Smokescreen

by Iris Johansen

  “I really just finished his computer input ten minutes ago,” Eve found herself saying quickly. “Stop glaring at Jill, Novak.”

  “But you knew two hours ago it wasn’t Varak.” He made an impatient gesture. “I’ll deal with that later.”

  “No, you won’t,” Eve said. “My job. My decision.” She turned to Joe. “How are you? I was worried. What happened in Cairo?”

  “Not much that was good,” Joe said. “Except that we might have acquired some valuable information to coordinate with what you found out about the ID of the reconstruction.”

  “But you got Dobran killed,” Novak said bitterly. “He’s the only witness we knew about, and he’s dead. And we needed his information. I’ll interrogate Sebak, but from what Gideon told me, I doubt if I’ll get anything. By all means, tell them what happened at Asarti. It will be interesting to have all the cards on the table for a change.”

  “I’m sure it would be a great change for you,” Joe said coolly. “That’s why I didn’t want you to know anything before I could be here to keep an eye on what you were doing.” He turned to Eve. “I did get Dobran killed. As I said, there was as much bad as good that happened at Asarti.” He spent the next minutes filling her in on the events of the last twenty-four hours, and ended with, “And I don’t give a damn about Dobran’s death, we can work around it. What I’m worried about is that whoever staged those explosions and the sniper attack will probably know in a matter of hours who was taking Dobran out of that château tonight.”

  “What?”

  “Dobran had to be the target. We were careful, and no one knew we were in the château. It had to be a random accident that we were there at the same time as the attack. But I killed that sniper, and once they find him, they’ll look for more answers.”

  “And who are ‘they’?” Jill asked.

  Joe’s gaze returned to the reconstruction. “You tell me. Someone who wanted to eliminate Dobran as a witness but also wanted something Dobran had in his possession that could be plucked from his gallery in the confusion of the fire.”

  “But why will they know you were there?” Eve asked.

  “Sebak said there was video surveillance in the gallery. Gideon was able to eliminate the cameras everywhere else but not in the gallery. And we were in too much of a hurry to get out of there with Dobran to stop and disable them.”

  “Amateurs,” Novak said sourly.

  “Walk in our shoes,” Joe said curtly. “I needed Dobran. You’d do the same.”

  Novak was silent. “Maybe.”

  Joe turned back to Eve. “And once I’m identified, it will only be a short time before they’ll make the connection to you. The first thing we’ve got to do is get you out of here.”

  “Do we?” Eve had known this was coming. It was Joe’s protective instinct at work again. “I don’t think so. Not the first thing, Joe. The first thing we have to do is figure out what happened and why. I’m not going to run away and hide from being arrested by the U.N., or whoever killed Dobran, until I know what I’m facing.”

  “I can take care of that once I know you’re safe.”

  “No, Joe,” she said quietly.

  “Dammit, Eve.” His eyes were blazing. “Dobran was a witness, and he’s dead. Tonight, you proved with that reconstruction that Varak’s death was a big lie. Do you think they’ll let you live?”

  “I haven’t proved anything as long as the courts believe in the DNA. Dobran is dead, and I’d bet any lab evidence has been destroyed by now.” She held up her hand as he opened his lips. “I’m just saying that we might have time to figure this out because they’ll have to figure out what we know, too. I have no intention of getting myself killed.” She smiled at him. “So back off and stop pushing. Now show me that statue. That could be very interesting.” She looked at Gideon. “You really think it had to belong to Zahra Kiyani?”

  He nodded. “Everything Dobran said indicated that it had to be her.” His lips twisted. “Particularly the part where he called her a bitch. That definitely struck home.” He watched as Joe dug into his backpack and pulled out the gold statue. “And it’s the statue of the first Kiya. Who else would have it?”

  “Who, indeed?” Jill came closer as Eve took the statue from Joe. Her gaze was lit with eagerness and curiosity as she stared down at it. “And why would she have it?” she murmured. “It’s beautiful, isn’t it? It must have nearly killed Zahra to have to give it up.” She reached down and traced the script. “Great Beloved Wife…” She glanced at Gideon. “She never mentioned this statue to you?”

