Page 101 of Sands of Sirocco
“I already found it,” Ginger said, her face pale.She came toward Noah, a briefcase in her hands.“It’s filled with dynamite.I barely had time to hide with it when I heard this man come in.”
Noah’s heart throbbed at her.His beautiful, noble wife.She’d come down here to stop the bomb.Of course she did.He couldn’t think of anything more … her.
Unfortunately, it likely meant Stephen had intended it this way.
Masry wiped the blood from his head and attempted to struggle to his feet.Noah shoved him back down again.“You stay there until I tell you to get up.”
He found Masry’s knife and held it in his left hand.Holding the gun out to Ginger, he motioned for her to come closer.“Take this.And get out of here.Find any exit you can—preferably not the front entrance—and go home.”
“But, Noah, you don’t understand.”Ginger’s pupils were wide in the dark.“I saw Stephen.And he told me he’d planned all this.Planned on you attacking Young and delivering some shipment of arms.And this—this bomb.He’s trying to have you implicated as a traitor.Come with me.We must leave now … they’re coming to arrest you.”
Noah clenched his jaw.If Stephen had planned this, then he would have also planned no escape for Noah.And if Ginger was caught with him, she’d be in more danger.“Ginger, get out of here.Right now.”
“But—”
“Now, for God’s sake.I love you, now go.Take this damned gun and use it if you need to.”
The soft fabric of her gloves brushed against his fingers as she took the gun and set the briefcase beside him.“But, Noah, there’s something else—” Her eyes were wide with pain and fear.
“Leave.Now.”His voice was strained, and Masry watched her intently.The last thing he wanted was his uncle knowing about her but it couldn’t be helped.
Ginger slipped out of the cellar door, giving him one last look before she left.
Noah sucked in a painful breath.
Please, God, let me see her again soon.
He hauled Masry to his feet.The tip of the knife swung and stopped at his uncle’s neck.“Now walk.”Grabbing the briefcase of dynamite, he nodded toward the door.“And while you’re at it, tell me what you know of Stephen Fisher.”
Masry’s lips pressed to a line as he moved forward.Blood trailed down from his head.“You have no power over me, no matter what you may think.”
They hadn’t made it far down the hallway when the pounding of footsteps headed their way.
Soldiers of the military police and a few palace guards came into view, guns drawn.
“Put down the knife!”they ordered as they saw Noah.
Noah slowly raised his hands.The knife remained in one hand, the briefcase in the other.“Colonel Noah Benson, with Cairo Intelligence.I’ve been investigating this man, Khaled El-Masry.And he intended to detonate a bomb that I’ve recovered here.”
At his words, more orders were barked at him, from various voices.
“On your knees, Colonel!”
“Put the briefcase down!”
“Both of you, on the floor.”
It took only a matter of seconds before Noah found himself face-down on the floor, his cheek pressed to the cold tile.Masry was beside him, panting.Soldiers had descended upon them.They took the knife and the briefcase.
Amidst the scuffle and the disordered garble of voices, a pair of boots paused beside Noah’s face.Noah turned his head, looking up from the ground as Lord Helton loomed above him.
Noah’s body went rigid.
“That’s him.Benson.”Lord Helton didn’t look Noah in the eye.“Arrest him.For attempting to detonate an explosive here tonight.”
Noah closed his eyes, the puzzle pieces clicking into place at long last.
“He’s trying to have you implicated as a traitor.”
