The Survivor (Eve Duncan #30)

Chodak stared at him for a long moment. “This can only be about one thing.”

“And what would that be?”

“Silvana,” he whispered.

Nadim laughed. “You speak the name as if you expect her to come down from the mountain and strike you down.”

“Not her. But trust me, there are others who would. In a heartbeat.”

“No one within a thousand miles, I’d wager.”

“They’d make the trip.”

“Then perhaps we should take this conversation somewhere less… conspicuous.”

Chodak considered this for a moment. “We can talk in my boat. Your men with the guns can wait outside.”

Nadim nodded toward the four men, then he and Bevan followed Chodak into his boat. As Bevan had indicated, the boat’s interior was beautifully appointed, with teak finishes and leather-upholstered furniture.

Chodak poured himself a drink from the main cabin’s mirror-backed bar. “Would you gentlemen like anything?”

“Yes,” Nadim replied. “The exact location of Silvana’s final resting place.”

Chodak smiled. “I can see you’re not one to mince words.”

“I don’t like to waste time. Yours or mine.”

“You’ve already spent a lot of time coming to see me.” Chodak walked across the cabin with his drink. “Something must have given you the idea that I would be amenable to your offer.”

Bevan shrugged. “We understand you left your previous employment under less-than-ideal circumstances.”

“I was fired.”

Nadim laughed. “The Sherpa union kicked you out?”

“Not in so many words. But the suppliers wouldn’t sell to me, and I was cut out of any and all of the reciprocal aid agreements the Sherpas have up there. After that, it was impossible for me to get work.”

“And what did you do to deserve such treatment?”

“I took chances that others wouldn’t. I would take my clients up in conditions that were less than ideal. I was always totally honest with them, and I told them the risks. For some, their expedition was the trip of a lifetime. And if some spotty weather got in the way, the other Sherpas would tell them that they had to go home and try again someday. For some clients, that just wasn’t possible. For them, it was worth the risk to hire me to take them up.”

“And you were always successful?” Nadim said.

“Sadly, no.” Chodak sat in a large leather chair. “That adventurous spirit can come with a steep cost. I lost people every season.”

“But you obviously always made it back,” Nadim said.

“I was a better climber than them. But in my last season, I lost six clients in four different climbs. That was too much for my fellow Sherpas, and they closed ranks. Apparently, I was giving our mountain a bad reputation. But I’d saved enough money to come here and start a new life for myself.”

“Well, I can help give you an even better life,” Nadim said. “If you have the information I seek.”

“Oh, I have it.”

“You’ve been there?”

“I’ve been close enough. Many of the Sherpas working up there are descendants of Silvana’s subjects. They still adore her. As do I, to be honest. She was an extraordinary leader.”

“I agree.” Nadim took the bag of cash and placed it on the bar. “I promise she’ll always be treated with the greatest respect. Do we have a deal?”