  “There were things that she didn’t confide. I imagine a multimillion-dollar artifact might be included in that range since she wasn’t sure I was totally besotted with her.” He glanced at the statue. “She should have told me about it. The fact that she had it would have definitely sparked my interest.”

  “She told Dobran that she had a lot of other artifacts. That it wasn’t going to be the only payment,” Joe said.

  “I remember you said that.” Eve was still looking down at the statue. Exquisite. And the idea that it might have been created in the court of Cleopatra VII added to the mystique. “Which leads us to the distinct possibility that the treasure that Kiya mentioned in her journal did exist, might still exist, and Zahra has it in her possession.” She frowned. “And she still gave him this one artifact, which must have meant a good deal to her, to get him to falsify that Varak DNA.”

  “And in the end, that’s the only thing of real importance,” Novak said curtly. “All this talk of artifacts and Zahra Kiyani’s obsession with them is bullshit. If Zahra is guilty of being an accomplice to Varak, then it doesn’t matter whether she did a payoff at a bank in the Grand Caymans or with these artifacts. It means she’s as guilty as that son of a bitch, and we have to go after her.”

  “No one is denying that,” Jill said. “I just find it interesting as a storyteller that the story appears to be growing in scope.” She met his eyes. “And I don’t agree that it’s not important. The fact that Zahra has a secret treasure cache worth millions, possibly billions, that she can tap at any time, automatically furnishes her with weapons. For one thing, it could have lured Varak into her camp. And since everything to do with Kiya is important to Zahra, it has also somehow become woven into this terrible connection to Varak. That makes it very important, Novak. You’re just still pissed off that I didn’t let you know the reconstruction was finished.”

  Silence. “Yes, I am.” He turned to Joe. “When Gideon called me from the plane, I arranged for a couple agents to go to Asarti and blend in and see what was going on out there.” He paused. “And how we can manage to cover your tracks. I should get a report soon.”

  “It better be very soon. Or everything may come crashing down on us.” He looked at the reconstruction. “Do we agree that Zahra Kiyani has to be working hand in glove with Varak to maintain the lie that he’s dead? The question is why, and how far it goes.” He paused. “And how far it went while the war was still going on. If Varak was allowing her to use him as a double agent to defeat Botzan, it would make sense why her casualties were so slim.”

  Gideon gave a low whistle. “Oh, I can see that happening.”

  “But where is Varak right now?” Jill asked quietly. “Would he run the risk of staying in Maldara?”

  “Questions,” Eve said wearily. “So many questions.” She looked at Joe. “But we still have time to get the answers. Let’s just take a deep breath, then go after them.”

  “We’ll see,” Joe said. “As long as I don’t see any sign of your becoming a target while you’re doing deep-breathing exercises.” He glanced at Novak. “And as long as I get that report from your people at Asarti right away.”

  “You’ll get it,” Novak said. “And now I’m going to go interrogate Sebak. I’ll let you know if I find out anything more from him. It’s not professional to hide information from people with the same goals.” He turned and headed for the door. “You might keep that in mind,
Quinn.”

  “I will,” Joe said. “As long as you set the example.” He turned to Gideon as Novak left the room. “One more thing. I want to know everything Zahra Kiyani does from now on. I need to know it all. You’re familiar with the palace and know her routine better than anyone else, so you’re the best one to do it.”

  “Lucky me. You do realize that my face is also on those videotapes? It’s only a matter of time before Zahra realizes I’m not only an inconvenience but a threat.” He shrugged. “So I guess I’d better get busy doing the advance prep work we need before she decides to target me.” He strolled toward the door. “But you’re right, I still have a few contacts in her personal entourage, and I’m very familiar with the gardens and every room in that overdone monstrosity of a presidential palace.”

  “Not only the bedroom?” Jill asked dryly.

  “You underestimate me. I never limit myself when it comes to keeping a relationship fresh.” He paused at the door, and said soberly, “Zahra’s very complicated, but you can count on her striking fast and hard when she decides she’s being threatened.” His gaze went to the statue in Eve’s hands. “And that’s a threat, Eve.”

