pocketknife and wedged the door open again. Kali and her son brushed past us into the storage room. She had brought a large flashlight that she turned on and swept the room.

Where is it? She said, voice trembling.

Not in here—wait, Taran said looking around the room. It looks different in here, doesn't it Justin? Things have been moved.

I looked around and noticed the same thing. Most importantly the large object had been moved from in front of the tapestry, that now hung askew revealing a larger hole than was here earlier.

Uh-oh, I thought, getting a bad feeling in the pit of my stomach.

Where is it? Kali demanded again. I don't see any tomb. Are you leading us into a trap, because if you are, my associates will find out and you will be punished.

No, this is no trap, Taran said, making his way over to the tapestry. I followed him, then Kali and Sahay.

It was behind here, Taran said, pulling the tapestry to reveal that the hole was indeed much bigger. The cabinet that had been pushed in front of the hole was moved aside. Someone had been here since we had been trapped.

The tomb is in through there, Taran said, pointing. He went inside the room, Kali brushed past me and stormed in behind him, then Sahay. I went in last and gasped.

The room was empty. The tomb was gone!

What is this? Kali shrieked. Where is the tomb? You lied to us!

I suddenly felt something tickle my nose, like dust. I looked up at the ceiling tiles and noted that they had been pulled aside and were piled up above, some of them had fallen to the floor and were broken. Taking Kali's flashlight, I shone it above our heads. Part of the ceiling had been removed and I could see the crude hole that Taran and I had made in order to escape earlier. Dust was floating down into the room from being disturbed. Someone had taken the tomb and coffin up through the ceiling. And only recently.

Come on, they might still be here, I hissed, moving back towards the hole and tapestry.

Who? Taran said.

I pointed up. They took the tomb and coffin through the ceiling. Not that long ago. They might still be on the university grounds.

Library closes in a few minutes, Sahay noted. We have to go, mother. Now.

She nodded. The four of us dashed back through the hole into the storage room and back into the corridor. Taran led the way as we ran along, I followed with Sahay and his mother in the rear.

We got to the stairs and flew up two at a time. The hallway above was now in darkness. It was 11:57 and the library was about to close.

Hurry! Taran called out as we fled along the hallway out into the main library that was now deserted—except for the security guard and a woman I guessed was the library supervisor.

The security guard turned to us. Stop! He demanded. We complied. Taran turned to the man and spoke in rapid Hindi and the man nodded. He said something else to the man.

Yes, I speak English, he said.

Taran turned to me. He says he saw someone leaving the utility entrance a few moments ago, out the back of the building. He came to report it to Ms. Dhaliwal.

What is the meaning of this, Ms. Dhaliwal demanded. Who are you?

No time to explain, I said, heading out the front entrance followed my Taran. Call the police!

Kali and Sahay followed us, leaving the security guard and Dhaliwal with confused expressions on their faces.

The dark night air was chilled. Taran ran around the side of the building, the overhead lights casting a pale glow on the surroundings. At the back of the building was a loading dock where new shipments of books and supplies were delivered. At the door was a large panel van with two occupants.

The same panel van that tried to run us down on Manipada Rd yesterday!

They had just started the truck to pull away when Taran flew in front of them to stop them. He banged on the hood of the van to get their attention. I came up to him and stopped in front as well. The cab of the truck was dark and I couldn't see who was inside. The drive revved the engine.

Stop! I said. You're not getting away with the coffin and the tomb. The police are on their way.

The engine revved again. Suddenly the truck lurched into gear and started to move forward. I moved aside so as to not get run over.

Taran didn't move.

Taran, don't be foolish! I said.

The truck continued to move, Taran walking backwards keeping pace. The driver honked the horn, a blaring screech that made us cover our ears.

Suddenly Taran lost his footing and fell to the ground, the truck still moving. Then it gained speed, the passenger side mirror grazing my shoulder.

Ahhh! I heard Taran scream as the truck shot forward, driving right over him!