Heart of the Scarab

It was supposed to be a once-in-a-lifetime trip for Judith and her two sisters. As the plane circled to land in Istanbul, Turkey, it was like looking at a fairytale come true. There it was, the beautiful Blue Mosque in all its glory, the museum's, and the world-famous Grand Bazaar with over four thousand shops.

The sisters were so excited, that little notice was taken of the dark eyes that seemed to be hiding in the gorgeous setting or how a twist of fate would suddenly turn a quiet vacation into a danger zone and leave them in a fight for their lives. How could this have happened?

The small boat moved silently, slicing through the warm water and humid night air. With impeccable planning, the heist had gone well and the stolen treasures were on board. Kamar silently studied the faces of his men as they whispered quietly one to another. Would they continue to fight for the Nobel cause or, in possession of such wealth, be tempted to betray him?

As a cool breeze flowed across his face, he nodded to his true friend, Gursel, who immediately stood caressing the handle of his long-bladed knife, the gleaming clean metal bearing record of the blood of its victims. Suddenly everyone stiffened as faint sounds of another boat motor could be heard closing in. Kamar sensing betrayal, quickly reached for his gun.