On the Hunt - Page 39

“And I owe him nothing.”

“But you might in the future. He’s a man whom a good many people turn to in a jam.”

“Did you?”

“No, I was too stubborn. But next time I might, as long as I can find a way to pay him back.” She hesitated. “And I might recommend him to you if you get in trouble. Because you’re my friend, and I can trust him to watch out for you.”

“That’s a fine recommendation. If I needed such a thing, which I do not.” Kalim shrugged. “I will listen.” He strode toward the palace bordered by the lake. “But I promise nothing.”

“You never do,” Kira said. “But I should tell you that I’ve been hosting his niece, Fiona, on Summer Island. I think you’d like her… she’s magnificent with horses. Absolutely magic. I was very impressed. I know she’d like you. In a way you’re like her uncle Harlan here…”

“I beg your pardon?” Kalim looked faintly enraged. “I thought I’d made it clear that I don’t regard that comparison as a compliment.”

“Ditto,” Harlan said. “Except that Kalim was clever enough to talk you into coming here, Kira, when my agent evidently failed to do his job for me. I always appreciate success in any form. I think you might—” Harlan stopped as a servant opened the front door of the palace for Kalim with a low bow and then quickly scurried away when he saw his frowning expression. Harlan smiled with amusement and then dropped down on an elaborately carved bench beside the ornate arched palace entrance. “And now I believe I’ll not intrude on you any longer. I’ll sit out here in your lovely garden while Kira goes in and has her discussion with you regarding our arrangement and whether you still want me to leave after she finishes. Since she appears to still be in your good graces, I take it you’ll want her to go up into the hills as you’ve done in the past and work with your horses?” He added, “However, you’ll have to put up with me accompanying her wherever she goes while she’s here on your property. I’m not fond of her situation at present. I’ve given my word to keep her safe.”

“She’s perfectly safe with any of my people on Hathor and absolutely secure with me,” Kalim said coldly. “She will tell you that.”

Harlan shook his head. “We made a deal. She won’t break it. Will you, Kira?”

She slowly shook her head. “Not as long as you keep your word.” She gazed at Kalim. “But some aspects of our deal depend on whether you will honor your promise to me regarding that treasure that I found for you, Kalim.”

He stiffened. “I never break my word.”

“I don’t believe you would, but I agreed to give half my share of the treasure to Harlan for services rendered. Will you still agree?”

He scowled. “It’s a foolish deal and not at all like you. I have no desire to give this Harlan anything.”

“Yet I was the one who discovered the location of the treasure, and that was the deal we made. Fifty–fifty, and we dispose of it however we want. I’ve already needed Harlan to help me with a portion of it while I was on Summer Island. I may need to use him again, later.” She stared him in the eye. “I repeat, is our deal still in place, Kalim?”

He hesitated. “I still don’t like it.” He made a face. “But of course it is. I’m an honorable man.”

“Good.” She gestured to Harlan. “Then I’ll see you shortly, Harlan. Enjoy the sunshine here in the garden while I take Kalim into the library to fill him in. Because it’s only fair I tell him all the details. It shouldn’t take me very long if I don’t have to keep the two of you from sparring with each other.”

“Or if he doesn’t change his mind.” Harlan gazed steadily at Kalim. “Until then, just keep her safe when I’m not available to do it myself, which will be very rare.” He added softly, “Do you hear me? I do hope so, or I’ll be coming after you. I want to trust you because Kira does, but I’m having a few problems.” He leaned back on the bench and took out his phone. “I have to make a few calls to get information from my employees in Morocco and tell them that I might require assistance if I find you less honorable than you claim. Run along, Kira. Do your duty by your old friend, but remember, I’ll always be here when you need me…”

“I could hardly forget,” Kira said. “And I don’t need your permission, Harlan. Though neither of you has made it easy for me, I’ll continue to do exactly what I please.” She gestured to Kalim to follow her. “He’s right, I’m going back to the hills after I tell you what you need to know, and I hope the next time we get together it will be a good deal more harmonious. I’m taking Harlan with me because he knows horses and he can help me with the herds. He might even know them better than you, Kalim. I’ve seen the stables at his home outside Paris, and I was very impressed. He also knows Joseph Taylor better—I’ll tell you about him as soon as we reach the library. Who knows? He might even manage to keep me alive as an added bonus. I’ll see you shortly, Harlan.” She slammed the front door behind her as she and Kalim headed for the library.

CHAPTER

10

“How’s it going?” Belson asked when Harlan’s call reached him at the Moroccan factory a few minutes later. “Kalim has a rough reputation with the executives here. It appears he’s a very important man in this area, and he doesn’t hesitate to make his wishes known. Is he giving you a hard time?”

“About what I expected from the reports I’ve had on him,” Harlan said. “But Kira is managing to keep us both under control.”

“Is she?” Belson laughed. “It doesn’t surprise me. She even handles Fiona fairly well, and you’re the only other person who can do that with any degree of efficiency.”

“I didn’t call you to give you a report on my dealings with Kalim. What have you heard about Joseph Taylor?”

“He’s not been apprehended by either the police or the governor’s special forces.” He hesitated. “But I asked the local gendarmes’ informants here in Morocco and they said there had been a number of questions being asked here in the past few days by some of Taylor’s local scumbags.”

“Specify.”

“Your name was prominent. Any news about treasure hunters. Activities of your nearby factories.” He paused. “Activities of Kira Drake.”

“Shit!”

“You knew it was coming.”