Carried Away (2010) (2 page)

disposal. And knowing how well Mr. Warwick works, I know he maintains his supremacy in his business because he is always flexible. Im flexible? He stared at her. Her violet gaze slid over his in a nanosecond. Youve got some nerve, babe, to speak for me. And yeah, Im flexible except when you ripped out my heart and left it in two goddamn pieces. Grant sat forward. If this problem concerns our contract, I would be eager to discuss it with you. He opened a palm. If not, could you give me some predictability on where our relationship will go in light of your challenge? Nasar nodded, his lower lip thinned in distress. Of course. His Highness is very eager for me to sign both of your contracts. He looked at Coco and Grant in turn. Ba da bing. Well, theres the other shoe dropping, Warwick. Shes hired by them, too. And therefore, I will do so today. As planned. But only immediately after you hear our problem and after you both agree to help us in spite of it. Coco fell back in her chair. In profile, she still looked like a young girl to him. Upturned nose, full mouth, high cheekbones, lovely chin. Except at this news, she was frowning at Nasar. Please, describe what troubles you. Grant shifted his attention to the emirs cousin. 12 Carried Away The man who had appeared so congenial before, now let his features fall to raw despair. The day before yesterday my house in Dubai, the old one which we are replacing with the new facility, was broken into. The security alarms were cut. He glanced at Grant. We knew they were old and outmoded, but this ... this theft we had not anticipated. Grant shook his head. Regrettable. Everyone thinks they are safe, until they learn how vulnerable they really are. Nasar sighed. So true. We knew my cousin, Jamal and I that this particular item would need the protection of modern security procedures and technology. That is why we endeavored to hire you and your company, Mr. Warwick. That is why we wanted you, Ms. Dalton, to aid us in photographing all the treasures in our collection. For documentation. For publicity. But also for secure possession. Grant knew Cocos skills lay in capturing front-line scenes not ancient documents and artifacts. But Grant left that inquiry for later. Right now, he had to cut to the chase. Sir, what did they take? A twelfth-century poem, Jamal told him, his brown eyes dark with sorrow. The original from a famous Sunni poet, Nasar continued. It speaks of The Prophets journey to the Far Mosque, Jamal explained. Coco pursed her lips. Muhammads journey to the Al Aqsa Mosque in Jerusalem. The third most important holy place in Islam, Jamal added. Grant wanted particulars. Describe it, please. Egyptian parchment. Rare. I have the dimensions and a black and white photograph taken about ten years ago. I have also the complete text translated and its provenance. It was once, you see, in the Baghdad museum. We bought it from Saddams government before the first American war in 1990. To protect it from harm. Grant nodded. You were wise to secure it from the Iraqis. If wed continued, we would have gone into Baghdad. 13 Cerise DeLand Thank you. I am glad you see my point, Jamal replied. Nasar looked at Grant. We are most eager to sign this contract and have your advance team secure the building. We have a suspect and according to our police, he flew into Venice yesterday. We are here to talk with Italian police. So you can see, I need your protection services quickly. I want no more thefts and I would like to sign these contracts now. I am ready, Grant said. Tell me how you see Miss Dalton here fitting into our work with you. Nasar smiled at Coco and this time the expression was one of great familiarity. We have known each other many years, yes, my dear? Since her father served as the American ambassador to us when she was a young girl. I have great faith in her abilities and she suggested herself to do this work for us. Gracious of her. He squeezed her hand. We are most grateful to her, too, for recommending you to us, Mr. Warwick. Thats why shes not shocked Im here. She planned it! Hed tan her tight little ass once they were out of here. But now, he concentrated on Nasars face, keeping his mouth firm and his words kind. I will show her how happy I am myself. He flashed her a grin that made her turn her pert nose up and smile at Nasar. Minutes later, the two of them had signed multiple copies of their individual contracts and they were bidding goodbye to their hosts. Grant left first. She hung back, chitchatting with Nasar about their old days together in Dubai. Grant took the stairs at a fast clip, fury nipping at his heels as he descended the staircase and out on the street, breathing fire at her audacity to recommend him for this job. He sank back against the ornate faade of the adjacent building. It was six in the morning in Houston, but he whipped out his cell phone and got Todd to chew him out for the failure to learn that Coco had planned this