Page 9 of Elusive Promise

"The consulate is under Bezikstani jurisdiction," Mr. Bhatt reminded Damon.

"And we'll cooperate with the American authorities," Raj said, sending his security guy a stern look. "Getting my daughter back is all that matters."

"Is there anything else you can tell us, Ms. Maxwell?" Detective Vance asked.

"I really wish there was," she said.

"Why do you think the kidnappers left you behind?" Westley asked, giving her a hard look, as if he thought she was somehow involved in the kidnapping.

"They probably thought I was going to die as the guards did, or that I offered no value to them."

"Are you sure it was Jasmine who wanted to go upstairs and not you?" Westley persisted.

"It was Jasmine." She wasn't going to take offense at the innuendo. The man was beside himself. She could cut him a break. "I want to help find her. I just don't remember anything else."

"Perhaps more details will come back to you as you recover," Damon said.

"I hope so."

"The doctor told us that she wants you to have additional breathing treatments before you're discharged," Damon continued. "While you're doing that, I'm going to have someone collect your things from your hotel, and we'll make sure you have a safe place to stay until we know what's going on. While you can't identify the kidnappers, they may not know that."

She was relieved to have Damon take charge. When the others left, she could speak more freely with him, and he might have information that the others didn't want to share with her.

While she didn't believe the kidnappers would come back for her now, the fact that she hadn't died along with the guards might trouble them down the road.

"Please take care of yourself, Parisa," Raj said, genuine concern in his eyes.

"I will. I am praying for Jasmine's safe return."

"We all are," he said, as he and Westley left the room, followed by Detective Vance and Mr. Bhatt.

She looked at Damon with a sigh of relief. "Thanks for putting an end to that."

"It didn't seem like you had anything else to add. Unless you were holding back?"

"I wasn't. And I didn't want to break my cover if I didn't have to."

"But you weren't working a case tonight, were you?"

"No. The Kumars are old family friends. I lived in Bezikstan from the age of thirteen to sixteen when my father was the US ambassador to Bezikstan. Raj Kumar was the minister of commerce at the time. They became close friends as they worked together, and our families did the same."

"Were your parents at the party?"

"They're traveling; they couldn't make it. I just finished up an assignment in San Francisco, so I thought I'd take a few days off and come to New York. I was planning on getting in touch with you and Sophie as well."

"We're always happy to see you. Preferably not in a hospital room. How are you really feeling?"

"My chest is tight, and my throat is sore, but considering the alternative, I can't complain." She paused as the nurse came into the room.

"It's time for your treatment," the nurse said.

"I'll leave you to it," Damon told her. "What hotel are you at?"

"The Parker, room 307." She looked around for her bag, so she could give him her key, but it was nowhere in sight. "I guess my purse is still at the consulate."

"I suspect so. The building has been evacuated while they test the air levels for toxins, but when the authorities can get back in there, we'll get it to you. I'll have someone retrieve your things from the hotel. I'll come back when you're done."

"Thanks." She was happy to have a few minutes to regroup. She needed to collect her thoughts and see if there was any detail she'd forgotten that might help them find Jasmine.

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