A GLEAM of metal.
Jane inhaled sharply, her gaze fixed on the small, corroded bronze object she’d uncovered.
A stopper?
She carefully cleared more earth away from the object.
Yes, a stopper.
She cleared away more earth.
A bronze stopper sealing a bottle.
She sat back on her heels and drew a deep breath.
“Hadar, you bastard. I think I’ve found it,” she whispered. “Now to get it out of the ground and we’ll see what we-”
“Jane, get out of there,” Jock’s voice was sharp. “Lights in that farmhouse.”
Shit.
“I can’t go yet.” She was digging frantically around the bottle. “A few more minutes.”
“You don’t have a few minutes.” Jock was cursing. “Caleb must have blown it.”
“What the hell are you talking about?” She was digging the earth away from around the bottom of the bottle. “Never mind. I don’t give a damn. Just keep them off me for one more minute. I’m almost there.”
“Two men are running out of the farmhouse. Get out of that gopher hole, and let’s get away from here.”
Careful…
She cautiously, slowly pulled the smooth, opaque bottle from the earth. It was over eighteen inches high; the width varied from seven inches at the bottom to about four inches at the top, and it was sealed by a bronze stopper. And it’s heavier than I expected, she thought as she lifted it.
“Jane.”
“I’m coming.” She carefully wrapped the bottle in several rolls of protective plastic and put it in her backpack. She started wriggling through the cave toward the entrance. “I found it, Jock.”
“Great.” He reached down as her upper body emerged from the cave, grabbed her hand, and pulled her to her feet. He took her flashlight and dropped it fully lit to the ground in front of the cave. “We’ll leave it here to light their way. Now let’s move, Jane.”
She could see the lights of several flashlights bobbing across farmyard toward the Field of Blood as Jock half pulled, half dragged her down the hill.
“Where’s Caleb?”
“I don’t know. I don’t care.” He dragged her behind a hillock and pushed her to the ground. “We’ll wait until they get to the cave, then start across the field.”
Four running men were only yards from the hills now.
Dammit, where’s Caleb? What happened to him?
Guns. The men were carrying guns.
They were almost upon them.
Then they were climbing past them up the hill toward the cave, where Jock had dropped her flashlight.
“Just a little longer,” Jock whispered. “Get ready.”
Her muscles tensed.
“Now!”
She leaped to her feet and streaked after him down the few yards to the field.
She heard a shout from up the hill.
The clay sank deep beneath her feet as she ran.
Another shout.
She glanced over her shoulder. The four men were bolting full speed down the hill.
She stumbled, caught her balance, and kept running.
“Okay?” Jock asked.
“Yes, but where’s Caleb? We shouldn’t leave him.”
“He may have left us. Keep running.”
She wasn’t about to slow down. Their pursuers had reached the field and were gaining on them.
A bullet whistled by her ear.
Shit. They’re firing on us, she thought.
“Zag to the left!”
Caleb’s voice. Caleb himself in the stable yard, kneeling on one knee, leveling a rifle.
“Left!” Jock said. “He needs a clear shot.”
She zagged left.
Another shot. But this one was from Caleb’s rifle.
A scream from behind her, and she looked back. The leader of the pack had fallen to the ground, and the other three men were splitting to either side. They were hesitating, their attention fixed on Caleb.
The next moment, Jane and Jock reached the farmyard.
“Get to the car.” Caleb was sighting again. “One more down should distract them enough to hold them.”
She slowed, hesitating.
“Come on,” Jock grabbed her arm. “He’ll take care of it. He doesn’t need us. You’ll get in his way.”
Caleb pressed the trigger, and another man fell to the red clay.
Field of Blood.
And no one knew more about blood than Caleb.
No, he didn’t need her.
She ran with Jock toward the car.
Gillem was standing beside the car. “Get in. What were those shots? I was supposed to get you in and out with no trouble. I don’t like this.”
“Neither do we,” Jock said. “So get in that driver’s seat and get us out of here.”
“Wait.” Jane said. “Caleb.”
“I wasn’t going to leave him.” He was watching out the window. “Here he comes.”
