"Here we are," Lev said.
She stared in puzzlement at what appeared to be a large party barge docked on the riverfront. The boat was packed with revelers holding drinks, some talking, some swaying to the repetitious dance music. "I thought you were taking us to your house."
Lev smiled. "I said I was taking you to my home. Which I have. You're looking at it, my dear. It's actually quite spacious belowdecks."
"Are those people your friends?" Allie asked from the back-seat.
"Oh, no. I've haven't met many of them."
"But why—?"
Lev climbed out of the van and motioned for Rachel, Allie, and Tavak to do the same. "It's like this every night of the week. The people I do business with always know where to come for a good time. And, in their gratitude, they will do almost anything for me. The soldier from the airport may be here later if he's not too wrapped up in his new Wii."
Tavak nodded. "Lev's parties are legendary. And he employs a bartender who can make any drink ever invented. I've tried to stump him, but it just can't be done."
Rachel shot Tavak an impatient glance. "Is this really the best use of our time?"
"Absolutely. We can't go back to the museum until after ten. I'd say this is exactly what we need."
"I agree." Allie smiled as she took the lead crossing a narrow gangway to board the boat. "Exactly what we need. Lighten up, Rachel."
"Allie—"
"Listen to that music." But Allie was already swaying to the beat and moving through the throngs of partygoers. "Wonderful… "
Rachel had a sudden memory of Tavak telling her that at the fountains in Las Vegas. Strange that two such diverse people would share that common joyous whimsy.
"Let her go," Tavak said. "She'll have fun."
Rachel wanted to follow her. To protect her. Exactly what Allie didn't want her to do. And maybe she was right. She had seen Allie like this before and had always admired her ability to dive into any situation and make it sing. She finally shrugged. "Fine."
"Good girl. Now can I get you one of those drinks I was telling you about?"
"Just one. I'm working."
"So am I." He smiled. "But I'm like Allie. You have to take the opportunity to dance if the music is playing."
* * *
Less than five minutes later, Rachel was staring at the golden spire of the Peter and Paul Cathedral and sipping one of the best lemon drops she'd ever tasted. She and Tavak leaned against a railing at the relatively secluded stern section.
"What did I tell you?" Tavak said. "The best bartender in Europe."
"You may be right. A good bartender is an often-overlooked secret to making people happy. Lev knows what he's doing."
"You bet he does."
"Do you have people like him in every city in the world?"
"Not every city. But there's always a need for people who know how to get things done, who know how to cut through the red tape. I've spent years cultivating my contacts. Some are hard to find." Tavak smiled as the revelers on the deck stomped to the music. "Others are not so hard to find."
She studied him. "You sound almost affectionate."
"Why not? They're as close to family as I'll probably ever get. I move around too much to form any more-lasting relationships."
"And heaven forbid you settle down."
"I can't do it. I've tried once or twice." He made a face. "The boredom nearly killed me."
She could see how it might drive him crazy. She had seen how that intelligence was always prodding him, opening new doors and ways of doing things. He would always have to look for new things, new ideas to stimulate him. "I'd think it would be lonely."
"Sometimes." He smiled. "But lest you think that I'm a total commitment-phobe, I was actually engaged once."
"Why did you break it off ?"
"I didn't. She did. Nell was a photojournalist, and we had a lot in common. She found me exciting for a while but she had the good sense to realize that she couldn't change me. For the long haul, exciting wasn't what she wanted. She didn't even ask me to change. She just… left."
"Would you have changed if she had asked?"
"No, she was right to leave. Right for her and ultimately right for me. It taught me a valuable lesson. In the end you have to decide who you are and what you have to give up to be that person." He lifted his glass to Lev across the deck. "And then you go out and make friends, like Lev, who don't care a damn when you walk away."
"But will Lev be willing to stand by and watch you destroy one of his museum's priceless treasures?"
"It may not come to that."
"But it may. I understand you did quite a bit of damage getting to that secret chamber in Egypt."
"In all fairness, Dawson and his men did most of the damage there."
"But you would have done the same thing if that had been what it took to get what you wanted."
He sipped his drink. "You're right. I would have."
"And if the only way you can unlock that museum piece's secrets is to destroy it, what then?"
"I'll destroy it," he said simply.
"Ask a direct question… "
"I could always find a way to make it up to the museum later. There are thousands of ancient mastabas all over the world, and thousands more in the sand that haven't even been discovered yet. But what we're looking for could be more valuable than all of them put together. And it would bring more honor and respect to that society than anything the world has ever seen. So yes, I'd gladly sacrifice the wall of a minor nobleman to do that. Wouldn't you?"
Rachel smiled and took another sip from her drink. "We're talking about Allie. Just put a chisel in my hand."
"Good to know we're both on the same page." Tavak pointed toward the crowd. "By the way, your sister appears to have made friends."
Rachel turned to see Allie on a small flag platform. A burly, shirtless man had hoisted her onto his shoulders, where she sat swaying to the music. As Rachel and Tavak watched, two other women, also astride their partners' shoulders, approached and high-fived Allie.
Rachel shook her head. "She doesn't play the part of an invalid very well, does she?"
"She looks happy."
"When she's feeling well, she's the happiest person I know. She doesn't take anything for granted and cherishes every new experience. I could learn a lot from her."
"And when she's not feeling well?"
"She's changed over the years. For a little while there was nothing but anger, especially when she was a teenager. She lashed out at everyone."
"It must have been difficult for you."
"It was. For my mom and dad, too. But you have to consider how much worse it was for her."
"You had a close family?"
"The best. But my mom had a heart attack and died when I was sixteen. That was a real blow to all of us. She was very special. My dad took over and tried to be everything to both of us. Pretty difficult when one daughter has a fatal illness and the other is a self-absorbed nerd. He was amazing. He died in an automobile accident when I was in Japan, and I came home to do my best to take care of Allie."
"You've done a good job."
"I love her," she said simply.
"Total devotion? All the research I've done about you… there was almost never mention of a man in your life. I saw pictures of you at banquets when you were receiving awards, but you were usually with your sister. Occasionally, I'd see you with a date, but you were rarely with the same man twice."