Page 55 of The Death
“Because, as you’ve pointed out, you’re my partner in this, and I didn’t want to cheat you out of knowing about it first.”
“I appreciate that. Just so we’re clear, once this is over, the loot is going back to the people from whom it was taken. Even if we find a portion of it might have belonged to the queen who brought us here. I hope we’re on the same page.”
“Of course. Last night there were more important things to attend to on the agenda. Don’t you agree?”
“Perhaps not Quinn,” she said dryly.
“But then I’ve always told you that I sometimes don’t follow my own code. I’m not the honorable example your father was or even our sterling, law-abiding Joe Quinn. Last night Iwanted to take something for myself. So I did it, and I’d do it again.” He added softly, “Wouldn’t you?”
“How could I deny it?” Her voice was husky. “When I seem to have been the one to most benefit from it.”
“Not true. It’s all in the viewpoint.” He was gently stroking her cheek.
“I’ll accept that qualification,” Celine said. “But my viewpoint is that you were everything I wanted so I didn’t even try to persuade you to think about anything else.” She took his hand away from her cheek and held it as she started back toward the front opening of the cave. “But now I want to know what you were going to show me. If you really want me to see it, I’m not afraid of the monsters.”
He shook his head ruefully. “I know you aren’t. That’s your problem.”
“And your problem is that you always want to protect me from them. But sometimes that’s not possible.” They’d reached the front opening of the cave, and she turned to face him. “Even my father realized that. It’s why he concentrated on teaching me to protect myself. If you don’t want to show me, then tell me what you were going to take me to see.”
“Slaughter.” He smiled bitterly. “You can’t say I don’t know how to show a lady a good time. I found a sheaf of papers in one of the armament boxes that Caldwell had written to Jossland with specific orders of what he was to do while he was in charge here at the cave when Caldwell was at Shafira. Evidently one of Zakira’s more devoted officers had been entrusted with the hiding place for treasures here in the cave. Caldwell found out about it and ‘persuaded’ him to reveal it, then arranged the substitution. He tortured the officer to death as well as theother soldiers in his company. Then he built a bonfire in the rear of the cave and burned the bodies—except for a few that he planted at the massacre at Karimu so that he could return the bodies to Zakira and claim the soldiers had died an honorable death serving their priest and destroying Karimu’s chief.”
Celine shuddered. “It’s impossible to tell who is worse, isn’t it? All that ugliness…”
“I’ll vote for Caldwell,” Dominic said. “He’s truly a self-made man. Zakira was raised by his father and grandfather before him to think he could take over the entire universe and wreck it if he chose. However, I’ll be glad to remove either of the bastards from this world when I get the chance.” He took her hand and was pulling her out of the cave and through the maze leading up the hill toward the camp. “But right now, we need to see what kind of help we’re going to get from Quinn and Caleb…”
“And from me,” Celine said quietly. “Because I won’t let you leave me behind again. I can’t tell you how angry I was when you left me sitting on that cliff staring at the maze. This is my job as much as it’s yours. Find me a task to do or I’ll find one for myself. Either way, when you start trekking through that maze on your way to Shafira, I’m going to be with you.” She moved ahead of him up the hill. “Now let’s go get a cup of coffee while we wait for Quinn to get here and you can tell me exactly what those trackers found on that trail when they reported back to you this morning…”
CHAPTER
15
Joe Quinn arrived at the encampment, accompanied by a very substantial team, late that afternoon. The first thing Celine noticed was that his demeanor was as taut and sharp as a drawn sword blade. She automatically tensed as she saw him coming toward her in deep conversation with Dominic. When she’d talked to him on the phone that one time, he’d been angry and impatient, but this man was cold… and deadly. She scrambled to her feet and moved toward them. “I’m glad to see you, Quinn. I’m sorry about Eve and Michael. It’s terrible.”
“Of course it is,” Quinn said curtly. “Stop apologizing. It wasn’t your fault. You did the best you could and tried to warn us. They were my family and my responsibility. I should be the one to take any blame for not stopping those sons of bitches.” His lips tightened. “But blame is pretty damn hollow. I’ve decided to stick with revenge after I find a way to get Eve and Michael away from that village.”
“I know how you feel,” Celine said. “You might remember I had a friend murdered by Caldwell. I prefer to call it justice.”
“Call it what you like,” Dominic said. “Let’s just get the action under way and get rid of them as efficiently as possible.” He glanced at Celine. “Quinn just told me that Evewas permitted to call him for a few minutes earlier this morning. She couldn’t give him any information, but both she and Michael appeared to be in good health and will probably stay that way as long as Eve continues to work on the mask.”
“Until she finishes it,” Quinn said. “Then all bets are off.” He smiled bitterly. “Eve will realize that, and if she were anyone else, she’d try to slow down. But she can’t work that way. She’s too blasted brilliant. She can’t run the job, the job runs her. She might try to slow a little, but it probably won’t happen.”
“I’d heard that about Eve,” Celine murmured. “You must be terribly worried about her. We probably shouldn’t waste any time getting out of here.”
“We’ve already started,” Quinn said. “Caleb is the best tracker on the team, and the minute we heard from Eve he broke away from the unit and headed toward that waterfall Dominic told me about on the phone. He’ll probably be able to report to us when he manages to rendezvous with the men Dominic sent to explore that trail through the maze.”
“That’s good,” Celine said. “So I guess we’d better start out right away.”
“No,” Dominic said flatly.
Quinn shrugged. “Dominic was just telling me about the disagreement about your coming along with us. I can see his point of view. I have to tell you that Eve would probably agree with him. I remember she was worried about you when you left the Lake Cottage that day. You appear to be in a particularly sensitive situation that makes you very vulnerable.”
But he hadn’t come out and actually refused her yet, Celine realized. She said quickly, “I wouldn’t be in your way. I’mstrong. I’d be able to keep up with any of your team. I’m an excellent shot with either a pistol or a rifle, and hand-to-hand martial arts are really my specialty.” She was trying to read his expression. “And I have a medical degree, and Dominic will tell you my instructors described my skills as excellent. I would be able to help on the spot if members of your family or team require my services.”
Quinn was smiling reluctantly. “Impressive. But it’s really Dominic who’s in charge at the moment. I have to concentrate on getting Eve and Michael away from those bastards.”
She shook her head. “Dominic will refuse whether you agree or not. I consider it my duty, so I’m going regardless. I just don’t want to have you think I’ll be a burden. It will make my presence less valuable to you.”
Quinn studied her for a moment and then shrugged again. “The medical degree won me over. I think even Eve might have cast her vote in your favor since she has to think about Michael.” He turned to Dominic, who was cursing softly. “My team needs at least four hours of sleep before we start on the trek. I’ll meet you here then. Do what you will with Celine. I’d probably feel exactly the way you do under the same circumstances. But the circumstances aren’t the same. I can’t look at her any differently from anyone else who might help me save my family from those butchers. So hell yes, I’ll be glad to have her along. She might be useful. In the end, that’s the only thing that’s important.” He turned and stalked back toward his vehicle, where his team was waiting.
