Night and Day (15 page)

Concentrate only on how they could get the prize that Natalie had demanded.

Proof.

*   *   *

“Proof,” Eve repeated. “Maybe I can find a way to stall the actual exchange of the chest for Cara, but Natalie's not going to play the game if we can't furnish her proof that it's worth her while.” She'd gathered MacDuff, Joe, Caleb, and Jane together in MacDuff's tent as soon as the men had returned from the north bank to try to brainstorm some way out. “What are our chances, MacDuff?”

MacDuff shook his head. “I'll try to get the lab to up the delivery time on those lights, but I can't guarantee they'll even work, Eve. It might be trial and error for weeks.”

“We don't have weeks,” Eve said unsteadily. “We have two days.” She looked at Joe. “I don't want to turn Jock loose, if we don't have to do it. But Natalie sounded…” She shook her head. “She's so damn volatile. There's no telling what she's going to do.”

“If it comes to that, I'll head for Moscow, too,” Joe said. “Between Jock and me, we'll be able to get her out.”

“We could try going around the north bank without those fancy lights,” Jane said quietly. “It wouldn't hurt to try it the way Cira and her family did all those centuries ago. Maybe that's the way it should be.”

“And you're just aching to do that, aren't you?” Caleb's eyes were narrowed on Jane's face. “I could tell that you were tempted to go on the other day.”

“Yes, I was.” She looked him in the eye. “And now I have a reason.”

“Not a good enough one,” Caleb said roughly. “We don't know what's around that bend in the lake, and we can't see hazards. For all we know, there could be a sudden drop-off, or a whirlpool, or quicksand.”

“Or there could be nothing at all,” Jane said. “Except a cave with the remains of a child who died all those centuries ago.” She paused. “Or a chest with Cira's gold. That we need desperately right now.”

“Not good enough,” Caleb repeated. He smiled recklessly. “Not when we have another option. So stop trying to find an excuse to risk your neck to find answers. We'll do that later.”

“I'm curious to know what that other option is,” Eve said. “I'm having trouble thinking of one that's acceptable.”

“The proof,” Caleb said. “Natalie wants proof that we have the treasure. Who said it has to be authentic? We'll lie to her.”

“She's not stupid, Caleb,” Eve said. “She wants that treasure, but she's not going to go for the bait if she thinks there's any question that we don't have it.”

“But we'll give her proof.” Caleb smiled. “What would be proof that we have it? A handful of the coins themselves. We send them to her to show our good faith.”

“And where do we get these coins?” Joe asked.

“I have no idea yet. That's up to MacDuff.” Caleb turned to MacDuff. “You've done extensive research all your adult life about Cira and that chest of coins you've been hunting for. You must have a fairly good idea about the probable age and denominations of the coins that are in that chest.”

“There's no way of being certain,” MacDuff said.

“I said probable,” Caleb said. “And Natalie can't be certain either. But she won't be fooled unless she can check and verify that there is an excellent chance of the coins' being authentic. That means that the coins have to be rare enough so that they'll pass muster.”

“And be of the right age and national origin,” MacDuff said dryly. “You're not asking much.”

“You must have run across collectors who have what we need.”

“And if the coins are that rare, we don't have a chance in hell of prying them loose from a collector. They can be fanatic.”

“But that's my job,” Caleb said. “I'm exceptionally good at prying. All you have to do is the research to send me in the right direction. But I imagine it has to be done quickly. Eve will be nervous until she gets the coins in her hands.”

“Extremely nervous,” Eve said dryly. “And maybe even more nervous about how you're going to do this.”

“But not so nervous that you'd be willing to send Quinn and Jock into the mouth of the dragon instead.” Caleb shrugged. “We all have our own priorities.” He glanced at Jane. “I find I have an aversion at the idea of Jane's tripping through that mist. I don't like the unknown when it's connected to her. Strange, when I enjoy it for myself.”

