Faye Kellerman - Sanctuary

“Get a glass of wine for me, too.”

Decker stared at her with wide eyes. “What the hell happened, Rina?”

“I got caught up in the situation. For future reference, I don’t think I’d make a very good cop.”

“My fault. I shouldn’t have asked you to do my job. I’m so incredibly stupid sometimes!”

“If we’re going to self-flagellate, I’m way ahead in the stupidity department.” She smiled at her husband, but knew it wasn’t going to assuage his wrath. “I followed Milligan, Peter. She went to Hebron.”

Decker felt his face afire. “You followed Milligan into Hebron?”

“Yes. And I know it was stupid beyond belief. All I got for my efforts was a shot-out window. But I’m here. I’m safe. Do you want to hear what I found out?”

Decker slapped his forehead. “I don’t fucking believe you. How could you do that?”

“I already said I was stupid.”

“No, Rina. I was stupid. You were insane.”

“I see it’s going to be one of those interchanges.” She picked up the phone and ordered room service. “I can’t fight on an empty stomach.”

Decker stared at her, then stood up. “Pack your bags. You’re going home.”

“Fine. It wasn’t my idea to come out here in the first place.”

Guilt shot through Decker’s veins. He sat back down on the bed. He willed himself rational, then quietly asked, “Who shot at your car? Milligan?”

“I have to think for a moment.” Rita sat next to him. “I don’t think it was Milligan. Because at that point, I had already stopped tailing her car. It was probably just a villager consumed with hate.”

She began to recount her ordeal. “In Jerusalem, Milligan met up with two guys in a Fiat near the Israeli museum. The men were Arabs. One of them was named Ibri-short for Ibrahim. The other was named Gamal.”

“How’d you find that out?”

“I overheard them talking.”

Decker paused. “I don’t think I want to know how that came about.”

“Good idea,” Rina said. “Ibri was complaining to Milligan about something. She interrupted him, saying if his idea of heroism was blowing up a school bus, he was working for the wrong person. They mentioned a guy named Donald. No last name. Does he mean anything to you?”

“No.”

“Ibri said they worked for Donald, not Milligan. Milligan said that Donald worked for her. Then Ibri offered to take Milligan to see Donald. Gamal took Milligan’s Volvo into the Old City of Jerusalem. Ibri and Milligan went to Hebron. I stopped following them when the car went up an isolated road. I turned around, planned to go back, then someone shot out the window. Luckily, I caught up with an IDF jeep. I went to the Cave of the Patriarchs-”

“Wasn’t that the place where the massacre took place?”

“Yes. But it’s pretty secure now.”

“Oh, I feel so much better.”

Rina ignored the sarcasm. “I left the city with a caravan of army jeeps.”

She took Peter’s hand. “Milligan had to catch an important meeting at the American Colonial Inn. The hotel is in East Jerusalem. Not for Jews, but the place is popular with non-Jewish tourists and reporters. We should check Milligan out. I got the willies when she talked about blowing up a school bus.”

“What? You think that’s actually in the planning?”

“No, but-”

“Oh shit!” Decker began to pace. “If so, we should call the police immediately.”

“And tell them what?”

“That you overheard a conversation where Milligan talked about blowing up a school bus.”

“Peter, she might have been using strong words to prove a point. If we report it as fact and nothing comes of it, you’re going to lose credibility with the police. But I realize we just can’t let a comment like that slip away.” She looked at her husband. “First, tell me who Milligan is and why you’re so interested in her.”

Decker started from the beginning, explaining Milligan’s career in VerHauten, segueing into her financial involvement in companies also carried by the late Arik Yalom. He recapped his conversation with Marge: how Milligan could make a fortune if VerHauten ever decided to develop Southwest Mines. But Arik Yalom’s interest in the company seemed to be a sticking point. Then Yalom was murdered, and Gold and the boys disappeared to Israel. Suddenly Milligan was here, too, asking questions about Shaul Gold.

“Does Gold actually own Arik’s portion of Southwest Mine stock?” Rina asked.

“I’m not sure. But that’s my assumption.”

“Him and not the boys?”

Decker sighed. “I don’t know. Maybe the boys do own it and that’s why they fled. But if that was the case, why would Milligan be asking about Gold?”

“Well, she couldn’t ask the grandparents about the boys. That would be pretty obvious, right?”

“You’re thinking that Milligan’s trying to get to the boys via Gold.”

“Isn’t it a possibility, especially since Gold is looking for the boys?”

Decker paused. “You’re very bright. So now I don’t know who to be worried for first. The boys or a school bus.” He ran his hand over his face. “What I’d like to know is, who were these men Milligan was talking to?”

“If she’s out to get someone…the boys or Gold…maybe they were hired help, Peter.”

“These men were hit men?”

“Why not?” Rina asked.

“Because why would a woman of Milligan’s smarts and stature travel all the way to Israel-a land I’m sure she doesn’t know much about-to murder Gold or the boys. She’d hire out.”

“Maybe that’s what she was doing. Maybe she came here to hire some locals to kill them.”

“Unless these men were very good friends of hers, I think she’d be taking a very big chance.”

“Maybe they’re not good friends of hers. But maybe Donald is. Donald certainly isn’t an Arab name.”

“You’re right. Who is this Donald?”

The room fell quiet.

Rina laughed, “Well, we can go to the American Colonial Inn, pull Milligan out of the meeting, and ask her.”

“A fine idea in theory,” Decker said. “It’s the practical application. So much is going on…I’ve got to sort all this out. I don’t want to act rashly.”

“Peter, why are you here?”

A very good question. It put everything into perspective. “To find the Yalom boys before someone else does them harm.”

“I think it’s a very good idea to investigate Milligan. And we probably should call or go to the police and tell them what I overheard. But if you think the boys are in grave danger, they should be our top priority.”

“Right,” Decker said. “You’re right again. We can’t get sidetracked too much. Yes, we’ll report what you heard. But I’ve got to remember why I’m here. Gold is looking for the boys, Milligan’s looking for Gold. If I find the boys, I’m betting I’ll find Milligan and Gold as well.” He turned to Rina. “You know this country. Where do you think they’d be?”

“First thought?” She shrugged. “Well, you mentioned something about Dov wanting to be religious but his father wouldn’t let him. Maybe he’s hiding in a yeshiva. There are quite a few ba’alei tchuvah places in Jerusalem that take in American boys, no questions asked. And, let’s face it. All those boys in black coats and hats look alike, tough for a killer to spot him. Plus, it’s hard to get inside a yeshiva unless you know the ropes.”

“You think Gold would know the ropes?”

“Possibly,” Rina said. “But as an Israeli, he probably doesn’t know too much about ba’alei tchuvah yeshivas for Americans. By this time, the Yalom boys are more American than Israeli.”

Decker agreed. There was a knock at the door. Immediately, Decker’s heart started pumping hard. Maybe someone had followed Rina back to the hotel. He put his finger to his lips and quietly got off the bed.