Chapter 14

CHAPTER 14

"It was very interesting," Harlan said when he pulled Kira off her sled and onto the barge. "Those caves reminded me of the caverns I saw in Carlsbad, New Mexico. But the limestone surfaces were darker and more foggy while the waters flowing into them from the sea seemed brilliant and sparkling with life." He shrugged. "But no huge boxes of jewels yet to tempt Taylor from his life of crime. What a shame. I'm sure he'll be disappointed."

"Well, I'm not disappointed," Kira said as she took off her cap and shook out her hair. "I know it's there." She looked out at the sea. "And so does he, or he wouldn't have sent that cruiser to keep an eye on us. But I'm not eager to have him or his nasty thugs coming around and bothering us. I'd rather wait until we've located the majority of the treasure and we're ready to welcome them with the kind of response they deserve."

"I agree," Harlan said. "I just didn't expect you to be quite so enthusiastic about inviting them into our cozy circle."

"He's trying to kill you," Kira said coldly. "He wants to kill Fiona. You told me yourself that he'd already murdered your brother. It's not right . How long are we supposed to let him keep trying? We have to stop him. If the treasure will help us do that, then we have to find it right away and use it."

"I told you that Taylor would come to me. It's only a matter of time," he said. "You don't have to do anything, Kira."

"Just like you didn't have to help Mack and me when we were lying there dying on that mountain in Colorado. You don't make sense, Harlan."

He gave a low whistle. "You are upset. Since we don't even know if that was Taylor's cruiser yet, I don't think it's time to start planning to go after him. We'll talk about it when we get Belson's full report. In the meantime, let's get dressed and go over the data reports on today's journey to the caves with Hannah. Then we'll go up to the hills and have supper and maybe talk to Kalim and find out if he knows anything new. We'll have to turn the new stash of jewels over to him anyway and let him check out their history. Does that sound reasonable?"

"You mean that I'm not being reasonable?"

He took one glance at the tightness of her face and shook his head. "I wouldn't presume," Harlan said. "I'm just offering alternatives."

"Perhaps I'm not being as reasonable as I could be," she admitted. "But neither are you. You're being entirely too calm about this. And we agreed we'd do this partnership together."

"I never said that I'd let you run up against Taylor again. Once was enough." His voice had turned abruptly harsh. "Too much." He turned to go back to the control room. "We'll talk later. Forty minutes back at the car. Okay?"

It wasn't okay with Kira, but neither was arguing with Harlan. Still, it evidently hadn't stopped her from doing it, she thought wryly. How could she explain that everything he did and said had an emotional backlash with her these days? She had begun to care too much for him. She had to either control it or find another way to handle her own feelings.

So that's what she'd do, blast it.

Forty minutes later they were driving away from the pier after she'd put Mack in the back seat of the car and climbed into the passenger seat herself. "You're right, I was upset," she said curtly to Harlan. "But I was also right about finding the quickest way to go after Taylor and you letting me help do it. So work that out, dammit."

"Yes, I will. There was no question about that," Harlan said impatiently. "I thought you'd realize that."

"Good, then I'll go along with any other suggestions you bring to the table. And tomorrow I'll do the best I can to find that treasure to lure Taylor into any trap we can manage to set up."

"As if you hadn't been doing that anyway." Harlan reached out and took her hand. "What sparked that little upset?"

"The fact that you didn't understand. I didn't see why you couldn't, when Fiona is always telling me how she can come to you with anything and trust you to fix it." She immediately released his hand and waved it dismissively as she went on. "But we'll forget it for now and just enjoy the evening. We had a great session in the caves with Mack, and I don't want it spoiled. Even though he was a little on edge toward the end." She smiled. "And it won't be spoiled as long as you're the one who cooks the supper! You have no trouble at all understanding the simple intricacies of cooking."

Harlan was staring at her speculatively. "I'm not at all sure that we should forget it. It may reach out and bite us if we don't get it out in the open."

"I'm sure," Kira told him. "Mack has had a rough day. I want to get him back with the other pups so he can relax. Drop it, Harlan."

He shrugged. "Heaven forbid we upset Mack. After all, he's the hero of the day." He stepped on the accelerator. "But later, Kira."

Kira made certain she became very busy when they arrived at the camp. She bathed and dried Mack, and then she had a talk with Aban about what they'd done in the diving sleds. By that time, supper was ready. She sat down with a group of the herders and got reports from them about their day and any problems with the dogs and horses.

