Page 95 of An Epic Voyage
That brought a tinge of color to his cheeks.“Bring.Him.Here.”
“Uh, boss, that’s not possible,” Garcia informed him.
“Why not?”
Indy answered the question.“He came at me, and I jumped out of the way.He went over the railing and into the ocean.”
“Serves the bastard right.Are you okay?”
“Yes.”
“You’re still gorgeous.”
She forced herself not to react when he kissed her, but she couldn’t stop her hands from balling into fists.He smelled of stale sweat and vomit, a disgusting combination.
She pulled away.“Thank you.”She turned to the bodyguards.“Someone bring me a comb and a washcloth.”
Garcia hurried to the bathroom and returned with the items.Indy mopped Van Houten’s face and then fixed his hair.Bloodshot eyes gazed at her with adoration.
“Now get him some clean clothes.”
Zisk almost tripped over his feet to do her bidding.He returned with a black Ermenegildo Zegna suit.Between the two men, they pried off the wrinkled, sweaty blue jacket and pants and wrestled him into the Zegna.He still looked like hell, but fresh hell.
Indigo’s decision to change his suit wasn’t about his appearance.She couldn’t care less what he looked like.It was for her benefit.She searched the pockets, looking for the dead man’s switch.With a frustrated sigh, she tossed the clothes on the floor.It wasn’t there.
“Indigo, you are a treasure.When I feel better, I’ll show you how much I appreciate and want you.”
Yeah, not going to happen.
The sound of a helicopter grew louder.“Zisk, go meet our guests and escort them to the meeting room.Garcia, help me up.”
“Are you sure you should do this, Benny?You need rest.”
“Thank you for your concern, but with you here, I’m feeling better already.”Garcia handed him a gun, and he slid it into his pocket.Then he held out his arm.“Shall we?”
“Yes.”
They started out the door, but Van Houten abruptly stopped.“One moment, darling.”
He returned inside the room, weaving and unsteady on his feet, and picked up a small black box from the dresser.The wireless DMS.Dang, she hadn’t seen it because it was the same color as the furniture.She got a quick look at it.There was a safety mechanism that kept pressure on the button on the top.To work, Van Houten would have to flip it off and manually depress the button.If he let go—BOOM.She wondered if he planned to hold it the entire time, but he answered that question when he slid it into his right pocket.
Indy shifted to the opposite side of the door so that when he returned, she would be where she could dig the device from his pants.
He held out his left arm again.“This is my best side,” Indy protested.
“Sorry, darling, I need my right hand free.”
So he could shoot if necessary.He didn’t say the words, but she knew what he meant.She moved over, and they continued to the elevator.It took them up one level to the wheelhouse.Van Houten puffed and moaned the entire time.The doors opened into the control room.A padded chair was positioned in front of a desk with gearshifts, levers, and two monitors.It overlooked one large window and several smaller ones on the sides.Mounted above were three lit-up screens showing the water.Other instrument panels were on the walls, and along the back was a bench.
The place was deserted, with no crew because Van Houten didn’t want witnesses.Plus, he planned on blowing up the boat.
There was a door behind the captain’s seat.Garcia opened it and led them into a room surrounded by glass.Sliders leading to balconies on both port and starboard sides were open, allowing the breeze to come inside.A large conference table devoid of chairs took up the center of the space.
A few minutes after they entered, Zisk escorted Jabari Abdullahi inside, along with two men who appeared to be bodyguards and a smaller, bespectacled man, who cast nervous glances around the room.Abdullahi’s black beard was neatly groomed, and he wore a navy suit similar to Van Houten’s.If she had to guess, she’d say Armani.His dark eyes were shrewd, assessing, and dead.He looked every bit the African assassin.
“Mr.Van Houten,” Abdullahi greeted in accented English.She remembered that he’d attended college in the United Kingdom.His teeth sparkled white against his swarthy skin until his gaze landed on Indigo.Then the smile disappeared.“I do hope you are not responsible for the mark on this lovely lady.”
“I am not, and the person who was has been dealt with swiftly and forcefully.”
