Daniel Silva - The Messenger

At midnight the figures in his painting stood and bade each other goodnight. Sarah disappeared through a passageway and was lost to him once more. Zizi, Daoud Hamza, and Wazir bin Talal entered Zizi’s office. Gabriel saw it as a new painting: Meeting of Three Evil Men, artist unknown.

Five minutes later Hassan rushed into the office and handed Zizi a mobile telephone. Who was calling? Was it one of Zizi’s brokers asking for instructions on what position to take at the opening of trading in London? Or was it Ahmed bin Shafiq, murderer of innocents, telling Zizi what to do with Gabriel’s girl?

Zizi accepted the phone and with a wave of his hand banished Hassan from the office. Wazir bin Talal, chief of security, walked over to the windows and drew the blinds.

SHE LOCKED the door and switched on every light in the room. She turned on the satellite television system and changed the channel to CNN. German police battling protesters in the streets. More proof, said a breathless reporter, of America ’s failure in Iraq.

She went out onto the deck and sat down. The yacht she had watched leaving the harbor that afternoon had now returned. Was it Gabriel’s yacht? Was bin Shafiq alive or dead? Was Gabriel alive or dead? She knew only that something had gone wrong. These things happen from time to time, Zizi had said. It’s why we take matters of security so seriously .

She gazed at the yacht, looking for signs of movement on the deck, but it was too far off to see anything. We’re here with you, Sarah. All of us . The wind rose. She wrapped her arms around her legs and drew her knees to her chin.

I hope you’re all still there, she thought. And please get me off this boat before they kill me .

AT SOME POINT, she did not remember when, the cold had driven her inside to her bed. She woke to a gray dawn and the patter of a gentle rain on her sundeck. The television was still on; the president had arrived in Paris, and the place de la Concorde was a sea of protesters. She picked up the telephone and ordered coffee. It was delivered five minutes later. Everything was the same except for the handwritten note, which was folded in half and leaning against her basket of brioche. The note was from Zizi. I have a job for you, Sarah. Pack your bags and be ready to leave by nine. We’ll talk before you leave . She poured herself a cup of coffee and carried it to the door of the sundeck. It was then she noticed that Alexandra was under way and that they had left Saint Bart’s. She looked again at Zizi’s note. It didn’t say where she was going.

SARAH PRESENTED HERSELF ON the aft deck promptly at nine o’clock. It was raining heavily now; the clouds were low and dark, and a strong wind was playing havoc with the sea. Zizi was wearing a pale marine raincoat and dark sunglasses despite the gray weather. Bin Talal stood next to him, dressed in a tropical-weight blazer to conceal his sidearm.

“Never a dull moment,” Sarah said as amiably as possible. “First a bomb threat, then a note with my breakfast telling me to pack my bags.” She looked toward the helipad and saw Zizi’s pilot climbing behind the controls of the Sikorsky. “Where am I going?”

“I’ll tell you on the way,” Zizi said, taking her by the arm.

“You’re coming with me?”

“Only as far as Saint Maarten.” He pulled her toward the stairs that led to the helipad. “There’s a private jet for you there.”

“Where’s the private jet going?”

“It’s taking you to see a painting. I’ll tell you about it on the way.”

“Where’s it going, Zizi?”

He stopped halfway down the stairs and looked at her, his eyes concealed behind the dark glass.

“Is something bothering you, Sarah? You seem tense.”

“I just don’t like getting on airplanes when I don’t know where they’re going.”

Zizi smiled and started to tell her, but his words were drowned out by the engine of the Sikorsky.

GABRIEL WAS STANDING in the prow of Sun Dancer when the helicopter lifted off. He watched for a moment, then rushed up to the bridge, where a navy lieutenant was at the helm.

“They’re moving her to Saint Maarten. How far are we from shore?”

“About five miles.”

“How long will it take us to get there?”

“Given the weather, I’d say thirty minutes. Maybe a bit less.”

“And the Zodiacs?”

“You don’t want to try it in a Zodiac-not in these conditions.”

“Get us close-as quickly as possible.”

The lieutenant nodded, and started making preparations to change heading. Gabriel went to the command center and dialed Carter.

“She’s headed toward the airport on Saint Maarten as we speak.”

“Is she alone?”

“Zizi and his chief of security are with her.”

“How long before you can get there?”

“Forty-five minutes to shore. Another fifteen to the airport.”

“I’ll put the crew on standby. The plane will be ready when you arrive.”

“Now we just need to know where Zizi’s sending her.”

“Thanks to al-Qaeda, we’re now tapped into every traffic control tower in the hemisphere. When Zizi’s pilot files a flight plan, we’ll know where she’s going.”

“How long will it take?”

“Usually it takes us only a few minutes.”

“I don’t suppose I need to remind you that sooner is better.”

“Just get to shore,” Carter said. “I’ll take care of the rest.”

“IT’S A MANET,” Zizi said as they swept toward the coastline, just beneath the deck of low dark clouds. “I’ve had my eye on it for several years now. The owner has been reluctant to part with it, but last night he telephoned my office in Geneva and said he was interested in making a deal.”

“What do you want me to do?”

“Inspect the painting and make certain it’s in reasonable condition. Then review the provenance carefully. As I’m sure you’re aware, thousands of French Impressionist paintings entered Switzerland during the war under illicit circumstances. The last thing I need is some Jewish family beating down my door demanding their painting back.”

Sarah felt a stab of fear in the center of her chest. She turned away and looked out the window.

“And if the provenance is in order?”

“Work out a suitable price. I’m willing to go to thirty million, but for God’s sake, don’t tell him that.” He handed her a business card with a handwritten number on the back. “Once you’ve got a final number, call me before you accept.”

“What time do I see him?”

“Ten o’clock tomorrow morning. One of my drivers will meet you at the airport tonight and take you to your hotel. You can get a good night’s sleep before you see the painting.”

“Do I get to know the owner’s name?”

“Hermann Klarsfeld. He’s one of the richest men in Switzerland, which is saying something. I’ve warned him about how beautiful you are. He’s looking forward to meeting you.”

“Lovely,” she said, still looking out the window at the approaching coastline.

“Herr Klarsfeld is an octogenarian, Sarah. You needn’t worry about any inappropriate behavior.”

Zizi looked at bin Talal. The security chief reached under his seat and produced a new Gucci bag. “Your things, Miss Sarah,” he said, his tone apologetic. Sarah accepted the bag and opened it. Inside were the electronic items taken from her the afternoon of her arrival: the mobile phone and the PDA; the iPod and the hair dryer; even the travel alarm clock. Nothing remained of her aboard Alexandra, no evidence she’d ever been there.