“Get back to work on Mila. With any luck, we’ll have a replacement for her within a few hours.”
If they weren’t caught and killed by those guards at the U.N., Eve thought. The soldiers guarding that vault might shoot first and ask questions later. This would be considered robbery on an international scale. She was sure Varak’s skull must be the principal prize being held there. Villains on the mega scale of Varak were rare, and proof of his demise was even more rare. Trying to steal Varak’s skull would have been like trying to steal Bin Laden’s corpse. Eve had not been worried about Novak. He was a professional, and Joe said a good one. But Jill was different. Novak had said she was vulnerable, and she’d already been terribly hurt. She said impulsively, “Jill.”
Jill looked back over her shoulder and grinned. “What’s the matter? Going soft on me? I’m the bad guy, remember? I’m the one who got you into this mess.”
“I remember.” But she still had to say it. “But it won’t hurt you to be careful, Jill. You’re…valuable.” She turned back to Mila’s reconstruction, and said lightly, “Who else knows where to get Chinese food with no serpents or monkeys?”
* * *
U.N. Headquarters
Jokan
No Novak.
And it was only fifteen minutes until he had to meet with Swanson, Jill thought tensely. She’d gotten here twenty minutes ago and expected to see some sign of him before this.
Her gaze narrowed on the huge mansion on Wabona Street that had formerly belonged to the owner of a diamond mine before it was taken over by the U.N. The house and grounds were enclosed by a twelve-foot stone fence that the U.N. said was necessary for their employees’ security. Though she knew most of the employees had been given quarters in the city after Edward Wyatt had taken residence in the mansion. The house itself was dark now, and there was only one uniformed guard at the gate.
And there was a camera mounted on that gate.
Jill’s hands tensed on the steering wheel of her Volvo. She was parked some distance down the street from that front gate, but she’d be in view of that camera the minute she walked within several yards of it.
But Novak would have taken care of that camera, wouldn’t he?
And how had he been planning to get rid of the guard?
No way to be sure without checking. She would have had to call him anyway, but now the need was imperative. It was getting very close to that eleven o’clock deadline.
She dialed his number. “Where are you, Novak?” she asked when he picked up. “I need to know if you’ve taken out this damned camera.”
He muttered a curse. “I knew it. I was hoping that you wouldn’t do this. Why couldn’t you leave it up to me?”
“Where are you?” she repeated.
“In the garden behind the building. Swanson is going to meet me here with the skull.”
“How do I get back there?”
“You don’t. Stay where you are, and I’ll call you after I’ve left the garden.”
“That won’t work for me. I started this, I need to take my share of the risk. Tell me a safe way I can get to you.”
Silence. “There’s an unlocked gate on the north side of the block. No guard. Camera is disabled. Get here quick. I only have five minutes to make the switch and get out after Swanson shows.” He cut the connection.
Yes!
Jill was out of the Volvo and running down the street.
North side of the block…
Where was the gate?
There!
She was inside.
She paused for a minute, breathing hard, leaning against the gate, her gaze searching the darkness.
A large fountain. A courtyard…Paths leading toward the main house. The windows were dark here, too.
Where the hell was Novak?
“Keep quiet and follow me.” She hadn’t heard him approach and could barely make him out in his dark garb. He was carrying one of the gaudy paper totes sold in the marketplace. He added curtly, “The courtyard.”
She had to almost run to keep up with him as he moved toward the courtyard. She skidded to a stop as he put out his arm when they reached it. No one was there. “Shouldn’t he be here by now?” she whispered.
“If he hasn’t gotten nervous.” He glanced at his watch. “And turned me over to his captain. Be quiet, Jill. I need to—” He stopped, his gaze on the doors at the far end of the courtyard. “Okay…”
A young soldier in a British private’s uniform was hurrying