“Of course not. I’ll send Dalai to report back to me and open it for you. You’ve always found her accommodating.” She saw that Dalai had come back in the room and was frozen in place at the door. “And if you do everything I’ve told you to do, then I might allow you a bonus. You can take her with you.” She smiled maliciously as she saw the young girl go pale. “Plane flights can be so boring.”
“I’ll decide later. Just have her there ready to open that door when I’ll need her.”
“At two in the morning?”
“Two. If everything goes as planned.” He cut the connection.
She set her phone on the vanity and looked at Dalai. “You kept me waiting. How many times have I told you that mistakes have consequences?”
“It won’t happen again, madam.” Her voice was trembling. “Please don’t send me to him.”
“What you wish isn’t important. But you might be lucky. I’m not certain how things will work out tonight.”
“But you’re sending me to Robaku alone? You told him you aren’t going with me.”
“But I seldom tell the truth to Varak. That would be the height of foolishness. Eve Duncan still has Kiya’s Great Beloved Wife. I saw it on that television broadcast. Varak knows how valuable it is. He said he’d get it back for me as part of our deal.” Her lips twisted. “Oh, he’ll go after it, but he’ll also try to steal it from me. How could I trust a little rabbit like you to keep him from doing it? No, I’ll have to be there in case he tries to steal it after he rids me of Duncan. That statue is mine.” She met Dalai’s eyes in the vanity mirror. “And you’d better not make any mistakes tonight, Dalai,” she said coldly. “I won’t tolerate them.”
“I promise I won’t make any mistakes.” Dalai nodded at the clothes on the bed. “May I help you dress? Is that what you’re wearing?”
“Why else would I tell you to bring them?” She gazed at her image in the mirror and was abruptly dissatisfied. “I have to look spectacular tonight. Do you understand? I have to look like the queen I am. Whenever anyone looks at me, they have to be impressed. It’s going to be a special night.”
She could see that Dalai was staring at her, puzzled. But she wasn’t about to make explanations. She was the only one who counted, and everyone would realize that after this was all over. Whichever choice she made, she would make it a success. “Hurry. It’s almost eleven. Do my hair…” She added, “And I want to use the ruby comb in it tonight.”
Dalai’s gaze flew to her face.
Zahra caught the glance. “That always alarms you, doesn’t it? Why? You’ve never seen me actually use it in the way it should be used.”
“It doesn’t alarm me. Whatever you wish.” She was heading for the closet room again. “I’ll go get the comb out of its special container. I’ll be right back.”
* * *
Dalai had to steady her hands as she dialed Jill. She had to hurry. Zahra seldom followed her into the closet room for any reason, but this was a strange night. She kept her voice to almost a whisper when Jill answered. “It will be two or shortly before. They’re going after Kiya’s treasure.”
“It’s been taken care of,” Jill said. “Anything else?”
“Only to watch Eve Duncan. Zahra’s angry about the statue. She won’t stop until she gets it.” She cut the connection and thrust her phone in her pocket. Don’t stop. Keep moving. Nothing must look suspicious. Every motion, every word, must seem totally natural. She knelt at the mahogany jewelry box that held the special container and drew out the jeweled comb. So beautiful. But Zahra had never cared about the beauty. She had just wanted to play her deadly game when she had taught Dalai to make the poisonous liquid with which the prongs were usually coated.
She put the shimmering ruby comb on its tray and took a deep breath. Then she started for the closet door to go back into the bedroom.
Be natural. Don’t let her see anything.
She could do this.
But Zahra was right.
This was going to be a very special night.
* * *
“Two,” Jill said as she turned back to Eve and Joe. “And we might have gone overboard about luring Zahra with that statue. Dalai is worried about Eve.” She looked at Joe. “Can you persuade her to get out of here? If the statue is the bait for the trap, I could take her place here.”
“It’s not only the statue,” Joe said grimly. “The two of you set Eve up, and now they want her dead.” He turned to Eve. “Are you happy now?”
