THE PASSAGEWAY WAS LONG, dark, and winding, the ceiling barely seven feet high. It’s like the tunnels in tombs I visited in Egypt, Jane thought.
“Keep up,” Roland said, beaming his light on her face. “Mustn’t hang back. I’m judging that we may have another forty minutes at most before Millet comes roaring back. We have to be on our way before he gets here. Only a little farther to go. We should be under the Offering Room now.”
Under the Offering Room.
She deliberately slowed.
“Frightened?” Roland asked softly. “It’s easy to be brave and self-sacrificing when you’re not this close to the end.”
She stopped. “But you said that it wasn’t the end. We made a deal.”
“And of course, I’ll keep it.”
She didn’t move.
He pushed her forward. “Go!”
She staggered, lost her balance, and stretched out her hand to the wall of the passage to catch herself. “Don’t touch me. I can’t see anything. Shine that beam ahead of us.”
The beam focused on the dark corridor, and Jane strode forward. “Let’s get out of here. I hate close places.”
TROBELL WAS GOING TO MAKE a move, Caleb thought. But he couldn’t tell when or how.
The bastard was hard to read and when Caleb went in and tried to manipulate him it was like wading through tar. He was blank yet focused. Caleb had run across an occasional schizophrenic who had that same mental profile. Trobell was very likely genuinely insane.
He glanced at his watch-5:50. He’d been waiting until six to move, as he’d promised Jane, but Trobell seemed to be on his own schedule.
“You’re watching me,” Trobell said. “You want to kill me.”
“Do I?”
“Roland said whoever she brought would want to kill me.”
“And what are you going to do about it?”
“I’m not going to kill you.” He turned away and pulled out his gun. “Yet.”
The next moment he was gone, running for the trees. No, running toward one particular tree where Kandor, Roland’s coin expert, sat.
Kandor’s eyes widened as he saw the gun. “What are-”
Trobell shot the man in the chest.
Then he was whirling on Caleb.
But Caleb was gone, drawing his own gun as he streaked toward the trees, zigzagging in and out as Trobell got off two more shots.
Get to cover, then go on the offensive, he told himself. Too early, but he’d done his best to delay.
Sorry, Jane.
No, that was a lie. He wasn’t sorry that he had an excuse to break free and go on the hunt. He was never sorry about that. He was just sorry that he’d have to struggle to strike a balance that would please both him and Jane.
He’d reached the trees and glanced over his shoulder.
Trobell was starting after him.
“Come on,” Caleb murmured. “I have time. I’ll wait for you. Let’s see how good you are…”
“THE DOOR THAT LEADS TO the corridor by the Offering Room is just ahead,” Roland said. “It took longer than I thought to get through the tunnel. We’ll have to hurry.”
Jane’s pace quickened. “Then stop talking and let’s go.”
“One more thing.” He pushed her against the door. “I’m sure you have a weapon, and gestures of good faith can only go so far. If one of those guards searched you, it would be all over.” He reached into her windbreaker pocket and pulled out the 38 Special. “Nice efficient weapon. I’m sure you’re very competent with it.” He slipped the gun in the pocket of his own jacket. “You’re very competent at most things, aren’t you?”
“Let’s go,” she said through her teeth.
“But I have to add one more touch of authenticity.” He slapped her with such force her head snapped to one side. “That does it. Your lip is even bleeding a little.” He tore the front of her shirt open. “Now you look like a suitably abused prisoner.”
Her lip was stinging, and she wanted to punch him in the gut. Don’t fight back. Not until I get to Eve. “And you enjoyed it.”
“I believe I did.” He reached behind her to open the door. “I’m not generally a brutal man, but you’ve caused me a great deal of trouble.” He pushed her forward. “You’ll forgive the roughness, but the first guard is right down the corridor. We have to impress him.”
“NO!” EVE SAT BOLT UPRIGHT on the cot as Roland pushed Jane into the room. “Dammit, Jane, why? It’s not going to do any good. He won’t let me go.”
“I know.” Jane moved across the room. “You look terrible.” Eve’s eyes were sunk and dark-rimmed. She touched her forehead. “And you’re burning up.”
“You shouldn’t have listened to them.”
“Can you walk?”
“Of course I can walk.” She looked at Roland. “Who are you?”
“Roland,” Jane said. “He tells me that he’s going to get us out of here. Isn’t that right, Roland?”
