by Trish Morey; Day Leclaire; Natalie Anderson; Brenda Jackson; Ann Voss Peterson
“Thank you. And there’s more.”
He wished he could say something, head her off before she started discussing things he hadn’t yet come to terms with, asking questions he wasn’t quite ready to tackle. He didn’t know if his English was deficient or the day had been too harrowing and exhausting. Whatever the reason, he simply couldn’t find the words.
“I’m sorry for what the FBI put you through and for the sheriff’s questions, but most of all, I’m sorry for my family. I was hoping they would show you more American hospitality.”
He brushed away her apology with a wave of his hand, although it felt good to hear her say it. “It does not matter.”
“I’m afraid it might.”
“How is that?”
“The COIN compact is very important for the future of Nadar.”
Just what he was hoping to avoid. He held up a hand, not wanting her to continue on that path. He didn’t want to talk about this with Callie. Not until he knew where he wanted to go. Not until he’d laid out his options, at least in his own mind. “About the COIN compact. I have some thinking to do.”
“I was afraid you were leaning in that direction.”
“What direction? Thinking?”
“I recognize your tone. You’re considering pulling out of COIN.”
He couldn’t deny it. He only wished he could talk to Darek before getting embroiled in this conversation. “I’m not prepared to talk about my intentions at this time.”
“You don’t have to be so formal. I promise this is not an official meeting.”
He gave her a glance. “Trying to lower my defenses?”
“If that’s what it takes to get you to hear what I have to say, then yes.”
He could think of many things she could do to lower his defenses. Not that he’d be listening to her arguments about COIN if she chose any of the actions on his list.
He pushed those particular thoughts out of his mind. “Okay, I’m listening.”
Keeping her gaze glued to the ribbon of road ahead, she set her chin. “I know these past few days have been hard on you, and that today was the worst. I can’t blame you for feeling negatively toward my country after what has happened here and the way people and the authorities have treated you. But these past few days are not indicative of what my country is and how an agreement like COIN can help stabilize Nadar’s economy and political situation.”
“What do you want, Callie? You want me to promise Nadar will be part of COIN?”
Wind whistled through Callie’s lowered window. Highway hummed under the tires. Outside the pickup, vegetation changed from the low sage of the plains to Russian olive, aspen and even a few pine and fir. Finally Callie answered. “I want you to trust me.”
“It’s your country and countrymen I don’t trust.”
“I was afraid you’d say that.”
“And you have a prepared response?”
She shook her head. “Not one that will work.”
“You know I had serious reservations about the COIN agreement from the beginning.”
Callie let out a sigh. “I’d hoped your trip to Wyoming would make some of those reservations go away. I’d hoped it would improve your opinion of America.”
Now he didn’t know what to say. Callie was proud of her country and she loved it passionately. He could understand that. He even admired it. But no matter what he thought about her love for the United States, he couldn’t say that he shared it.
Finally she broke the silence. “But it hasn’t, has it? Improved your opinion?”
“It’s been a hard day.” As hard as any he’d lived through.
She pulled her gaze from the road and focused for a second on him. “Do you think you can trust me?”
He felt her question as a pang behind his breastbone. “I want to.”
“Then know I won’t let my country do to you what it did to your father.”
“It’s not that simple. As good as you are at your job, you don’t singlehandedly control your government.”
“No, but I can promise if I see anything wrong or hear of anything that might be detrimental to your people, I will tell you. No matter what it means for my job.”
He wanted to believe she’d choose him over her job, over her country, over her family, over everything. He wanted a lot of things where Callie was concerned. Things that were impossible to ask, impossible to believe. Things that were out of the control of either of them.
He peered out the side window and stared at the blur of a split rail fence whipping past. Nadar was a small island and filled with people. Any drive along the cliffs or walks on the beaches and one saw houses and villages and people wherever one looked. In Wyoming it seemed they could drive for miles or ride for hours and see no one at all.
