On the Hunt - Page 71

“Belson is on the phone,” Fiona said as she left the cockpit and moved back to where Harlan was monitoring the hatch through which they’d dropped the sled over an hour ago. “He said it was important. Do you want me to take a message, or can I keep an eye on that blasted tarp you’ve been watching like a hawk? When are we going to go after it?”

“Very soon. I’ve just had to be sure that neither Taylor nor any of his men is anywhere near where we dropped that sled. I’m certain we’re free and clear now. I’ve sent Aban over in a motorboat to pick up that tarp and bring it to the rendezvous point. It’s made to float, and there’s a GPS tracker in the lining. He should have no problem retrieving it.”

“I could have done it for you,” Fiona said. “You trusted me to help you drop the sled. Why couldn’t I do that, too?”

“Because boating isn’t your area of expertise and it’s definitely one of Aban’s,” Harlan said dryly.

“What can I do to help you? Do you want me to take Belson’s message for you while you wait to see if Aban gets that tarp?”

“That would be helpful,” Harlan said. “And incredibly not at all like you, considering your desires about the matter.” He moved toward the hatch as he saw the crew start Aban’s final lift with the tarp into the helicopter. “Yes, take Belson’s call,” he said absently, “while I deal with Aban…”

PORT SAID AIRSTRIP, EGYPT

Fiona came out of the cockpit a little over forty-five minutes later. Aban was already drinking a glass of wine and looking very self-satisfied as he lifted his glass in a salute to Fiona. “Mission accomplished,” he said with a grin. “Harlan was very pleased with me. Much more efficient than just tossing the sled into the water.”

“Rub it in,” Fiona said. “Did Kira send a message, Harlan?”

He nodded. “A very complete one. A map of the place where Taylor took the cruiser to hide it away.”

Fiona gave a low whistle. “That’s terrific. When do we leave?”

“You don’t. That’s not how we’re going to handle it. This time Taylor isn’t going to get away, and I’m not going to risk Kira’s life or yours, Fiona. Not to mention, if you had your way you’d want to take any and every task involved with saving Kira. You’re not the only one who feels that they need to help her.”

“But I’m the only one who realizes it’s her job,” Fiona said fiercely. “Because every minute Kira is down there with Taylor, it’s because I’m not and should have been.” She gestured dismissively. “Yes, I know you feel it’s your duty. You always feel like that.” She paused. “And maybe it’s more than that. I’ve been thinking that it could be.”

“Maybe?” Harlan asked bitterly. “It could be a hell of a lot more than maybe, Fiona.”

She nodded slowly. “But it still shouldn’t keep me from being there and helping Kira.”

“You’ve done what you could.” Harlan was shaking his head. “No more, Fiona. You won’t be involved in anything to do with freeing Kira. I have plenty of people we’ve brought into this area plus all of Kalim’s villagers. We don’t need you for this. Do you understand?”

“I understand what you’re saying,” she said slowly. “Though I believe you’re wrong, Harlan. But I won’t argue with you right now. I told you that.”

“You’re going after the treasure.” Aban’s face was filled with excitement. “The caves! You’re going down to search the caves. May I go?”

Harlan shook his head. “Kalim wouldn’t appreciate me taking you, and Taylor would almost certainly bring a boatload of his men after us. Perhaps we can find something else interesting for you to do.”

“Yes, he can take phone messages,” Fiona said caustically. “Just what we both wanted to do.” She handed Harlan her notebook. “Belson said that he thinks that Taylor’s hideout we’ve been trying to find is a coral reef once inhabited by a desert people who were originally of Persian descent. But they were invaded within the last few years by a group of criminals who tried to take over their reef and finally succeeded recently. The head of their village was Babur Mateen, who was revered by all the other members of the group—kind of a grandfather to the younger members of the tribe.”

“Grandfather,” Harlan murmured. “Belson evidently struck gold.”

“Not for very long. Babur Mateen was murdered by Taylor to set an example for his followers; so were two of his councilmen. Belson said he didn’t know how many others were killed during that period, but it must have been enough that the other members of the village packed up their belongings and left for other islands and reefs in the chain. But word evidently did get around or Belson wouldn’t have been able to track those villagers down this quickly.”

“He did track them down?” Harlan asked.

She handed him her notebook. “Belson said those villagers wanted nothing to do with Taylor or his men. They were terrified that Taylor would hunt them down and kill them the way he’d already murdered so many of their friends and families. But they had no objection to someone else going after them. Like I said, they all liked Babur Mateen. They wanted revenge.” Fiona nodded at the notebook. “And the location of their home reef appears to be fairly close to here.”

“Yes, it does.” Harlan was scanning the location and then checking it on the aerial map. “And with the information we’ve gotten from the interior map Kira sent us, we might be in a good position to move on them.”

Fiona tensed. “When?”

“You haven’t been listening,” Harlan said.

“I’ve been listening,” Fiona said. “I’ve just been hoping to talk you out of it.”

“That’s not going to happen,” he said quietly. “I almost lost you, and Kira is still running a mega risk to keep you safe. Do you believe I’d let you put yourself in any other situation like that?”

Fiona’s gaze searched his expression for even one sign of yielding. Finally, she shook her head. “No. But you’re wrong. Kira would understand why I have to do it.”