Mind Game

by Iris Johansen

  “Not now,” Caleb said as he headed for the door. “I’m going to need him for the next few hours. You can have him later.”

  Palik made a face as he followed Caleb out into the hall. “I’d be flattered to be so popular if I didn’t think it might cause me to end up in an alley with my throat cut.”

  “So much for the ball being in my court,” Joe said wryly to Lisa as the door closed behind them. “I was afraid of this when I knew I was coming here.”

  “Seth is used to being on his own. This is hard for him.”

  “And you think that it’s not hard for me?” His lips tightened. “This is Jane. Eve and I consider her our child. We love her. I’ve got to get her back and I feel as if my hands are tied.”

  “So do I,” Lisa said quietly. “It was because of me that Jane even became involved with Santara and Teresa, and I’m having to fight to get Seth to let me help her. In spite of what he says, he’s not going to let me do anything that has any real risk.” She met his eyes. “And I don’t think you will either, Joe.”

  What can I say? Joe thought. She’s sitting here looking young and vulnerable and full of life. She’s already gone through a hellish experience and now she wants to dive into another one? “I wouldn’t have brought you here, Lisa.”

  “Yes, you would have.” She smiled. “I would have found a way to persuade you, Joe.”

  He shook his head. “You’re too young. You have no experience. I’d feel guilty as hell asking you to do something that could get you killed.”

  “So you won’t do it. I knew that would be your reaction. But I thought that I should tell you a few things that might make you feel better if I override you.” She held up three fingers. “I’m in excellent physical shape now, though I’m having to build up my endurance again. I can swim like a fish. I know how to shoot a pistol, but I’m much better with a rifle, since I took part in the Olympic biathlon ski and shoot tryouts at my school in Switzerland.” She smiled. “Not great qualifications if I were applying to be a SEAL, like you were, but adequate for emergency situations.”

  He grinned. “I’m sure you’d be more than adequate.”

  “But you’d still hesitate when it came right down to it.” She shrugged. “I do have other … skills. But I’m not going to be able to convince you, so I won’t go into them.” She got to her feet. “So suppose I get you a cup of coffee and then we can talk about those video cameras that you’re going to need to set up. I’m very good with cameras. I took a photography course before I went on last year’s field trip to Venice.”

  “Why does that not surprise me? No hard feelings?”

  “A little. I want this, Joe.” She looked over her shoulder at him. “But you care about me. You care about Jane. I … like that. I think Jane must be very lucky.”

  She disappeared into the kitchen.

  JW MARRIOTT MARQUIS HOTEL

  DUBAI

  TUESDAY, 5:40 P.M.

  “There he is,” Palik murmured as he met Caleb’s gaze in the rearview mirror from where he was sitting in the driver’s seat of the silver Maserati Quattroporte. “Why do I feel this is going to be a total disaster?”

  “Because you’re a natural pessimist.” Caleb watched Tarik El Haroun stride from the entrance of the tallest hotel in the world, make his way across the impressive tiles, pass the fountain, and come in their direction. “It will be fine. We have Haroun’s car, and you’re in the appropriate chauffeur’s uniform. The doorman will open the car door for Haroun. Haroun will get in and you’ll take off.”

  “He’s supposed to get in after he sees you’re in the backseat?” Palik asked skeptically.

  “Yes. Since the windows are blacked out, it will take him a few seconds to adjust his eyes. But he’s going to feel suddenly faint and he’ll only think of getting out of the sun and sitting down.”

  “He’s one of the most important men in Dubai. The royal family considers him a national asset. And you’re just going to scoop him up?” Palik was shaking his head. “It’s got to fail.”

  “No, it won’t,” he murmured. “I can’t afford that.”

  The doorman was rushing forward toward Haroun with a broad smile. Haroun smiled and tipped him as the man opened the rear door of the Maserati.

  Then Haroun’s smile faded as he gasped and dropped onto the backseat.

  “Go!” Caleb said.

  Palik pressed the accelerator and the car jumped forward. In seconds, they were out of the driveway and speeding down the street.

