Smokescreen Read online

  * * *

  U.N. Headquarters

  Jokan

  No Novak.

  And it was only fifteen minutes until he had to meet with Swanson, Jill thought tensely. She’d gotten here twenty minutes ago and expected to see some sign of him before this.

  Her gaze narrowed on the huge mansion on Wabona Street that had formerly belonged to the owner of a diamond mine before it was taken over by the U.N. The house and grounds were enclosed by a twelve-foot stone fence that the U.N. said was necessary for their employees’ security. Though she knew most of the employees had been given quarters in the city after Edward Wyatt had taken residence in the mansion. The house itself was dark now, and there was only one uniformed guard at the gate.

  And there was a camera mounted on that gate.

  Jill’s hands tensed on the steering wheel of her Volvo. She was parked some distance down the street from that front gate, but she’d be in view of that camera the minute she walked within several yards of it.

  But Novak would have taken care of that camera, wouldn’t he?

  And how had he been planning to get rid of the guard?

  No way to be sure without checking. She would have had to call him anyway, but now the need was imperative. It was getting very close to that eleven o’clock deadline.

  She dialed his number. “Where are you, Novak?” she asked when he picked up. “I need to know if you’ve taken out this damned camera.”

  He muttered a curse. “I knew it. I was hoping that you wouldn’t do this. Why couldn’t you leave it up to me?”

  “Where are you?” she repeated.

  “In the garden behind the building. Swanson is going to meet me here with the skull.”

  “How do I get back there?”

  “You don’t. Stay where you are, and I’ll call you after I’ve left the garden.”

  “That won’t work for me. I started this, I need to take my share of the risk. Tell me a safe way I can get to you.”

  Silence. “There’s an unlocked gate on the north side of the block. No guard. Camera is disabled. Get here quick. I only have five minutes to make the switch and get out after Swanson shows.” He cut the connection.

  Yes!

  Jill was out of the Volvo and running down the street.

  North side of the block…

  Where was the gate?

  There!

  She was inside.

  She paused for a minute, breathing hard, leaning against the gate, her gaze searching the darkness.

  A large fountain. A courtyard…Paths leading toward the main house. The windows were dark here, too.

  Where the hell was Novak?

  “Keep quiet and follow me.” She hadn’t heard him approach and could barely make him out in his dark garb. He was carrying one of the gaudy paper totes sold in the marketplace. He added curtly, “The courtyard.”

  She had to almost run to keep up with him as he moved toward the courtyard. She skidded to a stop as he put out his arm when they reached it. No one was there. “Shouldn’t he be here by now?” she whispered.

  “If he hasn’t gotten nervous.” He glanced at his watch. “And turned me over to his captain. Be quiet, Jill. I need to—” He stopped, his gaze on the doors at the far end of the courtyard. “Okay…”

  A young soldier in a British private’s uniform was hurrying toward them. He was pale, obviously nervous, and carrying a medium-size brown-leather suitcase. It had to be Swanson, Jill thought with relief.

  He stopped short as he reached Novak, his gaze fixed warily on Jill. “Who is she? You were supposed to be alone.”

  “Yes, I was,” Novak said dryly. “Plans changed. You’re not compromised. She’s just an expert to make sure that you’re not trying to pass off bogus merchandise.”

  “I couldn’t do that. The imprint of the ID on the skull can’t be counterfeited.”

  “She’ll verify it.” He handed Swanson an envelope, then the shopping bag. “The replacement. And if anything is wrong, I’ll be back for you.”

  “Nothing will be wrong.” Swanson stuffed the envelope in his jacket pocket. “But you have to have it back by Monday. When the inspectors come, I can’t cover for you.”

  “I know that. Get out of here and get that replacement skull in the vault.”

  Swanson turned away. “I’m going. You have only three minutes before that guard will be back at the gate after his smoke. You’d better hope he doesn’t come back early.”

  He was gone.

