For the outside world—family, colleagues, and academics—Frank was an archaeologist specializing in ancient languages. His wife was as well. For years, they had taken part in excavations across different regions of the Mediterranean.
But that was only one part of Frank's life.
Over the past few years, he had studied Ancient Greek with near-obsessive dedication. Not out of academic passion. Not out of historical curiosity.
But out of necessity.
One afternoon, Jessie came home with what sounded like casual news, almost trivial:
An international team would be traveling to Palmyra to conduct new research among the ruins.
They would remain there for several months.
For her, it was a professional opportunity.
For Frank… it was a door.
This was his chance to uncover whatever he could.
A year earlier—on January 18th, 2017—Frank stepped off a plane at Damascus International Airport.
The air was drier than he remembered. Not cold, not warm. Simply arid.