“No, but I will be if you stop growling and get out of here,” Eve said. “You’ve arranged all kind of surveillance around this museum, Joe. You said Varak will reconnoiter before he strikes and will know exactly where I am. But he won’t risk coming after me if he thinks it’s a trap. He’s got to feel as if he’s in charge.” She looked him in the eye. “Well, if I’m a target, let them come and try to take me. That way we’ll know Varak won’t skip out on us. That’s what this is all about. Then you can whisk down and save me like Superman.”
“Get out, Eve,” Jill urged. “Sometimes things don’t turn out as planned. He’s right, we did this together. But you wouldn’t have even been on this continent if it wasn’t for me. Do you think I could stand the thought of—”
“Out.” She turned her back on them and went to her worktable. “I don’t care about what you think you can stand, Jill. I won’t let Varak have even a chance of escaping tonight.” She looked down at the half-finished reconstruction of Mila staring up at her from the dais. “He’s never going to be able to do this to a child again.” She sat down on her stool and began to smooth the clay beneath Mila’s cheekbone. “So both of you clear out, and do whatever you have to do to make that bastard think that I’m as helpless as those kids were when he took his machete to them. Let’s get this over with.”
* * *
“I’m going to stay here.” Jill stopped abruptly only a short distance from the museum. “It’s not as if I can do anything down at the village, Joe.”
“You can keep me from pissing off Novak,” Joe said curtly. “Not that I’d ordinarily care, but most of the action will probably be aimed at the village, and I’m leaving him in the lurch. He knows that there’s no way I’ll be anywhere but with Eve.”
“And you shouldn’t be. What does that have to do with keeping Novak from being pissed off?”
“He asked me to send you down to Hajif at the caves, where the villagers are sheltering. He wants the old man to keep his eye on you.” His lips twisted wryly. “Which he knew would be a near-impossible task. If Eve hadn’t wanted to get rid of you also, I wouldn’t have even been able to get you out of that museum.”
“You didn’t get me out. There’s no reason why I can’t stay here. I might be needed.”
“No, you won’t,” he said bluntly. “You’d probably only get in my way. I have no desire to watch over anyone but Eve, and you might distract me. Go down and let Hajif find you something to do.”
She silently shook her head.
He muttered a curse. “I can take care of her myself. I don’t need you. Shall I show you?” He took her wrist and pulled her off the path and into the jungle. He pointed at a large banyan tree a few feet away. “That’s where I’ll be situated. From the second branch I’ll have a clear shot at anyone approaching the front of the museum. No one could get past me.” His tone was low, intense. “And I’m a dead shot, Jill. Do you want to hear about my qualifications in the SEALs? What’s more, I wouldn’t hesitate for a second. All Varak has to do is show himself, and he’s history.”
“I know that.”
“And there are two more of Novak’s men who have sharpshooter credentials who will be stationed within signaling distance. You’re not needed here, Jill. We can take him down.”
She might not be needed, but she desperately wanted to be here.
Joe nodded slowly as he read her expression. “But it’s not smart, you could get in our way.”
She gave one last glance at the
museum, then turned on her heel. “Heaven forbid I do that. By all means, go climb up your damn banyan tree and do all that SEAL stuff. Just don’t let her get hurt while you’re flexing your muscles.”
She took off down the hill toward the village.
Chapter
19
Hurry, Dalai!” Zahra was running past the brook toward the tall boulders. “Can’t you see that I don’t need to have him angry with me right now? Tonight is going to be difficult enough for me.”
“I’m right behind you,” Dalai said. “I don’t see him. He hasn’t gotten here yet. You don’t have to—” She inhaled sharply as Varak stepped from behind the boulders. He was dressed in camouflage and had an ammunition belt across his body, a gun on his shoulder, and a holstered machete at his waist. He was carrying a large backpack. He looked angry and impatient, and Dalai could feel the fear tighten her throat. No matter how often she told herself that she must not be afraid of him, it didn’t help.
He barely glanced at her as he turned to Zahra. “I thought you weren’t going to be here.” He smiled mockingly. “Don’t you trust me?”
