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“I’m fine.” How should she start? “You’re surprised to hear from me? It’s only been five years. I told you that I might call you if I changed my mind about payback. I’m humiliated to admit that the time might have come.” She paused. “Do you still want to talk to me?”
“How can you ask?” Riley asked impatiently. “When my father and I would have both died that night on the island if you hadn’t saved us? I told you then that I pay my debts.”
“But life sometimes changes people. I’ve been keeping track of you, and you’ve become the famous archaeologist your father always thought you’d be.” She paused. “I heard that he died tragically recently. You know I always respected him, even though I couldn’t give him what he wanted.”
“He respected you, too,” Riley said. “And neither my father nor I really thought that we’d find Helen’s tomb on your island. It was too far to the southeast, but we had to explore every possibility. We’d heard the legends and my father followed them, as he had every clue for the past thirty years.”
“But according to the media, after his death you did find proof that Helen of Troy existed. That must have been exciting for you.” Maya was silent. “At least for a little while. How long did it last, Riley?”
“What are you trying to say? You don’t believe it was enough for me? I was as dedicated to the search as my father, Maya.”
“You were fascinated by Helen. You liked the adventure and taking the next step. But I always thought that there would be another step for you. That’s why I kept my eye on you after you left Palandan Island.” She smiled crookedly. “I was afraid I might someday need someone to take more than one step with me. If I can make it worth their while.”
“That sounds like an offer.” Riley’s eyes narrowed on Maya’s face. “And why now?”
“Perhaps because in the time since you left the island, you’ve become a kind of celebrity. You’re quite famous in academic circles these days. I might be able to use it.”
“Celebrity?” Riley made a rude sound. “Maybe I’ve accomplished what I set out to do in finding Helen and bringing her to everyone’s attention again. I’m proud of that.”
“You’ve also made contact with Eve Duncan, the foremost forensic sculptor in the world. That could be very valuable. She’s done extensive work in the past with historical restoration. She even did the sculpting on your Helen of Troy. You were lucky to get her. She’s quite wonderful.” She paused. “Don’t you think she might be intrigued by the stories that drew you to the island?”
“Perhaps,” Riley said slowly. “But she’s also a professional who has a career she cares about. Mere curiosity wouldn’t tempt her.”
“But friendship might, and the media has done a lot of talking about your relationship since you began setting up that London museum.”
She stiffened. “I wouldn’t impose.”
“Your choice. Then should we discuss Morgan Cade? Another very close friend who might prove useful. According to the media, he’s half Indiana Jones, half Robin Hood, and he has a special hatred of traffickers of both humans and animals. One of the richest men in the world, winner of a Congressional Medal of Honor, archaeologist, humanitarian, famous environmentalist and animal activist…” She paused. “That latter qualification alone might lure him to the island. And did I mention that almost every news story I’ve read lately can’t resist publishing a photo of you with Cade? Are you still living with him?”
“That’s none of your business, Maya. Are you trying to make me angry?”
“No, I’m trying to be honest.” She added wearily, “And I’m trying to point out that I might be ruthless enough to attempt getting any help available if I need it. I’m trying to warn you in case you want to tell me to go to hell. I don’t want you to do anything against your principles, but I also don’t want to put you in danger if I don’t have to.” She tried to smile. “I won’t deny I’m in trouble, but I believe I can still come out on top with a little help from my friends… and your friends. If it turns out to be just the two of us, we might still make it. After all, you found Helen. I think you might be able to find Silvana. I have my own guards on the island, but I don’t want them hurt. You’ll remember they helped keep you and your father alive. Now I’m going to hang up and let you think about whether you want to help me. If you’re smart, you’ll probably turn me down. Regardless, I want your promise not to discuss me or the island with anyone else. Okay?”
“Of course. But I don’t really know what’s happening with you, dammit.”
“Think about it. You’re very intelligent. You know I have enemies. You ran into a few of them. The situation with Aden Nadim has just gotten more complicated.” She added, “And less safe. I’ll call you back in a few days to get your answer. I’ll try to go into more details then if you want to hear them.” She hesitated before she continued, “But there’s one thing you should know. This is going to be the endgame for me, and I have to treat it the way Jann Lu would want it treated. That means that the stakes are sky-high, no holds barred. I’ll give you everything you want from me, but I’ll take whatever I need to keep the people and things I value safe. I can’t promise anything else. Do you understand?”
“Hell, no.” Riley was frowning. “How could I? It’s bullshit. I don’t even know what this Jann Lu has to do with it.”
“You will. You’ll know everything soon if you want to come back to the island. If you don’t, perhaps what you have now is worth forgetting. I won’t blame you whichever you decide. Goodbye, Riley.”
Maya cut the connection. She leaned back in her chair and drew a deep breath. It was done.
Or at least it was started. She had never thought she would retrieve that promise from Riley, but never was a long time. Why else had she kept track of Riley’s doings all these years? It was true they had become close during the time Riley and her father had visited the island, but Maya had deliberately broken the contact after she had been able to get them safely away from here. Her own life was too full of threat to let young, enthusiastic Riley Smith with her big dreams and driving ambition remain anywhere near her. It had obviously been the right decision. After Riley left, life had been neither tame nor uneventful. She had suffered loss and danger, but success had also followed her like a bright comet.
And now Maya was going to tap that comet.
She leaned her head against the back of the chair and closed her eyes. She hoped she was doing the right thing. It felt good and moral and ethical, and it was the duty she’d been trained for since childhood. That alone should make it right, shouldn’t it?
As long as it didn’t cause the deaths of good people before it was over…
CAMBRY HOUSE
OUTSIDE LONDON
“Shit!” Riley slammed down the lid of the computer and stood up from her desk. She went to the bathroom, got a glass of water, and drank it. Then she went out onto the balcony and looked at the grounds. From here she could hear the sounds of the Wildlife Harbor Sanctuary, the private zoo that adjoined Cade’s estate and the Helen of Troy Museum: the high scream of the monkeys and occasional bellow of the elephants. Usually she liked the sounds, but at the moment they were getting on her nerves. “Maya, what the hell are you doing to me?” she whispered. She was too on edge to settle so she went back into her bedroom, threw on her jacket, and went outside for a walk. Whatever Maya was doing, Riley could tell that her personality hadn’t really changed since she had last seen her on Palandan Island. No, that might not be true: There had been no hint of Maya’s usual humor on that call tonight. Only concern and a willingness to use whomever she had to in order to banish whatever problem was plaguing her. Not like Maya at all. Maya had told her before they left the island that neither her father nor Riley owed her anything. Yet tonight she had offered Riley whatever she wanted in return.
And Riley had instantly known what that meant. Both she and her father had researched the history of the area before they’d gone to investigate the possibility of Helen’s tomb being on Palandan Island. Neither of them had thought it likely, but they were intrigued by the stories told by the islanders while they were there. Maya had been amused by her fascination and dropped a few teasing remarks that they had both laughed about.