“What the hell?” His eyes were glittering, his lips tight. “What’s happening there, Novak? You’ve got to know something.”
“You know as much as I do right now,” Novak said curtly. “I’ll find out all I can when I get to Jokan. I sent Gideon on ahead when I got word, and I’m on my way. I only wanted to bring Jill to you before I left.” He turned away. “Take care of her. There’s no telling what’s going to happen next.”
“You’re leaving?” Jill asked, startled. Then she recovered. “Of course you are. This is a disaster, and you’re CIA. I should be going also. I have contacts, I might be able to—”
“No,” Novak said. “You’d get in my way. I don’t want you seen there. Eve may be the prime target, but you’ve got to be high on their list by now. It’s not as if I won’t let you know right away. For once, just do as I say for—” His phone rang. “Gideon.” He answered and listened for another minute. “When?” he asked. “Find out and get back to me. I’ll be there as soon as I can.”
“What is it?” Eve asked as she joined them at the door.
“President Zahra Kiyani has just requested TV time to address the nation in response to this national disaster. Gideon believes that she’ll be speaking in the next hour or so. He’ll give me a definite time in the next fifteen minutes.” His lips twisted. “It probably won’t be immediately. She’ll want to give every news agency on the planet time to chime in and give her maximum exposure. I imagine the palace newsroom is already packed.”
“Of course, it is,” Jill said. “It’s a great story. I should be there.” She stared him in the eye. “I will be there, Novak.”
“You’ll have to pass,” he said coolly. “You have another story to cover. Anything Zahra has to say will almost certainly have a direct influence on Eve. You’re the one who chose Eve to be the one to put her neck on the line. Hell, you’ve been in agony about your responsibility for getting her poisoned.” His voice became crisp and cold. “So suck it up and forget about that story luring you to the palace. You haven’t finished this one yet. Stay here and make sure she lives to read it.” He turned and strode down the path.
Jill stared after him, stricken.
“Pretty rough,” Eve said quietly. “He probably didn’t mean it all.”
“Yes, he did.” She shivered. “He always means what he says. You can always count on that.” She drew a deep breath. “And the bastard is so damn smart that he’s usually right. He sees right through you and cuts out all the bullshit like he has a scalpel.” She turned to Joe. “You can see that, can’t you? You know he’s right about my being to blame for Eve’s being in this position.”
He nodded. “He’s right. You had plenty of help, but you’re the one who worked and made it happen.”
“And yet I was ready to run back to Jokan as soon as I saw another story beckoning, another way to go after Zahra and Varak. It was fresh and new, and all I could think about was that maybe this was the direction I should go.”
He was silent. Then he said, “Do you think that wasn’t my first thought?” He made a face. “I’ve been frustrated as hell, and I don’t respond well to it. But it’s second thoughts that matter, and I knew it was impossible.”
“But I had to have that second thought drummed into me.” She turned to Eve. “Forgive me. It won’t happen again.”
“Stop talking as if this is all about me,” Eve said, disgusted. “Joe is bad enough. But I have to put up with him.” She turned and went over to the computer on her worktable. “I’ll stand only so much from you, Jill.” She turned on the computer. “Now let’s see if we can find out what’s happening in Jokan.”
Chapter
15
The local Jokan television station switched from the shots of the U.N. disaster to the newsroom at the presidential palace two hours later.
Zahra Kiyani walked slowly up to the stage from a carved door opened by two uniformed soldiers. She was wearing an elegant white suit, and every glossy hair in her chignon was in place. She looked absolutely stunning as she turned to face the audience.
But her expression was tense and sober, and she paused a moment before she started to