Egypt Read Online Free Page B

proof of it,’ I replied.
    â€˜Sure, everyone’s corrupt. Everyone’s afraid of the gangs. But something’s changed. We’re not looking at the usual small-scale stuff. We’re looking at something that’s evolved suddenly onto another level altogether.’ He paused and looked at me meaningfully. ‘A mysterious new gang’s recently started dominating and destroying the competition…’
    Khety had always burned more brightly than me in his fascination with conspiracies and secrets, whereas I, the dogged detective, could only look at what was there before me and make my deductions accordingly. But the hairs on the back of my neck were prickling.
    â€˜Is this another of your extended conspiracy theories?’ I said.
    He looked around, and edged closer.
    â€˜It’s not a theory. I’ve been investigating this, and I’ve discovered a few things. No one knows anything about the gang behind these killings. The other gangs–they’re like cats fighting in a box because they have no idea who is doing this to them. At first they assumed it was the others, and so there were the usual tit-for-tat exterminations. But they’ve realized everyone’s getting hit. Bit by bit, their organizations are being literally sliced away. It’s some other gang altogether. And that really scares them. Whoever these newcomers are, they appear to be attempting to take over the entire opium trade in Thebes.’
    â€˜What’s your evidence?’ I said cautiously.
    â€˜The price of opium on the street has gone way, way down; and yet the quality is better than ever–everyone’s going crazy for the stuff. And crucially, for the first time ever, there’s as much available as anyone wants to buy. Which means this new gang has accessed a fresh supply route, which could only be the river—’ he replied.
    â€˜And therefore they’re using the ports—’
    â€˜Bubastis, perhaps, near the north-east border. And the shipments must come through Thebes. Not Memphis; it’s too dangerous, with the army all over the place. And so they must be paying people off, and not just border guards, import officials, local police and low-level people. The only way this could work is if they have influence at the highest levels .’
    â€˜This is just supposition,’ I said, deliberately pushing him. ‘Everyone knows the corruption stretches from the gangs to the nobles. They’re both getting rich, while everyone else gets poorer. What’s new about that? There was even a rumour, years ago, that Horemheb’s army was somehow involved in such a secret trade, but there was never any proof. In any case, there’s not a thing any of us–certainly not you or I–can do about it.’
    He stared at me, shocked.
    â€˜This could be the biggest case we’ve ever worked on. It could make our careers. It could put you back on top. If we figure this out, if we can connect the gangs to the nobles via a new cartel trading in opium, smuggling it without permissions, then Nebamun will have to go on his knees and beg you to go back to work. You could make a real difference. A real change to what’s happening. To what’s going so badly wrong in this city…’
    I felt the old, familiar surge of excitement rising within me. A new case. A new mystery to solve. But I squashed it down.
    â€˜Listen carefully, Khety. Here’s my advice, for what it’s worth. Forget the new opium gang. Forget it all. Go home. Work on something else, where you’re less likely to get your head chopped off. There’s nothing you or I can do that will make any difference to this. It’s all been agreed at levels of power you and I will never reach. Anyway, don’t people still murder each other in this city in the old-fashioned ways?’ I said.
    His face was dark with disappointment.
    â€˜I’m not walking away from