  Haroun was crumpled back in the seat, his hand clutching his chest. He was gasping with pain as he suddenly focused on Caleb on the seat beside him. “Who … are you? Never mind. I think I’m having a heart attack. Get me to a hospital.”

  “No, you’re not. You’ll be better soon. I released the pressure,” Caleb said. “I had to do something to distract you, and this seemed the most efficient way. You’re extremely difficult to approach, Haroun, and I needed a few hours alone with you.”

  Haroun’s breathing was beginning to ease. “Who … are you?” he asked again. He shook his head to clear it. “Is this a kidnapping? Did you bribe someone to put something in my coffee at that luncheon to cause this damn pain?”

  “No, to both questions.”

  “Terrorists?” His gaze flew to Palik. “Where’s my chauffeur, Hakim? If you’ve hurt him, I’ll have every police officer in Dubai on your trail.”

  “Only a minor wound,” Caleb said. “He’s very loyal and he put up a good fight. You must use him as a bodyguard as well as a chauffeur. He wouldn’t give up, so I had to put him out for a while.”

  “How badly is he hurt?”

  “He’ll be fine.” He smiled faintly. “But Jane would be impressed you’re so concerned over an employee. I sincerely hope that I’m going to be able to work with you.”

  “That won’t happen,” Haroun bit out the words. “And who is this Jane, another accomplice?”

  “No, perhaps your savior. You certainly need one. It depends entirely on you.”

  Haroun began to curse.

  “It’s definitely going to be a disaster,” Palik said gloomily.

  “He doesn’t believe you’ll be cooperative, Haroun,” Caleb said. “I hope he’s wrong.”

  “I don’t cooperate with criminals. What do you want from me?”

  “I’ll explain it all to you. We’re going to take you to a small house near the bazaar and I’ll give you explanations and a small demonstration that will show you what I can do and don’t want to do. Then we’ll talk about cooperation.”

  “All your threats won’t intimidate me. This world is full of bullies, and if I give in to them, then they’ll be the ones who will turn out ruling it. I don’t want to live in a world like that.”

  “A fine philosophy, if a little hazardous.” Caleb smiled. “I’m trying to avoid threats and appeal to your good sense instead. Though I can’t deny the threat exists, I want to be on your side.”

  “Then pull over and let me go.”

  “Two hours. Just give me two hours. I’ll tell you my story and you’ll learn that you have more enemies than you dream exist. And then you’ll live to go home to your wife tonight.”

  “I’ll give you nothing. Your driver is right. This move will bring you nothing but disaster.”

  Strength. Stubbornness. Idealism. This was going to be even more difficult than Caleb had thought. His talent for persuasiveness could usually change perceptions and sway opinions, but Haroun was going to be a massive challenge in a situation like this. “I won’t accept that from either of you. She wants you to stay alive.” He stared Haroun in the eye and said softly, “So I’m no longer asking. You’ll definitely give me my two hours, Haroun.”

  * * *

  Haroun lived on the outskirts of Dubai in a beautiful two-story home with three fountains cascading down a rock wall. Palik pulled up at least a hundred yards from the front gate.

  Caleb got out and went around the car to open Haroun’s door. “
As promised.” He stepped aside as Haroun got out of the car. “Have a good evening. Tell your wife I’m sorry I made you late for dinner.”

  Haroun stood there, staring at him. “You’re a formidable man, Caleb. In more ways than one.”

  “It was only a little bit of pain. I had to show you that you were vulnerable. If not tomorrow, then another day, another place. It would be so easy for me. But I don’t want it to be me. So if you’ll do as I want, I’ll promise that it won’t be and that I’ll give you fringe benefits.”

  “And I’m supposed to believe you?”

  “You do believe me.” He smiled. “I got that far. I’m not certain I overcame that streak of bullheadedness. That could still tip the scales against me.”

  “How can I possibly trust you? You haven’t even given me any names.”

  “I gave you mine. I don’t mind the risk, but I’m not going to let your version of a SWAT team barge in and get Jane killed.”

