A Time of Shadows (Out of Time #8) Page 15

  Her retort was interrupted by a knock on the door. Simon’s heart skipped a beat and he motioned for Charlotte and Elizabeth to go into the bedroom. He grabbed the rifle and moved quietly back to the door. Heart racing, he peered carefully thorough the peephole, and then let out a relieved sigh.

  “It’s all right,” he said, opening the door.

  Victor Renaud stood to the side, scowling and unshaven as always. He glared at the gun in Simon’s hand, pushed it away with disdain and entered uninvited. “Unless you were planning on hitting me over the head with that, it won’t do you much good uncocked.”

  His eyes darted over to the pistol still sitting on the end table. “The handgun would have been a wiser choice.”

  Simon clenched his jaw to keep from biting back. Renaud was doing them an enormous favor. He couldn’t afford to piss him off, no matter how much of an ass the man might be.

  “Hello, Victor,” Elizabeth said as she came back out of the bedroom.

  Charlotte poked her head into the room next to Elizabeth.

  “Hello,” she said with a wave of her hand as she leaned against Elizabeth’s side.

  Renaud stared at her, his expression unreadable before he looked back to Simon. “If you want to discuss this outside?”

  Simon shook his head.

  Elizabeth caressed Charlotte’s hair. “Honey, why don’t you wash up and brush your teeth?”

  Charlotte nodded and went back into the bedroom. Elizabeth closed the door and joined them in the living room.

  Renaud nodded at her once in acknowledgement, curt, but polite, before turning to Simon and arching a questioning and impatient eyebrow. When they’d spoken, Simon hadn’t told Renaud why they needed his help, just that they did. He didn’t want to give away pertinent details over the phone and, if he were honest, he was afraid Renaud would say no if he knew what they were about to ask of him.

  Simon looked anxiously at Elizabeth as Renaud took in their little hotel room. He glanced at the cards and then turned back to Simon.

  “You said it was urgent. What is it you need?” His eyes fell on the handgun again. “Other than the most basic of weapons training.”

  Simon ignored the barb and gritted his teeth.

  “It’s Charlotte,” Elizabeth said.

  Renaud waited for the rest.

  “We need someone to look after her.”

  Renaud’s jaw set. “I am not a nursemaid.” He turned for the door. “If that is why you called, you have wasted all of our time.”

  Simon gripped his arm to stop him. Renaud glared down at his hand and Simon let go.

  “She’s in danger.”

  “And you cannot protect her?”

  Renaud smirked. He’d meant it to be another jibe, but it hit its mark.

  Simon took in a deep breath and let it out slowly. “No, I can’t.”

  It cut him to his core to admit that and, for once, Renaud didn’t take another shot. If anything, he was taken aback by the response.

  Elizabeth approached him, started to reach out to him, but thought better of it. “Not and do what we have to do.”

  “Travers told you about the watch?” Simon said.

  Renaud nodded.

  “If there were any other option,” Simon said, turning and pacing across the room, “I assure you, we would have taken it.”

  “I can look for the watch and you—” Renaud said.

  “Impossible. The clues are designed for us and us alone.”

  Renaud frowned, his eyes darting back and forth across the floor searching for some answer that didn’t exist.

  “We’ve been followed,” Elizabeth said. “And up until yesterday, they hadn’t tried to kill us.”

  She gave him the short version of the day’s events. Renaud’s frown deepened.

  “It’s possible they were trying to kill you,” he said.

  “Possible?” Simon said with a snort.

  Renaud looked at him coolly. “It’s also possible that it was not you they were after.”

  Elizabeth shook her head.

  The cold fist around Simon’s heart became iron. “Charlotte.”

  “It is too much of a coincidence, is it not,” Renaud asked, “that she is here, now?”

  “And met with Teddy,” Elizabeth said, making the connections. “Frequently. And was told things.”

  Like that mysterious number she’d mentioned, Simon thought.

  Renaud shrugged. “At worst, they eliminate all of you. At best, they have the girl and—”

  “We give them the watch.”

  It was so obvious Simon would have felt ashamed if he’d had any room for any other feeling than a soul-deep sickness that Charlotte could be a pawn in this game. He felt himself sinking into despair at the thought of what could be, and with a force of will, pushed it away and turned to Renaud.

  “All the more reason she’s not safe with us,” he said, looking at Elizabeth and seeing the same miserable realization in her face.

  Simon expected Renaud to argue more, but instead he looked slightly pale.

  “I am not well equipped,” he said, “to care for a child.”

  “I know that you had a daughter of your own,” Simon said.

  Renaud’s eyes were sharp with anger and agony. “If you know that, then you know why I am not,” he bit out.

