The Life and Times of Bonnie Chance

Black Magic Woman

"Then, officer! Aburara, the antique store-owner seems to be the one selling the body?" Ryan said excitedly, discussing the latest update in the case with the policemen in the study.

"Yes! He has been trying to sell Memphis's body to a foreign millionaire," explained the policeman.

"Officer, in one week, an Egyptian exhibition will be held. Is it possible to retrieve the Pharaoh's body?" Ryan asked eagerly. "Please!"

"A secret investigation is in progress, as long as we have the evidence we will be able to do a search! Please be patient for little while longer!" said the policeman.

"For the Egyptian exhibition, I must have Memphis's mummy!" Ryan said with a pleased smirk.

"Wh... What!?" Isis gasped, appalled by what she had overheard. 'They want to put Memphis in the exhibition?'

"Yay, you're home! Let's play, Bonnie!" Carol said excitedly when Bonnie finally returned after finishing her exams for the morning. College was so strange, giving finals on a weekend!

"Sorry, can't! Gotta study for Algebra!" Bonnie said anxiously as she sped past her cousin without stopping, making a beeline for her room. She had forgotten to bring her notes for the formulas with her. For someone with dyslexia like Bonnie, those things could be damn tricky, and she wanted to make sure they were still straight in her head!

"Hmph! Well that's no fun..." said Carol with a pout. Just when they finally let her out of bed, too! She had been sitting in the parlor for a change of scenery... Oh well, at least Bonnie would be done with all that after today. She could tell her cousin was stressed, because she appeared to have just thrown on a random shirt and pair of pants this morning, and hadn't even bothered with makeup (not that Bonnie really needed any in the first place). Just then, Isis came rushing into the room. "Where are you going, Isis?" Carol asked, perking up.

"To the streets..." Isis answered in a hurry. She must find Memphis before Ryan!

"Ah... I'm familiar with the streets! I'll go with you!" Carol said excitedly. Anything to get out of the house.

"No thanks!" said Isis with a frown.

"I want to go too! Bring me along!" Carol insisted.

In the end Isis had to agree, because she was afraid Carol would kick up too much of a fuss if she kept denying her, and then Ryan would hear and learn what she was up to. So now the two girls were wandering the streets of Cairo together.

"Near here is the Hanhari Street!" Carol said cheerfully. "Isis, where do you want to go? Which part of the street—Ah! Uh-oh! It's someone troublesome!" she gasped in alarm when she spotted Jimmy.

"Carol!" Jimmy exclaimed when he saw her. "Isn't that Carol? Aren't you supposed to be at home?" he asked worriedly, rushing over to her side. "Quick, go back! Ryan will scold you!"

"I'm fine with Isis!" Carol said stubbornly, pulling away from him. Then she suddenly realized Isis wasn't there anymore. "Eh... where is she?"

"Is this Aburara's store?" Isis asked as she entered the antique shop. "I'd like to see him!"

"I am Aburara. You're such a beautiful woman! How may I help you?" a heavy-set middle-aged man with a beard said, stepping out from the back. He gasped when he saw Isis's jewelry. "Such a beautiful ancient bracelet! That is an Egyptian artifact, right?" he asked excitedly, practically drooling over it. "Then, are you looking for ancient items?"

"Yes, money is nothing," Isis replied seriously.

"This way, please! Please enter the special showroom!" Aburara said, leading her down through the back passageway to the room where he kept the merchandise that was less than legal and substantially more expensive as a result. "Haha... This person dress like a rich person, not a poor beggar," he said quietly to himself. He was expecting to make some big money off of her. "How about these? These are all ancient Egyptian treasures!" he asked once they had reached the showroom. Isis gasped when she saw all the ancient artifacts on display. It was terrible—Everything in the room was an object that had been taken from a royal tomb! "All of these items are very hard to get! Aren't they amazing? Like this one... When you wear it, it will shine even brighter," he said enthusiastically, holding up a very special amulet.