  The next moment, he was gone.

  Eve drew a shaky breath as she shook her head. “Well, that appears clear enough.” Her hands tightened on the statue for an instant before she handed it back to Joe. Why was her hand shaking? The statue wasn’t that heavy. But it seemed heavy. “But I can’t let myself worry about Zahra Kiyani. I created that reconstruction for only one reason, and that was to find out if Varak was still out there.” She wearily rubbed her temple. “And he’s alive, Joe. I haven’t been able to really comprehend that yet. He’s out there…waiting.”

  “Because you’re so exhausted that you can scarcely sit on that stool,” Joe said roughly, his gaze raking her face. “You’ve pushed yourself until you’re ready to collapse.” He turned to Jill. “Get out of here. Leave us alone.”

  “Joe, she didn’t do anything,” Eve said quickly.

  “I know that. Not this time,” Joe said. “And no one would have been able to stop you. I’ve been there. But now all the adrenaline is gone, and you’re crashing.” He glanced at Jill. “You did as good as you could under the circumstances. I just want you out so that she can draw a breath without looking or thinking about Varak for the next few hours.” He stepped toward Eve and pulled her to her feet. “Come on. I promise you that we’re on our way to getting the son of a bitch.” He slipped his arm around her waist. “We’ll just take a little time together now, okay?”

  “Do I have a choice?” His arm felt strong and warm around her, and she felt secure for the first time since he’d left her so many hours ago. “I guess I do, and I choose you, Joe.” He was leading her toward her cot. “I’ll always choose you.”

  “Because you’re very smart.” His lips brushed her temple. “Smarter than Varak or Zahra and sometimes even me. That’s why you’re going to rest now.” He glanced over his shoulder at Jill, who was on her way out the door. “See to it. You understand?”

  Jill nodded, gazing thoughtfully at Joe, then Eve. “I believe I’m beginning to understand quite a bit.” She turned back and opened the door. “Don’t worry. She won’t be disturbed. I’ll take care of it.”

  * * *

  Kiyani Presidential Palace

  He wasn’t answering her!

  Zahra gazed furiously down at her blank screen. She’d texted him twice, and he was ignoring her. Arrogant bastard.

  She texted again.

  DID YOU GET IT? WHEN CAN I PICK IT UP?

  No answer.

  YOU SAID I COULD HAVE IT BACK TONIGHT. WHERE IS IT?

  At last an answer.

  THERE’S A PROBLEM. I’LL TEXT YOU LATER.

  She stiffened. No, this couldn’t be happening. He had promised her!

  I WON’T TOLERATE THIS. I’VE BEEN WAITING TOO LONG. I WANT IT NOW.

  The answer came with swift brutality.

  YOU’LL GET WHAT I CHOOSE TO GIVE YOU WHEN I CHOOSE TO DO IT.

  The screen went blank.

  Rage.

  She closed her eyes, trying to subdue the anger. This was her fault, she had allowed him to intimidate her until he thought she was just another one of his cowed whores. And it had come down to this indignity.

  It was over. She would not let it go on!

  “Dalai!” She got to her feet as the maid came running out of the anteroom. “Come with me. We’re going out.”

  * * *

  Over an hour later, Dalai was driving Zahra off the main road and through the thick foliage of the jungle that surrounded and hid the armed compound and large house.

  Zahra phoned as she got closer. “I’ll be there in a few minutes. Call off your men, Varak.”

  “I’ve known exactly where you were since you got off the road. What a fool you are. I’m tempted to sit here and watch them blow you to bits.”

  “You won’t do that. I’m too valuable to you. I’m not afraid of you.” That was a lie. There were moments when she was afraid, but not of physical abuse. She was afraid of his reckless egotism and his power to send all her plans toppling. “So threaten all those idiots around you who can’t see through you. I’m done with bowing down at your altar to feed that ego.” She hung up.

  Five minutes later, Dalai drove her up to the gates of the stockade, where Lon Markel was standing guard. Zahra leaned forward and nodded curtly at him. “Open those gates. I have to see him, Markel.”