“No.” Zahra took a step toward him. “I want my statue. Dalai is nothing. I decided you’d have no trouble refusing to give it to her after you took it from Duncan.” She met his gaze. “But you’ll have a lot of trouble if you try to cheat me.”
“You flatter yourself.” His lips twisted. “The only problem I’ve ever had with you was surviving your vanity and stupidity. Now show me how to get into that treasury room, then get out of here. The only thing I want to do is take a look down there and make sure you aren’t cheating me. After that, I don’t have much time. I’ve got to give Markel the signal to start the attack on the village while I take care of the museum.”
“By yourself?” She frowned. “I told you not to be careless.”
“There are half a dozen men here on the hill who will be on hand if I need them. But I won’t need them. I have a few special surprises that I’ve planned for her, including the one you offered me.” His gaze went to the museum in the distance. “Duncan’s like you, a stupid woman who doesn’t realize who she’s dealing with. It will be a pleasure to teach her.”
“I don’t care how you do it as long as I get everything you promised me.” She knelt before the third boulder and quickly entered the code. “Go down, take a look around to make sure that I didn’t lie to you. Then come up and get rid of every single trace of anyone who might be a difficulty to me.”
He started to move toward the ladder, then stopped. “I think you’d better come with me.” He gestured down into the darkness. “I don’t like the idea that you’ve changed your mind about sending pretty little Dalai here alone. I don’t care for abrupt changes of plans.”
She shrugged. “I’ll go if you like. Do you think I have someone down there ready to knock you out and toss you in a trunk as I did Dalai one time?” She laughed. “You would have been amused. But I’d never try that with you.” She’d pulled out her flashlight and was climbing down the ladder as she spoke. “Come along, Dalai, he’s afraid of us.”
Dalai turned on her own flashlight, took a deep breath, and followed her. It was worse than it had ever been, she thought. This place of horror and Varak, who was the giver of pain and terror. It would be all right. She could get through this. No one was really paying attention to her. Be the rabbit Zahra thought she was.
Varak stood and watched them both go down before he turned on his flashlight and ran down the ladder.
The beam of his flashlight illuminated the hallway; and then he was striding down the hall and into the treasury.
He stopped short. “Holy shit!”
“I told you I didn’t lie.” Zahra was behind him. “This is mine. Kiya meant it for someone like me, who was strong enough to use it as it should be used.”
“You mean by giving it to me?” His beam was going from treasure to treasure, examining the jewels and the gold. “Yes, I’m sure she knew exactly what she was doing.” He turned back to Zahra. “And there’s so much. No wonder you were willing to give me half. But it would be very hard to choose.” He paused. “Almost impossible.”
She stiffened. “Then I’ll make it easy. I’ll stay down here with Dalai, and I’ll choose the items I want while I’m waiting for you to bring me the Great Beloved Wife. You will come back, have your men quickly load the treasure I will give you, and get out. I will keep my share safely here at Robaku as I’ve always done.” Her voice hardened. “And you will not betray me. Did I forget to mention that I told my Minister of Police that I feared for my life from those terrible terrorists? He insisted on having me monitored so that I would be able to be immediately traced in an emergency. If I don’t call in every hour, they’ll come after me,” she said fiercely. “You said you’d have no trouble with an attack on this sleepy little village. You won’t find my personal guard quite as easy to handle. You might end up with nothing.”
He was silent. Then he shrugged. “Just commenting.” He smiled. “I believe I can tolerate our arrangement.” He suddenly turned to look at Dalai. “Did you really toss her in a trunk down here?” He watched as Dalai froze, her gaze fixed on him. “I believe you did,” he said softly. “When you start choosing your half, save the trunk for me.”
“If I get my statue,” Zahra said. “And you make sure I’ll have no more trouble with Robaku. Then you’ll get everything I promised.”
“I’ve already paid my dues to you. I did it the day I destroyed that schoolroom for you. Consider everything else as a bonus.” He met her eyes. “And you know I’ll do it well. You’ve watched me do it before. There won’t be anyone left alive when I’ve finished here.”
“And how you enjoy it.” She chuckled. “You should pay me.”
