Rameses Najeer

Rameses Najeer is an Egyptian who works as an accountant for the Leyendecker Museum. He is a snappily-dressed man who has an air of mystery about him as well.

Description

After years of reading tiny numbers, Najeer became nearsighted in his eyes. He speaks with a lisp. He claims to live a solitary life just with his family. He is married with Isis Najeer and they have two children, Horus Najeer and Amon Najeer, while she is pregnant to Anubis Najeer.

Najeer is good friends with Dr. Smith.

Najeer doesn't have much respect for Dr. Pippin Carter, seeing him only as a glory hog. The accountant prefers that the Dagger of Amon Ra should be in the hands of the Egyptians, and was deeply upset when the dagger got stolen. He also doesn't approve of the museum despoiling the tombs of his ancestors.

According to Ziggy, he came once to the Harlem Swinger and tried to get him to answer a two part Egyptian riddle: "What is the room that you leave without entering? What is the room that you enter without leaving?" On the other hand, according to Najeer, he met Ziggy just once at the party and he found him disagreeable and didn't approach him again.

Najeer gets his laundry done at the Egyptian Laundry on 44th Street.

Act II

Najeer is first seen at the museum's charity party. He listens to Dr. Carter tell his story about the dagger's discovery before he and the rest of the men (Dr. Carrington, Dr. Carter, and Ziggy) have a group chat about Yvette after she wonders off. He then hears Lavinia Waldorf-Carlton's theory that the Dagger of Amon Ra burglary was committed by an Egyptian Sun Worshipper, but Najeer seems skeptical about it. While they have a disagreement, she's convinced that her sources are never wrong. He and Dr. Smith also chat with Yvette about Egyptian etiquettecy

Act III

While Najeer isn't seen wandering the museum, he somewhat maintains a certain presence throughout the night. Yvette invites Najeer to tease him with a palm reading and her tattoo of the Eiffel Tower. She reminds him that it was she who showed him the secret room so he could conduct his "ceremonies."

A little before 10:00 PM, Olympia invites Najeer into Wolf Heimlich's office to show off his collection of weaponry. She warns him about the broadsword not being mounted properly, and he thanks her for potentially saving his life. She then convinces him to show off his Egyptian sun symbol tattoos on his foot.

The rest of Najeer whereabouts are left unknown until much later.

Act V

As Laura tries to get away from the murderer, she stumbles upon a secret entrance to the Sun Altar, where Najeer presides over the Egyptian Sun Worshippers of Amon Ra. The accountant threatens to sacrifice the reporter to hide their secret cult, but Laura fires back by pointing out that ancient Egyptians didn't partake in human sacrifices. Impressed by her Egyptian knowledge, he decides to test her with his two part riddle as an exchange for her freedom.

Riddle 1: "What is the room that you leave without entering?"

• Answer = Womb

Riddle 2: "What is the room that you enter without leaving?"

• Answer = Tomb

After answering the riddles correctly, Laura warns them that the murderer will find their way into the Sun Alter to get to her. Najeer assures her that they will stop the murderer and she makes her escape to the Furnace Room. Two members of the Sun Worshippers were gunned down trying to protect Laura.

Act VI

During the Coroner's Inquest, it's entirely optional to reveal Najeer as the High Priest of the Sun Worshippers, but it has no bearing in the main story and it doesn't effect him in the ending. If Najeer is not revealed, Henri Le Mort will note that the High Priest was at the party, but rarely seen afterwards (with one of the locations he was seen being Yvette Delacroix's office.

After Laura establishes her case against Detective Ryan O'Riley, Tut Smith comes forward to law enforcement as a witness to O'Riley's crime when he gunned down two of the Sun Worshippers.

Najeer's Epilogue

Rameses Najeer continued his successful career as an accountant and as head of the secret Egyptian cult of Amon Ra. With his strong high-society ties, his accounting business made Rameses a millionaire in fifteen years.

