"I don't see why not."
"I do," Allie said. "We'll meet you for drinks later, Tavak. I want to have dinner alone with my sister. Things have been topsy-turvy, and I want to make sure we're on the same page." She glanced at Rachel. "If that's all right?"
Rachel felt warmth surge though her. "More than all right."
Tavak smiled. "Heaven forbid I interfere with a family get-together. I'll call you later."
Thirty minutes later Allie was knocking on Rachel's door.
"Gorgeous hotel," she said as she came into the suite. "Demanski chose well." She went to the phone. "I'll call room service. What would you like?"
"You choose. I don't care." She went to the window. "This is a good idea. I've been feeling as if we've been running at full speed."
Allie chuckled. "Because we have. Jet speed. Why don't you sit down and put your feet up?" She picked up the receiver. "I'll order something high protein and lots of coffee."
Rachel watched lazily as Allie placed the order. Allie was bright, alert, and seemed to be thriving. Lord, it was good to see her so well.
"You look very mellow. What are you thinking?" Allie asked as she hung up the phone.
Rachel grinned. "That you seem in better shape than I do. I'm not used to being coddled like this."
"And you'll bounce back any minute now and try to run things." Allie plopped down beside her on the couch. "But you've been very good about restraining yourself." She added quietly, "I know it's been difficult for you."
Rachel nodded. "Because I love you."
"And you have the instincts of a healer. Demanski has been telling me a little of the details concerning our Peseshet. You're a lot alike."
Rachel shook her head. "Tavak said something like that once. But you're both wrong."
"Are we? You're both geniuses at building and fixing things."
"Computers and the human body aren't the same."
"But Peseshet was ahead of her time. I've been wondering if she lived today if she might not have had a Jonesy of her own."
Rachel laughed. "Then she would probably be in competition, and neither one of us would like that."
Allie was silent, thinking about it. "I don't believe it would be like that. I think she would consider you her sister."
"Like Natifah?"
"No, Natifah was really a disciple. Peseshet would realize you were her equal."
"But I already have a sister." Rachel reached over and took Allie's hand. "You're all I need."
"Am I?" Allie laced her fingers through Rachel's as she leaned back on the couch. "What about Tavak?" Her grip tightened as she felt Rachel stiffen. "Don't get on guard. I wasn't sure that Tavak was going to be good for you. I was feeling very protective."
"So he told me."
"But then I realized I was behaving exactly the way you did with me. Not many men turn you on, but I've watched you with him. You have a yen for Tavak. You should reach out for the experience."
"Whether he's bad for me or not?"
"I don't think he is." Allie smiled. "But if he proves to be a problem for you, then I'll go after him. After you've had your fun."
Rachel gazed at her in surprise and started to laugh. "I never realized how ruthless you could be."
"Only for you," Allie said. "You're my sister, and I've got to step up to the plate since you don't have a Peseshet here to protect you."
"Thank you." She squeezed Allie's hand. "But I don't need either you or Peseshet to protect me from Tavak. We're not heading down that road."
"The hell you're not. I'm not blind. I can see the sparks fly."
Lord, had she been that obvious? Rachel wondered.
"It's not surprising," Allie said. "He's Indiana Jones with a brain that's almost as powerful as Jonesy's. I can see how you'd be drawn to him. You want this particular brass ring? I'll do everything I can to help you get it." She held up her hand up as Rachel started to protest. "Okay, I just wanted you to know that I'm here for you." She met Rachel's eyes and smiled luminously. "Always."
Rachel's throat was so tight she couldn't speak for a moment. "Me too," she said unevenly. "Always."
* * *
Rachel watched Tavak stride through the open-air bar on the rooftop of the Millennium Hotel and make his way toward the table where she, Allie, and Demanski were sitting near the railing.
I can see the sparks fly.
She wished she could get Allie's words out of her mind. It had been difficult before to ignore the disturbance she always felt when she was with Tavak. Now it was almost impossible. She was suddenly acutely aware of everything about him. The lithe way he moved, the eyes that glittered with vitality, the expressions that were always full of intelligence and humor. Little things that shouldn't have had this physical effect on her. Good God, she could feel the pulse pound in her wrists and the heat rising—she tore her gaze away from him and encountered Allie's amused stare.
As he reached them, Tavak glanced over the railing. "That's a spectacular view of Grant Park."
"Yes," Allie murmured. "I was wondering if they had carousels in Grant Park."
"I have no idea," Tavak said. "Why?"
"No reason. Just a thought."
Thank heavens, even though Allie was definitely in teasing mode, at least she hadn't seen fit to mention that damn brass ring, Rachel thought.
Tavak's gaze was narrowed on Allie, then shifted to Rachel. Rachel could almost see that formidable mind going into high gear.
But he evidently decided not to pursue it. "Nice hotel," Tavak said to Demanski. "I'm surprised it's not one of yours."
"Not for lack of trying," Demanski said. "I know the owner, and he's very attached to this place. Your rooms should be spacious and comfortable, and I have a two-thousand-square-foot suite just one floor down. I figure we can base our operation there."
"Are you trying to impress us?" Allie asked. "That stateroom on the plane wasn't enough?"
"Not at all," Demanski said. "I wouldn't be such a fool. Particularly not you, Allie. You don't impress easily."
Rachel laughed. "You've got that right."
"I just talked to Ben," Tavak said. "He says Dr. Collier in Cambridge has some kind of consulting project that has suddenly come up."
"Any more details?" Rachel asked.
"Apparently, Collier wasn't very forthcoming about the nature of the project. But Whatever it is, he'll be busy with it tomorrow night."
"Then maybe we should be there," Demanski said.
Tavak shook his head. "Nuri said they have a good handle on things. They won't make a move until they know for sure the mastaba wall is there. As for this special project, it could be nothing more than Collier appraising a few items for an auction house. Ben will keep us posted."
Demanski frowned as he gestured at a nearby table, where there was a pile of newspapers with news of the St. Petersburg bridge assault. "You were right, Tavak. The story is in newspapers all over the world. And, dammit, they're trying to tar and feather me with a blasted scandal."
Allie smiled. "Another irate husband?"
Demanski gave her a look. "No, it appears that the Hermitage's director approved of my traveling art exhibit without the proper clearances. So the Russian government is holding the rest of the pieces pending an official inquiry."
"That's too bad," Rachel said. "I guess you might have to bribe some more people." She turned to Tavak. "Do we know where our fascinating college professor is right now?"