“You sound skeptical. And after all I’ve done.” His phone rang, and he glanced at the ID. “My friend, Trobell.” He answered. “Roland.”
He listened, then said, “Yes, you’ve done everything right. I’ll be there to pick you up shortly.” He hung up. “It seems that your friend, Caleb, had a fatal accident. His neck is broken.”
She stiffened with shock. He was lying. He had to be lying.
Dead eyes. She could see Trobell’s face before her.
No, there had to be a mistake.
But Trobell had been on the phone with Roland.
“I’m sorry.” Roland’s mocking gaze was on her face. “You appear to be upset. Was Caleb more than a business acquaintance?”
She wouldn’t believe it. Caleb might have left Trobell alive, but that didn’t mean he couldn’t control him. But what if that hadn’t happened?
Dear God.
“Jane.” Eve reached out and touched her arm.
“Yes, definitely upset.” Roland pulled out the gun from his jacket pocket. “But you’ll be happy to know that you’ll be able to join him soon.”
She shouldn’t have let him know that his words had cut deep. She had to get a grip. She looked him in the eye. “You told Trobell to kill Caleb.”
“Oh yes, that’s why I got the very best.”
“And now you have the coins, and you have no need to keep us alive. What about Kandor?”
“He was a witness. Trobell was to take him out first.” He glanced at his watch. “It’s fifteen to seven. Now we can all settle down for an evening of fun entertainment. Millet should be back any minute.”
“It was a setup.”
“You’re a clever woman. You suspected that could be the case. But you were desperate enough to take the chance.” He nodded at Eve. “I always thought you might be the way we could trap her. You’ve been a valuable asset. I think I’m going to truly regret having to let Millet have his way with you.”
“Let her go,” Jane said. “Take her out of here after this damn ceremony starts. I’ll do anything. What do you want?”
“I’m afraid you no longer have any bargaining power. I have the coins.” He added, “And I have to stay with Millet for a little while longer. He has something I need.”
“If you have those coins, you’ll have all the power you’ll ever want. And you told me you didn’t care about this damn cult.”
“Did I fail to mention that Millet has photos of me as well as the other members at the Offerings? It would be so much easier to deny any connection without that bit of proof. No, I have to have those photos.” He turned to the door. “Now I have to leave you and go meet Millet in the Offering Room. For once, he’ll be very pleased with me.” He glanced back at Jane. “I wish you hadn’t gotten in my way. I’m really not going to enjoy the Offering tonight.”
“You’re lying,” she said. “You’ll love every minute of it. You like to pretend that you’re different from Millet, but you’re both savages, just like Hadar, who built this temple.”
His smile faded. “Perhaps you’re right. I’ll see when I watch Millet tear into you with his dagger.” He opened the door, and they were suddenly bombarded by a roar of sound; laughter, excited chatter.
“They’ve just let the members into the Offering Room,” Roland paused, listening. “All that excitement is for you, Jane.”
“Blasphemer. Blasphemer. Blasphemer.”
Jane’s hands clenched into fists. That horrible, archaic word again.
“Yes, all for you,” Roland said. “I believe I’ll join them for the next chorus. I’ll see you when the guards bring you to-” He was suddenly thrown back into the room. “What the-”
“Out!” Caleb was in the room. “Jane, Eve. Get out in the corridor. It’s almost time.”
Alive. He was alive. Relief soared through Jane as she helped Eve get to her feet. “The guards?”
“One down, I couldn’t take time to break him. The other three are sure they’re doing what Millet would want them to do.” He whirled toward Roland. “Trobell wants to see you.”
Roland’s eyes were wide with shock. “Trobell killed-He called me.”
“He lied. But then he has no conscience. That’s why you chose him.”
“My coins. Where are-”
“With Trobell.” He started toward him. “He’s protecting them with his body. Of course, it’s his dead body. I think it-”
Roland raised his gun.
“No!” Eve grabbed his arm.
Roland backhanded her and she fell to the floor. He pointed the gun at her.
But Caleb had reached Roland, and his hand closed like a vise on the man’s wrist.
Roland screamed as the gun fell from his hand.
Jane could see the dark blood spread under the skin of his wrist and lower arm as the blood vessels ruptured.
“Get in the corridor,” Caleb said between his teeth. “Don’t wait. He’s… strong.”