"Finished?" Harlan asked as he sat down beside her in front of the fire.

"Not exactly. I still have to give Fiona a call and tell her how great Mack was today. She's a light sleeper, and anyway, I figure it's late enough on Summer Island that she should be awake. I know she'll be interested."

"So do I," Harlan said. "You've spread the good news throughout the camp, so why not include her?"

"That's what I thought," Kira said. "And by the way, that supper you cooked tonight was completely wonderful."

"Yes, it was. I thought so, too," Harlan said. "And before you ask, I also gave Kalim a call and he was delighted about the new treasure trove, but he hasn't received any more messages about the cruiser or his old friend Abdullah. He said he'd let me know when he did. No word from Belson, either. I'll call him again later."

"That's good," Kira said.

" Now are we finished?" Harlan asked. "I believe we still have some talking to do."

She nodded. "I'll meet you at the tent. I'll just make that quick call to Fiona." She took out her phone. "It's a promise. We both keep our promises, don't we?"

He flinched. "I have an idea that's going to haunt me until we're through with Taylor."

"It might." She smiled. "But I'll try not to make it hurt too much." She started to dial her phone. "And I promise to keep my word on everything else."

"Then all will continue to go well in Emerald City." Harlan tapped his forehead with his fingers and took off strolling quickly toward the tent area.

Kira found herself gazing after him a little uneasily for a moment before Fiona came on the line. "Fiona, it's good to hear your voice. It's Kira. How is everything going with you and your horses?"

"Well enough." But she immediately contradicted that. "No, that's not true. It's Golden Boy. I'm a little worried about him. The local vet here on the island says he's got a fever. Though he told me he'd probably be okay in a few days. It might be nothing, but I don't want to take any chances. And I know you trust this vet, but I've decided not to pay any attention to him. I've made a call to his regular vet at the castle to come and see him. He should be here anytime now."

"That's a good idea. But we use the local vet at the clinic all the time, and we do respect him enormously."

"I know, but Golden Boy is mine , and I have to take good care of him. How would you feel if it was Domino who came down with some nasty ailment?"

"You said it was just a fever," Kira said. "Don't borrow trouble."

"But fevers could turn into anything. It might be encephalitis."

"Then you'll take good care of him, the way you always do," Kira said soothingly.

"Well, I just wish you were back on the island to take a look at him. What's the good of you having all that fancy medical education if you can't use it? How close are you to coming back here?"

"I'm not sure. We'll come as soon as we can, but it might be a week or so. I'll be sure to keep you updated." She didn't want to leave Fiona in this depressed mood. "But the reason I called you was that I wanted to tell you how well Mack is doing with his underwater sled. You should have seen him today. He was magnificent."

"I bet he was," Fiona said. "I'm sure Domino would have been proud of him. All the more reason why you should come back and show off for us."

"I take it you're no longer nagging us to bring you here to see Kalim's horses?"

"Sure I am," Fiona said. "But that can wait. I need to get Golden Boy well from his fever. After all, he's my responsibility."

"That's very dutiful of you. I approve," Kira said. "But I have a few duties to take care of myself this evening. So I guess I'd better hang up and leave you to do yours. I'll call you again tomorrow to check to see how Golden Boy is doing with your vet. In the meantime, you take good care of him."

"I will," Fiona said quietly. "There's no question about that. I take care of all my horses. Like I said, it's my responsibility." She was away from the phone for a moment. "I'm getting a call. It's probably Sarah telling me my vet has arrived on the island. I've got to go, Kira. Bye." Fiona cut the connection.

Kira was smiling as she slowly pressed the OFF button and slipped the phone back into her pocket. The call had been typical Fiona: a mixture of demands, affection, and responsibility that few fifteen-year-olds needed to develop. She was missing Fiona and found herself wondering if she could somehow arrange to give her that gift for which she'd been asking.

No , she told herself. Don't even think about it now. Fiona was hard to resist, and she'd let Harlan take care of that particular duty. Plus, as she'd told Fiona, she had made promises and had duties to other people than Fiona. One of those promises was to Jack Harlan, and she had to keep it. She jumped to her feet and strode away from the campfires toward the tents.

Harlan met her at the entrance to her tent with a glass of wine in his hand and a smile on his face. "Hooray," he said as he handed her the wine. "I was betting with myself if you'd show up on time. You fulfilled all my wishes."

"It was close. But as I said, I made a promise." She sipped her wine. "You should have bet on me to keep the faith."

