Translation Part 18
"How the hell should I know who you are? You could have identified yourself," Indiana said.
“We tried," said Henley.
"But you attacked us first and totally without warning." added Reuben.
Indiana's memory was a little differently but he knew how little he would benefit for arguing with the two men, so he said nothing. He looked Grisswald, then Pat and Patachon with narrowing eyes.
"Where is Mrs. Corda, Jones," asked Grisswald.
"How do I know?" Indiana shot back.
Reuben clenched his fist and said, "Don’t play us for fools, Jones. After both of us recovered she had disappeared along with you and since then she has not been seen. "
"So, you were at the house?" Indiana said smiling.
Reuben's face became even redder than it already was. He looked like he would explode at any moment. Indiana took the precaution of taking a step back from the desk.
"It's the second question on our list, Dr. Jones", he growled. "The house was taken apart from the attic to the basement. You do not happen to know by whom and why?
"No, "Indiana replied calmly. "And I think its better that I don’t say anything more." He turned to Grisswald. “Can, I use your phone?"
“Why, "asked Grisswald.
"To call my lawyer," Indiana replied calmly.
Reuben wanted to lash out but Indiana suddenly moved away to a side that he least expected.
Grisswald raised a soothing hand and said, "Dr. Jones, this is not yet necessary. You are not under any indictment. These two men just want some information from you.”
He turned around in her chair and looked up at Reuben.
“Believe me, with all the disagreements between Dr. Jones and I, Mr. Reuben, I’d still be happy to put my hand in a fire to vouch for his integrity "
"Then it will burn" Reuben murmured, but Grisswald continued unfazed.
"Dr. Jones tends to address some things a little unconventionally. But he would never violate any law," He turned around again and walked over to Indiana, "This is not about you, Jones. It is about Professor Corda. He has been missing since yesterday morning after his last lecture. No one has seen him and these two men have only tired to impress his wife to answer a few questions."
"For me, it looked different," muttered Indiana but Grisswald simply ignored his objection.
"You certainly remember the amulet I showed you yesterday," he said
Indiana nodded.
Grisswald then open a drawer in his desk and took out the tiny gold beetle and placed it on the table before him.
"Please, please think again about the piece, Jones," he said. "It's important. With all your knowledge and contacts you must know something"
"No, nothing" he said. "But what is this all about?"
Reuben wanted to intercede again, and again Grisswald interrupted with a quick gesture.
"Well, in recent weeks a number of these and similar artifacts showed up here in the city. Someone has sold an astonishing amount of this stuff. At very reasonable prices and with such skill that their identity was kept secret successful" said Grisswald.
“You already told me this yesterday," said Indiana. "But I do not understand what the FBI has to do with it? I mean, even if it is stolen works of art..."
"It does not matter," broke in Henley. "We've known since yesterday morning that they originate from Professor Corda. The question is where did he get them? "
Jones exchanged a quick glance with Grisswald, aside from FBI agents, as both had a understanding of the Corda's dealings.
Of course, their were rumors that the Cordas had a somewhat ambiguous relationship to some pieces in their possession and it was professional courtesy that these rumour did not spread. Indiana was the only one who knew where Cordas true wealth came from. Presumably, Grisswald also knew, at least since this morning. It was clear to Indiana, that the two FBI agents opposite, knew nothing.
"I don’t know," he said.
"Strange," said Henley thoughtfully and with a smile that was disgustingly fake. "Somehow I do not believe you, Dr. Jones."
Indiana just shrugged his shoulders.
"Where is Mrs. Corda. She maybe in a lot of trouble if you do not help us, Jones.” asked Reuben
"I don’t know," answered Indiana as at the moment it was at least the truth.
Although he had left Marian in his house Indiana was quite confident that she was no longer there. Henley stared at him as if he could read his thoughts but to Indiana's surprise he said nothing only shook his head and sighed audibly.
"So we are stuck," said Reuben. "What happened yesterday was probably only the result of a misunderstanding. I'm willing to overlook and forget about it - if you work with us. It is also in Mrs. Cordas interest.”
"Why?" replied Indiana.
“Because we believe that she is in danger, "said Henley,"Just like her husband"
Henley pointed with a fluttering gesture to the golden beetle on the desk.
"We need to know where this came from, Dr. Jones. Do not get me wrong - does not interest me that your colleague looted a Pharaoh’s graveor not. We do not care how he came into possession of this jewellery."
And at that moment it was the truth. "First, you need to know where the stuff comes from, and then…”
" It’s dangerous,Jones, " interrupted Grisswald. Reuben looked at him almost frightened, but Grisswald pointed to a shake of the head to answer, and continued: "There's something strange with these things. Some of the people who sold this item to Corda have become very ill. There have been two deaths."
"What? " Indiana asked in alarm.
Grisswald nodded and instinctively moved a little way from the little gold beetles continue on. "I know it is silly to hear," he said with an uncertain smile, "but it looks as if Professor Corda operated for some time had an almost unlimited pot of gold. I will now say nothing about whether it belongs to him or not. But something is not right with the gold. It is as if... "
“It would be a cursed,” muttered Indiana.
The Dean looked at him silently. He was still smiling. But it looked tortured and it was more of grimace than a real smile.
"It sounds crazy, I know," he said after a while. "But when it comes to crazy things you are the specialist, are you not?"
"That's enough, I ask you one last time, Dr. Jones. Where is Marian Corda?" Reuben said roughly.
"I do not know," said Indiana. "She was with me yesterday, that's right. I insisted that she stayed in my house.”
"Why?" Said Henley.
"Why?" Indiana laughed disparagingly.