“You’re not convinced.”
He didn’t answer. He didn’t know what to say that she wouldn’t feel she had to refute.
“Then I’ll make a deal with you. Just between us, you and me.”
He looked back to her. “A deal?”
Her eyes shifted to him and then back to the road. She swallowed, the gentle movement of her throat visible in the dashboard lights. “I doubt you’re planning to just up and leave Wyoming. Not until Amir is found and not until you see Fahad’s murderer brought to justice.”
He wasn’t sure her version of justice was identical to his, but he nodded just the same.
“Then there’s no reason for you to make a decision on the future of COIN until then. Until it’s time to go back to Nadar.”
“I suppose not.”
“Then here’s my proposal. If you stick with me on COIN, I’ll do everything I can to help you find out who killed Fahad.”
“I can’t make a deal like that.”
She pulled one hand from the wheel and held it up to stop him. “I’m not asking you to agree to any kind of terms. Just listen to the proposals, participate in the negotiations with the other leaders. In the end, if you don’t believe COIN will benefit your people, you’re welcome to walk away. I just want you to stay for the summit and give the compact a fair hearing.”
“If the summit ever takes place.”
She set her chin. “It will.”
If it was up to her, he was sure that would be true. Problem was, only so much was up to her. “You just want me to stay?”
She pulled her focus from the road, just for a second, the briefest glance, but a shiver blew over his skin, cold and then hot. “Yes, Efraim. More than I can say.”
THE MAIN LODGE of the Wind River Ranch and Resort soared out of the landscape, a palace of stone and rough-hewn logs that sought to match the grandeur of the mountains themselves. While Callie maintained that it didn’t quite measure up in that ambition, she couldn’t help feeling a little in awe over the beauty and opulence of the place.
This was a guest ranch fit for royalty, yet it held a rugged charm that was pure American West. But as much as she loved this place, as she accompanied Efraim into the soaring great room, she couldn’t fully appreciate its beauty.
Even though Efraim had agreed to the deal she’d offered, she couldn’t shake the feeling that he was mired in doubt. Doubt about COIN, doubt that the authorities would find Amir, doubt that the American justice system would deliver for Fahad, and most hurtful of all, doubt in her. And try as she might, she couldn’t think of a way to prove to him that he could trust her.
On the entire drive back, she’d hemmed and hawed about what Fahad had said to her before he died. Just thinking about it made her unspeakably sad. She hadn’t told Efraim. She didn’t know what she would say.
Your cousin hated me? He thought I was trying to manipulate you? He thought you shouldn’t trust me?
In the end, she hadn’t said anything. Until she could figure out some way to prove herself to Efraim, it seemed as if admitting Fahad’s dying words would be akin to telling Efraim to never trust her again.
“Efraim. Ms. McGuire. In here.” Stefan Lutece motioned them
into a small conference room. A gleaming wood table stretched the length of the room, flanked by comfortable leather chairs. The setting for the COIN summit, if it ever took place.
They joined Stefan, and Sebastian and Antoine Cavanaugh in the room. Antoine closed the door behind them. When she’d called from the Seven M, Callie had explained everything that had happened to Stefan. Judging from Sebastian’s and Antoine’s grim expressions, he’d passed information on to them as she’d requested.
“The sheriff’s just arrived.”
Callie nodded. Jake had left as soon as she’d arrived to rescue Efraim from the FBI. She’d guessed the sheriff had been heading to the Wind River Ranch. “He’ll want to look through Fahad’s belongings.”
“Yes, Jane is with him,” Stefan said, referring to Jane Cameron, a crime scene investigator. Jane and Stefan had been through a hell of their own recently. Callie was glad to see them still spending every spare moment together, obviously deeply in love.
Stefan continued. “I think we have to assume this was an attack on you, Efraim. That whoever shot Fahad was aiming to take out your security.”
