“Yes, you would have.” She smiled. “I would have found a way to persuade you, Joe.”
He shook his head. “You’re too young. You have no experience. I’d feel guilty as hell asking you to do something that could get you killed.”
“So you won’t do it. I knew that would be your reaction. But I thought that I should tell you a few things that might make you feel better if I override you.” She held up three fingers. “I’m in excellent physical shape now, though I’m having to build up my endurance again. I can swim like a fish. I know how to shoot a pistol, but I’m much better with a rifle, since I took part in the Olympic biathlon ski and shoot tryouts at my school in Switzerland.” She smiled. “Not great qualifications if I were applying to be a SEAL, like you were, but adequate for emergency situations.”
He grinned. “I’m sure you’d be more than adequate.”
“But you’d still hesitate when it came right down to it.” She shrugged. “I do have other … skills. But I’m not going to be able to convince you, so I won’t go into them.” She got to her feet. “So suppose I get you a cup of coffee and then we can talk about those video cameras that you’re going to need to set up. I’m very good with cameras. I took a photography course before I went on last year’s field trip to Venice.”
“Why does that not surprise me? No hard feelings?”
“A little. I want this, Joe.” She looked over her shoulder at him. “But you care about me. You care about Jane. I … like that. I think Jane must be very lucky.”
She disappeared into the kitchen.
JW MARRIOTT MARQUIS HOTEL
DUBAI
TUESDAY, 5:40 P.M.
“There he is,” Palik murmured as he met Caleb’s gaze in the rearview mirror from where he was sitting in the driver’s seat of the silver Maserati Quattroporte. “Why do I feel this is going to be a total disaster?”
“Because you’re a natural pessimist.” Caleb watched Tarik El Haroun stride from the entrance of the tallest hotel in the world, make his way across the impressive tiles, pass the fountain, and come in their direction. “It will be fine. We have Haroun’s car, and you’re in the appropriate chauffeur’s uniform. The doorman will open the car door for Haroun. Haroun will get in and you’ll take off.”
“He’s supposed to get in after he sees you’re in the backseat?” Palik asked skeptically.
“Yes. Since the windows are blacked out, it will take him a few seconds to adjust his eyes. But he’s going to feel suddenly faint and he’ll only think of getting out of the sun and sitting down.”
“He’s one of the most important men in Dubai. The royal family considers him a national asset. And you’re just going to scoop him up?” Palik was shaking his head. “It’s got to fail.”
“No, it won’t,” he murmured. “I can’t afford that.”
The doorman was rushing forward toward Haroun with a broad smile. Haroun smiled and tipped him as the man opened the rear door of the Maserati.
Then Haroun’s smile faded as he gasped and dropped onto the backseat.
“Go!” Caleb said.
Palik pressed the accelerator and the car jumped forward. In seconds, they were out of the driveway and speeding down the street.
Haroun was crumpled back in the seat, his hand clutching his chest. He was gasping with pain as he suddenly focused on Caleb on the seat beside him. “Who … are you? Never mind. I think I’m having a heart attack. Get me to a hospital.”
“No, you’re not. You’ll be better soon. I released the pressure,” Caleb said. “I had to do something to distract you, and this seemed the most efficient way. You’re extremely difficult to approach, Haroun, and I needed a few hours alone with you.”
Haroun’s breathing was beginning to ease. “Who … are you?” he asked again. He shook his head to clear it. “Is this a kidnapping? Did you bribe someone to put something in my coffee at that luncheon to cause this damn pain?”
“No, to both questions.”
“Terrorists?” His gaze flew to Palik. “Where’s my chauffeur, Hakim? If you’ve hurt him, I’ll have every police officer in Dubai on your trail.”
“Only a minor wound,” Caleb said. “He’s very loyal and he put up a good fight. You must use him as a bodyguard as well as a chauffeur. He wouldn’t give up, so I had to put him out for a while.”
“How badly is he hurt?”
“He’ll be fine.” He smiled faintly. “But Jane would be impressed you’re so concerned over an employee. I sincerely hope that I’m going to be able to work with you.”
“That won’t happen,” Haroun bit out the words. “And who is this Jane, another accomplice?”
“No, perhaps your savior. You certainly need one. It depends entirely on you.”
Haroun began to curse.
“It’s definitely going to be a disaster,” Palik said gloomily.
“He doesn’t believe you’ll be cooperative, Haroun,” Caleb said. “I hope he’s wrong.”
“I don’t cooperate with criminals. What do you want from me?”
“I’ll explain it all to you. We’re going to take you to a small house near the bazaar and I’ll give you explanations and a small demonstration that will show you what I can do and don’t want to do. Then we’ll talk about cooperation.”
“All your threats won’t intimidate me. This world is full of bullies, and if I give in to them, then they’ll be the ones who will turn out ruling it. I don’t want to live in a world like that.”
“A fine philosophy, if a little hazardous.” Caleb smiled. “I’m trying to avoid threats and appeal to your good sense instead. Though I can’t deny the threat exists, I want to be on your side.”
“Then pull over and let me go.”
“Two hours. Just give me two hours. I’ll tell you my story and you’ll learn that you have more enemies than you dream exist. And then you’ll live to go home to your wife tonight.”
“I’ll give you nothing. Your driver is right. This move will bring you nothing but disaster.”
Strength. Stubbornness. Idealism. This was going to be even more difficult than Caleb had thought. His talent for persuasiveness could usually change perceptions and sway opinions, but Haroun was going to be a massive challenge in a situation like this. “I won’t accept that from either of you. She wants you to stay alive.” He stared Haroun in the eye and said softly, “So I’m no longer asking. You’ll definitely give me my two hours, Haroun.”
*
Haroun lived on the outskirts of Dubai in a beautiful two-story home with three fountains cascading down a rock wall. Palik pulled up at least a hundred yards from the front gate.
Caleb got out and went around the car to open Haroun’s door. “As promised.” He stepped aside as Haroun got out of the car. “Have a good evening. Tell your wife I’m sorry I made you late for dinner.”
Haroun stood there, staring at him. “You’re a formidable man, Caleb. In more ways than one.”
“It was only a little bit of pain. I had to show you that you were vulnerable. If not tomorrow, then another day, another place. It would be so easy for me. But I don’t want it to be me. So if you’ll do as I want, I’ll promise that it won’t be and that I’ll give you fringe benefits.”
“And I’m supposed to believe you?”
“You do believe me.” He smiled. “I got that far. I’m not certain I overcame that streak of bullheadedness. That could still tip the scales against me.”
“How can I possibly trust you? You haven’t even given me any names.”
“I gave you mine. I don’t mind the risk, but I’m not going to let your version of a SWAT team barge in and get Jane killed.”
“You know I could cancel the surgery tomorrow.”
“Yes, and that would put me in a corner. You don’t want to do that.”
“I can make certain that I have enough protection so that you couldn’t get close to me while the operation takes place.”
“That’s a possibility.”
“Or I could alert the guards at the hospital that you’re a threat and they’d hunt you down and blow your head off.”
“Also a solution.”