“You get out.” Jane snatched up the gun that had fallen from Roland’s hand. “This is no time to rely on all that damn blood stuff.” She pointed the gun at Roland. Monster puppeteer. Send a photo, make a phone call, and destroy the lives of innocent people. Celine, Yvette, Mrs. Dalbrey. He would have shot Eve just now if Caleb hadn’t stopped him. Millet would never have entered any of their lives if Roland hadn’t been there pushing and prodding and destroying. “I think Caleb is right. I think you should join Trobell.”
She shot him in the heart.
“That’s the first time that you’ve totally agreed with me in this kind of circumstance,” Caleb said as he reached down and helped Eve to her feet. “Eve, you really shouldn’t make a habit of this. You can’t protect the entire world.”
“Shut up.” She was swaying as she headed for the door. “Get Jane out of here. The shot… would someone hear it?”
“Not with that hysteria going on in the Offering Room. Come on, Jane.” He supported Eve as he started down the corridor. They passed two guards who merely nodded at Caleb and ignored Eve and Jane. “Three more minutes,” Caleb said.
“Three…” Eve moistened her cracked lips. “What are you talking about?”
He glanced at Jane. “You managed to do it?”
“Yes, when I braced myself against the wall of the tunnel.” Her gaze was fixed in fascination on the arched door ahead of them.
The chanting was like nothing she had ever heard. It was hideous, rhythmic, and full of excitement.
Blasphemer.
Take her.
Kill her.
Tear her.
“One minute,” he murmured as he stopped to the left of the arched opening. “We stay back here until the stampede starts, then we let them take us out of the temple.”
The screaming rose in intensity, and Jane could see why. Millet was striding up the ramp into the Offering Room. He was dressed in black leather jeans and jacket, and he was arrogance personified.
How he loves it, Jane thought. His cheeks were flushed, his eyes shining, and every muscle in his body seemed electrified, fed by the screaming horde.
He had reached the altar.
He bowed to the mosaic of Judas, then turned to the crowd and raised his arms. “You want the Blasphemer. I heard you shouting your will. How much do you want her?”
The screams shook the room.
“Then I’ll give her to you. I’ll show her how you punish Blasphemers.”
Another shout.
“You want her blood? I’ll make her scream as I take her blood for you.”
“Blood? I’m beginning to take this personally,” Caleb murmured. “It brings back too many memories. I’m not sure I can wait for-”
The floor of the temple exploded, the stones heaved upward!
Millet was thrown to the ground.
The altar cracked and shifted to one side.
The audience was screaming but in terror now. Jumping from their seats, they bolted toward the ramp that led outside.
“Now!” Caleb pushed Jane and Eve through the archway into the midst of the panicky crowd. “Get Eve outside before the next explosion goes off. It’s due in about six minutes.”
Jane was already pulling Eve through the mob. “Just keep on your feet,” she told her. “If we go down, we’ll be trampled.”
“You planted explosives?”
“Plastic. Small but powerful. In the passage beneath this Offering Room.” She was fighting, shoving her way. Where was Caleb? She couldn’t see him in this mob. Hell, she couldn’t see anything but wild-eyed, panicky people on every side. “Joe planted another set on the outside near the front entrance to go off seven minutes later. We figured that we’d be out of the temple by that time.”
“We hope,” Eve said. “This crowd isn’t moving at top speed.”
But Jane could see the entrance just ahead. “We’ll make it.”
Where was Caleb?
“Blood? I’m beginning to take this personally.”
Shit.
They had reached the entrance.
“Eve!”
Thank God. It was Joe running toward them. He grabbed Eve’s arm and was pulling her away from the temple. She was looking over her shoulder at Jane. “I’m fine. Get Caleb before the idiot blows himself up.”
Jane turned and ran back into the temple. Two minutes.
It was easier going back. The crowd had thinned as the bulk of the people had reached the entrance. She reached the top of the ramp.
The Offering Room was deserted.
Except for Caleb.
Except for the man lying on the shattered altar.
“You shouldn’t be here,” Caleb said, without looking at her. “It’s going to blow.”
She came slowly toward him. “Eve called you an idiot. She’s right.” She looked down at Millet. His face was a mask of agony. Blood was pouring out of his eyes and mouth. “Why?”
“I told you, I didn’t like his talking about what he was going to do to you. I’m very fond of every drop of your blood. It bothered me that he was planning to be so careless with it.” He bent over him, and said softly, “But now you know how much it hurts to misuse blood, don’t you? The flow can twist and sting like a dagger. You like to use daggers, I understand,”
Millet’s body arched. He screamed.
