Smokescreen Read online

  He was gone.

  Eve gazed after him with impatience and frustration. She still didn’t know what to think of him after these hours in his company. He had smoothed her way seamlessly with Hajif and furnished her with both information and a subtle challenge. She hadn’t the faintest doubt he would continue to do so until she could wrap up her work here. But he had almost casually admitted to having an affair with a woman about whom she was beginning to be very wary. And he was clearly loyal to Jill Cassidy and her agenda. And that agenda was aimed at using her to do whatever Jill wished here at Robaku.

  Forget it. None of this is important right now, Eve thought impatiently. Jill Cassidy wanted to use her? Good luck to her. Since she had told Gideon that she was committed to doing these reconstructions, it meant that she automatically took charge of everything to do with those children. It was how she worked, and she would have it no other way. If Jill interfered, Eve would have to roll right over her if necessary. Jill had started this, but that didn’t mean that Eve couldn’t finish it…

  Chapter

  4

  She’s a powerhouse,” Gideon said when Jill picked up his call. “Eve listened. She questioned. She let me see the horror she felt. Then she took over. She’s setting up shop even as we speak. She’s even ordering me around. Doesn’t she realize what a blow to my ego that is? You might have trouble with her.”

  Jill had known that from the beginning. The moment she had chosen Eve Duncan, she’d been aware that manipulation could only go so far and felt fortunate that she’d at least gotten Eve here. “Your ego will survive. I believe the only trouble we’ll have right away is that she’s a workaholic, and we’ll have to keep her supplied with materials. Hajif is cooperating with helping her?”

  “She’s going to do the reconstruction of his grandson first. He thinks she’s an angel from heaven.” He paused. “She wanted to make certain that her computer and phone would operate at top efficiency. What do I do?”

  The phone. Jill could see problems looming on the horizon. “Stall. It might be fine. I’ll check with Novak. He’s supposed to be here in five or ten minutes to smuggle me off this plane. I’ll get back to you.” She cut the connection.

  She sat there staring out the window of the plane. It was starting. The first step. Eve had now committed, and she’d be working on the skulls. Jill just hoped that they could move to the next step with more speed, and—

  She tensed and whirled to the door as she heard the steps come down outside. She dived to press back against the wall as she saw a strong, brown hand open the door.

  “Easy, Jill,” Novak said dryly as he came into the cabin. He was hauling a broom and a large, stainless-steel waste-disposal container behind him. “I’d appreciate it if you’d neither shoot me nor hit me in the head with your object of choice.” His skin was stained chocolate brown, his contact lenses were the same color, and he was dressed in red coveralls and hat with a cleaning-company logo on the brim. “It would spoil any chance of getting you out of here without being noticed. I’m supposed to tuck you in this waste-disposal container, and who would tote you out of here if you dispose of me instead?”

  She let her breath out in relief. “I don’t know why you’re here anyway. I’m hardly important, and you could have sent one of your men to get me.”

  “Yes, I could have done that.” He paused. “Just as you could have come back into the country alone without going near Eve Duncan and causing me this trouble.”

  “I had to make sure she’d get here safely. She’s my responsibility.” She held up her hand as he started to speak. “I know that Gideon could have taken care of her, but she’s mine now. It was my plan, and I have to own it.”

  “That’s right,” he said mockingly. “She’s an important figure in what you call ‘your’ story. It has to be as you dictate it.”

  Nairobi. She’d revealed too much to him that last night. “I’m surprised you remember I said that,” she said lightly. “It must have been the sedatives.”

  “I could hardly forget it. I believe it defined your philosophy of life. I’m always on the lookout for clues to understand you.”

  “You’re always on the lookout for clues, period. You take everything apart, then put it back together again.” She dropped down in her chair again. “What about Eve’s computer? She’ll be Skyping her family and telling them everything that’s going on. That means anyone who is hacking her will get a complete report via Joe Quinn.”