  And Novak was grasping Jill’s arm and running with her toward the gate. He pushed her through it and was locking the gate behind them. “Run! South to the end of the block and around the corner.”

  Jill ran.

  She didn’t look back.

  Three minutes.

  But it must be less than that now…

  Then Novak was passing her, and the next moment pulling her around the corner.

  She pressed back against the high stone wall, breathing hard.

  “Don’t stop. Keep moving.” Novak jerked her back into motion. He was still running, holding tight to the suitcase. “My jeep’s a half block down.”

  She saw it, the black jeep he usually drove. She dived into the passenger seat as soon as he pressed the lock release.

  Novak shoved the suitcase onto her lap and slammed the driver’s door. The next instant he was starting the car and pulling away from the curb.

  Jill’s heartbeat didn’t slow until they were three blocks away from the U.N. headquarters. “So I’m an expert?” she asked after she got her breath.

  “What else was I supposed to say? It was as good a lie as any. I would have been ready with a better one if I’d known you’d do this to me.”

  He was angry, she realized. It wasn’t unexpected. He liked to be in control. He probably thought he had a right to be angry with her for interfering with his plans. Too bad. She hadn’t been about to let him do this without her.

  “I think you did know. You even said it when I called you. So stop growling about it. You know I had to be here.”

  “The hell I did. If I hadn’t thought that you might do something to blow the switch if I didn’t monitor you, I’d have hung up when you called.”

  “I would have been careful. I wouldn’t have done anything to put you in danger. That’s what this was about.” Why couldn’t he understand that? “We’ve been together since the beginning. I wasn’t going to let you be alone. You might be CIA’s golden boy, but stealing this skull could cause you big trouble if anything went wrong.”

  “I can take care of myself.” He was gazing at her incredulously. “What could you have done to save my ass anyway?”

  She shrugged. “I’d just say that I was the one who was going after the skull because of the story potential. Everyone would believe me. Reporters have the reputation of doing anything for a story.” She added quietly, “And I’d tell them that you were trying to stop me. But I had to be there at the switch tonight or it wouldn’t have worked. Swanson had to see me.”

  Silence. “Oh, he saw you all right.” He looked straight ahead. “And he’ll remember you. You’re crazy, you know.”

  “Maybe. And it might have all been for nothing. Everything seems to have gone smoothly. But I had to do it.”

  “Why, dammit?”

  “I owed you,” she said jerkily. “The night I was…hurt, you came after me. You didn’t have to do it. You’d already told me to stay out of it. But you found me, and you took care of me.” She moistened her lips. “It was a bad time for me. I’ve been alone most of my life. I wasn’t alone that night.”

  “Your thinking is wonky as hell,” he said hoarsely. “That’s not how I remember it.”

  She shook her head. “And then you did everything you could to let me help, to let me find them. I need to do that.” Her hand touched the suitcase he had thrown on her lap. “And it’s brought us to this. One step closer.” She had a strange, tingling feeling in her palm. The skull was here, separated
from her only by the sleek hardcover leather of the case. Was it the head of the monster? “How could I not be here, Novak?”

  His glance shifted back to her face. “You couldn’t,” he said. “Because you don’t see things like other people. But do me a favor and don’t try to save me again. Okay?”

  “You didn’t listen to me.” She changed the subject. “Swanson was nervous tonight. Do you think he’ll be able to hold himself together until we can get the skull back to him on Monday? What’s to keep him from going on the run before that? That would trigger instant suspicion.”

  “I only gave him half of his money. He’ll be motivated to keep cool and do everything right until he gets the other half Monday. After that, I don’t care what he does. One way or the other, we’ll have our answer by then.” He paused. “Provided Eve comes through for us.”

  “Yes.” Her hand tightened on the case. “After tonight it will all be up to Eve.”

  * * *

  “Everything went well?” Eve carefully moved her reconstruction of Mila to the cabinet she’d cleared in readiness. “No problem?”

