The Perfect Witness

by Iris Johansen

  “Because he wouldn’t have to take you inside the palace. You could go through the garden to the terrace outside the room Praland enjoys most in the world. He goes to visit his demon tiger friend almost every evening. The wing is fairly isolated, and Kobu thinks he can position you on the terrace or nearby.”

  “The tiger again.” She shook her head. “And it’s not fair to call the tiger a demon. Praland is the demon. He keeps the tiger locked up instead of letting him roam his natural habitat. He starves him, then uses him to do his killing.”

  “You’re feeling sorry for a man-eating tiger.”

  “Who knows if he would have been man-eating if he hadn’t been taught. As I said, Praland is the demon.”

  “I won’t argue that description. I’ll make those calls and see if Kobu is leaning in Praland’s direction. Then we’ll have breakfast and set out.” He looked at her. “Or say screw it and let me work on another plan.”

  She shook her head.

  “I didn’t think so.” He turned and walked out of the cave.

  It had been hard to say no. Last night had been extraordinary, both sexually and emotionally. She wanted to be safe and cling to that fragile happiness.

  Admit it. She wanted to cling to Mandak.

  But Mandak was one of the people most in danger if she didn’t locate that ledger.

  So finish getting dressed. Get on the road.

  By dusk, they should have reached the palace.

  And her meeting with Aman Kobu.

  CHAPTER FOURTEEN

  MANDAK WAS HANGING UP THE phone when she came out of the cave. “Kobu talked to Praland during the night.”

  She tensed. “And?”

  “High-level threats from Praland. Panicky reassurances from Kobu. But he didn’t set up any traps or tell Praland we had an arrangement. So there’s a good chance that he’ll go through with it.”

  “Comforting.”

  “That’s all I can give you.”

  His phone rang and he answered it. “It’s Renata.” He held out the phone to Allie. “She wants to talk to you.”

  Renata started talking the moment Allie answered, “I don’t like this. I think my job is to give you some inspiring bullshit, but that’s not me. This is so damn important to us that I have to let you go for it. All I can say is that I’m scared for you. I’m grateful to you. I thank you for myself and for my family. I think you’ve got a hell of a lot of guts, and I respect you. If you get out of this alive, I’ll owe you big-time. Now let me talk to Mandak.”

  She raised her brows as she handed the phone back to Mandak. “That was an interesting conversation. I hope she lets you say something.”

  He smiled and turned away. “She’ll just want to make sure she gives me orders to take care of you. As if I wouldn’t. But Renata thinks she has to run the world.”

  Allie heard him talking as she turned back toward the cave. It seemed to run in the family, she wanted to tell him. But that dominant trait could be comforting when everything seemed to be attacking from all sides. And honesty was a quality that was above price.

  Renata’s call had not made Allie feel less afraid, but there was now a warmth that had not been there before to fight the chill.

  “Ready for breakfast?” Sean asked.

  She wasn’t hungry, but she had to have strength. “Sure. Why not?”

  Ten Miles from Sandek Palace

  5:15 P.M.

  “You look a hell of a lot better,” Sean said, as Allie came out of the forest, braiding her wet hair into a single braid. “Where’s Mandak?”

  “Coming. He’s taking a quick dip. He insisted on standing guard while I took my bath.” She smiled. “I told him that he should trust you more.”

  “Not with you,” Sean said. “I’ve noticed that he doesn’t think anyone else can take care of you.” He shrugged. “I understand. He’s on edge … and scared.”

  “Who isn’t?” She did feel better after taking that dip, but her nerves were stretched raw. She was only hours away from going into that palace, trying to get the information, and still survive. “I just hope it’s not all for nothing. I’ve never tried to read anyone with a mind block. What if it extends to memory?”

  “Mandak didn’t think it did.”

  “But no one knows for sure.”

  “True.” Mandak walked out of the forest toward them. “But if you can’t do it, that’s the end of it. I told you that I’d think of something else.”

  “It’s a little late,” she said dryly. “After you’ve wasted seven years on me.”