“Will it work?” Joe asked MacDuff. “Can you locate coins that could fool her?”

“I have a few ideas.” MacDuff was frowning. “I'll have to do some research, as Caleb said. But however you look at it, getting them away from any of those collectors will be a major headache.” He grimaced. “And if force is involved, possibly fatal.”

“Then you'd better get to it,” Caleb said as he turned to leave the tent. “Let me know when you find the prime candidate. I'll be down by the lake.” He raised a brow and glanced at Jane as he said melodramatically, “Would you like to come and hold my hand? Who knows what I'm going to face in the days ahead.”

“I would not.”

“You're annoyed. And all because I wouldn't let you go flying after your Cira…” He left the tent.

And she wanted to run after him and yell at him, shake him.

“It's not a bad idea, Jane,” Joe said quietly. “If it works, it's safer for Cara.”

Jane realized that, but it didn't help. “But not safer for Caleb. Not that he cares. He's probably been looking for some trouble to get into.”

“I'll go with him if it looks as if there's a possibility of difficulty,” Joe said.

“With Caleb, there's always a possibility of difficulty. He thrives on it,” she said jerkily. “And sometimes I think he concocts it.”

“Come on, let's go down to the campfire and have a cup of coffee.” Eve took Jane's arm. “We'll leave MacDuff to his research. Maybe Caleb won't get what he's looking for.” She was leading her toward the door. “Maybe the collector MacDuff chooses as our prime candidate will be a little, white-haired college professor with wire spectacles and a generous disposition.”

*   *   *

Two hours later, Jane marched down to the lake, where Caleb was lolling lazily beneath a pine tree and gazing out at the distant mountains. And that very indolence irritated her even more than she was already.

She tossed the sheet of paper down on his stomach. “Your collector. And you'll be happy to know that he's not a little white-haired college professor with wire-rimmed glasses. And he certainly doesn't have a generous nature.”

“Am I supposed to know what you're talking about?” he asked mildly as he sat up. “And did you come out to hold my hand?”

“No, I've been waiting for MacDuff to finish researching so that I could bring it down myself and tell you what an idiot you are.”

“I always appreciate your attention, no matter what the motivation.” He glanced down at the paper. “Derek Helmberg. Munich, Germany. That's not bad. At least it's not in the middle of Africa. I was thinking that it might be.”

“Not bad? He not only smuggles antiquities, he's a gunrunner. He also dabbles in human trafficking and computer hacking. According to that résumé you have in front of you, the only passion he has other than the acquisition of money is his coin collection, which he keeps at his estate in Munich.”

“He has the correct coins?”

“Yes, MacDuff thinks that he even has a few that he's liberated from historical libraries that are virtually unknown on the market. Perfect.” She paused. “Except that collection is guarded by several of Helmberg's goons, and you have an excellent chance of being killed. But that's perfect for you, too.”

“Ah, that's why you're so angry with me. You think I'll get killed; and then what would you do? No one to fight or abuse. And all those possibilities looming on our horizon disappearing…”

“I'm angry with you because you're taking chances, and it's stupid for you to—Even if Joe goes with you, it's still a risk.”

“I won't take Quinn with me.” He held up his hand. “I won't need him. What I'll do requires Helmberg and me, and anyone else will get in the way. It's not that I don't think Quinn would be of value getting us in and out of the estate. But there is a risk, and Eve may need him more than I do.” He smiled. “You should be on board with that, Jane. Eve needs a father for that child. I can't keep him out of whatever action goes down in the future, but I can do this.”

How was she supposed to argue with that?

“He'll want to go along.”

“Then I'll leave now, and you can tell him how stubborn and difficult I was about having company. You'll be very good at that.”

“Yes, I will.”

He got to his feet. “And while I'm gone, you'll think how brave and self-sacrificing I am, and you'll worry and remember all the good things I am and none of the bad.”

“No, I won't. I wouldn't give you that satisfaction when you're probably only doing this to manipulate me.”