"I was betting on you. It was Fiona where I had doubts. I thought she'd keep you on the phone a hell of a lot longer. She has a habit of clinging a little too hard if she cares about someone."

"I regard that as an endearing quality." Kira went into the tent and lit the lamp beside the bed. "And there's no such thing as clinging too hard if you care about someone."

"I agree, but there are times when you need a little personal time to come to terms with certain relationships. Particularly when it's with an individual as complicated as you." He sat down on the bed beside her and took a sip of his wine. "Now talk to me. Why were you so upset with me?"

"I've already told you. Fiona says you understand everyone and then set out to fix the problems. I didn't find that in my case. Not this time."

"Then how can I fix it?" he asked. "Because I am going to do that, Kira. It's very important to me."

"Of course it is. If it's something you might be able to fix, that's your nature," she said. "You said that you were going to get to know me, Harlan. I think you've succeeded. But have I gotten to know you? All I know is that you're the one who takes care of everyone. Fiona, Colin, all your employees, all the people on the estate, and your many, many, companies. I can't count how many people rely on you. And I appear to be just another person you took the trouble to save. But who took care of you, Harlan? Not Fiona, not your brother. Or anyone else that I've found. And you won't let me do it, either. I could see you pulling away from me today when I wanted to go after Taylor."

"It's what I do, Kira," he said. "It's one of the things I'm trained to do. How could I let you risk your life when it's a job I know how to do?"

"Because we had a deal and I don't cheat on deals," she said jerkily. "And I've found I'm particularly sensitive about this one. Imagine that."

"I'm very happy that you made me an exception. Would you like to elaborate?"

"I would." She reached out and turned off the lamp, plunging the tent into darkness. "If you don't mind." She came down into his arms and held him close. "I just want to hold you for a little while. Not for very long. I just want to take care of you and have you know that you don't have to do everything, be everything to everyone. Will you let me do that?"

He asked, "What? Great heavens, you haven't even mentioned sex? All I can say is that you're asking an awful lot, Kira."

She held him tighter. "Don't joke. This isn't funny to me. So you'll have to learn to live with it. I know you can do it. I wish I could have been there for you when your brother died. It hurts me that I wasn't. You were probably telling yourself that you could have somehow stopped it. Because that's what you'd do. Someone should have been there to tell you that none of it was your fault just because you once trusted that monster. You couldn't know what a demon he'd turn out to be. If I'd been there, I would have found out and told you."

"I imagine you would have." He was gently brushing her hair back from her face. "But I was responsible since Colin asked permission to have him stay at the castle. I could have refused."

She raised her head. "You see? I knew you'd be thinking some hogwash like that. If I'd said something like that, you'd have told me I was talking bullshit. I bet no one thought to ask what you were feeling. Everyone thought you were strong and mighty and king of the hill and could take anything that came along…" She tucked her head back down against his shoulder. "And you are. But you shouldn't have to do it all the time. So from now on, we do everything together and you let me have my moments of holding you. It will be a gift to me. Okay?"

"Are you finished?" he asked huskily. "May I tell you how touched I am now?"

"No, that would just embarrass both of us." She tucked herself closer to him. "Just keep holding me and remember that whatever we do, we're going to do it together…"

Harlan's phone was ringing, Kira realized as she got up on one elbow and saw that three hours had passed since she had turned out the lamp. Not only that, Harlan was already dressed and about to exit the tent.

"I don't believe you quite understood what I meant about doing things together," she said, covering a yawn. "Which part did you have problems with?"

"The part where Kalim sent me a text and told me that one of his men was going to pick me up and bring me to the village where Abdullah lives and he'd meet me there in the next half hour," he replied. "You weren't invited because Kalim thought my credentials were better than yours."

"That doesn't matter. And I'll tell him so." She started to get dressed. "I would have thought Kalim would know better."

"He does," Harlan said. "But the circumstances are a little difficult. Kalim asked you not to come this time."

She was still frowning. "Why not?"

"Because you're a woman and Abdullah was found murdered. Kalim didn't want the villagers to think he wasn't taking the death seriously. He had to call in the police from Morocco, and he also realizes I have contacts with them."

"Murdered?" she whispered. "How?"

"Stab wound in the throat," Harlan said. "Very nasty. Kalim said to tell you that it wasn't that he didn't respect you."

"No, I don't like it, but I understand," Kira said. "Abdullah was head of his village." She shook her head. "Give me a call as soon as you find out any details, and let me know what's happening. In the meantime, I'll try to get on the phone with Kalim."

