The Stolen Chalice: A Novel - Hardcover

Pilgrim, Kitty

Hardcover

ISBN 10: 1439197288 ISBN 13: 9781439197288

Publisher: Scribner, 2012

Synopsis

Veteran CNN journalist Kitty Pilgrim follows her acclaimed thriller debut, The Explorer’s Code, with a riveting page-turner combining the glamour of the international art world and a devastating terrorist plot.

CNN veteran Kitty Pilgrim returns with her second novel featuring the beautiful young oceanographer Cordelia Stapleton and the dashing, urbane archaeologist John Sinclair. Set in the international art world, The Stolen Chalice takes readers across the globe. Bombings, kidnappings, and Sinclair’s old love conspire against the couple as they search for valuable Egyptian art.

The black-tie gala at the Metropolitan Museum of Art promises to be a star-studded evening. Cordelia Stapleton and John Sinclair have flown in from Alexandria, Egypt, to help celebrate ancient Greek, Roman, and Egyptian culture with New York’s elite. The influential crowd of artists, collectors, scientists, and New York society dine and dance at the museum’s historic Temple of Dendur, unaware that terrorists are planning to attack. Fortunately, museum security and police stop the terrorists, but the evening is a disaster.

The next morning, Cordelia and Sinclair learn that an art theft ring struck New York while they were at the museum. All over the city, pieces of Egyptian art have been stolen. Ted VerPlanck—a pillar of New York society whom Cordelia met the night before—discovers that his penthouse apartment was robbed and the legendary Sardonyx Cup, an ancient Egyptian chalice, is missing. Ted asks John Sinclair to help him recover his precious artifact.

Despite Cordelia’s objections, Sinclair calls on his old flame the Egyptologist Dr. Holly Graham to help find the chalice. They discover the stolen art is being sold on the black market to fund an international terrorist group. The group’s leader, a sinister Egyptian anarchist, and his aristocratic British partner, Lady Xandra Sommerset, are planning a biological-weapon attack to topple the major governments of the world.

Aided by British and American security forces, Sinclair sets out to find the missing art, which holds clues to where and when the attack will take place. Pieces of stolen art are scattered around the world. The action moves from a sprawling ranch in Jackson Hole, Wyoming, to a castle on Scotland’s rugged coastline, a beautiful two-hundred-foot yacht in the Mediterranean, the mysterious canals of Venice, the premier beach resort of Sharm el-Sheikh, and ultimately Cairo. Romance sizzles as Sinclair, Cordelia, and Holly Graham are caught in a love triangle, distracted by their emotions, and unknowingly moving closer to mortal danger.

Superstition and science meet head-on. And one question remains unanswered—does the Sardonyx Cup have special powers?

About this title

About the Author

Kitty Pilgrim is the author of three novels and a former award-winning correspondent and anchor for CNN. She is the recipient of an Overseas Press Club Award, a Peabody Award, The New York Society of Black Journalists Award, and is a full member of the historic Explorer’s Club. She lives in New York City and Rhinecliff, New York.

Excerpt. © Reprinted by permission. All rights reserved.

East Seventy-Seventh Street, New York

THE BLACK MERCEDES CLS 550 stopped in front of the Mark Hotel on East Seventy-Seventh Street and the doorman rushed out to open the passenger door. In the fraction of a second it took John Sinclair to step out of the limousine, time collapsed. It had been five years since he last stood in this exact spot, but it seemed like yesterday, with one important difference—life had vastly improved, thanks to Cordelia Stapleton.

He turned to help Cordelia from the car, lacing his fingers through hers, as she surveyed the quiet Upper East Side neighborhood. The canopy of the Mark Hotel was before her, and golden, fan-shaped ginkgo leaves whirled down in the autumn breeze.

“I can’t believe we’re actually here!” she said, her green eyes lighting up with excitement.

“I know I put up some resistance about coming to this gala,” Sinclair admitted, “but now I’m actually looking forward to it.”

The Ancient Civilizations Ball was the most glamorous event of the fall social season. International celebrities and New York society people mingled with the elite of the art and antiquities world. Sinclair’s attendance was sure to generate a buzz. He was a celebrated archaeologist and had discovered more ancient sites than anyone since Howard Carter, the legendary explorer who found King Tut’s tomb.

As Sinclair entered the hotel, the desk manager looked up.

“Welcome back, Mr. Sinclair! So nice to see you again.”

“How are you, Bernie? It’s been entirely too long. I’d like you to meet Cordelia Stapleton.”

“Miss Stapleton, delighted! No need to register, I have your information. What time would you like the hotel car to pick you up this evening?”

“Seven-thirty would be fine,” Sinclair said, checking his watch.

The manager walked with them to the elevator, reached in, and punched the button for the tenth floor. As it ascended, Sinclair watched the lights—3, 4, 5—and then turned to Cordelia.

“I’m so glad you’re here with me, Delia,” he said, using her childhood nickname.

She gave him a look that lingered for another two floors. Then he moved decisively, pulling her toward him. She melted into his chest, pressing her cheek against his white shirt. He bent down and kissed her until the chime of the elevator registered in his brain and she pulled away.

“I’ll get the bags settled and then we can continue our . . . conversation,” Sinclair said as he followed the uniformed bellman into the bedroom of the suite.

Cordelia watched his broad shoulders retreat down the hall and turned to survey the living room—tastefully decorated in shades of pale gold. On the bar, an ice bucket held Veuve Clicquot and Badoit mineral water. Out the window, skyscrapers glowed silver against the evening sky.

“John, you should look at this view!” she called.

All was silent, only the air conditioner was whirring.

“John?”

No answer. She entered the bedroom and found Sinclair asleep, fully clothed. He was a gorgeous sight, stretched out in his elegant Savile Row suit. There was a formal stateliness to his position—flat on his back, arms at his sides—as if he were an ancient pharaoh lying on a bier. His face was still deeply tanned from the expedition to Egypt, a contrast to the white pillowcase. Sinclair had strong features, classically handsome, but with a rugged appearance that spoke of sun and sand, and a life spent outdoors.

Careful not to disturb him, Cordelia tiptoed over to her suitcase. The zipper made a tearing sound and he stirred.

“I drifted off,” he said sleepily.

“Sorry, I need to hang up my dress.”

Sinclair rolled on his side and propped his head up.

“Care to join me?” He patted the bed next to him. “I know a great cure for jet lag. You’ll feel like a new woman.”

His eyes were dancing, and a smile played around his lips.

“I’m so tired, I might not get up again,” she demurred.

“What’s that over there on the desk?” he asked.

Cordelia hung up her gown and then walked over to a huge vase of white lilies wrapped in glistening cellophane. She pulled off the card and read it aloud.

“Dear Delia, Have a great time at the gala. Love, Jim Gardiner.”

“He really does spoil you,” Sinclair observed.

“He always did,” she agreed, walking toward the bathroom. “I think there’s time for a nice soak before we go out.”

The bath was palatial—a large, footed tub and his-and-her marble sinks.

“Ohhh . . . they have my favorite ginseng bubble bath!” she called back to him, seizing the Molton Brown bottle.

“Is that tub big enough for two?” she heard him ask from the bedroom.

“Of course.”

She turned on the tap, undressed, pinned up her hair, and slipped in, feeling the warm water slide over her limbs. Sinclair appeared in the doorway, holding the bottle of champagne and two flute glasses. His tie was pulled loose and his shoes were off.

“May I join you?”

About this edition

• Publisher: Scribner
• Publication date: 2012
• ISBN 10: 1439197288
• ISBN 13: 9781439197288
• Binding: Hardcover
• Edition number: 1
• Number of pages: 384