  “You know I could cancel the surgery tomorrow.”

  “Yes, and that would put me in a corner. You don’t want to do that.”

  “I can make certain that I have enough protection so that you couldn’t get close to me while the operation takes place.”

  “That’s a possibility.”

  “Or I could alert the guards at the hospital that you’re a threat and they’d hunt you down and blow your head off.”

  “Also a solution.”

  “And you’re still going to let me go into the house?”

  He nodded. “At some point, I have to trust who and what I am.” He turned and got into the passenger seat next to Palik. “But I have to warn you, no matter how this plays out, if it puts Jane into more danger because she wanted you to stay alive, then you’re a dead man.” He motioned for Palik to go. “Think long and hard, Haroun. I hope you make the right choice.”

  JUMAIRA, DUBAI

  WEDNESDAY, 8:40 A.M.

  “It’s time to go, Jane,” Teresa said as she threw open the bedroom door. She was wearing an elegant white suit and long pearls; a Vuitton leather carry-on was sitting on the floor beside her. Her blue eyes were sparkling and she was flushed, glowing with satisfaction. “It’s a new start for me. Today I erase all the failures of the past. Now you’ll see how well I can handle Caleb.” She smiled maliciously. “In spite of everything he says about being in control, he’s dangling like a puppet on my strings.” She looked over her shoulder at Santara. “Take her. You have your orders. You’ve already taken care of that other small matter?”

  “No problem.”

  “Good. Then when you call and tell me that Haroun is dead, I’ll transfer the final fee into your Cayman account. When you meet me at the airport, I’ll give you cash for these additional little jobs.”

  “It had better be the correct amount, or I’ll be following you to Moscow.” His gaze shifted to Jane and he moved forward to cuff her wrists in front of her. “Here we are again. I’ve missed you.”

  She ignored him and turned to Teresa. “You’re still going through with it? It’s crazy, you know. Nothing’s happened to make you change your mind?”

  “What could do that? Haroun is being prepped for the operation now. Of course, it appears that the guards have been doubled and the hospital is under alert, but we expected that to happen. Haroun is such an important man. I talked to Caleb earlier and he said it won’t affect the job, though it will make it more difficult.” She smiled again. “He wanted me to assure you that he needed to take care of Haroun to make you as safe as he’d promised you’d be. And that it would be done.” Her smile deepened as she stared into Jane’s eyes. “So that’s what I’m doing. Just obeying him one last time. Good-bye, Jane. It’s been interesting.” Teresa turned and swept out of the room.

  Jane felt a cold chill as she stared after her.

  Hatred.

  Teresa was going to kill her.

  That was as clear to Jane as if she’d put it into words instead of that farewell that had dripped of self-satisfaction and malice.

  “Come along. We don’t want to be late,” Santara said as he pushed her toward the door. “The queen bitch won’t be pleased if I don’t let this Caleb get his final glimpse of you so that he’ll complete the kill.”

  And it will be after that glimpse that Santara will kill me, Jane thought. When the word came that Haroun had died on the operating table, he would take care of that one more task before he got his money.

  Haroun. She felt suddenly sick. Caleb had told her he would try, but he’d made no promise. He’d only promised her she’d have her chance to live.

  And Teresa was going to make sure that she would not.

  And what about Caleb? Security had been doubled. After Haroun died, there would be craziness and Caleb would be in the thick of it.

  After Haroun died.

  Don’t think about it, she told herself. All she could do was pray for him now. And pray for Caleb’s soul for making that terrible choice.

  Then try not to let Teresa win by allowing the woman to kill her. Santara didn’t realize that she suspected that Teresa was going to betray the deal she’d made with Caleb and kill her. There might be a way that she could use that.

  Two of Santara’s men were digging behind the shrubbery in the garden.

  She stopped short as she and Santara reached the Mercedes, and her gaze fixed on the black tarp-wrapped bundle lying on the ground beside the men shoveling.

