Out of Egypt (open to anyone on the street)
Something was wrong. The voices of the people outside Sheapard's were gone. So were the sounds of anything else. No people, animals, carriages. None of the usual bustling activity Cairo played home to.
Amelia opened her eyes to find herself in a strange, dimly lit room. Only moments before, she'd been on the terrace enjoying a cup of tea, and now she was in what appeared to be a hotel room, though it was almost too friendly to be a hotel. It had all the evidence of being some sort of apartment. She looked around quickly, relieved to discover she was alone. That was unlikely to last long, so she knew she had to hurry.
No doubt this was the work of that genius of crime, the Master Criminal. He must have drugged her tea! Only Sethos would be so bold as to kidnap her in broad daylight. She wondered how he managed to bring her here. There really was no accounting for his cunning, and after his recent confessions toward a certain regard he held for Amelia, it was not inconceivable that he would try again. Emerson had interrupted them the last time.
She headed for the door, pleased to see that her parasol was leaning by the door, and her chatelaine bag was on the little table beside it. She dug inside, pulling out a pair of hair pins, intending to have to pick the lock. She grasped the doorknob, merely as proof that she was being held against her will, only to discover the knob freely turned. She replaced the pins and straightened, smoothing her crimson skirt and ivory shirtwaist. Patting her hands on the braided knot on head to ensure all was neat and tidy, she grasped her parasol and headed out the door.
Amelia followed the narrow hallway to a flight of stairs, which led her straight to an empty lobby. Briskly, and with purpose, she headed to the double doors. She had every intention of going straight to the authorities to report this, though she knew it would be up to herself and Emerson to see things righted. The Cairo detectives could be quite inept.
She stepped through the doors and stopped in her tracks.