Page 96 of An Epic Voyage

Yeah, by her.

“Good.Good.Let’s get down to business.I’ve brought Dr.Cheung to verify the validity of the product.”

Sweat had popped up along Van Houten’s hairline, and Indy could hear his stomach rumbling.There couldn’t be much left inside him.If he hadn’t been taking in liquids, he was most likely severely dehydrated.Excessive sweating was a sign.

“You don’t trust me?”

Abdullahi’s smile was predatory.“In our business, Mr.Van Houten, I trust no one.”

“Fine.I’ll need to see proof of payment before I allow your professional to inspect anything.”

Abdullahi motioned the guard holding a silver briefcase forward.The man placed it on the table and flipped open the latches to reveal stacks of crisp one-hundred-dollar bills.Van Houten signaled for Garcia to check them out.

Garcia took out a batch and examined them, ensuring they were legitimate.Then he removed random bills and held them up to the light, looking for the embedded security thread to the left of Ben Franklin.He nodded to Van Houten, who was now holding on to the table with one hand and trembling.

Garcia closed the case and started to lift it when a hand slammed down on it.“This stays here until we are ready to make the exchange.”

Garcia held up his hands and backed away.

“Zisk, bring the case.”

Zisk reached behind a desk and withdrew the container.He placed it in front of the doctor, who had taken a seat and was opening the kit he’d brought with him.Soon, he began to run tests.

“My friend, you do not look well,” Abdullahi said to Van Houten.

Van Houten straightened, probably thinking he looked weak.He did.“Food poisoning.”

“Ah.Nasty, that.”

Alarm bells went off in Indy’s head as she watched the doctor inspect the nuke.His brows were furrowed, and his lips pursed.He shook his head and took something else from his bag.He didn’t look happy with the result.

“Is there a problem?”she asked him in Chinese.

He looked up at her, his eyes troubled, and answered in his native language.“Yes.This is not a nuclear weapon.”

Ah, shit.And it was about to hit the fan.

“I didn’t know you spoke Japanese, Indigo,” Van Houten murmured racistly.“What did you ask him?”

Before she could answer, Abdullahi spoke.

“Dr.Cheung?Do you have results?”

The doctor closed the case and stood.He pushed his glasses up his nose with a shaking hand.“I do.This is not a nuclear weapon.It is a fake.”

The sound of guns being cocked rang out around the room.Abdullahi’s guards pointed their weapons at Van Houten, while Zisk and Garcia did the same to Abdullahi.Van Houten grabbed Indigo and thrust her in front of him.Seriously?

He let go of her right arm and then grabbed it again.Something hard bit into her triceps.Van Houten had retrieved the dead man’s switch.

“You are such a coward, you use a woman as a shield?”Abdullahi taunted.“You have tried to trick me.”

“No.No, I didn’t.I was the one who was deceived.I was led to believe it was real.”

“Did you have it inspected?”

“Well, no.I trusted my source.”

“That was your first mistake.”