way she’d used the kids as a display for her museum.”
“I thought that would push her buttons,” Jill said. “It did mine. I deliberately left it as a surprise.” She’d be glad when all this manipulation ended, she thought wearily. “But if she’s so involved with the kids, it might make it more difficult when I try to move her away from them.”
“No word about the skull?”
“Anytime now,” Jill said. She was as impatient as Gideon. “Novak said he’d let me know as soon as he does. It has to happen, Gideon.” She changed the subject to Eve. “Take care of her. I don’t like that Zahra wanted a guard stationed at Robaku.”
“She didn’t get it. I’ll be there for Eve,” he said quietly. “The worst thing that will happen is that she’ll drop from exhaustion. I don’t seem to be able to control that possibility. Now let me go and order her dinner. The other possibility is that she might forget to eat and starve to death.” He cut the connection.
Gideon seemed almost big brotherly, Jill thought as she hung up, and that was never Gideon’s style. He was cool, sometimes amusing, sometimes sensual, and always wary these days. He tended to keep everyone at a distance. But he had said he liked Eve, and that might have made the difference.
They had both developed feelings for Eve since they had brought her to Maldara. It was becoming more and more difficult to face drawing her even deeper into the quagmire.
Novak, get that damn skull!
* * *
“I’m clean at last.” Eve stopped drying her hair and tossed aside the towel as she grinned at Joe on the Skype. “Sorry you have to put up with my soggy hair, but I wanted to catch you before you went to the Yard. I didn’t get a chance to call you yesterday. Did you get my message that I was finishing Amari?”
“I got it,” he said dryly. “Or I would have been on the next plane to Jokan. I take it that it went well? You’re practically floating.”
“I am floating. It was so different, Joe. You know I usually have to just send the reconstructions back to a police department and they do the follow-up to find who the child is and the killer. This time I was able to see that boy go home to the people who loved him five minutes after I finished. I got to see their faces, Joe.”
“And it meant the world to you,” he said gently. “That’s wonderful, Eve.”
“Everything’s wonderful tonight.” She chuckled. “I sent Amari home, Gideon brought me to this five-star hotel so that I could dine in style and shower, and I got to share it all with you. It can’t get any better.”
“Until next time.” He smiled. “I’m not going to be able to get you away from that place, am I?”
“I’m needed here, Joe. But I’ll leave when you and Michael are finished there. I promised you. Besides, I couldn’t stand being away from you any longer than that.” She heard a knock on the door. “That must be my room service. Gideon said that the chef was preparing me coq au vin, and it was guaranteed to be delicious.”
“Evidently, I’ll have to trust your opinion of this Gideon,” Joe said. “Though I’m not certain how I feel about his being able to whisk you to five-star hotels and ply you with gourmet meals. I’ll have to tell you when I meet him. But as long as you’re not sharing that meal with him, soggy hair and all, I guess I’ll be able to tolerate it.”
“You’re joking,” she said as she got to her feet. “I have to answer the door. I’ll tell you tonight if it’s as good as Gideon said. I love you. Have a good day.”
“Only half joking. My humor is suffering drastically since I’ve been limited to Skype to see you. You’ll remember I don’t like sharing you. But I’m glad you’ve already had a wonderful day. I love you, too. Be safe.”
Eve headed for the door as she disconnected the call. Those last remarks had had an edge, she thought. Joe had been very patient, but she knew he was worried. She had to be careful to reassure him that though everything was strange, and there were annoying elements like Zahra Kiyani, there had not been anything obviously threatening during these days.
A smiling waiter wheeling a white-draped cart with several silver-domed serving dishes bowed as she opened