“Go!” Caleb dove into the passenger seat. “We have maybe two minutes before they reach the cars parked in the driveway.”
Gillem pressed the accelerator, and the car jumped forward. “I don’t like this,” he repeated.
“But you’ll do what you’re supposed to do, what we want you to do,” Caleb said. “Won’t you, Gillem? Whatever it takes.”
Gillem muttered a curse as he raced away from the farmhouse. “I’ll do whatever it takes.”
“Attitude adjustment,” Jane murmured.
Caleb met her eyes in the rearview mirror. “I had to keep busy. You had both Jock and me twiddling our thumbs. Did you find it?”
“I found a bottle. I think it may be alabaster. I’ll have to see if there’s anything in it. I didn’t want to risk opening it.”
“You blew it, Caleb,” Jock said. “You were supposed to keep those two guards from giving an alarm.”
“I took care of the guards. Someone from the house must have spotted the light.” He glanced back over his shoulder and stiffened. “I see headlights. Lose them, Gillem.”
Gillem stomped on the accelerator, and the tires screeched as he tore down the road.
MacDuff’s Run
LORD, SHE was sick.
Eve barely made it to the bathroom before she threw up.
And again. And again.
She sank to her knees on the floor beside the toilet.
Nausea and pain.
Flu?
Food poisoning?
But she had felt fine earlier in the evening.
She threw up again.
But she didn’t feel fine now.
Her cell phone was ringing. She didn’t want to move.
She had to move. She had to get help. She crawled to the bedside table. “Hello.”
“I’m sick,” Lina said. “I keep throwing up.”
“Me, too,” Eve said. Lord, she was dizzy. “Food poisoning?”
“I don’t know. I feel like the time the midwives gave me some powerful herbs to make me fertile, and they only made me sick.”
“I’m calling MacDuff to get a doctor.”
“I’m coming to your room. I don’t want to be alone.” She was retching. “Dammit. If I can stop throwing up.”
Eve had to wait a moment before she was able to dial MacDuff’s number.
“Sick. Both Lina and me. Throwing up. Maybe food poisoning… I don’t know,” she said when he picked up. “We need a doctor.”
MacDuff muttered a curse. “I’ll call Dr. Kelsey in the village and tell him to get up there. I’m phoning Mrs. Dalbrey to go to your room and see if she can help. I’m on my way back from the hills. I should be there in twenty minutes.” He hung up.
If I didn’t feel so rotten, I’d be relieved, Eve thought hazily. MacDuff was on the job doing what he did best. Taking care and bossing everyone around.
Her door opened and Lina came into the room. She was white as a sheet, her eyes rimmed and dark.
“Do I look as bad as you?” Eve asked. “Don’t answer. I don’t give a damn.” She curled up on the floor. “I called MacDuff. He’s getting help.”
“So sick.” Lina sank to the floor beside her and leaned against the nightstand. “Like those herbs…”
Herbs.
I hope all goes well with you.
There’s sighting in the hills. I have to check on it.
The MacDuffs wouldn’t have built their castle here if they hadn’t worked out an escape route.
BUT AN ESCAPE ROUTE could also be an entry.
Wrong. Something was very wrong.
Eve’s lids flicked open. “We have to get to the guards at the gates. It’s not… safe here.”
“What?”
Eve was struggling to her feet. “It’s all wrong. Mrs. Dalbrey… acting… strange.” Eve tried to help Lina up, but she was weak as a kitten. “They drew MacDuff… away from the castle. And if there’s a way to escape, there’s a way to… get in.”
Lina staggered to her feet. “But you said… they can’t get to us here.”
“Not from outside. But there’s a way. Jane told me that there’s a way.” She slipped her arm around Lina’s waist. “Come on. We’ll help each other.” She was staggering toward the door. “We have to-get to the gates.”
The staircase seemed a hundred yards from her bedroom door. They paused at the top of the stairs. How were they going to get down without falling in a heap at the bottom?
“Let me go. We’ll go tumbling. I’ll hold on to the banister.” Lina broke away from her and grabbed the banister.
Eve slowly followed Lina down the steps.
Lina was panting by the time she reached the landing. “It’s too far. Maybe if we shouted for the housekeeper.”