"You'll probably know something as soon as I do," Harlan said as he kissed her cheek. "Kalim's man is outside waiting for me. I'll be back as soon as I can."

Then he was gone, and a few minutes later she heard the sound of a car as it left the encampment.

Murder.

Death.

Abdullah.

There was no way she was going to go back to sleep now.

She'd finish getting dressed and then go out to the campfire and talk to the herders about this horror. They would be even more devastated than she was because Abdullah was one of their own.

And it was Abdullah who had gone after the cruiser that might have been watching Harlan and her on the barge. Connection? Very likely. Which meant the threat was deadly and aimed in their direction. But how was he going to execute it? There was no question he would let them know soon—he enjoyed his vicious little games too much. Perhaps he'd already put them in play.

There was no question he wanted the treasure as much as he wanted the deaths he'd already planned. Harlan. Fiona. Not to forget her own. Taylor had probably struck at Abdullah because he was an easy target. So she had to go back to the other potential victims. How would he go after them? What was new or different in their lives that would make it easier for Taylor to pounce?

New or different…

She suddenly stiffened. There was nothing in that category about her life or Harlan's at present. Harlan had seen to it that they were both protected here on Hathor Island.

New or different.

But Fiona had something new and different in her life. Why had Kira not thought of that immediately?

Her hands were shaking as she dialed Fiona's number.

But Fiona did not pick up.

She dialed again. This time she got Fiona's voicemail.

Fiona's voice was cheerful and filled with energy when her message came on the line.

Hi, I'll call you back when I get the chance. But things are happening and you'll have to stand in line. I promise to make it up to you. And who wouldn't want to wait for me?

For all of two minutes, Kira felt a little better about Fiona; her sickening feeling faded. But then she was dialing her phone again and leaving her own message.

Fiona. This is Kira. I need you to call me back right away. You're not the only one who's worrying about things happening. I got to thinking about Golden Boy and then about my own Mack. Taylor used Mack because he knew that I cared about him, and he was right. He's always going to use the people and animals we care about. What would be easier than making Golden Boy sick and then hijacking the vet you sent for to treat him? If your vet isn't on the island yet, I need you to be cautious when he gets there. I'm going to call Sarah and have her alert her guard detail right away. I hope to God it's not too late. Don't worry, we'll take care of this, Fiona. I'm not going to let anything happen to either you or Golden Boy. Please, please, call me back as soon as you get this.

She cut the connection and started to call Sarah.

But she was already receiving a call…

Unknown number.

Shit.

"Hello, Kira," Taylor said mockingly. "You persist in coming late to every party. Fairly soon you won't be receiving my invitations any longer. I know that would upset you."

"Yes, it would." She tried to keep her voice steady. "But I don't think I'll have to worry about that. You're not going to be around for much longer."

"Oh, I believe I will," he said. "Whatever would keep me from your charming presence? However, I have to compliment you on figuring out exactly how I could get my hands on Fiona. But you were late there also, weren't you? I think I'm coming closer and closer to having you exactly where I want you. I see that you've called Fiona twice recently but haven't made contact. I'm sure that your messages will give her hope for the future. She hasn't had much of that recently, poor child."

Don't show him how much he'd shocked and frightened her, Kira told herself. He wouldn't understand it. Listen to him and try to deal with him on his own terms. "Have you hurt her?"

"Not yet. I was saving that for when I can bring Fiona and her dear uncle together. What a reunion that will be. I can hardly wait."

Kira had been right. Deal with him on his own terms. "May I talk to Fiona?"

"Not right away. Unfortunately she became a little violent and I had to administer a strong sedative that would let her sleep. But you can see her." A photo flashed on the screen of her phone. "Just a little blood…"

Fiona was lying on a bed with wrists and ankles tied. The blood was on her wrists and upper lip. She was obviously unconscious. "You are a complete bastard." Kira tried to mask the bitterness she felt. "She's only fifteen."

"I'm aware of all her pertinent details," Taylor said. "I've been considering using her as a prize to give my men for special services. But she also has the misfortune to be related to Harlan. Too bad for her."

She tried to keep her tone as cold as his. "He'll kill you if you touch her, you know."

"Or it might be that this will bring us together in the way that I most desire. It would be a delightful punishment, and I've waited a long time for that. Most of the time, she's been penned up on those castle grounds and proving most elusive for my men."