Najeer's Unused Dialgoue

• (Ask about Ernie Leach) I do not know Mithter Leach very well, but he theemth to be a dethent, hard-working fellow.
• (Ask about Watney Litte) I do not know him. I do not athothiate with thuch people.
• (Ask about Pocket Watch) RN: What a nithe pocketwatch. I alwayth carry a timepieth, mythelf. I think it ith important to be aware of the passage of time.
  • LB: Have you ever seen this watch before, Mister Najeer?
  • RN: No, I can't thay that I have. Then again, I am not particularly obthevant of other people. I tend to keep to mythelf.
• (Ask about Skeleton Key) LB: Mister Najeer, have you ever seen a key like this one?
  • RN: No, I don't believe I have. How interethting. It mutht open thomething very thpethial.
  • LB: Would you have any idea what that would be?
  • RN: No, Mith Bow, I'm afraid I don't.
• (Ask about Meat) We eat very little beef in Egypt, Mith Bow. I have never really developed a tathte for it.
• (Ask about Wire Cutters) I do not own a pair of wire cutterth, Mith Bow, and I don't know who would. Pothibly Ernie Leach?
• (Ask about the Dagger of Amon Ra) The Dagger of Amon Ra ith a radient jewel, the thymbol of the living, beating heart of Egypt. Without it, the thoul of my country will never be at peathe. It'th theft ith a terrible tragedy.
• (Ask about Work Boot) I'm afraid I have no idea of whoth boot that may be, Mith Bow. I do not perform manual laborth mythelf. I have weak lungth, you thee.
• (Ask about Smelling Salts) My beloved wife Ithith carrieth thmelling thalth. She ith very delicate, and hath a weak conthtitution. She fainth every time she theeth a mouthe, and our neighborhood hath many rodenth. Tho, every time she hearth thqueaking, she utheth her thmelling thalths, jutht in cathe.
• (Ask about Snake Oil) Oh, yeth, thnake oil ith very common in my country. Little thcoolchildren put it on their ankleth in the morning, to keep the cobrath from following them.
• (Ask about Lantern) I know very little about lanternth, Mith Bow. I do not believe dethecrating the tombth of my anthethtorth, and I have never enjoyed thpelunking.
• (Ask about Cheese) I find you Americanth like your cheethe, much sharper and oilier than we Egyptianth. I enjoy thome nithe crumbly feta, or a little goat cheethe, but I do not care for Cheddar. Ethpecially not moldy cheddar.
• (Ask about Garter) Mith Bow! Could we thwitch the converthation to a leth...delicate thubject, pleathe?
• (Ask about Dinosaur Bone) Boneth? Big boneth? I'm afraid I don't know much about any kind of boneth, Mith Bow, big or thmall. Perhapth you should dithcuth your bone with Doctor Mykloth.
• (Ask about Snake Lasso) That ith for catching thnaketh, ith it not? How interethting. It would be very utheful in Egypt. We have quite a cobra problem.
• (Ask about Ankh Medallion) The ankh? Ah yeth, the ankh ith the Egyptian thymbol of eternal life. It ith a holy thymbol to many of our people.
• (Ask about Pippin's Notebook) I am not interethted in anything that belongth to that horrible man, Mith Bow.
• (Ask about Magnifying Glass) How interethting, you carry a magnifier. Are your eyeth poor? I am very nearthited, mythelf. It came from yearth of looking at tiny little numberth.
• (Ask about Light Bulb) Pardon my intholenth, Mith Bow, but ithn't it a little thtrange to carry a lighbulb on your perthon? Are you perhapth afraid of the dark?
• (Ask about Watney's File) I do not care to know the detailth about the thocking deedth of criminalth, Mith Bow. I am prone to nightmareth.
• (Ask about Animal Hairs) Animal hairth? I do not know much about animalth or their hairth, Mith Bow. Motht animalth make me thneeze uncontrollably.
• (Ask about Bifocals) Bifocalth? You theem very young to need bifocalth, Mith Bow. I mythelf do not need them yet. I conthider mythelf fortunate. Perhapth you thould try reading with a little brighter light.
• (Ask about Red Hairs) Red hairth? I do not know anyone with red hair, exthept for Mithter O'Riley and that young fellow Thteve Dorian.
• (Ask about Water Glass) Thometimeth I carry a waterglath with me ath well, Mith Bow. One had to be sure to drink enough water in the wildth of Egypt, and I never quite got out of the habit.
• (Ask about Carbon Sheet) Oh, yeth. I uthe carbon paper in my profethion ath an accountant quite often. It ith a very utheful thubthtanth.
• (Ask about Yvette's Shoe) Could that be one of Mith Yvette'th thoeth? She alwayth theemth to wear high heelth.
• (Ask about Grapes) Yeth, I have notithed that Mithter O'Riley doeth eat many grapeth. Perhapth he hath thome Greek anthethry. I do not care for grapeth, mythelf. I much prefer a nithe, thweet date.
• (Ask about Evening Gown) That ith a lovely gown, Mith Bow. I haven't theen one like it for theveral yearth.
• (Ask about Charcoal) Charcoal, hmm? It ith rather unuthual to find a lump of charcoal lying about a mutheum during a fundraithing fete. Perhapth it wath dropped by the handyman.
• (Ask about Wires) I have little knowledge of wires, Mith Bow. I am an accountant.
• (Ask about W-C Diary) I don't know anything about that. Thorry.
• (Ask about Carrington's Death) RN: I have heard a great deal about Mithter Carrington, but I do not know him very well. We have only thpoken once or twithe, but he theemth like a cultured, charming fellow.