“No. Keep going.”
Lina started down the last flight. “Why?”
Eve didn’t have the strength for explanations. “Herbs.”
It was enough. Lina’s lips tightened. “We’ll make it to the gates.”
But it took another five minutes for them to reach the bottom of the stairs.
They started for the front door.
It was thrown open before they reached it.
Mrs. Dalbrey stood in the doorway. Her hair was pulled from its smooth knot and her face was haggard. Tears were running down her cheeks. “You’ve got to get out of here. Come with me.”
Eve shook her head.
“Don’t argue. They’ll kill you.” She was sobbing. “They kill everybody. They killed my boy.” Her hand grasped Eve’s arm, and she pulled her out into the courtyard. “Get out the gates and run.”
“Can’t run-sick.”
She flinched. “I know. I had to do it. They had my son. They said the only way I could save him was to do what they said. They lied.” She put her arm beneath Eve’s shoulders. “I’ll help you.” She glanced at Lina. “Can you walk?”
Lina nodded.
“Come. Hurry. They’re going to-” The housekeeper arched, her eyes widening with shock. Blood was staining her white blouse. She fell to the stones of the courtyard.
Dead. She’d been shot, Eve realized.
But she hadn’t heard the sound of the bullet.
A silencer.
Men were pouring out of the stable. Some were heading for the gates carrying automatic weapons.
Rotors. A helicopter was overhead…
Two men were coming toward them. One was tall, burley, dark. Thick lips, hook nose. She recognized that face from the photo. Millet.
A low ping of sound.
Lina gave a low cry.
Eve turned and saw Lina staggering backward, clutching her upper arm.
She was shot, Eve realized. Lina was falling to her knees.
“Finish her, Medford,” Millet said as he came toward them. “She’s no use to us.”
The other man lifted his gun.
“Stop!” Eve turned, dove in front of Lina, and took her down.
Pain exploded in her upper body.
“You fool,” Millet shouted. “Not her. You killed Eve Duncan.”
Death?
Darkness.
Tel Aviv, Israel
“WHAT NEXT?” GILLEM ASKED as he pulled up in front of the hangar. “Do you need me for anything else?”
“No,” Jane said as she got out of the car. “We’ll handle it from here.” She turned to Jock. “I want you to call Venable and tell him to get an expert out here to find a way to X-ray this bottle so that it won’t damage anything inside.”
“Providing there is anything inside,” Caleb said. “Why don’t we take it back to MacDuff’s Run and have it done there?”
“Because if we don’t come up with the jackpot, I’m going to go back to that field and try again.”
“I was afraid you’d say that.” He turned to Gillem. “It seems there is something you can do. Arrange someplace safe for us to stay until we get some answers.”
“That won’t be easy on short notice. Venable didn’t tell me I was supposed to do anything but get you in and get you out.”
“But a good agent always reacts to the situation,” Caleb said. “Isn’t that right?”
Gillem reached for his phone. “I’ll find a place.”
Jane was unfastening her backpack and gently taking out the bottle she’d swathed in heavy plastic. It appeared to be intact, she realized with relief. Amazing after that headlong race across the field.
“Curious? Not even a peek inside?” Caleb asked.
Curious? She was practically biting her nails. “I can’t risk it. It has to be incredibly fragile. We’ve just got to hope that Venable can get that expert here in a hurry.” She glanced at Jock, who was still on the phone. “And that the expert won’t be tempted to call the local authorities when we try to take a priceless artifact out of the country.”
“That depends on whether there’s a document in the bottle that would authenticate. Otherwise, he would have no idea that he was looking at anything other than a couple of ancient Aramaic items.”
“In that case I might be tempted to invent a document of my own if it will lure Roland to take the bait.” She grimaced. “You seem to know a lot of people who aren’t exactly lilywhite. You could probably point-” Her cell phone rang, and she glanced at the ID. “MacDuff?” Her heart stopped, then went into high gear. She punched the answer button. “What’s wrong, MacDuff?”
“God, I wish I could tell you that there was nothing wrong.”
Her hand clenched on the phone. “Answer me. What’s wrong? Is Eve okay?”