Kira tried to think quickly. If she could find a way to turn his attention from Fiona, she might be able to strike some kind of balance…

Balance… bargain… strike a deal… think!

"It just shows that you can't have everything, Taylor. You shouldn't expect it." She paused. "And in this case, you're asking way too much. You made it clear what comes first for you. It's the treasure, and Harlan can't give you what he doesn't have."

"Nonsense. Harlan will give me whatever I want when I start hurting her," Taylor said bluntly. "In the past, the Harlan family has proved very generous and loving, and that gives me quite a decent weapon. Look at how long he's been hunting me since I killed his dear brother, Colin."

"But he can't give up what he doesn't have," Kira repeated. "That treasure you're so eager to take away from Harlan doesn't actually belong to him. It belongs jointly to Kalim and me. I was going to give Harlan a share for his trouble in protecting me from you. But in the end, the big bucks will be mine."

He paused. "I… don't believe you."

But he could be starting to, she realized. "Then do your research. Everyone knows that all the media stories about the treasure were about me, not Harlan. And what did Abdullah tell you about Harlan and the treasure before you killed him?"

"That you were probably sleeping with Harlan and that the underwater equipment you were using belonged to his Moroccan company."

"True. But also that Kalim was a special friend who liked me and supported me long before Harlan showed up on the scene. Didn't it ever occur to you that we'd also been lovers?"

"Of course it occurred to me," Taylor said slowly. "Just what are you offering, Kira?"

"What do you think? You're very good at trading, aren't you? I've heard you say yourself you always want it all. Isn't that right? Well, I want a chance to have it all, too. But I don't have the stomach for killing teenage girls that you do. I'll settle for a generous share of those jewels like the sample I brought up from the bottom of Kalim's caves. And if I can find a way to work it, I'll also try to get either Kalim or Harlan to share their wealth with me for the pleasure of my company in bed." Her lips twisted. "Though that might not happen with a bloodthirsty savage like you running the show."

"You'd have to be very clever to make that happen," Taylor said. "But yes, chances are still slim. It would interfere with all my prime motivations."

"Or it could make it easier to make the kills you were planning and also scoop up the treasure and get away with it in all the confusion. Are you smart enough to do that? I don't think so, Taylor."

"You don't know anything," he said harshly. "You're just a little whore out to score. You don't know what I've done in the past or what I'm capable of. But Harlan knows how difficult it is to fool me."

Kira said fiercely, "What I do know is that I'm really the only one who knows where the treasure is located and how to get my hands on it." She added, "And I know that you'll have to trade me Fiona to give to Harlan or he's not going to trust me or give me anything else I want. Since I'll have to have Harlan's sleds to bring up the treasure, I'll have to go through him to get them."

"And what do I get in exchange?"

"What do you think?" Kira asked. "What you don't get from me is Harlan or his niece to torture or kill to amuse yourself. That would cause too much trouble with law enforcement and they'd be all over us. You haven't been showing a low profile lately. So you'll have to work on getting that kind of kick on your own." She deliberately made her tone mocking. "However, in exchange I'll escort you down to the caverns to find and load that treasure onto a cruiser like the one you had spying on us from Abdullah's village. You provide the cruiser. I'll supply the treasure."

"That's not good enough. How do I know you won't betray me?"

"You don't. Set your own conditions. I'm sure you'll have a few ideas."

"Yes, I will," he said grimly. "One, you should realize that Fiona is no longer on your cozy little island. I had her smuggled out earlier this evening. I had that vet who was treating the horse she was so worried about tell everyone to keep away from the stable so he wouldn't spread germs to the other horses. So don't think you can just pick her up and snatch her away from me."

That's exactly what Kira had hoped, but it was clearly not going to happen. "Of course not. That would be foolish of you."

Suddenly he started to laugh. "Yes, it would. But I've just thought of an idea to guarantee that you won't betray me. Suppose I trade Fiona for you? Wouldn't that be amusing? Everyone knows that a whore like you would please Harlan more than a kid who is a constant expense and trouble for him. I return his niece and I get unrestrained use of you for the time you're with me. Twenty-four hours a day, which will also include the use of one of Harlan's miracle sleds and your services however I see fit." He was still chuckling. "And all his fancy friends will continue to think how noble he is and what a hard choice he had to make to get his niece back."

"Yes, very clever," she said. Diabolically clever, she thought, and she'd have to concentrate every effort to make a plan like that work for her. "As long as you go along with giving me what I want out of the exchange. I can probably talk Harlan into thinking later that I was only doing it for his benefit and get whatever I want from him, but you've got to handle it right. Do you understand?"

