Smokescreen

by Iris Johansen

  But it had done her no good to fight him, she remembered in a panic. She’d felt so weak, and he’d been brutally strong…

  As if he’d owned the world.

  “Jill?” Novak’s gaze was narrowed on her face.

  “You said you took a video.” She moistened her lips as she put her glass of wine carefully on the floor beside her. “I want to see it.”

  “No, you don’t,” he said flatly. “You don’t want to ever see that bloodbath.”

  “You took it. I want to see it.”

  “Why?” he asked roughly. “So that you can add it to your collection of nightmares? There’s no need for you to see it.”

  “That’s up to me, isn’t it?” She had to keep her voice steady. “You thought it important enough to risk getting yourself killed. Show it to me.”

  “I tell you, it’s the stuff of nightmares. You don’t want to—” He suddenly broke off. “Nightmares…” His gaze was searching her face. “Don’t make me show you this, Jill.”

  “I want to see it.”

  He muttered a curse. “And it seems I’m going to let you see it.” He got to his feet, went to the phone lying on the bench, and brought it to her. “Do me a favor and don’t watch more than the first five minutes. He does a lot of strutting during that period and doesn’t get into the carnage until you see him take his machete.”

  She was bracing herself to press the PLAY button. “He loves that machete.” She swallowed. “That’s how he killed those children.”

  “Press the button,” he said roughly. “Just watch it and get it over with.”

  She pressed the button.

  Fair hair. Eyes glittering as Varak strode out on the porch and looked down at the man kneeling in the yard.

  Ferocity.

  His lips pulled away from his teeth like that of a feral animal.

  Malicious pleasure.

  Anticipating the pain to come.

  He was speaking, hurling threats at the man on his knees.

  Then he was walking down the steps.

  Power. Arrogance. As if he owned the world…

  She couldn’t take her eyes off him. She was staring in helpless fascination.

  Even when one of Varak’s men handed him his machete.

  “No, dammit!” Novak was there beside Jill, jerking his phone away from her. “No more.”

  “No more,” she repeated dully. She didn’t need any more. She’d seen enough. “Thank you. I…couldn’t seem to stop. He was like a snake that was weaving back and forth and hypnotizing me. Not letting me move.” She hadn’t been able to move that night in the jungle either. “I couldn’t move at all. Only snakes aren’t that strong…”

  “Shh.” She was suddenly in his arms. “No, they’re not that strong. And I’ll be chopping the head off this particular snake very soon. He’s just jumped even higher on my kill list.” His hand cupped the back of her head, his lips at her temple. “It was him?” he asked softly. “He was one of those sons of bitches who raped you that night?”

  She shook her head. “No, he was the one who was telling the rest of them how to do it.” Her voice was shaking. “He kept saying they weren’t hurting me enough. That it wouldn’t do any good unless they broke me. He seemed angry about it. He was the one who kept beating me and beating me…” She had to take a deep breath. “It was him. I recognized the eyes.” She added, “And the voice. I didn’t realize I’d remember so much. It was such a hideous blur. Or maybe I just tried to block him out.” She recalled something else. “And that laugh. I’ll always remember him laughing when he leaned over me and asked how I liked it—” Her fingers bit into his shoulders. “But he never actually raped me, and I didn’t get a chance to scratch him. He must have been very careful about DNA. He’d know how dangerous it was to him…Maybe that was why he was so angry. He’d hate it that he couldn’t make me suffer as much as he wanted.” She buried her face in his chest. “But you were right—arrogant. As if he owned the world.”

  “He won’t own more than six feet of it when I get my hands on him,” Novak said harshly. “I knew you thought he was one of them when you kept insisting on seeing the video. I couldn’t stop you when you had a right to know.” His lips tightened. “And I had a right to know, too. I’ve been wanting to kill those bastards from the night it happened.”

  “It never occurred to me it could be him,” Jill said. “I just thought it was a few thugs hired by the people who killed Hadfeld to make certain I left Maldara. Why would Varak become involved in…that…when it would automatically put him in danger?”

