“Told you so.” He smiled. “And only MacDuff and that vice president will know what’s in that box until it’s locked in a special compartment in the vault. Even then it will be on a need-to-know basis. See, you should have trusted me.”
“I did trust you. I just felt I had to put a period to Cira’s gold, and the only way I could do it was to see it disappear into that vault.” She reached out and took his hand. “Understand?”
He nodded. “It’s been a long journey for you. But I have to tell you how grateful I am that you took MacDuff along.” He squeezed her hand. “We owe you a great debt, Jane.”
“Bullshit. We’ve all been in this together from the beginning.” She gave a mock sigh of relief. “And now there’s a small chance that we may be able to live normal lives again. I might even be able to finish that painting of Michael.”
“It’s a wonderful painting.”
“He’s a wonderful subject. And I think that Eve’s going to—”
Her phone rang and she glanced down at the ID.
“Caleb.” She accessed the call. “I hope you haven’t been talking to Lisa again. That was pure nonsense that—”
“Who’s there with you, Jane?”
“What? Right now? Jock.”
“That’s good. Who else is there at the camp? MacDuff?”
“Yes. But we’re not at the camp. We’re in Edinburgh.”
Caleb cursed, his voice low and vehement. “What the hell are you doing in Edinburgh?”
“We’re at the Royal Bank of Scotland, making a deposit.” She could feel her chest tightening. Caleb was never this upset without reason. “What’s going on, Caleb?”
“What’s going on is that I thought you were all safe at the camp at Loch Gaelkar, where the situation could be controlled. Instead, you’re all running around the damn country.”
“Lisa’s not here. She’s fine, Caleb. It’s not as if we left her alone or unprotected at the camp. We took only four of the guards with us to Edinburgh, and Jock said that he’d left enough there at the camp to assure security. Besides, Joe stayed behind, and you know he’d never let anything happen to Eve or Michael.”
“No, he wouldn’t. I still don’t like that you’re all away from camp.”
“We won’t be as soon as we get this business finished. Are you going to tell me why?”
“Said Ben Kemal’s throat was slit and his tongue ripped out. Someone didn’t like that he’d talked to me. I’m assuming that someone was sent by Santara.”
Shock. “That’s seems … reasonable,” she said after she had recovered. “And how does this impact our leaving the lake for half a day?”
“No one should have known I talked to him. Not Palik. And I guarantee Ben Kemal wouldn’t have told anyone.”
“Well, someone evidently knew.”
“Yes.” He paused. “You, Jane.”
“What? Are you crazy? I’m supposed to have told Santara that you—”
“No, but you’re the only one I told Ben Kemal’s name to and that I was going to pay him a visit.”
She felt as if she’d been kicked in the stomach. “What are you saying?”
“I’m saying that your phone has been tapped. Maybe Lisa’s, too. And since I doubt that anyone could have had access to your phones, I’d bet that Santara is right on top of you at that camp with special wireless extender instruments.”
“You have to be wrong.” His every word was destroying that precious sense of security she’d had during these last days. “There’s been no sign of him. As far as anyone knows, he hasn’t even located Lisa since we escaped.”
“Oh, I think he knows exactly where you are. He’s been stalking, waiting for his chance. He probably realized that the security at the camp is pretty well impregnable, so he’s trying to find a way to get around it. That’s why he’s tapping your phone.”
“You think he’s that close?”
“Maybe not near enough for his presence to be detected, but he’s probably imported a lot of high-tech equipment and technicians to be able to scan your phones from a safe distance. But they’d only be able to do it within range of their equipment. If you’re in Edinburgh, I’d think this call is safe.”
The idea that Santara might be listening was chilling. She still couldn’t comprehend how it could happen. “But we’re so careful. There’s not been even a hint of danger, Caleb.”
“Not careful enough to avoid a tap. And killing Said Ben Kemal wasn’t a discreet move on Santara’s part. He had to know it was a risk that he’d tip his hand. Maybe he’s getting impatient and ready to make a move.”
The thought sent a bolt of panic through her. All the people she loved were at that camp. “Are you sure, Caleb?”
“It’s the only answer. I wanted to warn you. I’m on my way to my plane right now. I should be in Scotland in about five hours.” He added grimly, “And then I’m going hunting.”
Five hours seemed a long time to her right now. She was only about an hour and thirty minutes away from the lake. “I’m going to go back to the camp right now. I promise Lisa will be okay. I’ll see you when you get there.” She pressed the disconnect.
“What the hell is wrong?” Jock asked, his gaze on her face. “You’re white as a sheet.”
“Lisa. Caleb says that he thinks Santara is close enough to the camp to tap my phone. Could he be right?”
He thought about it. Then he nodded slowly. “We were really careful, but Santara is good, and his background and contacts could make the difference. If Caleb says that it’s true, then we’d have to bank that it is.”
“That’s what I was afraid you’d say.” She turned toward the front entrance. “I’m going back to the lake. I’ll ride back in the Range Rover with Macauley and his men. Come as soon as you can.”
“Wait, Jane. It should only be another fifteen minutes or so. Communications might have been breached, but I swear no one can get past the security at the lake.”
“No. I can’t wait.” Her voice was shaking. “I’m going now. Eve and Joe and Michael … Everyone is there. And I promised I’d take care of Lisa. I promised.… I have to be there with them. Caleb said he was going hunting, but what good will that do if Santara decides to move before—”
“Then I’ll leave MacDuff and go with you.”
“No, finish up here. It’s not as if there’s a direct threat. I’m just scared. Go and hurry MacDuff along and then go straight back to the lake. I’ll call Joe and warn him to be on the alert once I get on the road with Macauley.” She didn’t wait for an answer, but ran out the glass doors of the front entrance and started down the street, where Macauley was waiting in the Range Rover.
No direct threat, she reminded herself. Once Joe was warned, he’d be able to keep everyone safe. But it was Jane’s job, her responsibility. Eve had come to be with Jane on that special day she was planning.
And she had promised Lisa, and Caleb, that she’d take care of her.
No direct threat.
Yet her stride unconsciously quickened as she moved toward the Range Rover.
*
She called Joe as soon as Macauley had reached the highway leading to Glasgow.
He listened intently and then said quietly, “Stop worrying, Jane. I can almost feel the waves of angst. We’re all grown-ups and we don’t need you to take care of us. We make our own decisions.”
“Michael’s not a grown-up, and what about—” She stopped and drew a deep breath. “Okay, I’ll calm down. Caleb just hit me where it hurt.”
“He has excellent aim that way, but he probably didn’t mean to strike to the heart. He has concerns of his own in this.” He added, “But I’ll be glad to be one of his hunting party when he gets here.”
He was so calm that she was beginning to settle down. “Is everything okay there now?”
“Fine. And as soon as I get off the phone with you, I’ll go check on everyone in camp and then have a conference with MacDuff’s security team. By that time, you should be here and can see for yourself.”
She felt a sudden rush of love for him. “I don’t need to see for myself. I just need you to tell me that all the people I love are going to be okay, including you.”
He chuckled. “Then you’ve got it. Now come home and we’ll talk about how to keep them that way. I think right now you’re so on edge from lack of sleep that you’re overreacting. Possible?”
“Maybe.” She paused. “I love you, Joe.”