  Santara smiled as he waved at a giant bald-headed man who was overseeing the burial. “Just a little bonus job that Teresa authorized. Evidently she thought that the money she received for Haroun was enough for one but not for two.”

  “Gino Romano,” Jane said dully, her eyes on that tarp. “She’s tying up loose ends.”

  He opened the passenger door and pushed her inside. “He was useless to her. He was a weak link. I could see it coming.”

  Jane hadn’t seen it coming. She hadn’t even seen Teresa Romano’s husband since she’d been brought here. He’d clearly stayed in the background and let his wife handle everything, as he’d done all through the years.

  And she’d handled her husband’s own death with the same efficiency as everything else that she’d wanted to put behind her.

  Now you’ll see how well I can handle Caleb.

  Jane stiffened in shock as the words Teresa’d spoken before she left came blasting back to her.

  It’s a new start for me.

  Today I erase all the failures of the past.

  And Caleb had been a major failure for Teresa.

  So that would mean Jane would not be the only one scheduled to die today.

  AMERICAN HOSPITAL, DUBAI

  10:10 A.M.

  “Where is that bastard?” Santara muttered as he drove up and around the ramps of the third-floor parking garage. His gaze searched behind the multitude of cars parked on either side of the row. “He was supposed to be here when I got here. It’s after ten and he should have already done the job.”

  “Maybe he thought he had something more important to do than keep to your schedule,” Jane said. But she was looking for Caleb, too. She needed to see him. The world was spinning and it all seemed that it was in a purely downward spiral. “Or maybe he changed his mind and went directly to the fourth-floor operating room.”

  “I thought he’d end up there anyway,” Santara said sourly. “That bitch Teresa tried to sell me a bill of goods about how he can do some kind of blood voodoo, but I know better. That’s all bullshit. He’s probably trying to sneak something into the anesthesia. That’s what I’d do.” He scowled. “And I’d do it better than Caleb. She should have given the job to me.”

  “You appear to be very busy,” she said drily. “So she had to rely on someone who obviously doesn’t have your intellect or skill.”

  “Sarcasm?” He shot her a look. “Did I tell you how happy I am that we’re able to be together today? It’s going to be— There he is!” The brakes screeched as he stomped down on them as Caleb
walked out of the line of cars parked on the left side of the row. “Caleb!” He pulled into a parking space and stuck his head out the window. “Get over here. Where the hell have you been? You’re damn late.”

  “I’ll ignore your rudeness. As it happens, I was making sure the third-floor linen closet was unlocked. I’m going to need to use it after poor Haroun breathes his last breath.”

  “He should have breathed it ten minutes ago. Teresa wants the job done. You wanted to see Jane MacGuire? Here she is. Not a mark on her.”

  “I see she is here.” He came over to Jane’s window. “But she still has a mark or two from your previous encounter with her. I want to make sure that Teresa’s been keeping to the terms of our agreement. She was a trifle irritated with Jane yesterday. Roll down the window, Jane.”

  “That would be difficult.” She held up her cuffed wrists. “Santara seems to be afraid of what I’ll do to him.”

  “Roll down her window, Santara.”

  Santara rolled down the passenger-side window.

  “Now take those cuffs off her. She’s uncomfortable.”

  Santara pressed his gun against her side. “The hell I will.”

  “He is afraid of you, Jane. How amusing.” Caleb’s smile faded. “But somehow I’m not amused. I don’t like to see Jane that helpless except with me. Take off the cuffs and give them to me. Or I’ll stand here until you do. I guarantee Teresa will be getting very nervous when that operation upstairs goes on and on with no finality. As you remarked, I’m already running a little past her desired schedule for Haroun and should have been up there ten minutes ago to take care of him.”

  Santara glared at him. “I have an orderly on the payroll who’s working that fourth floor today. The minute Asad Kadir knows that Haroun is dead, he’ll call me. If he doesn’t call me, you won’t have to worry about this bitch feeling helpless because of a pair of handcuffs. You’ve got Teresa snowed, but I know you’re a phony.”