  “It depends on how you look at it,” Novak said as he placed the case on her worktable and opened the snaps. “And also how you look at this skull. I don’t think Swanson had the guts to double-cross me, but you’ll have to tell me.” He opened the lid of the suitcase. “Check the ID number on the skull interior below the left-ear cavity before you go any further. It should be 1066.” He gave her a small vial. “One drop should bring it out.”

  She carefully took out the skull and put it on the dais. “This is like something from a James Bond movie,” she grumbled. “Ridiculous, Novak.”

  “The CIA is much more advanced than 007 these days,” he said dryly. “But the Brits did work out a way to guarantee the authenticity of this skull. It’s foolproof.” He watched as Eve put a minute drop of liquid on the back of the ear bone. It fizzed, and four tiny numbers appeared—1066.

  “Though it’s a bit showy,” Novak said. “I could have done without the sound effects.”

  “But you’re always understated.” Jill took a step closer. “This is the skull they took from the helicopter? We’re certain?”

  “The Brits would be insulted. The skull had almost a guard of honor before the French forces turned it over to the scientists the Brits flew in to tag it,” Novak said. “And I was there in the lab watching as they did it. I’m naturally suspicious, and I wanted to be sure. I stayed with it through the entire ID process until they put the skull in the vault.” He turned to Eve. “This is the skull taken out of that helicopter. Now can you find out if it’s Varak’s?”

  “I can find out what this man looks like. If it’s a strong resemblance to Varak, then it should be fairly simple,” Eve said. “If it’s not, you’ll have to prove whether or not he’s Varak to your satisfaction. But I told you, the DNA specimen taken from that back molar was judged absolute proof.” She frowned as she examined the skull. It was badly burned, and it was no wonder that other DNA was not available. It was going to be very difficult to do the reconstruction. “I can’t promise anything else.”

  “We can’t expect you to do anything but your best,” Jill said. “I’m grateful you’re going to do it at all.” She grimaced. “Particularly since you have a perfect right to tell me to go to hell.”

  “Yes, I do.” Eve was securing the skull to the dais. “But then I’d never know if Varak is down there ready to greet you.” She shrugged. “So I guess I’ll have to forgive and forget until I find out for sure. After that, we’ll go into it again.”

  “Works for me,” Jill said. “I suppose you’re going to start on him tonight? A little rest would do you good.”

  “I’ll get some sleep tonight. I’m going to need it. But I’ll work on repairs for a few hours before I go to bed.” She turned to Novak. “But now I talk to Joe. Did you get my phone?”

  “Yes.” He took a sleek, small gray phone out of his jacket pocket and handed it to her. “Very safe.”

  “I’m glad something is safe around here,” Eve said. “I guarantee Joe isn’t going to be impressed by it. Alarms are going to go off the minute the call doesn’t come in on my computer Skype.” Her gaze shifted back to the blackened skull. It seemed to be staring malevolently back at her. Foolishness. Those stories that Jill had told her about Varak were causing her imagination to run riot. “Why don’t you both get out of here? You’ve done your part. Don’t worry. Nothing Joe says will change my mind. I’ve agreed to do this. Now I’m committed.”

  “I’m not quite finished here.” Jill put up her hand as Eve started to speak. “I’m not hanging out to eavesdrop on your conversation. It’s time we trusted each other.” She glanced at Novak. “I speak for myself. Novak has been playing in the shadows for so long it comes natural to him. Most of the time, he can’t help himself. But he won’t do anything to hurt you.”

  Novak’s eyes narrowed on her. “What are you up to?”

  “I’m just trying to tell her that she has to put up with having me bunk here at the museum from now on until the reconstruction is finished.”

  “What!” Eve said. “No way.”

  “My thought exactly,” Novak said to Jill. “After all you’ve gone through to make sure that no one was aware of the connection between you?”

  “The press interview already established that, and you’ll just have to make certain there’s no one snooping around here. You’ll do that anyway.”