gig. And get our forensics guys on the next plane to Dubai. Theyre missing an artifact and we need to find it fast. See what 14 Carried Away you can learn from the Italian Guardia about a suspect they are tracking here in Italy. Satisfied hed taken care of business, he crossed his arms to wait for Coco, The Fixer. She came lumbering out of the palazzo trailing her infernal suitcase and lugging the bulky camera bag. She was on the phone, arguing with someone about failure to tell her about the missing artifact. Grant swooped up behind her. Give me this, he demanded and took her bag. Then he wrapped one hand around her upper arm. She startled, shut off her phone but didnt object. Nasar told me youre staying at the Cavaletto. Good of him, Grant growled, but meant the opposite. Where are you? The same. Nasar booked it for me. Terrific. He led her along, her ability to keep up with him beleaguered by the damn high heels. We can yell at each other over a cold bottle of prosecco. She halted on the sidewalk. He turned to gaze at her. What the matter? Dont want to face the music? A blonde brow inched higher. I knew youd react like this. But you cannot argue with me. He glared. Why the hell not? Because I recommended you? For openers, yes. Dont, she pleaded on a whisper. I need you on this. A first. When had she ever indicated she couldnt live without him? Pardon me if I dont jump to agree. Grant, she said his name in a way that reminded him of hours buried inside her delectable body. She tipped her head and he thought he saw tears in her eyes as she continued, I wanted you on this. There are more problems here than what you heard.... She glanced around to check if passersby were listening. Upstairs. 15 Cerise DeLand Shed braved the Afghan mountains with the Tenth Mountain Division for a year, been an embedded journalist on the American invasion of Baghdad in 03, street riots in Kandahar and she had tears in her eyes because an ancient scroll of poems was stolen? He scowled at her. Then took her suitcase from her fingers and nodded down the street. That bottle of prosecco calls. And my patience just got thinner. 16 Carried Away Chapter Two The Cavaletto was a marigold-yellow stucco building in front of a gondoliers station. A block off the Piazza San Marco and near exclusive designer shops, the calle was choked with pedestrians. Coco tripped along trying to keep pace with Grants giant strides. Shed known hed be angry. Hurt. Yes, shed understood that, too. From the day I left him in Washington. He led them past the receptionist and into the wood-paneled bar. Dark and intimate, the place invited quiet conversation. Coco had no inkling theirs would be. Grant, lets ask the bartender for a bottle of wine and two glasses. He can send it to my room. Ill check in. No, come up to my suite. Itll be faster. Well get this over with. Ordering in clipped tones, he wheeled her suitcase toward the concierge and asked her to keep it and the camera bag for him. He took the chit from the woman, then grasped Cocos arm and led her toward the elevator. Like most lifts in Europe, this one was tiny. Fit for two. And her arm tingled where it touched his. She barely breathed. He however was almost huffing. Using up all the oxygen in his vigor. As usual. She smiled in spite of herself. Whats funny? he bit off as the elevator jiggled to a stop. Nothing, she confirmed, knowing what came next was not going to offer either of them any happiness afterward. He put his card key in the slot and thrust open the heavy door. Though he stepped aside to let her pass, she brushed her shoulder against his chest and she felt him tremble. 17 Cerise DeLand I do affect you. Still. She rejoiced at the thought as she made her way across the room. The walls, a deep grass-green, contrasted with the blood-red of the sofa and chairs. An old monastery converted to a five-star hotel, the place was one she loved. But it works no magic for me today. When she faced him, he stood in the center of the room, fiddling with his card key, legs braced for whatever blow she was about to deliver. She didnt ask to sit and he didnt offer. Fine. I have known Nasar for many years. When he began to build his new museum, I knew he would want the best security systems and the best trained men to guard his treasures. To me, that meant only you. You to help me figure out the mess Im in. With my job. My vocation. And my life. Im honored. But not totally. I know, she said apologetically. You would have preferred to get this gig without my recommendation. You got that right. But now youve signed the contracts. You could have refused. Not my style to start something I dont finish. She braced herself for what was coming. Unlike some people. He threw the words at her like bricks. She avoided his brilliant silver gaze. With eyes like a warlock and a body like Thor, he could unravel her steeliest resolve in one sweet glance. But this from him was no reverence from a lover. Shed destroyed that in him three