  Simon regretted instantly having said it. He hadn’t been thinking about anything other than how to protect his child. He couldn’t imagine Renaud’s pain. Or perhaps, he thought, thinking of Charlotte, he could.

  Losing a child was his greatest fear, and Renaud had lived it.

  Elizabeth stepped forward, and this time, dared to lay her hand on Renaud’s arm.

  “I know what we’re asking you to do is painful,” she said. “But we have nowhere else to turn. No one else to turn to.”

  Renaud looked at both of them and then at the closed door to the bedroom. The pain his eyes had revealed was gone now and his expression was once again implacable and unreadable.

  “I will wait in the car,” he said. “Do not keep me waiting long.”

  With one final look and nothing else said, he turned and went outside.

  Relief mixed with sadness. But at least she would have a protector.

  Telling Charlotte what they’d planned went as badly as Simon had feared, though. She cried and protested.

  “You said you wouldn’t leave me,” she said. “You said you’d stay with me.”

  He had, and it killed him to break his promise.

  “I did,” Simon said as he sat on the sofa and held a wriggling Charlotte’s arms as she stood in front of him. “And if there were any other way—”

  “Mom,” Charlotte said, without thinking as she turned to Elizabeth for help.

  Simon saw happiness and despair collide in Elizabeth’s eyes at the name. She blinked a few times to control her emotions and then sat down next to him and took Charlotte’s hand. “We don’t want to do this, but it’s not safe for you with us.”

  “It’s not safe away,” Charlotte cried.

  For a moment, Simon nearly agreed. The pained, betrayed, and frightened look on Charlotte’s face almost overtook his resolve.

  Elizabeth wiped away Charlotte’s tears while her own threatened to spill. “Victor will take good care of you.”

  “But he’s not you.”

  “It will be all right,” Simon said, standing. If he didn’t do this now, he wasn’t sure he’d be able to do it at all.

  He took a step toward the door and then turned back.

  “I know it’s hard to understand why,” Simon admitted, “but I need you to trust us.”

  Charlotte’s chin wobbled as she looked at Elizabeth and then back to him. Then she looked down and nodded.

  “That’s my girl,” Simon said, and held out his hand. “Now, the sooner we do this, the sooner we can be back together.”

  Charlotte wiped her nose with the back of her arm and then walked over to Simon and took his hand. Elizab
eth picked up the bag she’d packed for Charlotte and joined them, taking Charlotte’s other hand and together they walked out to the car.

  Renaud leaned against his silver sedan, arms crossed over his chest.

  Elizabeth opened the back door for Charlotte.

  Renaud stood up. “I am no one’s chauffeur. She will ride in the front.”

  “It’s safer for her in the backseat,” Elizabeth said.

  Renaud looked at her and then to Simon. “If I am to do this, it will be by my rules or not at all.”

  Elizabeth looked to Simon who nodded. This was not a point worth arguing over.

  “Make sure she wears her seatbelt,” Elizabeth said as she helped Charlotte into the front passenger seat.

  Renaud frowned but didn’t reply.

  “Thank you,” Simon said to him as he held out his hand. It was violently inadequate, but what else could he say?

  Renaud looked warily at his hand but shook it.

  Simon didn’t let go. “You will protect her.”

  It was not a question; it was a demand.

  Renaud didn’t flinch. “I will.”

  Two simple words, but Simon knew the truth behind it. Victor Renaud would do whatever needed doing, no matter what that might be. And that was just what Simon wanted.

  “Oh, wait a minute,” Elizabeth said, stopping her goodbye and running back into their room. A moment later she reappeared, putting the playing cards back into their box.

  She handed the deck to Charlotte. “Let him win a few.”

  Charlotte smiled and Elizabeth kissed her cheek and then kissed her again.

  It was Simon’s turn to say goodbye, but when he went to speak his throat had tightened so much words couldn’t escape. He swallowed and knelt down by the open car door.

  Charlotte pulled him into a hug and he held onto her for all he was worth. But the time had come, and he eased back. He caressed her cheek one last time, praying it wasn’t the very last.

  “We will come for you,” he promised.

  Charlotte nodded and Simon stepped back and closed the door. Elizabeth slipped her arm around his waist.

  “We love you, darling. Be good,” Elizabeth said. Her voice broke and she ran a hand under her eyes to wipe away her own tears.

  Charlotte waved and turned to watch them through the window as Renaud pulled away.

