Page 70 of Sands of Sirocco
Sweat had broken out across Jahi’s forehead.“He … he ordered it.”
Lord Helton eased the pressure, and Jahi snatched his hand back and cradled it.“Who ordered it?”
Jahi’s shoulders fell in a defeated slump.Noah’s fingers curled with anticipation.Jahi didn’t look up, his eyes closing.“Stephen Fisher.”
ChapterTwenty-Four
The lorry bounced on the unpaved road, and Noah squinted in the darkness.In the seat beside him, Jahi squirmed, his hands and feet bound.Sweat shone on his forehead, and a bruise darkened the side of his face from where Noah had struck him with the chair earlier in the day.
Lord Helton was to meet them at a crossroads up ahead.Without Jahi to depend on to make the delivery alone, Lord Helton had been forced to drive the lorry from the meeting place north to Zeitoun, where they were to leave the arms.
Noah would then follow at a distance on horseback, to watch the arms be collected.
Passing the hamlet of impoverished huts that were near the crossroads, Noah pulled the lorry over.Jahi gave a pitiful whimper.He knew he’d been fortunate to spend the afternoon with Noah, getting the weapons.Lord Helton had gone to question Fisher.That had given Jahi a momentary respite from what lay before him.But Noah would have to turn him over to Helton now—who wasn’t likely to be in a merciful mood after dealing with Fisher.
Noah was relieved that Lord Helton hadn’t demanded he participate in Jahi’s questioning.The spring before, Jahi had been tasked with the unfortunate job of delivering Ginger to Fisher.Though Lord Helton had commanded it, Noah still hadn’t forgotten Jahi’s role in the matter.If Ginger hadn’t escaped …
Noah’s jaw set angrily.
That betrayal had changed everything for him.Helton had delivered Ginger to Stephen without an ounce of concern of how it might affect her or Noah.Lord Helton had said earlier today that Noah’s loyalty to him wasn’t what it had once been.And that was why.
Helton had proven that everything and everyone was expendable as long as his objectives were achieved.Except Victoria—which was why Stephen must have targeted her.Noah’s eyes flicked toward the back of the lorry.
He should have refused to get the arms for Lord Helton to give to the nationalists.Gone to his friends in the CID, Lord Helton’s instructions be damned.Now it was Noah’s name on the register.He was responsible for these weapons, even if Lord Helton had given the order.If the army investigated why a lorry of weapons went missing, they’d know Noah had taken them.
The knot in his stomach tightened further.
He’d told himself he could worry later about the fallout from giving arms to the enemy.But what if something happened in the meantime?
Still, the thought of Victoria in the hands of those men made him go cold.He hadn’t allowed himself to think of the worst of the possibilities.While they’d pretended to be engaged, it had been easy to lose himself to the ruse.Victoria wasn’t like other women and she hadn’t been afraid to express what she felt for him.
Jack had told him it was foolish to let her think something might develop from their flirtations, but Noah had cared for her.He’d just never been in love with her.
A flash of movement caught his attention.Lord Helton approached on horseback.He looked a far cry from the proper English gentleman now, dressed in casual clothing and sandals, with an accompanying brown fedora on his head.
Lord Helton brought the brown stallion to a trot, then stopped.Noah opened the door to the lorry as Lord Helton dismounted.He handed Noah the reins.“And Fisher?”Noah asked, raising a brow.
“I’ve dealt with him.”Lord Helton’s eyes were guarded.“Did you have any trouble?”
Noah slipped his foot into the stirrup, then hoisted himself onto the horse.“No, sir.Not that I expected any.It’s all there.”He checked the glowing dial of his wristwatch.“Have you planned anything if they don’t bring her?”
“I plan to call on Masry’s law office tomorrow if they don’t bring her to me today.Put him on short notice before I go to the authorities.”Lord Helton’s eyes glittered in the moonlight.“You’ve done good work, Benson.I owe you more than you know.”His voice was raw with emotion.
It was the closest to a compliment Helton would come.Words failed Noah as silence engulfed them.Noah snappedthe reins, spurring the horse forward.He took it to a canter and circled around behind the lorry.
The door to the lorry slammed shut.Noah watched as the lorry pulled back onto the road, the wheels spinning dust into the air.He could follow the vehicle from the dust trail alone.
He stayed at a distance, thankful for the night ride.The smooth rhythm of the horse in the desert sands was a preferable form of transportation anyway.Something about traveling in the golden surrounds of desert and dusty ground at night felt freeing to his soul.The encampments of the Australian and New Zealand forces were tented silhouettes in the distance.
Men who were tired and ready to go on with their lives back at home.
And here he was providing arms to their enemies.
His throat thickened, and he swallowed the guilt.
When he’d been younger, he’d been more naïve, more convinced of the blacks and the whites of morality.
Like the night that surrounded him, so much of that had turned to shades of grey.
