She shuddered. “Don’t even talk about it. I don’t understand how Dalai was able to go through what she did.” She looked back at the tall boulders, which suddenly appeared threatening in the gathering darkness. “I made her a promise, Novak. Now you have to call everyone up to the museum and get a plan together to make sure that I didn’t lie to her.”
Chapter
18
Kiya?” Gideon shook his head. “It seems impossible that treasure has been here in Robaku all this time. You’d think Hajif or someone else would have stumbled over it at some time or other.”
“Dalai said Zahra was careful,” Jill said. “And who would believe that it was right under their feet for all those decades.” She smiled bitterly. “And after the massacre, no one wanted to go near that schoolroom. Just what Varak thought would happen.” She turned to Eve, who had been very quiet since Jill and Novak had returned to the museum over an hour ago. “I couldn’t believe it when I saw it. Don’t go down there, Eve. It…hurts.”
“I have no intention of looking at that treasure,” Eve said. “It would make me ill.” She leaned back against the cabinet. “All I want to do is find a way to use it to get our hands on Varak.” She crossed her arms tightly across her chest. “Soon.”
Joe nodded. “That’s the aim,” he told her quietly. “If Varak has been sitting there in that compound waiting to get his hands on that gold, all he’ll need is a push. He set up his compound as a trap, and we can do the same thing with Robaku. Dalai said that they had no idea how we were fortified. We can just make sure that it appears to be a simple, sleepy village with only a minimum number of guards to give Varak trouble. And we’ll have to find a way to get the villagers out of the line of fire. We just have to make sure it’s all handled right.”
“So that no one gets a machete in their throat,” Eve said wryly.
Jill had heard enough. “But first we have to get him here.” She was on edge. Yes, both Joe and Novak had plans that would probably work once Varak was lured to Robaku. They were already thinking of strategy, and that was fine. But that wasn’t her priority. “Zahra.” She got to her feet. “We have to make her be the one to spur him to leave that compound. That’s what I told Dalai, and that hasn’t changed. And I should be the one who does it.” She smiled faintly. “I’ll weave her a fine story and make her believe it’s her own. As Eve said, it’s what I do well. The rest of you can think and scheme and spend your time making Robaku the most splendid trap on the planet. Just let me get him within your range.”
Novak was shaking his head. “And let yourself be within the range of a woman who would have no compunction about tossing you into the deepest dungeon if she can get away with it. Even Dalai said she hates your guts.”
“Then as Joe said, it’s my job to handle it right. I’m going to call my publisher when I get back to Hajif’s hut and ask him to set up an interview for me tomorrow with Zahra Kiyani. That’s the first foot in the door.” She met his eyes. “I’m going to do it, Novak. Don’t get in my way.”
“No promises,” he said curtly.
“If you do, I’ll just work around you. I’m going to do what I do best.” She headed for the door. “Now you all do what you do best, so mine won’t be for nothing.”
Then she was out the door and moving down the path toward the village. She carefully didn’t look at the path that led to the sparkling brook and those tall boulders. The horror and sadness were still too close to her. She just wanted to get away from them for these next few moments.
“Jill.”
She stopped and looked behind her.
Eve was coming down the path after her.
“It’s going to be okay, Eve,” Jill said quickly. “Don’t try to talk me out of it. It’s the only way that makes—”
“Hush,” Eve said, still coming toward her. “Stop talking and start listening. I have something I have to say to you.”
* * *
The Next Day
10:40 A.M.
Kiyani Presidential Palace
“What a pleasure to see you, Ms. Cassidy.” Zahra’s tone was almost