That way we’ll know Varak won’t skip out on us. That’s what this is all about. Then you can whisk down and save me like Superman.”
“Get out, Eve,” Jill urged. “Sometimes things don’t turn out as planned. He’s right, we did this together. But you wouldn’t have even been on this continent if it wasn’t for me. Do you think I could stand the thought of—”
“Out.” She turned her back on them and went to her worktable. “I don’t care about what you think you can stand, Jill. I won’t let Varak have even a chance of escaping tonight.” She looked down at the half-finished reconstruction of Mila staring up at her from the dais. “He’s never going to be able to do this to a child again.” She sat down on her stool and began to smooth the clay beneath Mila’s cheekbone. “So both of you clear out, and do whatever you have to do to make that bastard think that I’m as helpless as those kids were when he took his machete to them. Let’s get this over with.”
* * *
“I’m going to stay here.” Jill stopped abruptly only a short distance from the museum. “It’s not as if I can do anything down at the village, Joe.”
“You can keep me from pissing off Novak,” Joe said curtly. “Not that I’d ordinarily care, but most of the action will probably be aimed at the village, and I’m leaving him in the lurch. He knows that there’s no way I’ll be anywhere but with Eve.”
“And you shouldn’t be. What does that have to do with keeping Novak from being pissed off?”
“He asked me to send you down to Hajif at the caves, where the villagers are sheltering. He wants the old man to keep his eye on you.” His lips twisted wryly. “Which he knew would be a near-impossible task. If Eve hadn’t wanted to get rid of you also, I wouldn’t have even been able to get you out of that museum.”
“You didn’t get me out. There’s no reason why I can’t stay here. I might be needed.”
“No, you won’t,” he said bluntly. “You’d probably only get in my way. I have no desire to watch over anyone but Eve, and you might distract me. Go down and let Hajif find you something to do.”
She silently shook her head.
He muttered a curse. “I can take care of her myself. I don’t need you. Shall I show you?” He took her wrist and pulled her off the path and into the jungle. He pointed at a large banyan tree a few feet away. “That’s where I’ll be situated. From the second branch I’ll have a clear shot at anyone approaching the front of the museum. No one could get past me.” His tone was low, intense. “And I’m a dead shot, Jill. Do you want to hear about my qualifications in the SEALs? What’s more, I wouldn’t hesitate for a second. All Varak has to do is show himself, and he’s history.”
“I know that.”
“And there are two more of Novak’s men who have sharpshooter credentials who will be stationed within signaling distance. You’re not needed here, Jill. We can take him down.”
She might not be needed, but she desperately wanted to be here.
Joe nodded slowly as he read her expression. “But it’s not smart, you could get in our way.”
She gave one last glance at the museum, then turned on her heel. “Heaven forbid I do that. By all means, go climb up your damn banyan tree and do all that SEAL stuff. Just don’t let her get hurt while you’re flexing your muscles.”
She took off down the hill toward the village.
Chapter
19
Hurry, Dalai!” Zahra was running past the brook toward the tall boulders. “Can’t you see that I don’t need to have him angry with me right now? Tonight is going to be difficult enough for me.”
“I’m right behind you,” Dalai said. “I don’t see him. He hasn’t gotten here yet. You don’t have to—” She inhaled sharply as Varak stepped from behind the boulders. He was dressed in camouflage and had an ammunition belt across his body, a gun on his shoulder, and a holstered machete at his waist. He was carrying a large backpack. He looked angry and impatient, and Dalai could feel the fear tighten her throat. No matter how often she told herself that she must not be afraid of him, it didn’t help.
He barely glanced at her as he turned to Zahra. “I thought