‘I’ve already got a copy of the catalogue on the items that his people have compiled.’
Lourds nodded. ‘That isn’t all of Lev’s collection. I know of at least a dozen pieces that are missing. I sincerely doubt that Lev got rid of any of them. Concentrate on the ones representing the Muslim faith.’
‘Like the figurine of Iblis?’
‘Exactly.’
‘I’ll keep watch for them and let you know if and when they arrive.’
‘In the meantime, you need to watch yourself. If Von Volker figures out I’ve been here—’
She put her warm fingers against his lips. ‘I know, Thomas. This is a game I’ve played before. You’re not the only lover I’ve taken since I’ve been married.’ She smiled at him. ‘I tell you that only so you don’t have to feel as though you’ve been the one to help me break my marriage vows.’
‘I was trying hard not to feel guilty over that.’
‘Sarcasm?’
‘It’s a language-rich skill.’
Her beautiful eyes sparkled as she grinned mischievously. ‘I’ll also bet that I’m not the only married woman you’ve bedded.’
‘A gentleman doesn’t kiss and tell.’ Lourds captured her hand and kissed her fingers.
‘You’re not a gentleman.’
‘I do try to keep the tattered fragments in place.’
Alice picked up his hat from the bed and settled it atop his head. ‘Go. Before you’re caught and we’re undone.’
Lourds kissed her and pulled back. ‘If everything goes well, we’ll see each other again soon.’
‘Not soon enough.’
Lourds walked through the house, thinking about the night he’d just had and how familiar everything had seemed. It was as though they’d only been apart a few days, not years. All the moves were still there, and they still played each other’s bodies like finely tuned instruments.
The main thing that occupied his mind, though, was what puzzles awaited him in Jerusalem. Lev had mentioned a book, so everything would start there.
As he approached the front door, movement to his left caught his attention. He started to turn, thought he saw a man, then an explosion opened a black hole in his head.
31
Certain he was going to find his brains lying in a pool at his feet, Lourds cracked his eyes open against the harsh white light shining full in his face. The overpowering glare made learning any details about where he was being held difficult.
He was definitely being held, though. Leather straps bound him to a chair. He struggled against them, found they were more than strong enough to hold him in place, and succeeded ultimately only in making his already pounding headache worse.
Resigned, he leaned back against the chair and listened. The quiet told him that either the room was soundproofed or it was far from the neighbors. Either reason was bad.
A door opened. Tense, heart pounding, Lourds waited. He was pretty certain he knew who’d kidnapped him.
‘Professor Lourds.’ Von Volker’s voice was immediately recognizable. ‘Did you have a good time getting … reacquainted with my wife?’
There was no possible way that could be answered. Lourds didn’t even bother to try.
‘Come on, Professor Lourds. Surely you have some cutting remark to offer the man you just cuckolded.’
Fear made Lourds speak, but not for himself. ‘Where is Alice? What have you done to her?’
Von Volker laughed, and Lourds hated the man for that.
‘I’ve not done anything to Alice. She doesn’t even know we’re here.’
Lourds felt a little relief, but he was hardly in a position to be worry-free. ‘If you’re going to blame anyone for Alice’s indiscretion—’
‘I should blame you?’
‘No, you pompous ass, you should blame yourself.’ Lourds didn’t know he was going to say that until he’d already spoken. But he remembered the fear and loathing he’d seen in Alice’s eyes and couldn’t hold back. He blamed the pain inside his skull, and the fact that he was possibly still addled.
Someone removed the light shining in his face. It took a moment for his vision to clear well enough to make out the small room and the three men in it.
Von Volker sat in a comfortable office chair. The room was small and barren except for a long counter that ran the length of one wall. A double stainless-steel sink with hose attachments occupied the center of the counter. The floor was concrete, and in the center of it was a large grill over a water drain.
The presence of the drain chilled Lourds’s blood. The room was a kill room, a place where game was brought to be cleaned and dressed after being shot.
The two men with Von Volker were grim-faced hard-cases who wore pistols in shoulder holsters.
The Austrian glanced around the room and smiled. ‘I surmise that you’ve fathomed the purpose of this room?’
Lourds remained silent.
‘We’re at my jagdschloss. You know the term, yes?’
‘I speak German fluently.’ A jagdschloss was a hunting lodge.
‘Of course you do. That was one of the languages you used with Alice last night.’
Lourds couldn’t believe it. ‘You were watching?’
‘Nearly the whole time.’ Von Volker shrugged. ‘I have to admit, watching her with someone else is quite interesting. The only time I ever get her so receptive to sex is when I drug her. During those times, she’s hardly a scintillating conversationalist. To be equitable, you had her fairly speechless most of the time.’ He grinned coldly.
‘You’re a sick, twisted bastard.’
A nerve high on the Austrian’s face jerked. ‘I’m tempted to have my men remove one of your fingers for such an insult.’
Lourds swallowed a thick ball of fear lodged at the back of his throat.
‘Do I have your attention?’
‘Yes.’
‘Good. This will go much faster and be more rewarding for both of us.’ Von Volker crossed one leg over the other. ‘How did you find out I had taken Lev Strauss’s little religious artifact collection?’
‘Alice called me.’ Lourds didn’t see that telling the truth would get her in any more trouble than she was already in.
Von Volker nodded in satisfaction. ‘Excellent. Having to fight you to get the truth out of you would be tedious. Although the thought of torturing you would be somewhat rewarding. On my part, at least.’
‘Did you murder Lev?’
After a brief hesitation, Von Volker shook his head. ‘No. I wanted him alive. His death was unfortunate. There is another man, a Saudi named Rayan Mufarrij, who caused your friend’s death. Have you heard of him?’
‘No.’ Lourds was glad to be able to tell the truth. His mind had already started summoning awful images of what Von Volker’s men would do to him.
‘He’s a very bad man, a dangerous man.’
‘What does he want?’
‘Presumably what we all want: Mohammad’s Koran, the one given to him from God’s lips.’ Von Volker smiled mockingly.
‘You sound like you don’t believe it exists.’
‘For me to believe that that version of the Koran exists, I’d also have to believe in a God. I don’t. I believe in power. In the unity of the German and Austrian people. And in our destiny to become a powerful nation — a united nation — again. I also believe in me being the head of state of such a country. Anything else is unacceptable.’ Von Volker paused a moment, then studied Lourds. ‘Do you know where Mohammad’s Koran is?’
‘No.’