“We have to get out of here, Caleb,” Jane said.
“I know. Pity. I only had a few minutes with him. But I made them count.” He held out his hand. “Come here. I want him to see you.”
She came to stand beside him.
“Look at her, Millet,” Caleb said. “She beat you. You wanted to take her down. But she took away your power and all the glory you lived for,” he added softly, “and she took away your life. You have heavy internal bleeding. You can’t last for more than five minutes tops. You’ve lost everything.”
She could see that Millet knew that he’d lost. But he was staring at her with desperation and hatred that would go with him to the end. “You didn’t… beat me. I’m the chosen. Hadar will keep me alive. Judas will… triumph.”
“Then let them do it. I think they’ve reached the end of their trail, too.” She turned away. “Let’s get out of here, Caleb. I won’t be buried in here with this bastard.”
“You won’t. We have forty seconds.” He took her hand and was running with her away from the altar and down the ramp. “Providing my watch is right.”
“Now you worry about it.”
“Dammit, get her out of here.” Jock was running toward them up the ramp. “What the hell do you think you’re doing? I couldn’t believe it when Eve said Jane had gone back in. Run!”
“We are running.”
The next instant they were out of the temple. Ten seconds later the ground shook as the wood and mortar of the temple blew.
“Down!” Caleb pushed her to the ground as concrete chips and slabs blasted through the air.
She couldn’t breathe through the thick layer of dust and smoke from the blast. She was still coughing as she sat up a few minutes later.
“All right?” Caleb asked.
She nodded and gazed at the remains of the temple, which was now a mass of brown stone and broken pillars. “I don’t know what it looked like before, but there’s not much left now.”
“When Joe and I planted the charge last night, it reminded both of us of a small acropolis,” Jock said. “Hadar didn’t have much originality.” He stood up and held out his hand to her. “Let’s go. Eve and Joe are with MacDuff and his men up in the mountains. I promised I’d bring you to her as soon as I found you. It’s not safe down here. No one knows what’s happened, and Millet’s men are still a threat.”
Jane could see what he meant. Men and women were milling about, dazed and disbelieving. It was hard to connect them with the screaming vultures who had been thirsting for her blood only minutes before.
“Give them a chance, and they’d still cut your heart out,” Caleb said. “Go on with Gavin.”
She nodded. “I have to see Eve. She wasn’t good.”
“She’ll survive,” Caleb said. “She was burning with fever but still on the attack.” He turned away. “I’ll see you later.”
“Where are you going?”
“I have to make sure.”
“Millet?” She looked at the mass of rubble that had been the temple. “How? And you said he’d be dead in five minutes.”
“I have to be sure. I won’t have him come back to haunt you.” He smiled. “I’ll find a way.”
She watched him walk away before she turned back to Jock. “He probably will. Though he’d have to be a snake to wriggle through all that wreckage.” But all she wanted was to be done with the place and the people who had screamed for her blood. “Let’s go. I want to be with Eve.”
“HE’S dead.”
Jane looked up to see Caleb standing beside her. She had been at MacDuff’s encampment for hours, and there had been no sign or call from Caleb. He was dirty and covered with dust and mortar, but he didn’t look tired. His eyes glittered in the lanternlight and he had never appeared more strong and vibrantly alive.
“You found Millet? He bled to death?”
“I’m not sure.” He smiled. “I hope he didn’t. The explosion dislodged the Judas mosaic and it fell on the altar. I’d like him to know that his Judas crushed him.”
However it had happened, Millet was dead. She had not realized that she would feel so relieved at the certainty. But Caleb had realized that she needed that final resolution and had given it to her. “Thank you.”
He inclined his head. “I had to be sure, too. Are you okay?”
She nodded. “I’m fine.” She got to her feet. “Maybe a little shell-shocked. Or maybe just plain shocked that it’s all over.”
“It is over.” He checked his watch. “It’s after midnight. April second.”
“That’s right, it is.” Eight long, agonizing days that had seemed to go on forever. She ran her hand through her hair. “I’ve got to go check on Eve. Joe brought a doctor with them, and he gave her a shot, but they’ve been waiting for the air ambulance.”
His gaze went to the west, where blue lights were piercing the darkness. “It’s coming in now.”
They watched the helicopter land.
“Gavin said Joe’s taking her to a hospital in Damascus?”
“Yes, he doesn’t want to take her home until he’s sure she’s stable. The doctor didn’t like that fever.”