  He nodded. “I can’t see that would be a problem right away. There’s no reason why anyone would believe Eve’s here for anything but the obvious. Besides, interfering would send up a red flag to Quinn. I’d rather not do that until the last minute. I’ve met him, and he’d be a son of a bitch to get rid of if he decided he had to step into the picture.” He frowned thoughtfully. “And I’ve monitored her telephone conversations to him, and I think we’ll let her take care of it. She’s as protective of him as he is of her. She doesn’t want him here either.”

  She gazed at him in surprise. She had never seen Novak this wary of anyone. He was always cool, always totally in control, and the smartest man she’d ever met. Even sitting here in those ridiculous red overalls and tennis shoes, he didn’t appear anything but assured and able to conquer his particular world. She tried to smother the tingle of tension as she gazed at him. After their time together in Nairobi, she should have gotten over that edginess. But he’d always had that effect on her, a combination of wariness and fascination. The lean face, the intelligent, deep-set eyes that always seemed to see too much, the firm lips. There might be handsomer men than Jed Novak, but Jill had always found his super intelligence and quiet strength to be mesmerizing from the moment she had met him over a year ago. “I never actually got to meet Quinn. Have I missed something?” She smiled. “You’re being very cautious.”

  “And so should you. Quinn respects her. He’ll stay out of her business as long as he believes she’s safe. The minute that changes, he’ll go into overdrive.”

  “I would, too. That’s why she has to stay safe.” She tensed. “And when is that going to change, Novak? When do we get the skull?”

  “Soon. I’m hoping not too soon. When I get word it’s a go, we’ll have to move fast.” He met her eyes. “Whether or not you think Eve is ready for it. You’ll have to go in and convince her.”

  “I know that,” she said jerkily. “I’ll do what I have to do. It might even be a relief.” She got to her feet. “And now you should get me out of here. You’ve taken long enough to clean this plane. I need to get to the embassy, check in, and annoy the ambassador’s secretary to give me any story that he has available on a dull news day.”

  Novak lifted a brow. “And make sure that no one makes the connection between Eve’s arrival and you?”

  “No one should if you’ve done your job. You said you’d arrange it so no one would realize I’d left Maldara.”

  “No one will. Your tail only caught glimpses of a look-alike as she moved through the streets or visited a friend or restaurant.”

  She smiled with an effort. “And now Eve appears here courtesy of a notable charity while I’ve been here all the time and obviously had nothing to do with it.” She moistened her lips. “Did you, by any chance, manage to identify the man who’s been following me?”

  “Not ‘by chance.’ You insult me.” His lips tightened. “We knew the day you showed up in Jokan a week after the attack. I had my own men on you, and he was spotted immediately. His name is Ken Bogani, and he’s one of Zahra Kiyani’s agents.” He paused. “But I don’t think he’s one of the men who attacked you. We checked DNA, and there was no match for the specimen under your fingernails or the trace evidence on your clothes.”

  Not under her nails.

  Think of the words, don’t let the ugly pictures bombard you.

  Novak’s voice was cool and without expression, and she must be equally calm and composed. She’d already revealed too much to him when he had stayed wit
h her while she was recovering in that hospital in Nairobi. She knew it was dangerous that she had become so dependent on him. But the situation was different now. She was a professional, and she mustn’t show him any more weakness.

  “But that doesn’t mean he’s not on the backup team, does it? It’s odd you haven’t been able to locate any of those men when you’re so good at what you do. It’s as if they dropped off the face of the earth.”

  “I’ll find them, Jill.”

  “I know you will. But that shouldn’t be a high priority anyway right now.” Then she wearily shook her head. “And there’s probably no connection between this Bogani and Hadfeld’s death, or what happened to me. It wouldn’t make sense. Zahra wouldn’t have anything to do with Varak, a man who nearly destroyed her country. It has to be something as simple as the fact that I got in Zahra’s way at the Robaku school, and I’m suddenly on her watch list.”

  “Not necessarily. I don’t believe in simple answers when it comes to Zahra Kiyani.”