  “Did he give you permission?” Markel asked with the hint of a sneer. “You know that he—”

  “Open those gates!” Markel was her agent, only on loan to Varak, and he was daring to question her! It just showed how much respect had been stolen from her by that son of a bitch. “Now!”

  He shrugged, opened the gates, and stood aside.

  Two minutes later, Dalai screeched to a stop before the long porch of the house.

  “Do you wish me to come in, madam?” Dalai asked. She was tense with nervousness as she watched the door open and Varak come out on the porch.

  She was actually trembling, Zahra noticed impatiently. You’d think she’d have learned to control herself by now. But just one glimpse of Varak, and she was falling apart. “I haven’t decided.” She got out of the car. “Stay here, I’ll let you know.” She strode up the steps, her gaze on Varak. He was staring straight at her, and she could see why a weakling like Dalai might be afraid of him. The expensive plastic surgery for which Zahra had paid an enormous fee might disguise his features, but those dark eyes were piercing, and the power and ferocity were unmistakable. His black hair had been dyed to a pale sandy shade and allowed to grow longer than his usual cropped cut because she had thought it might soften his appearance. Perhaps it did at first glance, but that was also a failure in Zahra’s opinion. All these temporary measures were only safe as long as everyone was certain Varak was dead.

  “What do you think you’re doing?” Varak said harshly. “I told you not to come here again. You could have led them right to me. People are always watching you.”

  “And I’m supposed to pay any attention to what you tell me to do?” She stopped before him, glaring. “And I’m no fool. I went out the secret panel, and I leave a car parked in a garage down the street. No one saw me.”

  “I know they didn’t, or I wouldn’t have let you come near here. Do you think I didn’t know you’d do something like this?” He turned and walked back into the house. “Come in. I don’t want my men seeing your tantrum.” His lips twisted. “Or I’d have to either beat you or cut your throat. I don’t allow myself to show weakness to them as I’ve demonstrated to you on many occasions.” He poured himself a drink from the bar just inside the door. “You like that about me, don’t you, Zahra?”

  “I like to see power at work. It amused me to watch them grovel.” She added through set teeth, “But I’m not amused now, Varak, and I won’t grovel to you. What are you trying to do? Give me my statue.”


  “I’m trying to give it to you, bitch,” he said. “I told you that there was a problem. I’m not playing mind games with you.” He drank down his whiskey. “And I have more to worry about than your fancy statue. Something weird happened at Asarti last night that might be more important to both of us.”

  “Nothing is more important. Give me my statue.”

  “I’d have to find it first. Because it wasn’t at Asarti.”

  She went still. “What?”

  “Interested now?” Varak asked. “You weren’t interested in anything about the way I was going to get the statue back. You just snapped your fingers and said you wanted it.”

  “You said you’d get it back from Dobran a few days after the skull was identified as you. You promised me. But he still has it.”

  “He has nothing. Dobran is dead. I had a sniper set up to take him out last night.”

  “Good. Then why don’t I have my statue?”

  “You were going to have it,” he said harshly. “I was tired of hearing you nag me. I thought I’d get you off my back about the statue in case I had to go to Robaku and take out that Duncan woman in the next couple days. I knew I couldn’t trust you to do it.”

  “My statue,” she reminded him.

  “I was going to eliminate Dobran as a witness and take the statue at the same time. I sent in a team to bomb the place and start fires that would block all the entrances and force them to use the one through the gallery. Dobran liked that statue, too, and I knew he and Sebak would go after it and out the gallery exit if they were forced to run. Then all I had to do was put several of my men with the fire and police departments who answered the alarm. They’d only have to break into the gallery and find a way to grab the statue and smuggle it out of the château. Not a difficult job in all the confusion that would be going on.” He poured himself another drink. “It should have worked. I should have rid myself of Dobran, and you would have had your statue.”

  “Should?”

  “I got Dobran.” He lifted his glass to his lips. “Unfortunately, Nolan, my sniper, was also taken out by someone equally efficient.” He sipped his whiskey. “And I just heard from the team who went into the gallery to get your damn statue that it had already been stolen. No sign of other thefts, just that one artifact. Unless Dobran decided to sell it.”