  “Not wasted.” He stopped in front of her. “Never wasted, Allie.” He tugged gently at her braid. “Those seven years created an extraordinary human being.”

  She had the impulse to take a step closer to him. He smelled of the fresh earthiness of the forest. His dark hair was wet from the pond and shining in the sunlight. The sleeves of his shirt were rolled up to the elbow, and she could see the sleek flex of the muscles of his forearms. She wanted to reach out and touch—

  She drew a deep breath and took a step back. “It would be a waste as far as stopping Praland in his tracks. We’ve got to hope you were right about my being able to read him. Sometimes memories are random.”

  “I’m going to try to give you a little insurance. I’ll call his cell as soon as I gauge you in position and start talking to him about the ledger. With any luck, it should trigger memories.”

  “Logical.” She felt relieved. She didn’t know about luck, but she’d take any break she could get. She turned away. “Should we get on our way? We wouldn’t want to keep Kobu waiting.”

  “Not quite yet. I want to go over the route that Kobu will take you through the gardens.” He took out his computer and pulled up the palace schematic. “He’ll bring you in the east gate, take you west and down the garden and pergola to the wing closest to the house. There’s an ornate flagstone terrace here.” His finger punched a window in the schematic. “And that’s the Tiger Room. Window number fifteen. If Kobu tries to take you in any other direction, be on the alert. He might be betraying you.”

  She nodded. “Oh, I’ll be watching him.” She looked down at the schematic. “Where will you be?”

  “Not close enough,” he said grimly. “I want to go with you, but I can’t do it. If Kobu runs into a guard, he might be able to talk himself out of it. But not if I’m along. Praland has made sure that every one of his men knows what I look like.” He pointed to the east gate. “So I have to take out the sentry who guards this gate. After that I have to make the phone call to Praland. Then I have to take out another two guards on the route back into the jungle to clear a path for us to the jeep. Sean will meet you at the gate after you’re finished and bring you back to the jeep.”

  “And we’ll get the hell out of there,” Allie said. “Those jungles will be crawling with Praland’s men once they find those sentries.”

  “I know these jungles. I spent two weeks dodging and hiding in them after I shot Simon. I told Renata to have a pilot and helicopter waiting about five miles north of here.”

  “If we get that far,” Sean said.

  “We’ll get there. Once Allie’s out of the palace grounds, it will be my show. And it will be about time,” he said bitterly. “I’ll take over. I guarantee I won’t let her be caught.”

  “I’ve got to get into the palace before we worry about that,” Allie said as she turned and got into the jeep. “And we’re still making Kobu wait and get edgier by the minute. I don’t like that idea.”

  “I didn’t mean to make you uneasy just cautious.” He got into the jeep. “He may think about betraying you but I’m ninety percent sure he won’t do it.”

  “And I’ll watch out for the last ten percent,” Allie said. “You can bet on it.”

  * * *

  IT WAS DUSK WHEN THEY LEFT the jeep in the jungle three miles away from Sandek Palace and moved warily toward the high white stone walls Allie could see in the distance.

  “It’s beau
tiful,” she murmured. “I was expecting something more like a fortress. This reminds me of a palace in an Arabian Nights tale.”

  “Praland would like that idea,” Mandak said. “It brings power to mind, and he’s into that big-time.”

  “Hence the tiger.”

  “Yeah,” he said curtly. “That’s a good example.” He stopped. “Kobu should be meeting us about five hundred yards ahead. Slow down. I’m going to check out the surrounding area to make sure that we don’t have any other visitors.”

  “So much for ninety percent,” Allie murmured.

  “It still goes. I’m just not going to have much of a chance to keep you safe. I’m taking advantage of every opportunity. Take care of her, Sean.” He disappeared into the brush.

  “You heard him.” Sean moved in front of Allie. “I’m to display all my superpowers to keep the bad guys from making toast of you.”

  “By all means, but your superpowers have to do with odds and gambling.”

  “And bravery and keen intelligence. Don’t leave those out.”