Sebastian pulled out a chair as if to sit, but remained standing. “The car bomb might have only hurt Amir, but it was meant for all of us. That’s what the text said.”
Callie glanced at the nods coming from around the room. She knew about the text message Jane had found on another investigator’s phone. Bomb failed. Intended for all the coalition. Move to plan B. She glanced at Prince Stefan. “Has Jane or the authorities discovered who sent the text?”
Stefan shook his head. “Not yet.”
“I can guess what plan B is,” Sebastian continued. “After Amir disappeared, there were attempts to kill Stefan. Now Efraim. If they can’t get us all with one bomb, they are going to try to take us out one at a time. The question is, who is they?”
“Not a simple question,” Sebastian’s twin brother Antoine said. He looked at Stefan. “It could be Russian organized crime.”
Stefan nodded. He’d had a close call with a sniper, a man wearing a tattoo known as the type of art preferred by the Russian mob.
Callie added her nod to his. “The Russian mob is known to be active in the area surrounding your island nations. There have even been rumors that they have had dealings with the king of Saruk in the past, although those can’t be substantiated. Yet to date, they hadn’t been able to gain a strong foothold in any of COIN or in Saruk. Not that they aren’t still trying. Maybe this is their latest attempt.”
Efraim shook his head. “There’s one problem with that theory.”
“What is that?” Antoine asked.
“The man who shot Fahad wasn’t Russian.”
Callie frowned. He hadn’t mentioned that. Of course, they hadn’t had much of a chance to talk since her family “helped” Efraim at gunpoint, the sheriff grilled him and the FBI took him away. “How do you know?”
“He spoke to me.”
“He spoke?” Callie repeated. Efraim hadn’t told her that, and she had to wonder why.
“He spoke with an American accent. His accent was familiar.” He glanced at Callie out of the corner of his eye. “He sounded like he might be from the area.”
His words clanged through Callie’s head like a hard blow. A local? How could that be possible? “No.”
Efraim bowed his head. “I’m sorry.”
So he thought the shooter was one of her neighbors? One of her friends? Her family? She shook her head. She couldn’t accept that. There must be another explanation. “So an American could be working for the Russian mob. Or it could be a mobster who’s an American citizen.”
Efraim nodded. The lines bracketing his eyes softened a little, as if he was as relieved to have found a possible explanation as she was.
“There was a group protesting our presence in front of the courthouse,” Stefan said in a low voice. “Americans who believe we are here to learn how to enrich uranium for bombs.”
Callie waved her hands, trying to erase any horrible images Stefan’s words might conjure. “I saw them. They’re just a bunch of people whose fear has been stoked by cable TV. They’re not violent. Just afraid.”
Antoine shook his head and leaned back in his chair. Although he and Sebastian were twins, they had always struck Callie as very different men. Sebastian seemed like a bold and strong leader, always quick to protect anyone in need. Antoine was much darker, and she suspected his years in Barajas’s intelligence, particularly his expertise in interrogation, was what gave him that unsettling edge.
She met his eyes. “You don’t agree?”
“In my experience, some of the most violent people are those who are afraid. Like dogs that bite.”
She didn’t want to hear this. She didn’t want to think about any of it. But she knew she had to. “I will look into the protesters.”
Efraim and Sebastian opened their mouths at the same time as if readying their own protests.
She held up a hand to stop them. “You don’t need to protect me. Either of you. Think about it. You’re the people they’re afraid of. I’m a local girl. I can handle it better than any of the four of you can. You best focus on finding out more about the Russian mob.”
“We can call Darek,” Efraim said. “See what problems he’s had with the Russians.”
Callie’s stomach tensed. The last she’d heard, there was tension between Darek and the royals whose countries were part of COIN. Apparently that had changed. “Darek?” She looked up at Efraim.
He glanced away and began studying one of the Western paintings stretching across the boardroom’s richly paneled walls.
“He called when he heard about Amir’s disappearance,” Stefan explained. “He has reopened the lines of communication.”
