The Survivor (Eve Duncan #30)

“Make Kagan a priority,” Cade said. “I need him.”

“So do half the nations in the world at one time or another. Like I said, I’m working on it.” He lifted his hand. “But you may have to go after him yourself.”

“Then I will.”

Cade watched him drive out of the village before he held open the rear door of the jeep for Riley, then turned to Maya. “I assume you’re not going to let me drive us to this temple?”

Maya shook her head. “Even if it wasn’t forbidden to reveal the directions to the temple to anyone, you’d only get lost.”

Riley gazed at her curiously. “Yet you gave me the general location as deep in the north-central area when you were drawing my map.”

Maya shrugged. “It was necessary. I had to break through that wall you both were building against me. It was a way to demonstrate that you could trust me. So I told you enough to keep you happy.”

“Was it the truth?”

Maya smiled. “Yes, but I also told you that you’d need me to find it. That was also true.” She paused. “Even if you tried to dazzle me with space-age technology. That’s usually the first key treasure hunters use to break through barriers.” She got into the driver’s seat. “Sit back and relax. Sleep if you can. The route is practically all jungle, but we’ll have to walk the last few miles.”

Cade grinned as he got in the backseat. “I have a very good memory and extensive tracking experience in the jungle. I’ll see if I can memorize the way back.”

“Do that.” Maya glanced at Riley. “You, too?”

She shook her head wearily. “I’m not in the mood for challenges right now. I’m still sick from the sight of what Nadim did to Siena. I just want to shut my eyes and forget it for a little while until we can make him pay.” She closed her eyes. “I’ll worry about space-age tech and jungle instincts later, Cade. I’ve watched how those villagers feel about Maya all day and I’ve decided I trust her. You’ll have to make your own decisions. But right now I prefer to just trust her to get us to the damn place.”

“No problem.” He kissed her cheek and then leaned back in his seat. “Try to take a nap, love. It’s been one hell of a day. I believe Maya and I both want it to go away for you for a little while…”

She didn’t open her eyes, but she had to ask a question. “Who’s Finn Kagan? I don’t believe I’ve ever heard you talk about him.”

“An old friend from my service days. He taught me quite a bit before he got bored with me and wandered away.”

“Bored with you?” she repeated drowsily. “He must have been crazy. I probably wouldn’t like him.”

“I think you would. But he’s not to everyone’s taste.”

“Crazy…”

A few minutes later he realized that she was asleep. He pulled her closer against his shoulder.

“What do you want with Kagan?” Maya was looking at Cade in the rearview mirror.

He lifted his gaze to the mirror. “You’ve heard of him?”

“Of course, but I’m not surprised that Riley hasn’t. She’s done a great amount of trekking through the jungle, but Kagan is a mountain man. He’s done a lot of climbing around here. He’s climbed Everest eight times. I’ve heard he’s fantastic.” She paused and asked again, “What do you want with him?”

“I think he might be useful.” He changed the subject. “But I don’t believe he’ll be going back to Everest. It was beginning to bore him the last time I talked to him. He was spending a lot of time at K2.”

“The most dangerous climb in the world,” she murmured. “And you’re not going to tell me what you want with Kagan, are you?”

“Probably not immediately. I’ll have to think about it. But you shouldn’t jump to conclusions about Riley. She was the one who decided that Helen’s tomb was probably in the mountains because of the preservation factor. She practically handed me the sarcophagus on a silver platter.”

“I wasn’t denigrating Riley. I realize how smart she is. No one could appreciate her more than I do.”

“Yes, they could.” He brushed the top of Riley’s head with his lips. “I do.” He lifted his eyes again. “That’s why I’m being very cautious with you. Riley’s all heart and dives in without thinking as long as she trusts someone. I have to do a little investigating to make sure no one is going to play her.”

“It wouldn’t be me.”

“If it is, you won’t be around long.” He added softly, “And you’d regret it. I hope I won’t have to make that kind of judgment. I prefer to keep to our arrangement. But you still haven’t let us know enough about you yet.”

“That will come. I’ve always found it’s best to learn about people through experience. You’ll learn a lot at the temple.” She added, “I do realize it’s not fair that I know more about you, but that was necessary. I had to do extensive research when I thought I might use you to help save the island. I already knew everything I had to know about Riley.”