Page 30 of The Death
“But I didn’t tell you quite everything. You’d already gone through a hell of a lot, and I thought it might not be necessary. But I won’t let you go with me if you don’t know every single thing.” He reached into his wallet and brought out a stack of photos. “These are photos of the massacre at Karimu. I sent copies to Catherine so that she could showthem to her bosses at the CIA. I kept my own copies to help me remember how much I want to kill Caldwell, who supplied the weapons, drugs, and firepower to the natives who attacked that village.” He set the stack in front of Celine. “Be sure you examine every one. Don’t miss the women and the kids and the babies. Because that’s what you might see if you decide to come with me tonight.”
She stared at him in horror and then slowly started to go through the photos. She was pale, and every now and then she flinched as she saw a particularly terrible photo. But she kept going until there were no more photos for her to see. Then she sat back in the chair and took a deep breath. “That was… hideous.” Her voice was trembling. “The babies were the worst. Their whole life in front of them and then to be murdered like that…” She closed her eyes for an instant. And then she shuddered. “What am I saying? There is no worst. It’s all terrible and senseless.” Her eyes opened, swimming with unshed tears. “And I just saw the photos. What must it have been like for you to be there to see them lying there and have to—”
“Shut up.” He was suddenly in front of her and pulling her up into his arms and holding her. His voice was hoarse. “This isn’t how you’re supposed to react when someone deliberately puts you through hell, Celine. Now tell me you don’t want to go through anything like that again and particularly not with me, so that I’d have to see it. Let me send you somewhere I can keep you safe.”
“But those people in that village weren’t safe. Barnaby wasn’t safe, and who knows who those bastards will zero in on next. I have to stop it.” She pushed him away. “We have to stop it. Did you really think that showing me those nightmarepictures would keep me away? They killed my friend, they killed all those people in that village. And it made you so angry, you tried to hurt me so I wouldn’t be another victim. Why do you think I’m studying to try to save lives if I could just walk away after seeing what happened in Karimu? I realize what you’re trying to do—mold the situation to suit yourself.” Her eyes were suddenly glittering in her taut face. “But maybe you’re not as ruthless or tough as everyone thinks, because what you did might have hurt you as much as it did me.”
“There’s that possibility.” He reached out and cupped her face in his two hands and gazed down into it. “I admit I took a chance on manipulating you because I wanted the end result so badly. I didn’t expect you to be able to strike back with such… anger. It startled me.”
“I wasn’t striking back at you. I was just expressing the very real anger that was boiling inside me. I imagine that could translate to attack in your world.” She stepped back away from him again. “But I believe that I passed your rather painful test, didn’t I?”
“If I can’t talk you out of being reasonable about it.” He took another step back. “Yes, you managed to pull the rug out from under me.” He turned and headed for the cockpit. “So fasten your seat belt in about another five minutes, when we’ll be taking off. You might get yourself a fresh cup of coffee first. The one I gave you before I tossed those damn photos at you has to be stone-cold.”
“I’ll do that,” Celine said as she turned toward the galley. “I’m feeling a little chilly myself at the moment.”
“I wonder why,” Dominic said grimly. “When I’ve been such a kind and considerate host.”
“You did what you thought you had to do,” she said quietly. “I realize I’m not the only person who feels they have a job to do and is trying to do it with the least collateral damage.”
He looked back over his shoulder. “You’re being very generous.”
“I expect a return in kind,” she said. “I know I’m going to need you when we start to hunt for Caldwell and Jossland. I’d already started to use you when I asked you to take me to Eve Duncan. I’m sure it will increase when we reach Sardwa airport in Africa. I want you to be willing to give that help and not just look for a way to get rid of me. Will you do it?”
He nodded curtly. “I’ll do it. I had no more questions from the time I realized that you’d taken away my best weapon and turned it against me. Anything else?”
“Only one thing. Will you be my friend, Dominic? There have been moments since we came together that I felt as if you were. I might need that.”
“Friends?” He stared at her for a long moment. “That might be more difficult to promise. I think you realize why. Suppose I just promise to try very hard, Celine.” He turned and disappeared into the cockpit.
Yes, she knew why friendship would be difficult. That moment when he had held her face in his hands and she’d looked into his eyes, she had felt her breath leave her body and her breasts swell. She wanted him to touch her. Sex might be heady and filled with dangerous sensuality with Dominic. Friendship would be safer. Friendship would be best.
Work toward it. Don’t let those random moments of intense desire overtake her. Think of the work to be done in catching Jossland and Caldwell. Keep busy. She picked up the pile ofmaps and books Dominic had given her and settled down in her seat. By the time she reached the African territories Dominic knew so well, she had to be prepared.
She unfolded the first map on the top of the pile.
Keep busy…
CHAPTER
9
SARDWA AIRPORT, AFRICA
Iwas expecting something a bit cozier,” Celine said as she jumped out on the tarmac and glanced around at the modern runways and multiple hangars. “I saw at least three jets as we taxied down that runway.” She grinned. “What? No control tower?”
“Of course there is.” Dominic gestured at the tall stone building on the edge of the east runway. “It’s fully equipped, but I don’t have personnel manning it unless it becomes necessary. I prefer that from the air, the airport appears understated. But there are three men who have been fully trained to do the job if called on.” He took her arm and led her toward the parking lot. “Rashid will be picking us up and taking us to Bon Jaka. He got in yesterday and has been doing the preliminary questioning of the workers.” He smiled. “I hope you’re hungry, because I also told him to tell Kontara to make us one of her special meals. You’re in for a real treat.”
“Kontara?”
“She’s the cook who helps me keep the other workers happyso they won’t wander away to the big city.” They had reached the jeep, where Sam Rashid was leaning on the fender. “Ask Rashid. He’s a big fan. Tell her about Kontara, Rashid.”
He smiled. “Magnifique. She makes the cuisine at the Ritz taste like it came from a fast-food joint. She’s taken a lot of the local delicacies and made them her own. She’s an amazing chef.”
Dominic opened the car door for Celine. “Prepare to be dazzled and a little intimidated. But I think you’ll like her. She reminds me a little of you.”
Rashid chuckled. “I get that.” He started the car. “Or at least I remember it from that miserable first day you inflicted on me.”
“You deserved it,” Celine said. “You shouldn’t work for someone who would treat a strange woman like that.”