  • LB: Well, you won't be getting to know him any better, because he's dead now.
  • RN: No! I thpoke to him briefly at the party! Thay it ithn't tho!
  • LB: Yeth, it'th true! Sorry...I mean, yes, it's true. Someone impaled his body on a stuffed porcupine.
  • RN: Thocking! Thimply thocking!
  • LB: I don't suppose you'd have any idea who might have wanted to kill him?
  • RN: Well, it wathn't ME, if that'th what you're getting at! I'd gueth the murderer wath the thame perthon who thtole the Dagger of Amon Ra.
  • LB: Oh, really? And why is that?
  • RN: Well...I don't know, but it theemth reathonable. Maybe that thifty-eyed Ziggy fellow had thomething to do with it.
  • LB: Perhaps...except he's dead too. Hmmm....
• (Ask about Ernie's Death) RN: I do not know Mithter Leach very well, but he theemth to be a dethent, hardworking fellow.
  • LB: Well, he USED to be, but now he's DEAD.
  • RN: Horrorth! That'th terrible! The whole thtaff ith dropping like flieth!
  • LB: Of course, you know NOTHING about the murder?
  • RN: Not a THING, Mith Bow. Not a thing. I'm jutht a thimple accountant.
  • LB: Of course. Hmm....
• (Ask about Pippin's Death) RN: A thouthand curtheth on that man! He defiled the tombth of my thacred anthethtorth for hith own perthonal glory! He doethn't care a fig for what'th right and what'th wrong. Hith own evil deedth will catch up with him, though, jutht wait and thee.
  • LB: Apparently they already did. He's DEAD, as I'm sure you already know.
  • RN: Oh...that'th right. I forgot....
  • LB: Odd thing for you to have forgotten, since you clearly HATED the man.
  • RN: Well...HATE ith thuch a thtrong word. I think we merely had an academic differenthe of opinion....
  • LB: Hmm. And INNOCENCE is such a strong word. Perhaps you're LYING to me, sir. Just a moment ago, you were showering CURSES on the man!
  • RN: Well, I DO tend to get a bit carried away at timeth...but it wath jutht a manner of thpeech.
  • LB: A manner of speech? Hmm. I think I've just run rings around you logically.
  • RN: I don't like your attitude, young lady. You have a very thuthpiciouth nature.
  • LB: Of course. That's why I'm such a good reporter! I'll be keeping my EYE on you, Mr. Najeer....
• (Ask about Yvette's Death) RN: Mith Delacroix ith a charming young lady, and tho friendly!
  • LB: And she's stiff as a board right now. Someone killed her and turned her into a statue.
  • RN: No! Oh, no! What'th the world coming to thethe dayth? You can't even thpend the night in a mutheum any more without thome crazed murderer roaming the hallth!
  • LB: Yes, it's a sad world we live in, Mr. Najeer. DID YOU KILL HER?
  • RN: No! I...didn't even know her that well!
  • LB: Do you have an alibi for the time of her murder?
  • RN: Well, I don't know what time it happened, but I've thpent all night in the bathement!
  • LB: Do you have any witnesses who can verify your presence in the basement?
  • RN: No, because I didn't exthpect the Thpanith Inquithition! And you're not a polithe offither, tho I refuthe to anthwer any more of your thilly quethtionth about Mith Delacroix!
• (Use Meat) Pleathe, Mith Bow, I'm already feeling a little queathy.
• (Use Wire Cutters) Be careful with thothe thingth. They look dangerouth.
• (Use the Dagger of Amon Ra) Thith couldn't pothibly be the real thing, could it, Mith Bow? Oh, you bought one of the reproductionth from the gift shop.
• (Use Work Boot) No offenthe, Mith Bow, but that'th dithguthting.
• (Use Smelling Salts) My wife utheth thmelling thalth, but I do not. Thank you anyway.
• (Use Snake Oil) I have the occathional mouthe in my home, Mith Bow, but I do not have a problem with thnaketh. Thank you anyway.
• (Use Lantern) My goodneth, what a large lantern. Very nithe, I thuppothe.
• (Use Cheese) No, thank you. I do not care for Wethtern cheetheth, and the mold would irritate my allergieth.
• (Use Garter) Mith Bow, PLEATHE! You are embarrathing me!
• (Use Dinosaur Bone) Try to control your violent impulses, Laura.
• (Use Snake Lasso) My cobra catching dayth are behind me, Mith Bow.
• (Use Ankh Medallion) It ith motht beautiful, Mith Bow. You mutht be certain to return it to it'th rightful owner. I'm thure he would be motht grateful.
• (Use Note Book) No, thank you. I have one of my own.
• (Use Light Bulb) I do not need it, Mith Bow. I am already illuminated.
• (Use Watney's File) I am not interethted in that odiouth perthon, Mith Bow.
• (Use Animal Hair) Mith Bow, that'th really rather repulthive.
• (Use Bifocals) No, thank you, I have my own.
• (Use Red Hair) My, you Americanth are thtrange. No thank you.
• (Use Water Glass) No, thank you, I'm not thirsty at the moment.
• (Use Carbon Sheet) Thank you, but I have plenty mythelf.
• (Use Shoe) Mith Bow, what would my wife thay?
• (Use Grapes) That ith very grathiouth of you, Mith Bow, but I am not hungry at the moment.
• (Use Charcoal) Forgive me if I do not touch that. I do not wish to get my handth dirty, you thee.
• (Use Wire) No, thank you. I have no need for wire.

Background

It is uncommon, if not unlikely, for a modern Egyptian to bear an ancient Egyptian name of a pharaoh, and name his children after ancient gods. Modern Egyptians normally bear Arabic names.