The Survivor (Eve Duncan #30)

Nadim laughed. “You want to know what would please me? I’ll tell you. Keep an eye out for the kid Maya keeps in that house in the village right across the bridge from the main house. She’s a pretty little girl about ten or eleven. There appear to be guards on duty at all times in front of the place. I’ve been wondering why. I’m very curious about her.”

Bevan frowned and shook his head. “I’ve never seen her around. But then I might not notice her. I don’t care much for kids.”

“You don’t? I’m quite fond of them. I have a girl only a little older than her down in my cabin right now. I had Gunter hunt her down in the fields when I realized I was going to need something to amuse me while I was waiting for my opportunity to go after Maya.” He smiled maliciously. “I might be willing to share.”

Bevan shook his head. Nadim was probably just bullshitting. He couldn’t imagine him being generous about anything. All Bevan would need was to have those villagers think he was the one who had snatched one of their children. He knew Maya always kept her villagers armed and ready to engage at the drop of a hat. That wasn’t the way he wanted to start out this deal with Nadim. “Like I said, I don’t care for kids. But I’ll see what I can find out about that girl you mentioned.”

“You do that,” Nadim said as he got to his feet. “Report back to me as soon as you can. I think Gunter said the kid’s name was Bailey…”

ATLANTA AIRPORT

3:40 P.M.

NEXT DAY

“Eve!” Riley enveloped Eve in an enthusiastic hug when she saw her waiting at baggage claim. “What are you doing here? Kirby told me Joe was going to pick me up.”

“So I’m not good enough for you?” Eve laughed. “After all that drama and your elaborate explanations about all the reasons you wanted to come?”

“Be quiet.” Riley made a face. “These days my life seems to be so regimented that I question every change. I’m very happy to see you even when you’re yelling at me.” She reached down and grabbed her suitcase off the carousel. “Where’s Joe?”

“We did a switch.” She grinned as they walked toward the exit. “Kirby called Joe this morning and asked him to pick you up and he told him he would. But he didn’t mention that he’d have to cancel his reservations to Edinburgh and book a later flight because he’d told me he’d let me work the full day on my current sculpture up to the time he’d drop you off.” She made a face. “He said it didn’t matter to him, but when he told me, it mattered to me. There wasn’t any reason I couldn’t stop work early and pick you up so that he’d be able to reach my son’s school in time to take him out for dinner before the soccer game.”

“Sorry. It appears I’m already causing trouble,” Riley said. “You should have told Kirby that Joe was planning on going to Scotland. I could have taken an Uber to the cottage.”

She shook her head. “Joe and Cade became good friends while we were on the Helen hunt. He felt duty-bound to make certain you were welcomed properly. It was easier for me to handle it.” She was striding to her jeep on the parking deck. “And it was no trouble. Stop apologizing.”

Riley shrugged. “Regimentation strikes again.” Then she threw back her head and smiled as she got into the passenger seat. “But I’m not going to let it bother me. I’m glad to be here with you. I’ll find a way to make it up to you.”

“Excellent,” Eve said gravely. “I’ll have to think about what exorbitant fee I can charge you for the ride.”

“I’m being ridiculous?” Riley asked.

“Marginal, considering you’re my good friend and I’m usually willing to do much more for a friend.” She smiled. “I’m glad you’re here. Now lean back and relax and let me tell you how marvelous my son is doing at school and what an amazing boy he is. He’s on the soccer team and he’s going to try out for the rowing team. Actually, Joe’s trip was a little unexpected. But it seems the other students all have their fathers coming up to the school this week to talk to the coach. He wondered if Joe could come, too.” She shook her head. “Michael was very polite and said he would understand if it wasn’t possible. But he thought Joe might be able to help the coach since he’d been a SEAL. What could Joe say?”

Riley was grinning. “Nothing but yes.”

“Right, it’s almost impossible to say no to Michael,” Eve said. “Now, you just chill and pretend to be enthralled while I tell you why. And you can laugh and be admiring and know that we’re not going to discuss anything that will make you tense until we’re back at the Lake Cottage and have had dinner and a glass of wine.”

Riley moistened her lips. “I’m not exactly tense.”

“Close enough.” She darted her a glance. “Did I tell you how Michael traveled with Cara when she gave one of her concerts? She said he was a big help, and he could do it again next vacation if I’ll let him.” She laughed. “I never thought that he had an ambition to be a roadie but it seems to be the thing kids want to try these days…”

“More wine?” Eve was already topping off Riley’s glass as she put the decanter on the coffee table in front of the porch swing. “I thought maybe we’d have dessert later. Wine is more what you need right now.” She leaned back on the swing and gazed at Riley. “Okay, are you comfortable?”

“Of course I’m comfortable.” Riley gazed at her with exasperation. “Why wouldn’t I be? A gorgeous lake, woods, and wonderful peace. This Lake Cottage of yours is perfect. I don’t know why you ever left it to help me find Helen.”

“Because you had a dream,” Eve said quietly. “And dreams are important.” She lifted her glass in a toast. “And your dreams happened to coincide with a dream of my own if you’ll remember. Though I do love this place. It’s been home for a long time for my family. Home can sometimes be as important as dreams.”

“I wouldn’t know about that,” Riley said. “Since I’ve spent practically all my life in jungles and deserts and following my father into tombs.” She shrugged. “And that wasn’t such a bad life. Every place has something going for it if you reach out and look for it.”

“I can see how you’d appreciate the nuances.” Eve chuckled. “But then didn’t you tell me you were taught medicine by an African witch doctor at one time? That was an extreme case of reaching out.” Her smile faded. “I do hope your present predicament doesn’t involve the witch doctor?”

“Not that I know about,” Riley said. “One can never tell with Maya, but that was Africa and I believe my problem may be moving from India to an island in the Himalayan Mountains near Tibet.”

“Tibet? That’s a surprise. I can see this may get complicated.”

“Not for you,” Riley said quickly. “I told you I’m the one who has an obligation. I owe Maya, and she wouldn’t have called me if there hadn’t been trouble. I told her that she can’t expect help from anyone but me.”