Iris Johansen - Eight Days To Live

“If you know about this mythical chest, then you know that I’ve never tried to find it. And I certainly had no idea whether the Judas coins were in it or not. I don’t care .”

“I think you do. I’ve kept my eye on you over the years, and it’s true you haven’t initiated any search. But that could be because you’re very clever, very patient. Then I saw the photo of Guilt . Big mistake. Did you feel safe because of the years that had passed?”

“I don’t know what you’re talking about.”

He leaned back in his chair. “After I saw the photo, I decided that Reilly was wrong about that gold treasure chest. Maybe it was a red herring you tossed out. You knew the Judas coins were somewhere else entirely. I think when you were hunting for those coins, you found your way into the temple and saw the mosaic. It’s not beyond the realm of possibility that you also saw Hadar’s Tablet. But I don’t think you’d risk taking it. It was enough that you knew that it was there and could reach out and grab it when you could figure a way to do it.”

“That’s insane. I don’t give a damn about the Judas coins.” But he isn’t going to believe me, she realized. He’s obsessed and thinks everyone would be equally obsessed. “And I never saw that mosaic in your temple.”

He shook his head. “You want the coins.” He added softly, “And now you have the tablet. But you’re afraid that we’re going to stop you from getting what you want, so you come and try to convince me that it’s all a mistake. Are things getting a little hot for you, Jane? You’re not playing with amateurs now.”

“No, I’m dealing with thieves and murderers. And I came here to let you know that I know who you are and what you are. You can’t hide from me. I’m going find a way to bust you and all those monsters who think they can torture and kill and-” She stopped. He was smiling. Her words weren’t making any impact on him. “You don’t believe me.”

“Tell me where the Judas coins are,” he said. “We can make a deal. It won’t be easy, but I can get Millet to forget about you. I’ll give you a fat share, and you’ll be safe.”

“I’ll be safe anyway. You won’t be able to touch me or the people I love.”

“Tell me where they are.”

“Is that why you let me come in here to see you? I was surprised it was so easy. You wanted to make a deal?”

“I thought I’d try. It would have made life simpler.”

“How did you know I wouldn’t bug our conversation?”

“I do business of all kinds in this office. I have electronic monitors. If you were wired, I would have known within the first fifteen seconds. I knew we could have an intimate conversation that wouldn’t hurt me and might further my aims. Besides, I was curious about you.” His smile faded. “You can’t hurt me, Jane. I own judges, members of Parliament, even senators in your Congress. If Millet doesn’t get you, then I’ll call on someone else. Do you feel secure with the little circle you’ve managed to gather around you? Try to fight me, and I’ll turn the big guns on them.”

“I don’t think they’d worry too much.”

“But you’d worry. You’ve already demonstrated that, haven’t you? You’re a strange mixture of greed and sentiment. You were very transparent when Millet killed Celine Denarve.”

Yes, she’d worry.

“Make a deal, Jane.”

She turned on her heel. “Go to hell.” She walked out of the office and slammed the door. The secretary looked up, startled.

“Problems?” Caleb asked.

“No, he’s exactly what we thought he was. Maybe a little more obsessive.” She headed for the elevator. “And stronger.”

“Yes.”

She glanced at him.

“I was doing a little probing.”

“And?”

“He wouldn’t be impossible to manipulate, but it would take a good deal of time at close quarters.”

“No! Stay away from him.”

His brows rose. “It could be valuable.”

Close quarters with a man who had killers, judges, and senators on tap? “We’ll go another route. Roland is totally obsessive. Let’s go find out where those Judas coins are and let him come to us.”

“Lina and MacDuff’s Run?”

She nodded. “MacDuff’s Run. I’ll call Eve and fill her in before we get there.” The thought of Eve was like a warm, soothing breeze after that disturbing conversation with Roland. “And I’ll call Jock and ask him to send someone to get several versions of the Bible and any reference books they can find about Judas and have them waiting for me. I don’t want to have to rely solely on Lina.”

“What are you going to be looking for?”

“I don’t know. Anything I can find out about Judas, Hadar, or Caiaphas.”

“Caiaphas?” Caleb repeated. “Who the hell is Caiaphas? I’ve never heard of him.”

“He’s the high priest who paid Judas for the betrayal.” She wearily shook her head. “Or maybe he’s not.” The name had just tumbled out. “I don’t think I’ve ever heard of him either.”

“No?” Caleb was smiling curiously. “Let’s just see what we can find out about him, shall we?”

“Whatever. We’re going to have to move quickly. Roland didn’t believe a word I was saying. He has his mind made up, and he’s blind to anything that contradicts it.” It was incredible that Roland had interpreted and twisted Thomas Reilly’s belief that Jane had found those coins to apply to his own driving fixation.

Two men with an obsession about the Judas coins that had hopelessly lured and held them captive. It couldn’t be just the money. What force would cause that kind of-?

She had a sudden memory of the face of Guilt .

Judas.

“Jane?” Caleb was gazing curiously at her.

She shook her head to clear it. She didn’t know where her mind had been wandering, but it was time she stopped thinking about mystical concepts and got down to trying to bring this nightmare to a close. “Nothing. I was just thinking. We should be at MacDuff’s Run by late afternoon, shouldn’t we?”

“JANE MACGUIRE WAS JUST HERE, Millet,” Roland said. “She knows about me. And she probably knows a hell of a lot more. You should have gotten to Adah before it ever came to this.”

“Tough. It’s too bad you can’t hide away like you usually do. But at least we know where she is right now. My man, Nelson, who’s set up a camp in the hills above MacDuff’s Run, said that Gavin and Lina Alsouk arrived there earlier today. What are the chances the MacGuire woman will go there, too?”

“Good. She’ll feel safe there, and she may need some time to examine that tablet. Can we take her before she reaches the castle?”

“No, security is too tight. But we’re working on a way to get access.”

“Do it. No more excuses. Get her.”

“I told you, we’re working on it. I’m on my way to join Nelson right now.” He hung up.

Roland pressed the disconnect and leaned back in his chair.

He should be angrier. It was serious that Jane MacGuire had found out that he was involved. Yet he was experiencing more excitement and anticipation than rage. Some of it was sexual. Their encounter had been challenging, and the woman turned him on. Conflict and the desire to break and conquer was always intriguing. But the greater excitement came from the feeling that he was close, closer than he had ever been to the Judas coins. She had them or would have them. Every instinct was telling him that he had been right about Jane MacGuire being the road to the coins.

And he would run roughshod over that path, and her along with it.

I’ve called in the wolves, Jane.

You should have made a deal before I set them to devour you.