Abdul snapped, “After what he did to Lana!”
“He’s a despicable pig, and I want to hurt him just as much as you two, but we’re stuck in his house, and we’ve entered Jordan illegally. The only reason we aren’t already dead is because we have David and his magic flask. We need Nazar’s plane to get out of here. If we clear our names, then we can focus on getting Nazar Eudon what he deserves. But right now, he’s our only option.”
His speech was met with silence.
At the end of the hallway, in Nazar’s bedroom, Keisha studied the TV monitors and listened to their conversation. Nazar had given her explicit instructions. “Bring David and the flask. Lose the others if you can. If not, bring all four, and I’ll deal with Quinnborne, Abdul and Adiba when you arrive.”
This development regarding Lana further complicated the situation and made it more important that she leave Quinnborne behind.
When Keisha was Lana’s age, Nazar had found her sexually attractive. She had feared him at first, but once she understood how excited she could make him, she looked forward to playing his rough games. That he no longer desired her did hurt, but she had adapted to her role: helping him, supporting him. These fools couldn’t possibly understand his needs. They couldn’t comprehend his greatness, his power and intelligence. He needed her now. The policeman posed a threat, and she would protect Nazar any way she could.
That evening, Keisha laid out a generous buffet. They ate. Then, fatigued, everyone elected for an early night. She told them they would fly to Arizona the next morning.
Later, she watched on the CCTV in Nazar’s room as Abdul, Adiba and Quinn prepared for bed. Once they settled, she called Mufeed. “Get the car. Meet me out front.”
Keisha crept past the guest rooms and down the stairs, still in her scruffy black jumpsuit to avoid upsetting David. He had been uncomfortable with her attire on the trip to Jeddah. She tapped on his door and went in without waiting. Kneeling on his prayer mat with his back to her, David rocked and reciting evening prayers. The backpack lay on the bed.
She lifted the flap and peeked inside. The flask was there.
She moved closer to David and spoke softly to him. When he didn’t hear her, she shook his shoulder, and he gave a start.
“David, we must take the flask to Mr. Eudon now.”
“Allah’s will be done.” He stood, collected his backpack, and followed her out of the room without asking for the others. She loaded him into the rear of the car and sat up front to save him the embarrassment of sitting next to her in the dark back seat. They drove for twenty minutes in silence. David’s lips moved constantly. Airport security waved them through. No one in Aqaba would challenge Nazar’s car.
Once David was on the plane, she decided to secure the flask.
“David. May I have the virginbots?”
“I don’t have them.”
He did. She had checked his bag in the room.
“David, give me the flask.”
He reached in his backpack and passed it to her.
“That’s better. Why did you say no?”
“You asked for the virginbots. They are not in the flask.”
Keisha staggered back as though punched in the chest.
She had failed Nazar.
Chapter 36
Quinn stood in the doorway of Abdul’s room. “Abdul… Abdul, wake up.”
Abdul turned on the reading light. “What? What’s the time?”
“A little after midnight.”
He rubbed his eyes. “What the hell?”
“I need your help.” Quinn signaled for him to come.
“What’s going on?”
“Keisha’s taken David.”
Abdul sat bolt upright. “How… Shit. We’re fried.”
“No, I don’t think so. She’ll be back, but I have to make a phone call first.”
In his jockeys, Abdul joined Quinn in the hallway. “I thought David and the virginbots were our leverage?”
“I have the flask.” Quinn held up the small thermos.
“What about David?”
“He’s got Hassan’s coffee. I switched flasks at the service station.”
“Huh… okay, what do you need?”
Quinn pointed to the window at the end of their hallway. “Call me when she returns. I’m going to try the phone in the far bedroom, that’s where she came from.”
He ran down the hallway. When he entered Nazar’s room, his eyes locked on the screens displaying the camera feeds from their bedrooms.
Damn. He hadn’t anticipated that. The desk phone had a dial tone. Direct line, nice. He dialed Scott Shearer’s home number. Come on, Scott. Be your usual boring self. Be in.
A sleepy voice answered. “Hello?”
“Scott?”
“Quinn! Where the hell are you? Where’s Abdul?”
“He’s with me, so is Adiba.”
“Thank god!”
“Scott, I don’t have long. I’m in a jam. Turn on your recorder.” Quinn delivered a potted history of the past few days, but didn’t tell him where they were or where they were headed. If the authorities had qualms before, once they knew he had the weapon he felt sure they’d shoot first and talk later.
“I need a way to convince the world we’re not part of Allah’s Revenge. I have the weapon. I’ll deliver it in exchange for a safe exit from this screw-up—”
Abdul appeared at the bedroom door. “She’s back.”
“Scott, I gotta go. Do what you can. I’ll call tomorrow with a location for the exchange.” He hung up, ran to Abdul, and pushed him along the hallway. “Get back in bed. She mustn’t know we’ve been up.” They dashed down the hallway and into their rooms before the front door opened.
Keisha pounded up the stairs and opened Quinn’s bedroom door. “Quinnborne, wake up!”
Quinn pulled the covers off his face. “Is it time to go?”
Keisha turned on the light with her left hand. With her right, she leveled a nickel-plated Colt revolver at Quinn’s head. “Where is the flask?”
Her hand trembled, but from this range, she wasn’t likely to miss. “It’s not polite to point a gun at a man in his bed.”
Her voice shook. “I will fire if you don’t tell me.” She seemed angry enough to spit nails.
In a calm, level voice, he said, “Okay, I’m going to show you. Don’t do anything hasty.”
Quinn slid his hands from under the covers. He held the Glock, its barrel aimed point-blank at the center of the thermos. The flask meant more to her than anything — he hoped.
“What’s more important, Keisha? Killing me, or taking the thermos to Nazar?”
He waited for the logic to sink in and tried to slow his pounding heart.
She lowered the gun. “Very well.”
“Once we’re in America the flask is yours, but until then it’s our ticket to ride. So when do we leave?”
“The plane’s ready. David’s already onboard. I’ll wait downstairs for you and your friends.”
Abdul was dressed when Quinn knocked on his room door. They went together and woke Adiba. Once she was ready, Quinn sat them both down on the bed. “Our rooms were monitored. Keisha probably listened while we spoke about Lana.”
“Good. She is a woman. Now she will hate Nazar too,” Adiba said.
“You’d think so,” Quinn said, “or maybe it gives her more incentive to protect him. Let’s not count on her, okay?” Abdul nodded, but Adiba looked confused.
Keisha drove the Mercedes. Mufeed had remained at the airport with David. She led them up the steps to the plane. Quinn walked behind her, while Abdul clutched the plastic carrier bag with the flask. The plane pulled away as soon as the cabin door shut.