  Her gaze flew to his face. “You do think she’s involved?”

  “I didn’t say that. You’re right, it’s not logical, considering who she is. It would be at odds with both Zahra’s past and everything she stands for. I just don’t discard the possibility because it might be complex.”

  “And she is complex.” Jill was thinking quickly. “If you’d heard the bizarre stories Gideon told me about her…But if you think there’s even a possibility, we need to pursue it. It’s not that I’m afraid. It’s not about me. We just have to look at everything, and—”

  “It is about you.” Novak’s hands were suddenly hard on her shoulders. His eyes glittered down at her. He muttered a low oath. “I can see you thinking, trying to find a way to go after them. Are you crazy? It’s all about you. They hurt you. Do you want it to happen again?”

  “I believe you know the answer to that,” she said unsteadily. “I didn’t behave with a great amount of courage that night, did I? And I wasn’t any better after you flew me to Nairobi. You had to…help me and I—” She broke off. “And now you’re feeling guilty because you think it happened because you wouldn’t give me what I asked you. I could see it coming that night you picked me up on that road. I made the decision. It was a big story, and I went after it. You had nothing to do with it.”

  “The hell I didn’t.”

  “Okay, you want to feel guilty, go ahead.” She pulled away from his grasp. “Though you don’t have that reputation, and I don’t know why on earth you’re focused on me.”

  “Neither do I.” He gave her a push toward the stainless-steel disposal cart. His voice was rough, but his hands were gentle as he lifted her into the cart and closed the lid. “Now shut up until I get you out of here and into the work van.”

  The waste container was hot, small, stuffy, and she had to curl pretzel-like inside. She could hear him open the door, and the sunlight pouring on the stainless steel made it even hotter. She knew she should be silent now. But he had been angry with her, and she had to make sure it wouldn’t make a difference. She whispered, “You made me a promise. I won’t let you break it, Novak.”

  “Don’t you ever give up?” His voice was no longer angry but weary. “I can’t break it. We’re too close, and you have Eve Duncan, the only wild card in the deck.” He started to maneuver the cart down the steps. “Let’s hope I can keep her alive for you.”

  * * *

  “It’s about time,” Joe said as he answered Eve’s Skype. “I know you asked me to wait until you called me, but you didn’t say it would be at three in the morning.”

  “Sorry.” She leaned back on her stool and took a swallow of coffee. Bless caffeine, she just might make it through the night. “It took me longer than I thought to set up my lab; and then I had to go through the skulls to see if I could find Amari.”

  “Amari?”

  “Hajif’s grandson. He has to be the first reconstruction.” She started to go into the reasons for the selection, but he cut her off.

  “Later,” he said grimly. “All I want to know right now is that you’ve definitely decided to do the reconstructions. You said it wouldn’t be a done deal until you got there and looked the situation over. If you’ve set up your lab, it means that you’re committed. Right?”

  “I have to do it, Joe,” she said quietly. “I’ll get them finished as quickly as I can.”

  “I know you will. I’ll admit I was hoping it would go the other way.” He paused. “You look tired. Don’t work yourself into a nervous breakdown because you think I’m pressuring you. I’m behind you whatever you do.”

  “You’re not the only one who’s pressuring me,” she said ruefully.

  “Jill Cassidy? Tell her to go to hell.”

  “She’s being very subtle. It’s hard to have a confrontation when she dumped me on this Sam Gideon the minute the plane’s wheels hit the tarmac here. I think she’s designated him to do the pressuring for the time being.”

  “Sam Gideon?”

  “Our pilot. I imagine he’s several other interesting things as well. He mentioned casually that he’d been Zahra Kiyani’s lover at one time. But Jill said I could trust him.”

  “Providing you can trust her.”

  “Neither really matters. I’m back at work. I’m the only one I have to trust now.”

  “Wrong. You have to trust me. You might have gone into your cocoon, but I have to make certain that no one messes around and tries to break into it.”