  “Why would he use a machete on that man today? The idea probably amused him. I’ll have to ask him before I gut him.”

  His voice was colder than she’d ever heard it, and Jill was beginning to be afraid she’d made a terrible mistake. Novak had already been determined enough to go after Varak in that hellish jungle, and she might have tipped the scales even more. She rushed to repair the damage. “Don’t use me as an excuse. I’ve told you time after time that none of that was your fault. I wasn’t your responsibility. Do you hear me?”

  He didn’t answer.

  “And what if you’re wrong about making another run at Varak?” she said harshly. “I’ve been thinking about it today, and it seems too dangerous. He’s sitting there with his land mines and his damn machete ready to strike. I know you believe it’s the logical way to go, but it could get you—”

  “Hush.” He pulled her down and fitted her spoon fashion against him. “Just lie here and let me hold you. We’ll talk later. You’re upset, and I didn’t handle any of this right.”

  “No, you didn’t. You should believe me when I tell you something. I know it’s partly my fault. I got upset when I realized Varak—” She stopped and started again: “How can I persuade you not to go back into that jungle after Varak?”

  “You can’t.” His lips were brushing her ear. “I can make this work, Jill. All I have to do is figure out the best way to do it.”

  “You mean to keep him from using that machete on you. It’s the wrong thing to do,” she said passionately. “We can go at it another way.”

  He didn’t answer.

  And he wouldn’t answer, she thought. “Stubborn jackass.”

  “Only when I know I’m right. Relax. We’ll talk later.”

  But he wouldn’t listen then either. “No, we won’t. You’re already making plans, and they don’t include me. You’re scared that I’ll break apart. It’s been like that from the beginning.” She added, “So you shouldn’t be upset if I make plans that don’t include you.”

  He stiffened against her. “What’s that supposed to mean?”

  “It means that this is my story, and I’ll do anything I can to make it come out right. You’re about to mess it up.”

  “I don’t like the sound of that.”

  “Ditto. Do you want it more clear? It seems I’m going to have to take events into my own hands.” She tried to relax her muscles and took a deep breath. “So I’m going to do as you suggest and lie here and take a little while to pull myself together. Because you were right, that video shook me up. But it probably shook you more than it did me because I promised myself that I’d never let any of those men hurt me again. They’re no more than a passing memory to me now, and soon, they won’t even be that. And it doesn’t change anything that one of them was Varak. It will just take a little longer to forget him.” She closed her eyes. “I’m going to try to sleep. When I wake up, I hope you’ll make love to me because l found it wonderful, and I’m not at all sure that we’ll ever do it again.”

  “Are you finished?” Novak kissed her ear again. “I don’t know what’s happening with you, but I’m very good at working through problems. That all sounded very final. But I assure you it is not.” He held her closer. “By all means rest. Because once we start, we’ll be doing it again and again and again…”

  Chapter

  ​17

  Jill moved silently across the dimness of t
he hut.

  “Come back,” Novak murmured, as she reached the door. “There’s still plenty of time.”

  She glanced over her shoulder. Novak was only a glimmer of strength and sensuality in the half darkness, but she still felt a hot tingle of sensation run through her. Ignore it. The hours with him that had gone before had made her body too accustomed to the sheer sexual eroticism of what they were together. Her breasts still felt heavy. Her skin felt satin-smooth and pliant. “You’re wrong. We’re out of time. Maybe I’ll see you later, Novak.”

  The next moment, she was out of the hut. She drew a deep breath of the moist, humid air and started up the path toward the museum. It was only a little after six, and she’d been tempted to go to Hajif’s, but she’d be too close and available to Novak there. Last night, he had shown her that he would have no qualms about bursting into Hajif’s home if he wished.

  And she did not wish to see Novak anytime soon. The sex had been too hot, and there had been that element of domination of which she was always aware with Novak. He hadn’t liked it that she’d refused to communicate with him in any other way than the one that had driven both of them to the edge and beyond. If she’d stayed any longer, she would not have been able to fend off either arguments or conversation.

