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“I recognize how he marks the weapons he sells to his clients, and I tracked down a few cases at the ruins at Karimu. I’d just gotten wind that Caldwell was involved in a new scheme from Jim Hastings, one of my informants, who often frequents one of my casinos in Algiers.

He’s one of Caldwell’s lesser scumbags so he obviously didn’t know that much, but after Karimu I went back and primed the pump with a special truth serum that usually works very well on him.

I got a few names, one of them Eve Duncan.

Considering that Duncan is extremely unlikely to be working with Caldwell willingly, my next supposition was that she might be a victim or a tool. ”

“I don’t like any of this,” Catherine said. “You couldn’t get anything else out of this informant?”

“Not yet. But he might find out more about Caldwell’s plans later. I thought it best that I release him so that he would go his merry way and no one would suspect me. Naturally, I have a twenty-four-hour tail on him.”

“Naturally,” she echoed caustically. “You never take chances, do you?”

“All the time. But hopefully never fatal ones.” He added, “And I’m trying not to take any chances with your friend Eve.

Caldwell wants her to do this mask, and I won’t deny it might be dangerous.

Hell, of course it will. Shall we go into the fact that Caldwell will probably find an excuse to kill Eve, because she’ll inevitably get in his way?

Individuals like Eve will always go after the bad guys to find a way to save the world.

The only way to save her is for us to step in. ”

“Or send in a sniper with an AK-47 to get rid of all those bastards,” Catherine said harshly. “Eve is a great person. That would simplify everything.”

“What a wonderful solution.” Dominic laughed with pure delight. “I can see why you’re so near and dear to Cameron. Would you mind if we explore a few less radical answers first? I promise that the prime offenders won’t receive undue mercy that might annoy you. May I talk now?”

“By all means,” Catherine said. “In detail, please. Start with more about Caldwell.”

“Who is up to all of his usual ugliness and clearly starting to move upward to even greater and more profitable crimes. But Hastings couldn’t tell me many of those details you’re going to want to know, Catherine.

I just got the broad strokes. He was raving about how Caldwell had discovered a secret pharaoh’s tomb in a village in the mountains of Central Africa that was filled with gold and treasure, and everyone who helped Caldwell to retrieve it was going to be a millionaire. ”

“And Hastings believed him?”

“I didn’t say he was bright. Why do you think Caldwell only told him the basics? That’s why I have to move fast, before Caldwell discovers that Hastings is one of my informants and he ends up dead.”

“And you’re still asking me to persuade Eve that she should get involved with this assignment? She has a lot to live for and a hell of a lot to give,” Catherine said. “Of course I won’t do it.”

“Yes, she has a lot to give. And she’s shown in the past that she’s willing to do it. Did I mention that there’s an excellent chance that if we can’t finesse Caldwell out of the picture, then he might very well find it necessary to burn half that village and all its citizens to the ground?”

She was silent a moment. “Damn you, no, you didn’t. But I know he’s fully capable of it. If you need someone to play his game, then set me up to go after the bastard. I’m a fully trained CIA agent. You know I can handle it.”

“And risk Cameron going after me if anything happened to you? That would be suicidal. No way.” He paused. “Besides, you don’t have Eve’s unique qualifications. I guarantee your name wasn’t on Caldwell’s list that I squeezed out of Hastings.”

“What were the other names?”

“Masini Zakira, an African chief. And one Celine Kelly, an artist’s model from Boston.”

“What the devil is he up to? That combo is as weird as hell,” she muttered.

“Yes. Will you talk to Eve?”

“I’ll talk to her, but I won’t try to con her into doing this. I’ll advise her against it.”

“I thought you might. But you’ll tell her the entire truth. That’s all I ask of you. We’ll let her make up her own mind.”

“And you’ve probably studied Eve in depth and figured out how to get her to do exactly what you want. I’ve seen you do it before. Cameron says he thinks you’re some kind of witch doctor.”

“I’ll have to tell him that’s very much like the pot calling the kettle black.” Dominic was laughing. “Actually, I’m just a student of human nature trying to get along as best I can and survive this complicated world we live in.”

“And adding an entire collection of puzzle complications yourself.”

“But that’s why Cameron usually keeps me on the other side of the world when we have to find solutions.

I like puzzles much better than he does.

We all realize that Cameron has some psychic abilities that make puzzles a bit boring for him.

You’re the only puzzle he never gets bored with solving.

” He added thoughtfully, “Or maybe you’re the only puzzle he can never solve. ”

“We’re not talking about me or Cameron,” she said curtly. “We’re discussing Eve.”

“Yet I was sure that it was you who mentioned Cameron first… Oh, well, it doesn’t matter. I’ll be in touch with you after I get back from Boston and let you know if I’ve learned anything.”

“You’re going to Boston to see that artist’s model? She might not have anything to do with Caldwell’s current plans. She could just as well be his mistress, you know.”

“Perhaps. But I somehow doubt it. Hastings wouldn’t have been tempted to talk about a woman Caldwell was sleeping with even under my less-than-subtle questioning…

He would have been too frightened. This Masini Zakira appears to be a chieftain and priest in Central Africa.

That could prove intriguing, since Hastings mentioned a payoff in gold, and Africa has been known for its gold mines for centuries.

I’ve already sent out a team to see what more they can find out about Zakira.

In the meantime, I called Rashid and told him I needed him to start initiating a few inquiries about Celine Kelly.

I should have a complete report by the time I land in Boston. ”

“Ah, Sam Rashid, your favorite bloodhound,” Catherine said. “I should have known that you’d put him on the trail. He’s quite the expert. I’m sure he’ll give you whatever you need about that woman, including her DNA and fingerprints.”

“That sounded a little bitter, Catherine. You’re right, Rashid is an expert at the many tasks I give him, and I’m lucky to have him.

Did I tell you that we got together in his home country of Tanzania, where he was heading the ranger unit that practically eliminated poachers in that area?

He was so good, I persuaded him to come work for me, and I’m quite sure the CIA would like nothing better than to hire him or any other of my team members away from me. Isn’t that true?”

“Yes, it’s true.” She was silent a moment, then added wearily, “I’m more than a little bitter, but I shouldn’t have taken it out on Rashid. Most of the time, I like him. I think you know I just don’t like you pulling his strings when it comes to anything that involves Eve. You’re too damn good.”

He chuckled. “Oh, that must have hurt to confess. But you said you were going to talk her out of even becoming interested in taking the Fallon job. What chance would I have?”

“Don’t give me that bullshit. Even if I hadn’t seen you work, Cameron thought you were good enough to trust with his damn Shangri-La theories, and that means you’re dangerous as hell.”

“But never toward you, Catherine. We’re on the same side,” he said gently. “Even if you won’t admit it.”