just wanted to use you, but it’s not true. Yes, we had to do what we had to do, but that didn’t change how we feel, who we are.”
“And what you had to do dominated your life,” she said soberly. “You didn’t tell me about your parents, Gideon.”
His smile vanished. “They were good people. I loved them. What else was there to say? Except that I have to be certain Varak died in that helicopter.” He held the door open for her. “So many people died here in Maldara. After I went back to our plantation, which Varak had burned to the ground, I thought it was only one more graveyard out of thousands.”
She shook her head. “I’m so sorry that you lost them, Gideon.”
His brows rose. “But not sorry enough to forgive me?”
“No. I have to understand it first, and I’m not nearly there yet.” She grimaced. “Particularly since I’m feeling so alone right now. Your friend, Novak, asked me not to call and talk to Joe about this. Do you know how difficult that is for me?”
He nodded. “But you’re not as angry as you were, or you’d want to do it anyway and to hell with whether or not your phone was being tapped.”
“No, that isn’t an option, whatever I decide.” She moistened her lips. “Because I can’t be sure you’re not right. I told you before that I felt that if I looked over my shoulder, I’d see one of those children? What if I looked over my shoulder and saw Varak in that classroom? What if he’s out there somewhere?”
“Welcome to our nightmare,” he said quietly.
“I have enough of my own.” She turned and went into the museum. “Good night, Gideon. I’ll see you in the morning.”
“Night. Try to sleep.”
She might actually manage to sleep, she thought as she locked the door. She had thought she might start to work, but she was too exhausted. Tomorrow would have to do.
She went to the bathroom, washed, then brushed her teeth. Then she went to her cot and sat down with her computer.
How she wanted to Skype Joe, to see his face, to release all the tension and share everything with him. But Novak had said there might be someone listening, spying, and even the idea of that intrusion made her angry. It was as if she were being robbed. Hell, she was being robbed.
Don’t think about it now.
Just make sure that Joe wouldn’t worry without totally lying to him.
And she hated the idea of that half-truth, too.
She texted.
WILL CALL YOU TOMORROW EVENING. HAD A BIT OF FOOD POISONING AND I’M HITTING THE SACK EARLY. I’M FINE, BUT YOU KNOW HOW THAT KIND OF THING TAKES IT OUT OF YOU. A GOOD NIGHT’S SLEEP WILL FIX ME RIGHT UP. I LOVE YOU.
EVE
* * *
London
Son of a bitch!
Joe clicked off Eve’s text message and leaned back in his chair. He didn’t like this at all. Knowing Eve was ill was bad enough. But the fact that she’d played down the severity of her illness and hadn’t Skyped tonight made it worse. She either didn’t want to answer questions, or she didn’t want him to see the toll that food poisoning had taken. Or it could be both.
She had been so happy when she’d called him from that hotel early this morning. He’d even felt a little of the uneasiness he’d had about her being in Maldara fade.
Now it was back in full force.
He wasn’t going to be able to take much more of this.
Eve did not like him hovering, but then she shouldn’t have taken off for a country like Maldara. Even food poisoning could be dangerous if not properly treated, and he wasn’t sure what kind of medical facilities were available. And how had she gotten food poisoning anyway? She knew all the rules about not eating fresh products in foreign countries.
It wouldn’t be a bad idea if he took a flight to Jokan and checked out what—
His phone was ringing.
Michael.
“Shouldn’t you be in bed by this time?” Joe asked when he answered Michael’s call. “Jane was telling me that you were up before daylight, and they were working you like slaves at that old castle.”
“Yeah, but it’s fun. Every time I find something, I go look in Jane’s archaeology book and see if it’s anything that could be interesting.” He paused. “But I was wondering if maybe it would be more fun if we went over to that Maldara place where Mom is right now. You