Joe had Eve in his arms and was carefully lifting her into the aircraft. Strength. Gentleness. Tenderness. He had Eve back, and nothing else mattered.
“I believe he likes her a little.” Caleb took Jane’s elbow and led her toward the helicopter. “You’ll want to go with her to the hospital. I’ll call Venable and tell him to have someone get you hotel reservations near there in case they don’t release her right away.” He gave her a lift into the copter and stepped back. “Take care.”
“You’re not going?”
He shook his head. “Some of Millet’s men took off into the desert after the big boom. I’m going after them.” He smiled faintly. “It’s going to be good hunting tonight.” He saw the expression that flickered over her face. “You’ll never like it, and you may never get used to it, but I can’t change.”
“I’ve never asked you to change. It’s not my business.”
“I don’t agree. But right now, you’re tired, upset, and on edge. You can’t decide if I’m worth your time trying to decipher. So I think it’s best that I leave you alone for a while. If I don’t, you’ll start pushing me away, and I’ll react. Sometimes, as you might have noticed, my reactions aren’t very civilized.” He started to turn away. “Tell Eve that I hope she recovers quickly.”
“Wait.” She moistened her lips. There was no way of appealing to him on anything but practical reasons but she didn’t want him walking away. “This isn’t smart. Your damn hunting may be good tonight, but you’re bound to be outnumbered.”
“Oh, I won’t be alone.” He started across the rocky ground toward the encampment. “Jock Gavin and MacDuff are going hunting, too.”
EVE DIDN’T OPEN HER EYES until late the next afternoon.
“Hi,” Jane said softly. “How do you feel?”
Eve smiled. “I don’t know. How should I feel?”
“Groggy. The doctors here at the hospital gave you massive antibiotics and put you under to do a little repair work on your shoulder. It’s going to be fine. Joe was here with you up until ten minutes ago. He went outside to take a call from Venable.”
“Groggy sounds about right.” Her hand tightened on Jane’s. “What happened to Millet? I was pretty out of it last night.”
“Millet and Roland are dead. The temple was blown to the stratosphere. A number of Millet’s men managed to get away, but Caleb, Jock, and MacDuff went after them.”
“Caleb found a few soul mates?” A faint smile touched Eve’s lips. “I imagine Joe would have been right there with them if this wound of mine hadn’t put a crimp in his plans.”
“You’re probably right. But Caleb doesn’t know the meaning of soul mate. He’s out there all alone.”
“Alone? I never thought about Caleb like that. But I guess you’re right.”
“Don’t start feeling sorry for him. It’s his choice.” She changed the subject. “I’m not sure what happened to all those people who were clawing to get out of the temple before it blew. Some of them were probably able to get away if they had immediate transport. Some of them were rounded up by MacDuff’s men and Venable’s agents. As far as I’m concerned, they can rot in the desert.” She paused. “But Venable thinks he managed to snag all the photos that Millet had taken at the Offerings from the wreckage. So they might get a surprise when they manage to get home. There are going to be some very unhappy people.”
“And how do you feel?”
“Tired, grateful.” She said, “Oh, yes, very grateful. I was scared up to the very end. I was afraid I’d lose you.”
“You shouldn’t have been afraid. You’ll never lose me. Love doesn’t work that way. It goes on forever.”
“I understand the concept. I’m not at a stage right now where I can believe that. I’ll have to work on it. I had enough trouble just with all this dream stuff.”
“But you made it happen for us.”
“Did I?” She leaned back in her chair. “I’ve been sitting here thinking about that. Did I do it, or did Caleb help it along? He said he couldn’t influence dreams, but should I believe him?”
“What do you think?”
“He’s an enigma. But I think I do believe him… tentatively.” She gazed thoughtfully down at their joined hands. “But that leaves me with another puzzle.”
“The Judas coins.”
She nodded. “You told me you thought that the dreams all those years ago about the treasure that had the Judas coins had something to do with the recent dreams I had of Judas and those sacrifices.”
“I said I didn’t know but that it was possible.”
“And I remember you said when you came to MacDuff’s Run that you felt that it was right, and you had an odd feeling you were going to be part of what was happening there.” She looked up at Eve’s face. “You were part of it, a big part, Eve.”
“Yes.” She wrinkled her nose. “But I’d rather have had a more passive role.”
“I don’t think so. You were about to go out and search for trouble when Millet appeared on the scene.”
“What are you getting at?”
