Page 40 of The Alibi Club

“There’s no need to freeze anything, just calm down,” Lorna said as she looked in her purse for a tissue.

“Calm down? I’m going to die a truth-spewing hag!”

“Not anymore.” Lorna handed her a pale pink business card.

Holly read the card and wiped away a tear, and said, “You’re a matchmaker?” Her expression was skeptical at first, but as she stared at Lorna, a faint smile crept across her face. “And you think you can solve my impossible dilemma? And, like, actually help me?”

Lorna fixed her gaze on Holly. This inability to lie. Like a reverse superpower. “I think I can,” Lorna said slowly. “But first tell me, what’s Grimsby business that is so important?”

As sure as the sun rises in the east, Holly opened up, unable to hold back. “Cairo called. Their National Museum is finally opening, so they want all their antiquities back.” Holly seemed to slump in her chair. “It’s been my personal mission to enhance the Antiquities Department by bringing artifacts in from Northern African regions to become the most varied and complete in the world. Of course, the Egyptian exhibit is my premiere accomplishment. Grimsby thinks it’s cursed. But I’ve acquired some exquisitely rare pieces. If they disassemble it, Grimsby could fire me.”

“I’m sorry,” Lorna said. “If that is the case, and Grimsby lets you go, is there any chance you can head him off at the pass?”

“What kind of expression is that?”

“From old westerns.”

“You should update your vernacular,” Holly said. “It makes you sound old.”

Lorna adjusted in her seat. “What I mean is, can’t you find a way to expose Grimsby for the fraud he is? Exact a little revenge for his years of diminishing your importance and taking credit that was clearly yours?”

Holly started to open her mouth to speak when Grimsby barged back into the office. “Apologies, Ms. Gray, I’ll just be a minute more. Ms. Kim can tell you all about our upcoming exhibit on Mesopotamia. I’ve outdone myself again, if I do say so myself.” Grimsby ducked back out and left Lorna and Holly alone again.

Holly grimaced. “You want to hear about Mesopotamia?”

“Not in the slightest. Got any dirt on him? Something we could use?”

“Some. A gambling problem. But nothing criminal. Yet.”

Just then, a ping came from Basil Grimsby’s computer. Lorna and Holly shared a look and waited a beat. “Information, as they say, is power,” Lorna said.

Then Holly scrambled around the edge of the desk to read it before the screen locked her out. “A text.” Holly squinted at the screen and read it out loud, “‘We are a go. October eighteenth. One night only. You get the money. I get the item.’ Followed by a snake emoji.” Holly peered at the screen. “By Osiris’s tears. Ask and ye shall receive.’”

Lorna gave a satisfied half smile. “What item is he referring to?”

Holly thought for a moment. “It could any number of items at the museum. Priceless artifacts are our game. The snake emoji could narrow it down.”

“What’s the phone number?” Lorna asked.

“It comes in as blocked,” Holly puzzled, “which means it’s untraceable.” She looked at the screen again. “Wait, another text coming through.”

It felt like an eternity waiting for the three dots to materialize and form into words. Grimsby could walk in at any moment. Finally, the ping came in. Lorna waited for Holly to read it.

“It’s an address,” Holly said as she ripped a Post-it note and wrote it down. Lorna leaned over to see the texted address and just stared at it for a moment.

“What are you playing at, Grimsby?” Holly said more to herself than Lorna. Then they heard footsteps approaching and scurried back to the other side of Grimsby’s massive desk.

“Quick, text me your number,” Lorna said, pointing to the card still in Holly’s hand. Holly deftly texted Lorna.

“Ah, okay, there shall be no more interruptions.” Grimsby entered like an incoming storm. “Now, where were we.”

Lorna was grabbing her sleek leather coat as she looked at her watch. “I have to be going, but thank you for the time, Mr. Grimsby.”

Grimsby looked crestfallen and insisted on grabbing Lorna’s hand to deliver a lizard-like kiss on it. She shivered when it lasted a beat too long. It took everything in her to not snatch her hand away. Holly Kim bowed her head, embarrassed. Finally, Grimsby released her and Lorna stepped back.

“Right,” she said, “pleasure.” Lorna walked out of Grimsby’s office and exited the museum.

A little ding came in on her phone. Holly.