“Not amusing.” He glanced around the room overflowing with treasure. “And if I don’t get what I consider my fair share, I’ll have to take it. Now show me how I get to that tunnel you said would take me to the museum from here.”
The tunnel! Dalai froze. Why was he asking that? Dalai’s eyes widened in panic as she whirled to Zahra. “The tunnel you had started when you had the museum built? But remember, you decided not to finish it. You said you liked the idea of linking them to have a way to get the treasure out, but then you realized thieves could also get into the treasure room through the museum.”
“Of course, I remember,” Zahra said coldly. “But necessities change. Varak said he needed a way to get into the museum undetected. The tunnel was over two-thirds done, and Varak said that he’ll have no problem setting off an explosion that will allow him to blow the rest of it. He said one blast, and he’d be inside the museum.” She smiled. “Won’t that be an interesting surprise for Eve Duncan?” She turned to Varak. “I don’t mind your blowing her up, but you bring me my statue intact. I’m making it easy enough for you.”
“You forget that there’s more than this little surprise to think about,” Varak said sarcastically. “It’s only a way to get in without being seen. I also have to worry about what happens once I hit that area with the second round of explosives. Where’s that tunnel?”
“Behind that granite rock to the left of the ladder. Show him, Dalai.”
Dalai was already moving toward the ladder. This was all going wrong, she thought desperately. Who would have thought Zahra would remember this old tunnel? But Dalai should have thought about it. Eve Duncan might die because she hadn’t considered the possibility it might be used.
“Get out of my way.” Varak was striding out of the treasure room and heading toward the ladder. “You’re shaking. Why are you scared? It’s no wonder I find you such a bore.” He was working at loosening the rock behind the ladder with the pick he’d yanked from his backpack. “Maybe I should take you with me and show you something to be really afraid about.” The rock came free, and he rolled it aside and peered into the damp darkness. “Stinking mess.” He put on his backpack. “I’m going to have to crawl most of the way. You’d bette
r not have lied to me, Zahra.” He disappeared into the darkness.
Dalai watched for a moment before she whirled around and turned back to Zahra. “Did you lie to him? Can he get through?”
She shrugged. “He thinks he can. I wouldn’t lie when it means my statue. I want him to get to the museum.”
“But you lied to him about the Minister of Police. I wasn’t sure he’d believe you.”
“Neither was I. But it worked, didn’t it? Not bad for a ‘stupid’ woman.”
“Do you think that he’ll actually get you the statue?”
She shrugged. “I believe he’ll kill Duncan and take the statue from her. Whether he intends to give it to me won’t be clear until it happens. But at least he will have done what I needed him to do as far as Duncan is concerned. Once he gets back here, I’ll know what I need to do about him.” She tilted her head as she gazed critically around the treasure room. “Pity. I might actually have to give him some of Kiya’s treasures if he does everything he promised he’d do here. As he said, he’s quite lethal, and he could succeed.” She added cheerfully, “But I can always arrange to get all of them back later. All I’d have to do would be to hire someone like Varak to help me. As long as Varak stays away from Maldara and isn’t causing me any problems, I could live with his having a moderate share…for a short time.”
“There’s no one ‘like’ Varak. He would take more than a moderate share.”
Zahra’s smile deepened. “Then I would have to make an adjustment.”
“You mean, you would kill him,” Dalai said quietly. “That’s why you wore the ruby comb tonight.”
She shrugged. “It’s another alternative, another way to get rid of him. It would be easy enough. The bastard is so big and strong. Yet all I’d have to do would be to get close enough to him to just run those prongs over his throat.” She reached out and stroked a gold-rimmed vase next to her. “Not quite as safe, but I could use this attack on Robaku to my political advantage. I’ve been considering—” She broke off, frowning as something struck her. “You don’t sound like yourself, Dalai. Why are you asking me all these questions?” She started to turn to face her. “Haven’t I told you that—” She stopped as she saw that Dalai had crossed the room and was staring down at the golden trunk. “What are you doing?” Then she thought she realized what was happening. “He frightened you.” She shrugged. “It might not happen. The idea just intrigued him.”
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