said that it was in the middle of the jungle, where there are all kinds of wild animals and stuff. What do you think?”
Joe stiffened. This coming out of the blue from Michael was weird as hell. Particularly since he’d been raving enthusiastically about his work on the dig since he’d arrived there. “I think that your mom would tell you that she’s not there to have fun and that she wouldn’t have time for either one of us. She’s doing the same kind of work she does at home, and it has nothing to do with jungles or wild animals.” He paused. “But I believe you knew that, Michael. I don’t remember discussing the wild animals when I was telling you about Maldara.”
“No, you just said it had jungles. I looked the rest up on the Internet.”
And what else had he found on the Internet about that war-torn country that would have sent up red flares? “Well, you don’t have to worry about your mom hiking around the jungle and getting eaten by tigers. She’s working in a museum doing her work, and you know how boring museums can be.”
“Not all museums are boring,” Michael said. “Remember that movie Night at the Museum? That was cool, wasn’t it?”
“In a crazy kind of way.” Michael was being entirely too persistent, Joe thought. Which meant he was genuinely worried. Time to cut to the chase and get to the bottom of this. “So why are you calling me now when you should be sleeping? Did your mom say something the last time she phoned you?”
“No, she’s only called me a couple times, and she was asking about what Jane and I were doing. She seemed okay.” He was frowning. “But I was just thinking today that maybe we should go be with her. I don’t like her there alone.”
“She’s not alone. She was very careful to give me an entire list of people she could call on if she ran into trouble.”
“But they’re not us.”
“No, they’re not us.” And Joe felt exactly the same as his son about that. He wanted to be the one who was there for her. But something Michael had just said was making him uneasy. Michael had always had an almost psychic bond with Eve, even before he was born. She might not have said anything to him, but that didn’t mean he hadn’t sensed something. “Today? Why would you suddenly feel like that today, Michael?”
Silence. Then Michael said simply, “Something was wrong. I got scared.”
“Why?”
“I don’t know. It was really bad, then it was gone. She’s okay now. I just don’t want her to be alone anymore.”
“Neither do I,” he said gruffly. “I’m working on it.” He had to try to reassure Michael even though his son’s words had done the opposite to him. “It might be nothing. Your mom had a touch of food poisoning today. But, as you said, she’s fine now.”
He shook his head. “It was…really bad, Dad. Can we go, please?”
“Not right now. You know your mom, she wouldn’t like it if we showed up on her doorstep without an invitation. I’ll work it out.” He added brusquely. “In the meantime, stop worrying. Enjoy the dig and take care of Jane. She went to a lot of trouble to give you a good time.”
“I know she did.” He paused. “You probably won’t take me with you if you go, and that’s okay. I know you’ll take care of her. She’ll be safe.” He paused. “She’s got to be safe.”
“I believe I know how to do that,” Joe said dryly. “I’ve been taking care of your mom for a long time, since long before you were born. Now get to bed. Let me keep an eye on her for both of us.”
Michael was silent. “Sometimes it seems to be easier for me to keep an eye on her. But, okay, whatever you say. Good night, Dad.” He cut the connection.
She’s got to be safe.
And Michael had been very worried that Eve wasn’t safe.
So was Joe supposed to rush out and take the next plane to Jokan because his son was getting some kind of psychic vibes that all was not well with Eve’s world?
Why not? It was what Joe wanted to do anyway, and Michael’s instincts had been almost a hundred percent correct in the past.
But that meant trusting Michael’s instincts over Eve’s explanation. Which would definitely not please her.
Okay, he didn’t like it, but he’d give Eve the twenty-four hours she’d