  “I wouldn’t think of it.” Her gaze was wandering around the palms in front of them, and she was trying to keep the tension from her voice. The walls of the palace seemed overpoweringly close. Where was Kobu? They were close enough now. He should be here.

  And where was Mandak?

  “Stop!” Kobu was suddenly on the trail in front of them, a rifle in his hands. She remembered that face, the mustache, those dark, gleaming eyes. “You are the Girard woman. But where is Mandak?”

  “He’s here.” Her hand slipped down to the gun in her jacket pocket. “I think he’s looking for you.”

  “Stupid woman. Why don’t you know? You wander through the jungle, and you have no—”

  “She’s not stupid.” Mandak was behind Kobu. “It would be a great mistake for you to assume that she is.” He looked at Allie and Sean. “It’s clear up ahead. It appears Kobu is going to do the smart thing and make himself a rich man.”

  “You thought I would betray you?” Kobu’s smile was forced. “Why would I do that? We made a deal.”

  “We won’t discuss our deal now.” He put his hand on Kobu’s shoulder and pushed him away from Allie and toward the trees ahead. “We’ll just execute it. Give me ten minutes to take out the sentry at the east gate. Then you can come and bypass the lock on the gate, Kobu.” He disappeared into the jungle. “I’ll see you there.”

  “After you.” Sean gestured to Kobu. “I’ll just amble along behind you with Allie. I’d like to keep an eye on you.”

  Kobu shrugged. “It may all be a waste of time. Mandak is overconfident. Those sentries are very good, and they know what would happen to them if they failed Praland.”

  “It won’t be a waste of time,” Sean said. “I’ll give you odds. I’ve gone on missions with Mandak before. He’s not only good, this time he’s highly motivated. He’ll take that sentry out.”

  * * *

  THERE WAS NO sign of the sentry when they reached the east gate.

  “Inside.” Mandak stepped out of the shadows, his expression tense. “Bypass that lock, Kobu. Get moving, Allie. I turned off the guard’s phone when I dragged him into the shrubs, but there’s no telling if someone will get curious if he doesn’t answer. I don’t know how much time we have.” He turned to Allie. “Last chance. I’ll scrub it if you say the word.”

  She shook her head.

  “Then take care of yourself, dammit.” He turned on Kobu. “Listen very well.” His voice was deadly cold. “Betray her, and anything that Praland would do to you will pale by comparison to what I have in mind. I’d hunt you down and never quit.”

  Kobu flinched. “She dies, and I don’t get the rest of my money. That wouldn’t make sense.” He hurried down the path. “But if the woman is clumsy and gets nervous, it wouldn’t be my fault.”

  “From this moment on, I’m looking at everything as being your fault.” He turned back to Allie. “I’ll make the call to Praland in ten minutes. You should be in position and ready by that time.” His hand reached out and gently touched her cheek. “I hate this. Don’t take any chances you don’t have to take.” He strode away, with Sean following.

  Did he think she didn’t hate it? She was scared and worried about him and Sean. Not to mention what this slimy scumbag Kobu might decide to do before they got out of that garden.

  Kobu was looking over his shoulder at her with a sneer on his face. “Coming?”

  She smothered her anger and walked quickly after him. He gestured to the west and set out at a fast pace.

  Right direction at least. Mandak had said west, then the fifteenth window.

  The tiger window.

  * * *

  MANDAK STOPPED AFTER GOING several hundred yards into the forest. He checked his watch. “Five minutes to go.”

  Sean nodded, his gaze on the palace walls. “So far, so good.”

  “Not good,” Mandak said tightly. “There’s nothing good about this situation. She’s in there, and I’m out here.”

  “You gave her a choice. She said it was her job.”

  “After I railroaded her into a position where she thought it was her duty.”

  “I think that she’d be hard to railroad.”

  “But I’m so good at it.”

  “And so hard on yourself.”

  Mandak checked his watch again. “Three more minutes.”

  * * *

  FOURTEEN.

  The next window was fifteen.

  It was a large, multipaned window, set back into the stone facade and trimmed with surrounding open-worked exotic metal designs.

