I guess you want these tapes right away? Where can I drop them off?”
“Where are you now?”
“Having breakfast at a sidewalk café about six blocks from the police station.”
“Cocky.”
“Why not? I told you it was a piece of cake. No problem at all. Really simple. You’d have been proud of me.”
“Yeah.” But she was beginning to be distinctly uneasy. “But sometimes things can be too simple. We’ve both gotten in hot water when we least expected it. Look around you, is there anyone there in the restaurant who looks familiar?”
“Not really. You’re too suspicious.” Silence. “Maybe that guy in the gray suit with no tie who’s reading the newspaper. But I can’t be sure.”
“Then pretend you are sure and do me a favor. Get up and walk out of that restaurant. Don’t look as if you’re in a hurry. Stroll, don’t run. Take a taxi and go back to your apartment and lock the door. I’ll send someone to meet you and pick up those tapes.”
Silence. “What is this, Jill?”
“Just do it, okay? I’m not sure if it’s necessary. But it will make me feel better. Don’t play games. Be careful. Call me when you get to your apartment.” She hesitated. “And I think perhaps it might be a good idea if you go with the person who comes to get the tapes. I’ll let you know when you call me.”
Silence. “You’re nervous about me. This must be nasty.”
“Very nasty. I told you that in the beginning.”
“You’re going to feel very foolish about this if you’re wrong. I’ll rub it in, you know.”
“I can take it. Are you leaving the restaurant?”
“I just threw some cash down on the table. I’m strolling, not running. There’s a taxi down the street. You’ll owe me for cab fare, too.”
“Fine. Has the man in the gray suit moved?”
“No, he’s still reading his newspaper. Looks like you’re wrong.”
“Good. Thanks, Kimbro. Call me as soon as you get to your apartment.”
“You can bet I will. I didn’t finish my breakfast. I’ll use it as a guilt trip to make you tell me why you wanted these tapes. See you, Jill.” He cut the connection.
“What’s happening?” Eve asked.
“Maybe nothing.” Jill was dialing Novak. “But Kimbro managed to get hold of those tapes, and I’d really like Novak to have them picked up right away.”
“And your friend, Kimbro, too?”
“It might be a good idea to have Novak’s men look over the situation and see if it’s a good idea.” She was biting her lower lip. “I don’t have a good reason. I guess I’m allergic to having everything go just as it should. It’s not been happening much since I came to Maldara. It makes me nervous.” Novak picked up, and she said quickly, “We’ve got the security tapes. Kimbro is on his way to his apartment now.” She rattled off the address. “Send someone to pick them up right away.” She paused. “And make certain whoever you send knows what he’s doing. Okay?”
“Why?”
“Because Kimbro is my friend, and I’m not taking chances. Don’t argue with me, Novak. I’ve got what we needed. Now you do your part.”
He was silent. “Orders? I’ll send Nassem.” He hung up the phone.
“Mission accomplished?” Eve asked as she watched Jill slip her phone in her pocket. “You were pretty sharp. You don’t usually speak to Novak like that.”
“He’ll survive. I wanted him to get off the phone and do what I needed.” She shrugged. “I know it was overkill, and he’ll make me pay for it later. It seemed the thing to do at the time.” She looked at the food on the tray in front of Eve. “You’ve scarcely touched your salad. Can I get you anything else?”
“No, I’ll finish this. I’ve been a little busy listening to you.” She made a face. “Stop hovering over me. I know you want to go back down to the village and make sure Novak is doing what you want him to do. Go!”
Jill smiled. “As you command.” She headed for the door. “It’s ridiculous, you know. I’m overreacting.”
“Or it might be instinct,” Eve said soberly as she gazed back at her Mila reconstruction. “I believe in instinct. I hope that you are overreacting. Let me know when Novak’s agent actually has those security tapes in his hands.”
“You’ll be the first to know.”
“I’d better be,” she said wryly. “It appears that I’m the only one who is out of the loop.”
Five minutes later, Jill had reached the hut where Joe and Novak had set