"Oh, I understand. But perhaps you don't. I'm going to enjoy this." He added, "Though I'm not certain that you will. You might change your mind, and that would make me unhappy. I like this idea. It's an entirely new way to sting Harlan."

"I won't change my mind."

"Women often do, and I'll think about it. Ah, but in the meantime I believe I'll let you have a little time to go over the possible ramifications of what could happen to Fiona while she stays on my cruiser at the mercy of my men. She's such an engaging little thing. How could they resist her?"

"Why should I care?" Kira asked coldly. "She's not my niece. Though your interference would just make my job more difficult because it would leave Harlan all the more angry." She added, "We'll have to do the exchange very quickly. Once Harlan finds out that she's missing, it will be much more difficult to come to terms with all the details. But I'm sure you'll see that we both believe it's the best way to handle the situation." She paused. "After all, it was your idea."

Taylor was chuckling again. "So it was. And that makes it doubly possible. I'll get back to you very soon when I get all the details straight in my mind. Probably in ten to fifteen minutes. Be ready. Goodbye, bitch." He pressed the disconnect.

Kira felt limp as she hung up her phone. She might have pulled it off, but she had grave doubts. The only person she really wanted to talk to now was Harlan. And that was the one person she couldn't talk to if she wanted to keep Fiona safe. Because Harlan would immediately go after Taylor to get her back, and that might start a chain reaction that would cause both their deaths. But if somehow she could get Fiona exchanged, she'd only have to worry about Harlan.

And of course herself, she thought wryly. Taylor would be trying to get rid of her at every turn; the only thing that might keep her alive would be the treasure that she'd dangled in front of him. How the devil was she going to keep that lifeline in place and still find a way to survive?

And why was she whining like a child when she had no other choice? she thought impatiently. She would do it because it had to be done and she was the only one in a position to do it.

Kira's phone was ringing again.

Unknown number. She knew who that had to be.

She answered the call. "You've made a decision, Taylor?"

"How could I resist?" Taylor said. "It was such a splendid idea. I've already told Fiona that I'd arranged for an exchange for her and she wasn't happy about it. You'll find she's not quite in the same condition as before. I had to punish her for being such a naughty girl. She actually threw a cup at me when I was describing how I'd killed her father. She's lucky she missed, or I'd have whipped her bloody. As it is, she survived with only a few more cuts and bruises."

"No!" Kira's hand clenched on her phone. "I told you, Harlan won't cooperate with me if you've put a hand on her. I need his new sled to retrieve that treasure." She tried to calm down and steady her breathing. "Look, I'll be at the pier in forty minutes. Don't let anyone touch her."

"Forty minutes," he repeated. "After that, our deal is off." He paused for a moment, then came back on the line. "Pier? Why did you mention a pier?" he said softly. "How did you know? Am I going to have to kill Fiona after all?"

"No! You mentioned Fiona was on a cruiser. The only place that could accommodate a cruiser anywhere nearby would be one of the two piers serving Kalim's island—at Abdullah's village and on the north shore. And your man killed Abdullah, chief of his village, so you would be very unwelcome there. So I'll guess the cruiser is anchored at the north pier."

"Very clever," Taylor said. "But if you try to turn our meeting into a trap, you'll find Fiona's decapitated head displayed prominently on the bridge of my cruiser."

"It won't be. Send Fiona down to the pier and I'll let you keep me within rifle range on the pier until she's away from that cruiser. After I consider her safe, I'll let you take me aboard. But if it's you who's staging a trap to keep both of us prisoner, I'll find a way to bring you down. And you can be sure that you won't get your hands on that treasure even if I have to drown myself in the sea to prevent it."

She hung up the phone.

The next instant, Kira was dialing Aban and grabbing her bag to run out of the tent. "Aban, I need your help. I'm going to need a lift. Pick me up at the edge of the forest."

"Isn't Harlan there? Can't he—"

"No, he can't. Not this time," she interrupted. "I don't want to ask you, either, but I need someone… Kalim probably won't like that it's you—" She drew a deep breath. "Meet me there at the road and bring your motorboat and I'll tell you everything. Okay, Aban?"

"I'm on my way. Of course. You are my good friend, Kira. It's not often I get a chance to rescue a damsel in distress. Anything you want."

"Thank you. I promise it will be all right." She hoped to heaven she was telling the truth. "I'm on my way."