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get that much.”
    â€œThen it also explains why those thieves came after the watch
today
.”
    She frowned—then her eyes got huge. “Because
tomorrow
you and Uncle Edward are taking the train to New York City to go see that show at the museum—an
Egyptian
exhibit.”
    Jake nodded. “That’s why someone tried to steal the watch from us. The new exhibit must hold that
lock
we’re looking for. Our bodies have been trying to warn us about it, to get us ready.” Jake faced his sister. “Tomorrow we have to go to the museum. Both of us.”
    â€œBut I have fencing practice with my team in the morning.”
    He gave her an exasperated look.
    Like Jake with Tae Kwon Do, Kady had found her own sport: fencing, also known as sword fighting. It seemed that her short stint with her Viking friends in Calypsos had whet her appetite for the flash of blade and the dance of death. And Jake had to admit that she was good—maybe not Viking warrior good—but her natural grace and athleticism served her well. Of course, in typical Kady fashion, she had also begun training her cheerleading squad with swords as props, turning that deadly art into a rousing show. There was even talk of taking the performance to the regional cheerleading championship at the end of summer.
    â€œI don’t want to do this alone,” Jake pleaded.
    And he meant it.
    As much as he hated to admit it, he needed her. She was the last of his family, and he didn’t want them to be separated, especially by eons of time.
    â€œQuit being a dork,” Kady said. “Of course I’m going. Just try stopping me.” She crossed to the door. “So get reading, Einstein. We need to know as much as we can.”
    â€œWhat are you going to do?”
    Kady glanced back with a raised eyebrow and a mean smile. “I have to sharpen my sword.”

4

MUMMY’S CLAW

    Outside the Lincoln Town Car, the great metropolis of Manhattan blared, honked, shouted, and growled as the morning rush hour traffic slowed to a snail’s pace. Jake sat in the back, craning at the stack of skyscrapers. Kady manned the other end of the seat, staring out at Central Park. Between them, Uncle Edward leaned forward to urge the driver yet again.
    â€œSir,” he scolded with his usual British etiquette, “we must reach the American Museum of Natural History before eight o’clock. We have a strict appointment.”
    The driver lifted both hands from the wheel in a forlorn gesture. “Mack, what do you want me to do? Whole city’s a parking lot at this hour.”
    Uncle Edward leaned back and folded his hands in his lap.
    A grumble rose from the passenger seat up front. “Take that corner up ahead,” Morgan Drummond commanded.“Cut through the park. Quit trying to run up the bloody meter.”
    The driver looked ready to argue; but after seeing something in Drummond’s face, he hauled hard on the wheel and bumped over the curb to make the turn.
    Kady reached to the pack at her waist. “Uncle Edward, I have my cell phone if you want to call your friend and tell him we’ll be late.”
    â€œWe won’t be late,” Morgan said, and turned to the driver. “Will we?”
    The driver hunkered lower over his wheel.
    Jake studied the back of Morgan’s head, trying to figure out the man. The Brit had insisted on accompanying them to the city to act as their bodyguard after yesterday’s attack.
    This morning, Uncle Edward had attempted to talk them out of going—or at least to postpone the trip—but Jake had balked, supported by Kady, who insisted that she wanted to go shopping. Uncle Edward eventually crumbled, knowing it was best not to come between Kady and a sale at Saks Fifth Avenue.
    Even Aunt Matilda thought it best to get the children out of harm’s way for the day. She had a cleaning crew scheduled to come in, along with insurance adjusters. The