  “From long-distance,” she said pointedly.

  “For the time being.”

  She tried to change the subject. “Tell me what you’re doing. Do you like the guest instructors at the Yard?”

  “They’re superb. I’ll tell you all about them after you finish telling me about Robaku.” He paused. “I want every detail, Eve. Every impression.”

  She laughed. “Joe, are you debriefing me?”

  “In a way. Partly. But I’ve already been away from you too long. I need you. It will help if you just let everything flow out and share with me.”

  “It’s been quite a day. I don’t even know if I’ll remember everything. It’s sad here. Some things will hurt talking about…” But she suddenly knew she needed to share them anyway. She always needed to share with Joe. It kept the bond firm, doubts at a minimum, and the love shiny and new. Do as he asked and let it flow. “I guess it started on the plane when Jill came to tell me that everything wasn’t quite as I thought it was going to be…”

  * * *

  An hour later, Eve turned off the computer, sat there, and gazed around the room. For that short hour she’d been with Joe, it had faded away, and she wanted to keep it at a distance. She didn’t want to face that schoolroom only yards away, nor the memory of those children who had died so terribly. She wanted Joe and Michael and the life she’d had only days before. She wanted to close her eyes and forget about anything else.

  But there was always a price to pay if you allowed yourself to forget the madness and the horror.

  It could come again.

  She took a deep breath and pushed her computer aside. Then she took the skull she’d mounted on the dais and started to examine it. First, she’d have to repair the damage. Next, she’d start to measure. She was very tired, and she’d probably have to catch a nap on that cot before she actually started. Her hands tended to shake if she was too exhausted.

  But she needed a little time with this young boy now that they had come together.

  She looked down at the hideous, blackened skull and gently touched the cheekbone. “Hi. You’ve been through a nightmare, but you’re not the nightmare,” she whispered. “I think you probably know that by now, but we have to make certain everyone else does, too. We’re going to make you as handsome as you were before that day, and that will make your grandmother very happy. Okay? And I usually give my sculptures names, but I believe I know yours, Amari. So we’ll go from there. Are you ready?” She began to check for breaks in the orbital socket. “L
et’s clean you up a bit, then we’ll get you started on your road home…”

  * * *

  “You’re a fool, Wyatt,” Zahra said savagely. “I don’t want Eve Duncan at Robaku. Why would you permit her to come to my city and work on those children? I’ve worked hard to try to filter all publicity about them through me, and now you let some charity send a world-class forensic sculptor here? She’s bound to attract attention.”

  “They went through the London office. I was told to accommodate them. What could I do?”

  “What I want you to do.” She drew a deep breath and tried to smother her anger. This was not the time to alienate Wyatt when everything must go smoothly over the next few weeks. “You said Duncan has already arrived? Did Jill Cassidy have anything to do with bringing her here?”

  “The home office didn’t mention her. But you know that her stories about the massacre did stir up a good deal of sympathy. It might have influenced the charity to act.”

  “Tell me about it. That’s why you should have gotten rid of her. But she had no direct connection with Duncan?”

  “No, I believe Duncan called the charity and volunteered her services. Though I was told she arrived on Sam Gideon’s plane. Perhaps he had something to do with it.”

  Gideon. Zahra’s hand tightened on the phone. Son of a bitch. Yes, he could have done it, just to annoy her. She’d made no secret of her views about Robaku. He was constantly getting in her way, and it was dangerous for her to do anything to put a stop to it. His plantation might have been burned to the ground during the conflict, but he still had enormous economic influence in Maldara. She wished he’d been burned up with the damn place, she thought savagely. “That doesn’t mean she isn’t involved.” But her temporary chief agent, Bogani, had told her that Jill Cassidy had been in Jokan for the weeks since the attack. If she was involved, it had not been directly, and Gideon was quite capable of raising enough hell on his own. “I’m going to meet this Eve Duncan. I’ll be able to tell if she’s just a do-gooder or if she’ll get in my way.”