He chuckled. “We'll see who is right.” He started to turn away. “Good-bye, Jane.”

“Wait.”

She couldn't let him leave like this.

He looked over his shoulder.

“Maybe I do want to hold your hand.”

He smiled and came back to her and took both her hands in his own. “Thank you,” he said softly. “I'll remember this when I'm fighting the dragons and being disgustingly heroic.”

“You'll only remember that you got your way.” She looked up at him. “How are you going to get those coins from Helmberg?”

“The usual way, shock and intimidation. Even someone who has a fanatical obsession can be persuaded that he'd rather stay alive to collect again.”

“You're going to do that … blood thing?”

“The ability to control blood flow is what I do best. I'd be foolish not to use it as a weapon if necessary.” He lifted her wrist to his lips. “Though I much prefer to use it this way.”

Heat. Her arm was tingling, hot. Her pulse pounding in her throat. Her breasts were swelling, her breath coming in pants. She wanted to step closer, brush against him, take more of him.

She jerked her arm away and stepped back. She was still panting. “Not fair, Caleb.”

“Very fair. I picked a time when I could derive pleasure, then walk away and not be tempted to carry it further. That's almost noble.” He was walking up the slope toward the road.”And it took your mind off the less pleasant aspects of my talent that was causing your imagination to run riot. I'll see you soon, Jane.”

When would she see him?

She could feel her eyes sting. Her hands clenched into fists at her sides as she watched him walk up the slope.

He stopped when he reached the road and turned back toward her. A mischievous smile lit his face as he gave a half bow and blew her a kiss.

Asshole.

It was almost as if he'd read her mind because he threw back his head and laughed.

Then he turned and headed for his car, parked down the road.

MOSCOW

Ivan Sabak was ready, Natalie thought, as she strolled slowly down the driveway toward the gatehouse. She had been preparing the way for the last several days, but she'd had to be cautious. Sabak was afraid of her father, and that had to be overcome. She needed complete compliance from him if she was going to succeed.

But she would get what she needed. She always did.

She saw him coming toward the garden gate as she approached. He was eager. She could see the faint tension in his muscles. Yes, he was ready.

She smiled at him. “Hello, Ivan. I couldn't wait to get to you tonight.”

He frowned. “You didn't come last night.”

“It was so difficult. My father … You know how he is. And I didn't want to get you in trouble.”

“I can handle Kaskov.”

“Of course you can. I just didn't want you to have to do it.” She came closer to him. “I know how strong and smart you are. My father would never have assigned you to guard my daughter if he didn't know it, too. Did you know I asked him to do that because I knew you were the best and most clever man he had?” She sighed. “Being a mother to a child like Cara is so difficult. Sometimes I think he likes her more than he does me. I feel so alone. I know it's only a matter of time before he sends me away.” She took a step closer to let him feel her warmth, catch her scent. “I think I'm going to need someone to be there for me when that happens. Will you be that person, Ivan? Will you help me?”

He stiffened.

He wasn't ready for commitment yet, she thought. But now he knew it was coming. He would become accustomed to the idea once he found it was to his advantage.

“I have some money. I can get more, much more. But I need someone to protect it, protect me.” She took his hand and put it on her breast. “I want it to be you,” she whispered. “I'm a woman who needs a man, and what a man you are, Ivan.” She moved closer. “Let me show you how much I need you.”

His hand closed brutally on her breast. “Are you playing with me?”

“Let's go inside the house. The couch in the living room.” Her tongue moved on his lower lip. “Let me show you…”

He started to drag her toward the French doors leading to the living room, then stopped. “The kid. She might hear us.”

Let him get a hint of the way it was going to go. “I don't care.” She rubbed slowly, sensuously, against him. “She's not important.
You're
important. She's just getting in our way…”

MUNICH, GERMANY

One guard at the road leading up to the house.

One guard who was patrolling the grounds and patio area.

Another guard in the massive garage where he kept his collection of antique cars.