The Reincarnationist

Chapter 54

New Haven, Connecticut-Tuesday night, 9:55 p.m.

Gabriella spent the next half hour trying to get through to Alice Geller, an expert in ancient languages who taught at Princeton University, and who, Gabriella was sure, would be able to read the markings on the stones. She called her every ten minutes, becoming more frustrated and panicky as time passed.

“When Alice gets home and gets the messages, she’ll call back,” Josh reassured her.

“I can’t wait. I’m not waiting. I’m going to drive up there and bring her the photos.”

“Wouldn’t it be faster if you e-mailed them?”

“She doesn’t have a computer at home, and I can’t wait till she goes to the office tomorrow.”

“Okay, then I’ll go with you.”

Three hours later, Josh and Gabriella reached Princeton, New Jersey. He’d insisted on driving, hoping to use the time to convince her she should call the police, but she was as relentless as the rain, repeating that all that would do was put her daughter in greater jeopardy. She made him promise he wouldn’t tell anyone.

“If you’ll call your father and let him come home and be with you.”

Peter Chase had left early that morning to give a series of lectures in Spain. “He has a heart condition,” Gabriella said. “This is the kind of news that could kill him while he’s thousands of helpless miles away. He dotes on Quinn.” She stared out the window and was silent for a minute. “Besides, there is nothing he can do to help. There is nothing anyone can do to help except translate the markings.”

Alice took one look at Gabriella when she opened the door and wrapped her friend in a hug. Josh was afraid that the physical comfort was going to break her.

“What are you doing here this time of night?” Alice asked as she ushered them inside. “I’ve been so worried since I heard what happened in Rome. You must be devastated.”

Gabriella’s eyes filled with tears, but she shook them away. “I can’t describe how horrible it’s been.”

Josh knew how true that was. He put his arm around her, and together they followed Alice from the front hall into the living room.

Tall and big-boned, Alice was wearing several layers of clothes, all their edges showing, like hints of secrets. Her home was as eclectic as she was, a showcase for the ancient art and artifacts she’d collected during her long career. While Alice made them all tea, Gabriella stood in her kitchen and explained that she needed help with a translation that was critical to an excavation she was working on. Alice wasn’t buying that that was the whole reason, but she obviously cared for Gabriella and knew her well enough not to push.

They all sat down at the kitchen table with their mugs. Gabriella spread out the assortment of photographs she’d brought with her.

Alice inspected the shots that Josh remembered seeing in Gabriella’s apartment in Rome. Damn. Why hadn’t he realized what this was about when he heard about the second break-in? He could have warned her, and she would have been able to keep her daughter safe. Of everyone, Josh should have known how desperate someone would be to get this information. He knew how desperate he was, didn’t he? And he didn’t want to use the stones for power or money, only to prove what seemed unprovable.

“It’s difficult to see some of the edges of these markings. Do you have any shots with different lighting?”

“No.” Gabriella’s panic was close to the surface. The calm was a facade.

“That’s okay.” Alice left the room and came back ten seconds later with a magnifying glass.

A few minutes went by, then a few more. Slowly and methodically, Alice examined each photograph. The rain splashed against the windowpanes in a steady pattern. Neither Josh nor Gabriella spoke.

“If I could just shine a light under one of these…”

“It’s my fault. I should have taken tighter shots. I should have lit the stones better.”

Alice touched Gabriella’s arm. “Second-guessing yourself is never very productive.” She looked back at the photos. The waiting was so difficult for Josh, he could only imagine what torture it was for Gabriella. He took her hand and held it.

“I haven’t seen anything like this before. It might be a form of Sanskrit, but I’m just not sure. It might be Indus…and if it is…I’m not going to be of much help. I haven’t worked with that language at all. Almost no one has.”

“No one?” Gabriella’s voice shook.

“Let me make some phone calls.”

“Now? Will you call now? I need you to do that.”

“Well, it’s late, and I don’t know if…”

“Please, Alice. This is very important.” There was no mistaking the plea. The desperation in Gabriella’s voice sent chills down Josh’s spine. It was the sound of a mother’s passion.

He watched Alice react. It didn’t matter if it was conscious or unconscious, she bowed her head for a second as if prayer was the only possible reaction to Gabriella’s voice.