  Conversation? They were so far apart, it was a totally foreign concept. He just wanted her to say that he was right, and he wasn’t listening to her. And she was so frightened that Varak would kill him that she was desperate to try anything that would leave Varak out of the equation.

  And that meant leaving Novak out of the equation as far as she was concerned.

  Okay, then, start as she intended to continue.

  Check in with Eve, then explore the path that had been beckoning to her since yesterday afternoon…

  * * *

  “You’ve been very restless this morning.” Eve looked up from her Mila reconstruction as Jill put coffee in front of her. “Everything okay?”

  “As okay as it can be.” Then Jill was silent. But she couldn’t leave it at that. “Did Joe mention when they’d be going back to Varak’s compound?”

  Eve shook her head. “Just that they want it to be right. They were frustrated as hell yesterday.” She added soberly, “I don’t like it either, Jill. But I can’t convince him that we have any other option. Joe doesn’t like it that they found that helicopter pad. It would be too easy for Varak to get a helicopter pickup and fly out of there if he took the notion.”

  “And that means they probably won’t wait longer than tomorrow or the next day.” Jill forced a smile. “And that’s not long to come up with another solution. But miracles happen, don’t they?” She tilted her head. “Now I should let you get back to work. Is there anything else I can get for you?”

  “No. How many times do I have to tell you that you don’t have to wait on me, Jill?”

  “It’s no trouble. I don’t have anything else to do now that Joe is here. He’s eliminated my primary job of making sure that you’re safe. He’s so good at it that I feel useless. You don’t really need me any longer.” She lifted her hand as she headed for the door. “If you think of anything you want, give me a call. Till then, I’ll stay out of your way.”

  “You’ve made sure never to be in my way,” Eve said quietly. “And no one could ever call you useless.”

  “That’s good to hear.” She smiled as she opened the door. “See you later.”

  Jill moved quickly down the path and into the jungle several yards from the museum. She wanted complete privacy, and this area had seemed the best way to ensure it.

  She sat down beneath a kapok tree and took out her phone. She paused, looking down at it. She could still change her mind. She might be wrong. But she had to go with her instincts. She drew a deep breath, took out the slip of paper with the phone number Gideon had given her when he’d come back from the palace the night before last.

  This is how you make a difference.

  She hesitated, then dialed the telephone number.

  It rang once.

  No answer.

  It rang again.

  Nothing.

  On the third ring, it was quickly picked up.

  “This is Jill Cassidy, Dalai,” she said quickly. “Is it safe for you to talk? If it isn’t, hang up on me.”

  Silence. “Is he dead?” Dalai’s voice was a mere agonized breath of sound. “Gideon said you would only come to help me if he couldn’t. Did I kill him?”

  “No,” Jill said quickly. “He’s still alive. Can you talk? Where is Zahra?”

  “The British prime minister is here. She took them to the hospital to visit the victims.” She brushed the question aside. “Tell me. Is Gideon hurt?”

  “No.” Jill added deliberately, “But he could have been. It was very close.”

  Dalai struggled to get control. “Thank God. How I prayed that he would be safe.”

  “That’s very kind.” The girl was obviously sincere, but Jill had to harden her heart against the impulse to soften. Difficult to do since all she could think about was how much Dalai must have gone through over the years. “But you still sent him out to that compound.”

  “He wanted to go. You all wanted to go. You all knew how evil Varak is. I told you everything I could to help you.”

  “We realize that. It wasn’t enough. Though Gideon was still grateful. And he did what he could to protect you before he went into that jungle to go after Varak.” She added, “But that compound was one huge trap. It was a miracle they got out alive.” She paused. “And they’re going to go back if you don’t stop them. Help me to stop them, Dalai.”

  Dalai was silent. “You know nothing. How can I do that?” She paused, her voice edged with panic. “Varak has to die, and I cannot do it. Do you think I haven’t thought about it? But when I’m with him, it’s as if he devours me.”

