Page 63 of Troy Story
“Mehmet?” she asked. “Are you working as a guard now?”
“Yes. The German archaeologists needed someone to guard the site, so I offered to take the job.”
“Isn’t it kind of dull standing around here all day?”
He shrugged. “The pay is better, and my family can use the money. There are enough tourists coming by with questions that I don’t get bored.”
Dusty had little patience for nosy tourists, but Mehmet’s people skills were probably better than hers. “We were hoping to talk to Dr. Wagner. Any chance you could get him for us?”
“Sorry, he’s not allowing visitors on the site. Especially not your group.”
While Dusty could understand Mehmet’s need to play by the rules, she hadn’t expected an additional hurdle. But Clarissa seemed undaunted. Looking past Mehmet, she spotted one of the German students and waved at him. “Yoo-hoo! We’re back.”
Naturally, it was Leo, the blond hottie they’d met during Operation Odysseus.Great.He’d probably send them packing.
Frowning, Leo approached them and spoke in English. “Liesel? And Hilde? What do you want?”
Even if his voice was gruff, Dusty didn’t miss the way his eyes lingered on Clarissa’s figure or the way his Adam’s apple bobbed when she met his gaze head-on. Before Dusty could speak up, Clarissa beat her to it. “I’m sorry we tricked you. We brought you a peace offering.” She held up the basket, then lifted the dish towel, giving Leo a peek. “I made strudel.”
No human could resist the delicious smell emanating from that basket. Leo stared at it with undisguised longing. “I…don’t think that’s a good idea. Dr. Wagner was furious with you.”
Clarissa batted her eyes. “Wereyoufurious with us?”
Leo’s lips twitched up in a smile. “Tell no one, but we thought it was kind of funny. We were also surprised you spoke German so well. Most Americans can’t be bothered to learn another language.”
“I’m half-German on my mother’s side. When I was younger, I used to spend my summers in Berlin visiting my relatives.” Clarissa gave him a sweet smile. “Even now, I’m always looking for opportunities to practice my German.”
Was she flirting with him? Or putting on an act to win him over? Either way, she was crushing it. Still, Dusty didn’t want to lose focus. “I see you have a guard now. That’s new.”
“It’s because of you,” Leo said. “Well, not you, personally, but your whole group. We can’t risk having any of you poking around. Mehmet is here from six in the morning until four.”
Mehmet nodded. “Then my brothers come to take over. One of them does the evening shift, and the other works from midnight until six. That way, the site is guarded around the clock.”
“Can’t say I blame you,” Dusty said. “But since we’re here, is there any chance we could talk to Dr. Wagner? I’d like to apologize in person.”
Leo gave a good-natured shrug. “I guess it couldn’t hurt.”
As he ambled off, Dusty nudged Clarissa. “Nice job buttering him up.”
“I wasn’t faking. He’s kind of a cutie.” She flushed scarlet, then turned away, as if hesitant to meet Dusty’s eyes. “I…um…I wouldn’t mind knowing him better.”
But her shy smile morphed into a look of sheer terror when Dr. Wagner strode up to the barrier and nailed them with a withering glare.
He directed his wrath at Dusty. “You. I can’t believe you have the gall to show your face at my site. Thanks to you, we’ve had to hire guards for the rest of the season.”
Dusty bowed her head and kept her voice humble. “Sorry about that. We came to apologize properly. To make up for our thoughtless behavior, we brought an apple strudel for your team’s morning break.”
Clarissa brandished the basket. “It’s not poisoned. It’s my grandmother’s recipe.”
Dr. Wagner let out a weary sigh. “Why are you doing this? What goal does it serve?”
“No goal except to make amends,” Dusty said. “I’m sorry we lied about everything, including our names. This is Clarissa Jones, and I’m Dusty Danforth.” She tensed up, hoping her name would prompt recognition.
Dr. Wagner nodded, as though a light had gone on. “You’re Dr. Louisa Danforth’s daughter, aren’t you? I’ve heard of you before.”
“You have?” At most, she’d expected him to remember her mother.
“Dr. Danforth mentioned you during her talk. Somewhat of a troublemaker, if I remember correctly.”