  “There it is,” Kobu whispered. “I leave you now. I’ve done what Mandak wished.”

  She stiffened. “You’re not going anywhere. That wasn’t in the plan.” She slipped her gun out of her pocket of her jacket. “You leave when I leave.”

  “You fire that gun, and you’ll have every guard in the palace on top of you,” he snarled.

  “But I’m only a stupid woman. Isn’t that what you said? What difference will it make if I rouse the palace when that may be your plan when you leave me?” Her gaze narrowed on his face. “Either way, Mandak will blame you.” She could see that shook him. That last threat Mandak had made had been both fierce and terrifying. “Now I’m going to go sit behind those oleander shrubs beneath the window. You’re going to sit down four or five feet away from me, where I can clearly see you. Do you understand?”

  “Bitch.”

  She kept the gun pointed at him as she moved toward the window. “I can’t talk to you any longer. Someone from inside may be able to hear because of that open metalwork on the window. Do as I say, Kobu.”

  He hesitated, glaring at her. Then he shrugged and slowly sat down where she’d indicated.

  She felt a rush of relief. She didn’t know if he’d actually been planning to betray her or just to remove himself from potential danger. Either way, it was safer to keep him with her until she was back with Mandak.

  Damn, she hadn’t needed this, she thought as she insinuated herself closer to the window. She had to concentrate on Praland, not worry about a move from Kobu. She kept her gun propped and ready in her hand as she turned her attention to what was going on in the room.

  The first thing she saw was the tiger. Striped, magnificent, and deadly in his scarlet-and-gilt cage.

  The next thing she saw was Praland, sitting on the couch in front of the cage.

  The third thing she saw was her mother, moving from the bar across the room to hand Praland a drink.

  Shock.

  The breath left Allie’s body.

  She’d accepted the possibility of her mother’s being here, not the reality.

  Accept it now. Clear your head. Do your job.

  But her gaze was glued on Gina in her sunburst orange gown. Gina who was staring down at Praland with a smiling intimacy that Allie had seen on her face when she had spoken to her father and Camano. It was all there, willing, alluring t
emptation incarnate. Along with confidence and power. All her life, Gina had tried to make Allie believe that she was helpless, molded by the men in her life. But there was nothing helpless about the woman standing beside Praland. Allie could hear her low laugh as she lifted her drink to her lips.

  Allie tried to focus. Don’t look at Gina. Don’t think about the lies of a lifetime. Concentrate.

  Praland was only a scant twenty-five feet away from her. If it was possible that his memory would be open to her, then the distance was right. That was a big if. She tried to probe.

  Nothing.

  But that might mean his memory was not engaged. He was looking at Gina, and she could hear her mother laugh again and say something in a low voice. Praland was occupied with her mother and what was happening now. She’d have to wait until Mandak made his call.

  She gave a quick glance at Kobu. Still glaring at her, tense, frightened, but not moving.

  Call, Mandak, she silently urged.

  Talk to Praland. I can’t get near him.

  * * *

  “TIME,” MANDAK SAID.

  He pressed the button on his cell. There would be no ID, but Praland would be both curious and wary about anyone having his private number.

  He was right. It rang only twice before Praland picked up. “Hello.”

  “Mandak. You’ve called me so many times in the last eight years that I thought that I’d return the favor.”

  “But I always had a reason for calling you,” Praland said. “I was always delighted to see you sweat.” He chuckled. “After all, you stole from me. I wasn’t finished with toying with Simon Walberg. You made me look a fool in front of my men. But I’ve paid you back since then. How many of your precious family have I killed?”

  “Seventeen.”

  “I’m so glad you’ve kept a tally. There will be more. Besides, the taking of the children that seems to bother you so much. I’ve got plans to expand my operations in that direction. They are so very profitable.”

  “We’ll shut you down. The reason I’m calling is that you’ve crossed the line when you had Camano kill Lee and Natalie Walberg. I don’t want you to sleep well again. We’re getting close to you. The minute we find the ledger, you’re a dead man.”