Page 109 of Sands of Sirocco
Alastair winced.“And Victoria said nothing before now?Why?”
“Because she’s Victoria.She’s selfish.And she knew if she told me, I’d focus on finding Jack instead of her father.”
Alastair shook his head slowly.“It seems to me she may have had other motivations for not telling you.Logically, if they held her where they held Jack, they would have taken Lord Helton there.Unless she knew her father wasn’t really being captured.”
Tense silence hung between them.
Victoria’s sobs replayed in Noah’s mind as she told him about Jack.Had that been a performance too?Everything about her seemed like a lie to him now.Irritation pricked his throat.“It’s certainly possible.”
“Why would they have captured Jack?What was the need?”Alastair searched his eyes.
“Because Jack is the finest cryptologist on this side of the Atlantic Ocean.No doubt they needed someone as familiar with …”
Noah trailed off.Ginger had mentioned that Paul Hanover’s wife was an archeologist.And if Paul had left a coded message, it was possible he’d intended it for someone.
Someone like Paul’s wife.
What if Osborne hadn’t needed Ginger to find the concession paperwork for him?
What if he’d needed her to find Sarah Hanover?
Noah’s gut instincts gnawed at him as Alastair watched him in silence.“Yes?”Alastair asked at last.
“I need to borrow your motorcar.”
Alastair frowned but gave a curt nod.“I thought you might.I had one of the boys park it near Rumayla Square.You do realize I’ll have to report it stolen?I’m certain they won’t believe me, but that’s the minimum I can do to protect myself.”
Noah scowled.He needed to go after Sarah Hanover right away.And take Ginger with him.He wasn’t about to leave her here in Old Cairo.Who knew how long it would be before Stephen or Lord Helton tried to use her as bait?“You need safe houses that the CID doesn’t know of.I may need to leave Ginger with you in the future if I can’t clear my name.”
“Unfortunately, it’s not as easy as all that.They watch me terribly closely, you know.”Alastair moved to a wardrobe and opened it.He pulled out a dirty Bedouinthawbthat was neatly folded with string and set it on a chair.“What sort of outfit doesla belle femmeneed?”
“Anything that hides that red hair of hers.”Noah crossed his arms.
“Has she considered tinting it?It might be a way to solve the problem if she must hide for a while.Though, to be honest, her nursing costume is a damned good disguise.”
Each time Noah drew Ginger further into the treachery that surrounded him, he felt he’d stolen something from her he could never restore.“I shouldn’t take her, should I?”
“You love her.You don’t trust her with anyone else.Don’t look so put out about all this, Benson.You’ll have your beautiful, resourceful wife to yourself for a bit.She’s willing and loves you.Anyone choosing to stake her future in you is going to need resourcefulness, especially while this war rages.”Alastair placed a few bundles of clothing in a sack, then handed it to Noah.“How are you going to find Jack?”
This time Noah couldn’t help the angry expression he was certain came to his eyes.“Victoria lied.She doesn’t know the precise location, but when they took her from the tomb where they were holding her, she saw the Step Pyramid of Djoser from the lorry.”
“Saqqara?”Alastair dropped his chin.“But the whole region is littered with subterranean tombs.You may be searching awhile.”
“From what she described, I have a feeling I know where they were keeping her.But I’ll have to hurry before they move him.”
“That’s wise.”Alastair cleared his throat, shifting uncomfortably.“Noah, we may have to cut off communications for some time.I value our friendship.But I have quite a few children in my care to think of should something happen to me.”
“Of course.”Guilt ate at his gut.He’d asked more than enough of Alastair.“I don’t think I’ll be back here for some time.But I won’t forget what you’ve done for me.”Noah slung the sack over his shoulder, then headed out of the room.“Now if you don’t mind taking me to my wife.”
“I had the servants draw a bath for her.To help settle her nerves.”Alastair saw him to the next level of the house.He stopped at a door and then put a hand on Noah’s shoulder.“Be careful, old friend.I’ll do whatever I can to help.”
ChapterThirty-Five
The water in the tub had long since gone cold, but Ginger remained in it, shivering.Her hand clutched the soap, which had developed a layer of slime on the exposed side.The soap curled against her hand, stuck to it.
Ginger’s hair floated in the water behind her as she shifted, numb and cold.She lowered herself slowly, gasping as the water covered her torso, then flooded her neck, her cheeks, her forehead … the tip of her nose.
The water stung her nostrils and she listened to the hollow drips, the strangeness of sound under the surface.She opened her eyes.The hazy light of the moon cascaded through the window, giving the water an achromatic, vespertine glow.