  “It’s the fear that devours you,” Jill said. “Do you think I don’t know how that feels?” But she couldn’t be too sympathetic or Dalai wouldn’t take that final step they needed her to take. The girl had come so far against tremendous odds. Just from listening to Gideon about their encounters, Jill could read between the lines. Dalai was clearly a fighter but not a trusting one. She had even been afraid to trust Gideon. So give her something to fight against, someone to fight beside. “But don’t expect me to let you cover your head and send people I care about to do what you should be doing. This is your battle, too. What you gave us didn’t work. As I said, every step at that compound is a trap. We need more from you.” She paused. “Gideon told me about the way you handed him Varak on a platter but dodged talking about Zahra. He accepted it because he felt sorry for you.” Her voice became flat and uncompromising. “I don’t feel sorry for you. I can’t afford to do that. It’s too dangerous for all of us. I won’t pity you, but I’ll respect you and work with you. Because I believe you can do anything you have to do to help us, Dalai. I thought a long time about how you fit into the picture, everything that you’d discussed with Gideon, your background, what you must have felt, what you wanted out of life. What your story really was…And then I realized that Gideon was letting his guilty feelings blind him to the fact that you aren’t quite the victim he thinks you to be. Yes, you’ve been mistreated and threatened and terrorized. Who could deny that’s true?” She paused. “But I believe you’ve managed to survive it because you’re very, very strong. You had to be strong to live with Zahra Kiyani since you were a child. She’s a powerhouse and as evil as they come. Gideon believes you’ve been brainwashed, but I think you’ve just done and said the things you had to in order to survive. I did the same thing when I was living in all those foster homes when I was a kid. But you had it even rougher than me. It took someone very smart and patient to fight that silent battle with Zahra all these years. I imagine most of the time she doesn’t realize you’re doing it. You’re still fighting, but I’d bet somewhere down deep you’ve been waiting for your chance to get away from her. You might even have a plan? I t
hink that first night that Gideon came to you, the reason you were so upset was that you were afraid he’d get in the way of any plan you might have to free yourself from Zahra. Is that true?”

  Dalai didn’t reply.

  It was pure guesswork and instinct, but Jill had to go with it once she’d started. “But then Varak showed up on the scene, and it was a horrible scenario that you couldn’t tolerate. You had to do something, anything, to get rid of him. You’re frightened of Zahra, but in the end you didn’t see her as the prime immediate threat. You thought you’d have time later to find a way to escape from her. So you distracted Gideon from discussing anything about her so that he’d concentrate on Nils Varak. Varak had hurt you terribly and would hurt you again if given the opportunity. It was to your advantage to have us go after him with full force right away and prevent him from doing that.” She smiled sadly. “So you called Gideon and delivered the message you wanted to send. When you left him, Gideon had a mission.”

  Dalai was silent. Then she finally said, “You’re…very clever. Madam said you were.” Another silence. “That’s the reason she hated you. She tried to get that Wyatt man from the U.N. to stop you. But he couldn’t do it, so she had to go to Varak.”

  It wasn’t that frank admission that surprised Jill but the fact that Dalai’s voice and manner had altered in the space of that silence. Both were no longer trembling or fearful, only troubled.

  “Gideon is clever, too,” Jill said quietly. “He would have realized what you were doing if he hadn’t been so conscience-stricken about how he treated you when you first came to the palace. He has a great heart, and it tends to get in his way.”

  “There’s no reason for him to feel badly,” she said jerkily. “He treated me very well. Everyone else was afraid of her.” Then the words tumbled out. “I didn’t want to do this. But he was always so smart and strong. It’s what I most remembered about him. I thought he’d be all right. I didn’t mean not to tell him the whole truth.” Then she stopped. “No, I guess I did. But I gave him Varak, someone I knew he wanted very much. And, yes, I knew it would also keep me from being hurt again. There’s nothing wrong with that. I thought I could tell him all the rest about Madam later, when it would be safer for me.”