“I’m not sure. I’ll tell you what I know.”
“Is Eve-” She closed her eyes. Let him talk. Don’t jump to conclusions. Never that conclusion. She opened her eyes. “Tell me.”
“I know she was shot. I don’t know how bad or if she was killed. They took her with them.” He paused. “I promised she’d be safe. I lied. I failed. There was activity in the hills, and I went up to check it out. Dammit, it was a red herring. I thought the castle was secure. I left good people in charge. Millet was more clever than I thought.”
“What do you mean?”
“Do you remember the inner staircase from the stable that leads down to sea?”
She had used that passage herself years ago. She had just spoken of that escape route to Eve yesterday. “Of course, I do. But no one knew about that entrance but your most trusted people.”
“My housekeeper knew about it.”
“Mrs. Dalbrey? She betrayed you? Millet bribed her?”
“No, she would never have done it for money. I’m guessing Millet kidnapped her son and told her that he would kill him unless she let him through that stable door that led to the sea entrance and did whatever else he told her to do. She gave Eve and Lina the sedative he provided her, but evidently not enough. It made them sick but didn’t knock them out. They tried to get to the gates but only managed to get down to the courtyard before Millet showed up.”
The thought of Eve sick and helpless, struggling to get away, made Jane go cold. “And Millet shot her?”
“Not intentionally. Lina said they were trying to kill her, and Eve stepped in front of the bullet.”
“And Lina doesn’t know how badly Eve was hurt? Why the hell not?”
“Lina was shot too. Upper arm. We believe she’s going to be okay but she was barely conscious when they took Eve away in the helicopter. She thinks that she saw Eve move, but she can’t be sure.”
Celine pinned to the oak door.
Blood flowing in a stream from a white flower box.
“If Eve’s not dead now, he’ll kill her.”
“No, if she’s not dead, we’ll get her back,” MacDuff said. “I promise you.”
“You promised to keep her safe.”
He was silent a moment. “You have a right not to believe in me, but I’ll move heaven and earth and I will get her back. I won’t let Millet beat me. He killed two of my men at the gates and one guarding the stable exit down to the sea. We found my housekeeper’s son in the stable with his throat cut. They only waited until they managed to get through that stable door before they killed the hostage. Mrs. Dalbrey was shot trying to help Eve and Lina get to the gates. Those were my people. That’s a big score for me to settle even without Eve.”
“I don’t care about your big score.” Her voice was shaking. “All I care about right now is Eve. If she’s alive, I have to keep her that way.”
Brilliant butterfly pinned to the door.
But now she kept seeing Eve instead of Celine on that door.
“I can’t talk right now. I’m going to give the phone to Jock. You tell him how you’re going to bring Eve back to me.” She had another thought. “Have you called Joe?”
“No, I’ll do that next.”
“Yes, right away.” No one was smarter than Joe or loved Eve more. “I’ll talk to him later.” She handed the phone to Jock. “You heard me. Millet’s got Eve.”
“Lord, I’m sorry, Jane.”
“Don’t be sorry. Just find a way to get her back.”
Jock nodded and turned away as he spoke into the phone. “What the hell happened, MacDuff?”
Jane walked away from him. She was shaking, and the muscles of her stomach were clenching with fear. She took a deep breath, then another.
“Jane.” Caleb’s hand was on her shoulder.
She stepped away from him. “Don’t touch me. I’m trying to keep from breaking apart.”
“I know.” His hand dropped away from her. “And I know you’ll be okay once you get over the shock. Just take a few minutes, then we’ll start planning what we’re going to do.”
How had he known that those were the words she needed? Not sympathy, just acceptance and understanding, and a plan to make things right. “She stepped in front of Lina to keep them from killing her. I won’t believe Eve’s dead. I’d know.”
“I don’t believe it either. They might have wanted to do a revenge killing earlier in the game, but now she’d be more valuable to them alive. If she was wounded, it was accidental and they took her with them because they’re hoping to use her.”
“Or convince me she’s still alive.”
“You said you’d know,” Caleb said quietly. “I have faith in your instincts. You have to have faith in them, too.”