years ago. And the best she could hope for now was a truce. May I sit, please? He waved a hand. She perched in the overstuffed chair by the window. Outside, a gondolier was singing and she recognized it as a popular American love song with lyrics that once defined her affair with the scrumptious man standing before her. 18 Carried Away She rolled her shoulders. Two months ago, I was working in San a, taking pictures for a National Geographic spread on Yemen. He strolled toward her, his face a study in concern. You never cease to amaze me for the dangerous assignments you take on. I am a mad woman, arent I? she asked with a speck of wonder. Im shocked youve survived this long. Its because I have a die-hard attitude toward work. One Id love to unlearn. A knock came at the door. Grant went to answer, let the hotel waiter in with the wine cart and signed his receipt. Grazie, bene, I will open the vino. With that, he escorted the man to the door. As he began to work the wire on the cork, he said, Continue about Yemen. I was there for more than two weeks. My assistant, Maria... You remember Maria? Grant nodded. She went early. Did the preliminary work, setting up interviews, getting permits to travel to the interior. Christ, Coco. What the hell were you doing outside San a? There is nothing of any interest beyond the city, and I use that term loosely. She bit her lower lip. In any case, she was there and when I arrived, she had the advance work done for me. She is very good, you know. I thought so when I met her, yes. He popped the cork and poured the bubbling white wine into the two flutes. The last night before she was to go back to Washington, she left our hotel to meet one of the aid workers attached to the United Nations delegation there. He handed her a flute and they both drank. Coco swallowed hard. Both of them were to go to a restaurant that the Americans, the British and the UN people frequent. They never got there. 19 Cerise DeLand Grants features fell. He sat down on the edge of the sofa opposite her. They were attacked by a group of kids as they got out of the taxi in front of the restaurant. Both women were beaten. Badly. Her eyes filled with tears at the memory of her beautiful young assistant, so deformed by those thugs. Maria had terrible injuries, among them two broken ribs, a broken nose, and her left wrist crushed. She fought them off and her friend did, too. Only the fact that the proprietor came out a few minutes later saved their lives. Where is she now? Washington. Georgetown Hospital. Plastic surgery. He winced. She was a beauty. I hope she will be again. She gulped, once, twice. But she may never He reached over, took her hand and squeezed hard. Never what? See herself afterward. Christ, they mauled her? He put his glass down and pulled her over to the couch next to him. Her optic nerve is damaged. Coco couldnt resist his lure, didnt want to. Ever since shed spied him from the vaporetto sitting in that caf by the Canal, her entire body had yearned for his touch and his care. They beat them both. Her friend? Died. Why dont I remember hearing about this? He shook his head. Nothing came to mind. I usually monitor such things. The number of attacks on Americans abroad has increased in the past two decades. How can you keep track when the fanatics are out there everywhere? she said, knowing she was concealing other facts she could not tell him. He wrapped an arm around her shoulders and hauled her close. Honey. She thrilled to his endearment. God, why had she left him? Why hadnt she known then that wherever she went afterward, shed never spend a day not thinking of him, needing his concern and his gruff humor just to make her day complete? 20 Carried Away Tell me the rest, he whispered and tipped up her chin. The head of security at the embassy investigated. He issued his report last week. He believes the kids who did this were trained by a terrorist group to be rabble, troublemakers. Did any one send a note or make a video and take responsibility for the attack on Maria and her friend? Thats their M.O. No. No. She felt foolish sitting here telling him her suspicions. Especially since she had no evidence, just a feeling of dread. Still she hated to say the next thing. You remember how Maria looks like me? His mouth hitched up at one corner in smile that soon vanished. Not as lovely, but yes. His dark brows knit. Why? I think they mistook her for me. Thought they were beating me. He stared at her. His arm clamped her closer. Why? Its a long story. Im not going anywhere this afternoon. He put a hand to her cheek and his thumb caressed her there. Neither are you. She met his gaze, his penetrating silver eyes and knew this was the first of so many revelations shed have to share with him. I was in Yemen to do the National Geographic spread, yes. But my pictures included the homes of some of the political leaders, many of whom sponsor terrorist groups. She didnt tell him why she had those kinds of pictures. If