“Caleb once asked me if I thought the reason I was having the Judas dreams had anything to do with those people at the Offerings. That I was being influenced by their vibes. I told him no way.”
“You’ve changed your mind?”
She shrugged. “Those Offerings have been going on for centuries. Then out of the blue one person is influenced by them?”
Eve shrugged. “I don’t know. So much sin, so much wickedness.”
“But maybe it was time for them to end. Evil can’t go on forever. Yet it seemed to be doing that. Judas’s guilt spawned two thousand years of horror. I wish we knew more about him. Why? He must have loved Jesus at one time. How did it all go wrong? I know people can convince themselves of anything, but what would trigger that betrayal? And all those other deaths committed in the name of Judas…”
“And you were an instrument to stop them?”
“Who, me?” She shook her head. “I wouldn’t presume. I was just there at the right place and the right time.”
“And the right dream.”
She chuckled. “Okay, the right dream. But I probably won’t have any other dreams like those again. I hope I don’t.”
“But MacDuff hopes that you do.”
“Too bad.” She squeezed Eve’s hand and stood up. “Now I’ve got to go find Joe and tell him that you’re awake. My cell doesn’t work in this hospital.”
“Joe…” Eve was already closing her eyes. “Yes, I’m tired but I want to see Joe.”
And Jane was already fading out of the picture as she usually did when Eve and Joe came together. That was okay. It was good that Eve had a rock like Joe in her life. Jane wouldn’t have it any other way.
“Jane.”
She looked back over her shoulder to see that Eve’s eyes were open. “Do you need something?”
“The coins. What are you going to do with the coins?”
“I have no idea right now. First, I’m going to call Tischler and have him meet me in Atlanta and let him examine the coins as I promised. Providing he doesn’t feel he has to get permission from the Israeli government.”
“And if he does?”
“If he doesn’t promise to keep it confidential, he’ll never see those coins again. No more deaths. I’m not going to let this become a bone for everyone to fight over. Even if I have to bury them in a cave as Hadar did.”
“There’s always the Vatican.”
“They’re having their own problems. But they may have the power we need. Though they may choose not to believe the coins are authentic. I don’t know. I’ll worry about that later.” She opened the door. “All I want to do now is to go to the lake cottage with you and Joe and forget that any of this happened.”
“You won’t forget.”
“I know,” she said soberly. “Not ever. But maybe after a while it won’t hurt as much. Being with you and Joe at the lake always makes all the bad things seem to go away.”
“For me, too.” Eve smiled. “Let’s go home, Jane.”
JANE GOT A CALL TWO MINUTES after she stepped out of the hospital. Lina Alsouk.
“I’ve been trying to reach you,” Lina said impatiently. “The call didn’t go through.”
“I was at the hospital with Eve.”
“How is she? The head nurse said she was doing well when I called an hour ago.”
“She’s awake now. Joe is with her.” She paused. “I meant to phone and check on you, Lina. Things just seemed to get out of hand.”
“So Jock told me. I’m fine, better all the time. MacDuff wouldn’t let them take me to the hospital. I’m being coddled and nursed by MacDuff’s people.” She hesitated before adding grudgingly, “It’s not too bad.”
“I’m sure it’s not. MacDuff is probably feeling guilty about your injury.”
“He should feel guilty. He let them take Eve. Where is she going after she leaves the hospital?”
“Home to Atlanta.”
There was a silence. “Then I’m going, too.”
“What?”
“Oh, I won’t get in her way. I’ll just be around when she needs me.”
“What are you talking about? Eve can take care of herself.”
“She saved my life.”
“She won’t want you to feel obligated.”
“She saved my life. I have to repay her.”
“Lina, she won’t want-”
“I don’t care. I’m going to hang up now. I want you to call that Venable person and tell him that he has to ease my way into going to the U.S. And I thought perhaps you should tell Eve that she won’t be alone.” She hung up.
Jane shook her head as she hung up. This was a development she’d never thought would come to pass. What was Lina going to do? Camp out by the cottage with her AK-47? No, Lina was neither intrusive nor stupid. She’d keep a low profile whatever she did. Eve had evidently won Lina’s affection as well as her passionate gratitude, and she would express it in her own time and her own way.
It wasn’t really Jane’s business. Since she felt she still owed Lina a debt, she would give Venable a call. Then she would deliver Lina’s message to Eve and leave it at that.
Eve would be able to handle her… and the AK-47.