Callie nodded, trying to hide her worry. If she were more naive, she might want to believe this new communication could lead to Saruk joining the compact along with the other four smaller island nations. But although she had no reason to mistrust Darek, who she knew was close with Efraim, Darek’s father was another matter. In all his dealings, the king of Saruk was less than predictable.
She just hoped the leaders in this room could talk Darek into joining them and not the other way around. She was especially worried about Efraim.
She glanced up at him. He was still gazing at the painting as if it was the most fascinating thing he’d ever seen. “Efraim, can I have a word with you?”
He looked back down at her, his expression that of a man who knew he’d have to face something unpleasant. “Certainly.”
Callie’s stomach sank as they left the others. She’d hoped she could convince Efraim to trust her. She didn’t want him to see her as demanding or controlling. As soon as they were alone in the corridor leading to his suite, she broke the tense silence. “I think it’s wonderful you are talking to Darek again.”
“He doesn’t agree that the United States should have a role in negotiations.”
“I know. Maybe you four and Amir can convince him this time.” She gave him a smile.
Efraim didn’t smile back.
She had to figure out a way to reach him. Obviously talking about Darek, even if she played up the positive, was not going to cut it. “You should have told me that the man who jumped you was American.”
“You really wanted to know?”
“No. The whole idea makes me feel shaky. But I’ll face it.”
Efraim pressed his lips together.
It wasn’t a smile exactly, but an expression of satisfaction. But it was enough to make Callie feel warmth surge through her. “I told you I’ll stick by you, and I mean it.”
Efraim reached toward her. His fingers brushed her hand, as if he’d wanted to hold it but held back. He looked straight ahead down the hall.
Callie tore her gaze away. A man was rushing toward them. She recognized him as part of Efraim’s security detail, but this time she recognized more. He was a lot leaner than his brother, his build slight as a teenage
r, but he had the same facial features, the same dark hair and beard. She felt as if she was staring at a dead man.
It must be Fahad’s brother.
“Efraim. Is it true?” Kateb Bahir didn’t even glance in her direction. Eyes riveted to Efraim, he gave the sheik a little bow before he continued. “Is Fahad dead?”
Efraim leveled a somber look on the man. “He is. I am very sorry.”
Fahad’s brother didn’t blink. “The American sheriff wants to look in Fahad’s room. I forbid him.”
Efraim glanced at Callie. “He doesn’t have to listen to us, correct?”
“He’ll need to get a warrant if you don’t give him permission. A judge will decide if the sheriff has a good enough reason to allow the search. If the judge grants the warrant, Sheriff Wolf can search whether you want him to or not.”
Kateb scowled.
Clearly he didn’t understand how American justice worked. “The sheriff is looking for evidence that might lead to the person who shot your brother. He might find something that will lead to the killer.”
Kateb kept his attention on Efraim. He seemed to hear her, but preferred to act as if she didn’t exist.
She was sure hearing that his brother had been killed was hard for Kateb. In light of that, she couldn’t take his snub to heart. Besides, in Nadar’s past, women weren’t allowed to speak directly to men. And she knew that there were some who kept that tradition alive. Maybe Kateb was one.
She pushed the echoes of Fahad’s last words from her mind. Kateb could have many reasons for his behavior. It didn’t automatically mean he hated her as much as his brother had.
Callie glanced up at him. “It’s standard procedure.”
Again, his lips pressed into a noncommittal line. His dark eyes searched hers, and a shiver fanned over her skin. “This warrant,” he said. “How long will it take for Wolf to get one?”
Callie glanced at her watch. It was plenty late. Nearly midnight already. “It depends. At this hour, he’ll have to wake a judge.”
Efraim turned back to Kateb. “Go back to your room, cousin. I will handle things from here.”
“I don’t trust the Americans. Fahad was head of security for all of the coalition. He might have sensitive information in his room.”