Her faith was ebbing and flowing from minute to minute through this crippling terror. But she had to get a grip on herself. She tried to smile. “Maybe I need an attitude adjustment.”
“Anytime. Anything you want.” He said quietly. “Now?”
Her eyes widened in shock. “No! I wasn’t serious. I don’t want anesthesia. I want a solution.” And he had known that and had given her that emotional jolt to counteract the one she was experiencing. “Everything I’ve ever felt for Eve has been honest. I wouldn’t exchange even the pain for anything counterfeit.”
He nodded. “Then let’s start preparing.” He turned to Gillem. “Have you found us a place to stay?”
Gillem nodded. “A house on the outskirts of town that we use to hold political prisoners for the Israelis is available. The prisoners whose existence the government denies any knowledge of.”
“Then let’s go and set up shop.” He turned to Jane. “Unless you’d rather go back to Scotland?”
She shook her head. “Why? Millet wouldn’t keep Eve anywhere near MacDuff’s Run. She’s probably out of the country by now. We’ll stay here until we have an idea where Millet has her hidden.” She was able to think again, thank God. Maybe that cold numbness was wearing away. She climbed into the rear seat of Gillem’s car.
Jock had finished his call and was coming toward them. “I’ve never seen MacDuff this angry,” he said as he got into the passenger seat. “He’s feeling guilty and outraged and maybe even a little helpless. He doesn’t like any of those feelings. I wouldn’t want to be Millet when he catches up with him.”
“He’ll have to stand in line,” Jane said. “When you got through to Venable, did he promise to send someone to examine that bottle?”
“Right away. He didn’t think there would be any problem. There are a good many historical artifact experts in the area. It’s the Mideast, after all.” He paused. “You’re not thinking of putting it on the back burner?”
“No, I want to speed it up. I may need a negotiating tool.” She leaned back in the seat as Gillem started the car. “One that won’t involve me being tied to a slab with that mosaic of Judas staring down at me.”
“You think that’s what Millet and Roland will demand?” Caleb asked.
“Don’t you? That’s what this has always been about. Millet wants a sacrifice, and I’m the Offering of choice.” Her lips twisted. “My time is almost up. April 1 is right around the corner.”
“That’s what Millet wants, but Roland may be tempted by the Judas coins.”
She nodded. “That’s what I’m hoping. But I’ve got to have proof I have something to trade.” She paused. “And it’s Millet who has Eve, and I don’t have much faith that he’ll be willing to give up Eve for the coins. He wants his blood Offering.”
Caleb smiled. “Then we’ll have to find a way to make sure he has all the blood he’s craving.”
That smile was cold and deadly, but it didn’t bring the usual chill. Not when it concerned Millet. Not when Millet had Eve. “Not until I have Eve safe. Then you can do anything you want to the bastard.”
“Ah, isn’t it strange that my savagery doesn’t seem nearly as wicked when it concerns the people you care about?” He didn’t wait for her to answer but turned to Jock. “Did you call Venable back after you talked to MacDuff?”
“Yes, he said that he’d tap every source he knew to see if he could get a lead on where Millet took her.” He added, “He has motivation. Joe Quinn is working with him, and he knows Joe will murder him if he doesn’t come up with something.”
She had to call Joe, Jane thought. But not right now. He wouldn’t want talk to her until he got over the shock and started moving on trying to find Eve. Maybe not even then. Eve was everything to Joe, and in situations like this, he would be blind to anything but her. “When did it happen, Jock?”
“Over an hour ago.”
Over an hour ago. While she had been running across that Field of Blood, they had shot Eve, taken Eve. “That’s not long. We probably won’t hear from Millet for a little while.”
“No, he’ll want to have her safely stashed in a secure place before he calls you,” Jock said. “The Sang Noir has their main headquarters in Rome.”
“I wish I could believe it would be Rome. Venable and Joe are right there.”
“But you don’t think he’s heading for Rome,” Caleb said. “Do you?”
Guilt.
A mosaic face staring down in torment.
Jane slowly shook her head. “No, he won’t take her to Rome.”