  “Why?” Eve’s lips twisted. “Because we trust each other so much?”

  “I want you to have someone here to protect you. I think that has to be me.”

  “I have her guarded, Jill,” Novak said. “You know that.”

  Jill shook her head. “How quickly could they get to her? It might not be soon enough.” She turned back to Eve. “I won’t bother you. You won’t know I’m here. Unless you need me.”

  “I don’t want you here.”

  “I’m sorry,” Jill said sincerely. “It has to be this way. I got you into this, and I have to be responsible for you.”

  “The hell you do.”

  Jill smiled slightly. “Then we’ll have to be responsible for each other. Earlier today, I told Hajif to have a cot ready for me. I’ll go down and tell him to bring it up now.” She headed for the door. “It will be fine, Eve.”

  “It’s not necessary, Jill,” Novak said.

  “Yes, it is.” Jill looked at him over her shoulder. “I don’t want her to be alone.”

  “That seems to be her mantra these days,” Novak said to Eve between set teeth, as they watched her walk out of the museum.

  Eve repeated, “I don’t want her here, Novak. I can take care of myself.”

  “I’m sure you can. Quinn would make sure that you would never be helpless. It doesn’t seem to make any difference to Jill.” He looked back at Eve. “Oh, she can take care of herself, too. She survived here in Maldara for two years. And she might not have gone to one of our training camps like Gideon, but she knows karate and is an excellent shot.”

  “You said she was vulnerable.”

  “Because she does things like this,” he said harshly, his eyes glittering in his taut face. “Because she knows that no matter how good anyone is, there’s always a situation where being good isn’t enough. She was hurt in one of those damned situations recently. She doesn’t want anyone else to be hurt.” He gestured impatiently. “You might as well give in to her. You’re not going to win. She’ll make it work for you. But she won’t let you go through this alone.” He turned and headed for the door. “I’ll go help her. First I have to send someone to pick up her car at the U.N. building, then talk to the guards so that we can get her settled. Go ahead and call Quinn.”

  Eve shook her head ruefully. So much for privacy and being in total control of the reconstruction process. She supposed it didn’t really matter if Jill stayed. If Jill annoyed her, then she would just toss her out.

  She doesn’t want anyone else to be h
urt.

  Those poignant words had touched Eve in spite of her resistance to this invasion of her privacy. That memory of Jill’s attack must be a constant battle to overcome. But she was dealing with it and not trying to hide away.

  Courage…

  And, dammit, Eve’s own admiration for the blasted woman that had flowed in and out like a tide was back again.

  Until Jill did something else to infuriate her.

  She looked back at the skull.

  She shivered again.

  It might not be entirely unwelcome to have someone else in this place while she worked on the skull.

  Think about it later.

  Joe.

  She reached for the phone Novak had given her.

  * * *

  “What the hell is happening?” Joe said the instant he picked up the call. “Why aren’t you using your computer? I want to see you.”

  “Well, I don’t want to see you right now. Later we’ll arrange face time on this smartphone,” she said wearily. “But now you’re going to be pissed off, and it’s enough that I’ll have to hear you. But I would have bitten the bullet and continued on the Skype if Novak hadn’t said this phone he gave me was guaranteed not to be hacked. That was important.”

  Silence. “Why? No, don’t answer that. First I want to know exactly how ill you were yesterday. That’s what’s important and was driving me crazy. What the hell happened to you?”

  “And that will go back to why the new phone is necessary. I’ll tell you everything. Just don’t say anything until I’ve finished. Okay?”

  “I’m listening,” he said grimly. “But I don’t think there’s going to be anything okay about it.”

  And it wouldn’t get any better, she thought. Just go for it. She dived in, and started, “It was right after I hung up from talking to you when I was at the hotel…”

  He was ominously quiet as she related the entire story of the last twenty-four hours. When she stopped, he only asked, “That’s all? Nothing else?”