CHAPTER 16
NICOLE OPENED HER EYES SLOWLY and at the same moment closed them, buffeted by the light. Slowly he tried to reopen them, but the vigorous light enveloped and projected a spectrum...
An angel — he thought — have I died?
The radiant and dazzling light projected what seemed to be hair framed in gold, while the intense blue eyes, whose beauty rivaled the divine smile, brought him peace... but little by little the blonde gave way to the gray haired professor and best friend of his grandfather.
— Teacher's Rossi, she's awake — said the dean.
— Close the curtains, too much light is coming in — said Gregory Evans.
— Where am I?
— It's in my office — replied the dean.
— How are you feeling?
— My body is sore... Who are you? — He said becoming aware.
— My name is Gregory Evans and this is Interpol agent Pietro Ferri.
But none of it seemed to make any sense to her.
The detective struggled to lift her up and leave her sitting on the sofa. His body, however, did not obey him, his face contracted with pain.
— She still hasn't gotten over the shock of knowing her grandfather was murdered.
— Was there a murder here? — Asked Pietro Ferri.
The professor smiled at the misunderstanding.
— No... a professor of ours who was on an expedition in Iraq to find the ancient tomb of Nimrod was murdered, he was this young woman's grandfather.
— And this happened when?
— We don't know precisely when, what we can predict is that it happened in the last week, he had been there for two years, he issued a weekly report, but in the last few weeks he was somewhat discouraged with the results.
— Trying to find something in the middle of the desert I imagine is not the easiest of tasks.
— If I could simplify the explanation, it would be like finding a specific shell on a beach.
The girl moved with some difficulty.
— Calm down — Greg said, holding her hand — you can't get up so fast.
— I feel very weak...
— It's okay, okay?
— I still can't believe they murdered him.
— Don't worry, Nick.
— You said Professor Hulmann was researching Nimrod, Dean?
— Exactly!
Greg looked at the photo.
— Was Anu part of the pantheon of gods in that region?
— Iraq is the site of ancient Babylon.
— The city of the famous gardens?
— One of the seven wonders of the ancient world, Agent Ferri.
— Coincidentally, the same location as the Biblical Tower of Babel.
— I wouldn't use the term coincidental, but that's not wrong, Detective.
***
NICOLE CLOSED THE DOOR to her bedroom and opened a book on her shelf and pulled out a folded paper.
I think now is the time, grandpa...