THE SMALL STUCCO HOUSE where Gillem took them was on the outskirts of Tel Aviv and was set back among the cedar trees away from the main road.
“It has two bedrooms, a bath, a kitchenette, and a living room,” Gillem said as he pulled up in front of the house. “The freezer is always stocked. So you should have food. Is there anything else I should do?”
“No, I’ll call you if we need you. Just bring that expert here as quick as you can,” Caleb said, as they got out of the car. “Thanks. You did your job, Gillem.”
Gillem gave him a sour smile. “Of course, I did my job. I always do my job.” He waited until they had unlocked the door before he drove off.
“His change of attitude may be effective, but not particularly pleasant,” Jane said.
“Some people can’t accept pleasant. I have to work with what I have,” Caleb said as he turned on the lights. “He’s become very cynical over the years. I had to settle for reviving an almost extinct sense of duty.”
The room they had entered was basic in every detail. Navy blue couch and matching easy chair, a metal stand and small TV, an oak table, a kitchenette on one side of the room.
“I’ll take your bags into the bedroom,” Jock said as he took her backpack and duffel. “And then I think I’ll call and see if I can talk to Lina. She may need someone. She’s probably blaming herself for Eve’s being shot.”
“That’s nonsense,” Jane said curtly. “It was all Millet. Being Eve, she had no choice but to try to save Lina from the bastard. It would be as natural as breathing to her. Lina just had the bad luck to be in Millet’s way.”
Jock smiled faintly. “I know that. But if you don’t mind, I’ll let Lina know that’s how you feel.”
Jane nodded. “I’ll tell her myself later. I just have to deal with one thing at a time right now.”
“I can see that.” He disappeared into the bedroom.
“I should have thought of Lina,” Jane said wearily. “She’s another victim in this nightmare. We’ve taken away her home and almost her life. I’ll have to try to make it up to her.”
“Stop blaming yourself,” Caleb said. “To repeat your words. It’s all Millet.” He added, “And Roland.”
“Yes, and Roland,” she said. “And we have to hope that Roland will want those coins enough to help me break Eve away from Millet.”
“Help us,” Caleb said. “You’re not alone in this, Jane.”
She felt alone. Alone and frightened and sick with apprehension. “In the end, I’m always alone. Except for Eve. It’s always been that way since I was a kid. I was ten years old when she came into my life. I’d battled my way through a dozen foster-care homes, then she was there.” Her voice was uneven. “And everything changed. I knew I’d never have to be really alone again as long as we were together. We could take care of each other. Always.”
He nodded. “And you don’t really trust anyone but Eve. That’s why you have problems committing.”
She had to pull herself together. “I’m not in the mood to listen to your analyzing me. I have a few other things to think about.”
“Just a comment. Not a criticism. I have no right since I suffer from the same difficulty.” He moved toward the tiny kitchenette. “Suppose I go through those cabinets and see if I can find some coffee or tea to make. I don’t think the caffeine will bother any of us since there won’t be any way any of us can sleep.”
“That would be good.” She moved toward the bathroom. “I’ll go and wash some of this dirt and clay off me. Then I think I’ll call Venable myself and nag him about getting that expert out here.”
“If it would make you feel better,” Caleb said. “But I imagine that between Jock and Joe Quinn, he has plenty of pressure on him.”
“It will make me feel better.” She closed the bathroom door and leaned back against it in the darkness. Alone. No one to pity her. No need to be brave and capable. Not for this moment. Let the pain come.
She drew a deep, shaky breath, feeling the tears sting her eyes.
Eve.
It will be all right, Eve. I promise you that it will be all right. I’ll use everything I know and feel, and maybe some things that I don’t know at all about. I’ll reach out and grab anything I can to find you. I know you’re not afraid of dying. But we’re afraid of losing you. We can’t lose you.
One more minute. It was dangerous to indulge this wrenching sorrow. It could weaken her, and she had to be strong.
Eve…
She braced herself and reached out and turned on the light.
She was only a few feet from a basin and mirrored medicine cabinet.
Her face was pasty white, and she looked as if she had been through a war.
She straightened and crossed to the basin and started to run the water.
She hadn’t been through a war.
The war was yet to come.