  Simon and Elizabeth stood there long after the car had disappeared from sight. Finally, they turned and went back into their hotel room. It was quiet and empty feeling now. The ache in Simon’s heart grew and he knew it would never go away.

  ~~~

  “Wake up,” Jack said as he gently shook Tess’ shoulder.

  She groaned and nuzzled into her pillow, or what she thought was her pillow. “Don’t want to.”

  “Come on,” Jack insisted, giving her a little harder shake.

  Tess lifted her head and blinked at him. He could see the dawn break as she realized where she was. As she lay there, she looked down, also realizing that her pillow had been his thigh. She jerked away and sat up, moving to sit on her own patch of dirt and grass.

  Jack chuckled but turned his attention back to the house. The large front gate was opening. Finally. They’d spent all of last night watching and waiting. And a total of nothing had happened. No one had come and no one had left, until now.

  Jack stood, crouching to keep under the cover of the bushes. His back ached, but he did his best to ignore it.

  Next to him, Tess stood and then huddled next to him. “What time is it?” she asked squinting at the bright sun.

  “Close to nine, I think.”

  “Why didn’t you wake me?”

  “You talk in your sleep,” Jack said. “It was…entertaining.”

  She looked worried. “What did I say?”

  The black limousine pulled out of the drive and turned onto the street. In the back seat, Jack could just make out the Wizard.

  “I’ll tell you later,” he said and jumped onto the motorcycle.

  He didn’t bother asking Tess to wait and she didn’t bother asking to go. She simply got on behind him. They pulled out of their hiding place and onto the road. Without the cover of darkness, he had to lay back even further than before as they followed the black town car through the streets and down to the main road that ran along the Bosphorus. If the Wizard got onto a boat, they were out of luck.

  But pier after pier passed and eventually they crossed the Galata Bridge. The bridge was heavy with traffic and the pedestrian walkways were crowded with men. Some fished, some simply talked. But far too many watched them. It wasn’t until he saw groups of men staring and smiling that he realized why.

  “Why are they staring?” Tess asked as they slowed in the traffic.

  “Your legs are sticking out.”

  After Tess’ spontaneous dress alterations last night, she was a little exposed. A lot exposed for a morning ride, especially one in a Muslim country. They were getting more than their fair share of attention and that was the very last thing they needed.

  Jack weaved expertly through traffic, but had to be careful not to get too close. Thankfully, the bottleneck cleared when they got to the other side of the bridge. The black car headed into the Old City.

  Unfortunately, the unwanted attention hadn’t stopped on the bridge. At every corner, and at every stop, people pointed and stared.

  “You’re going to have to get off,” Jack said.

  He hated leaving her by the side of the road, but she was too much of a liability if he wanted any chance of following the Wizard and not having it end up in the papers tomorrow.

  “What?”

  Jack pulled over and turned around. They didn’t have time to argue about it. Every second made it harder to catch up with the other car. “You’re drawing too much—”

  “Drive,” Tess said, looking down.

  Why was she choosing now to argue? “I know you—”

  She hit his arm and pointed. He followed her gaze to a pair of policemen who stood next to their patrol car at the end of the block. Just as Jack saw them, they saw him. It didn’t take a spy to understand their body language. One turned to the other and took his walkie-talkie off his hip.

  “Drive,” Tess said again with more urgency.

  “Driving,” Jack said as he pulled away.

  He turned down a side street. They’d lose the Wizard, but if they ended up in jail for stealing the motorcycle, none of it would matter.

  Jack felt Tess use his body to turn around and look behind them.

  “They’re on us.”

  “Crap,” Jack said. “Hold on.”

  She hugged him tightly and he gunned the throttle.

  The bike was far more maneuverable in the city traffic than the police car was. That was until there were two of them.

  The morning traffic was heavy and slow. When Jack had been here in the forties there were just over one million people living here, but now, according to the reading he’d done on the plane, it had ballooned to over fourteen million. Any medieval city that had that many people living in it was bound to have a serious traffic problem. It had been a blessing so far. It gave them an advantage, except for right now, he thought, when the space between the two delivery trucks was too small for even a motorcycle to get through. With no other choice, he drove up onto a sidewalk and slowly worked his way through the pedestrians.

  After they’d gotten around the obstacles, they bumped off the curb. He thought they might be able to lose them in the twisted warren of old streets and started to turn toward Sultanahmet. That was when he saw the two motorcycle cops at the far end of the intersection. They were a problem. His advantage was gone. Wherever he could go, they could go.

  Running wasn’t going to work anymore.

  “What do we do?” Tess whispered in his ear.

  Jack paused for a moment, rifling through his memory for an idea. There was one place that was even more crowded than this, a place they might be able to lose the police.
>
  “Well?” Tess said anxiously.

  “Go shopping,” he said and turned the bike around.

  They passed by the first police car that had been after them. It was stuck in traffic and Jack weaved right past them. The officers yelled as they got out of their car, but they could do nothing.

  The two motorcycle officers were another story. They were right behind and gaining.

  Thankfully, their destination was close, and after running a red light and a little more creative driving, they arrived at the Grand Bazaar. Jack pulled the bike up near the enormous building that covered a city block and then some.

  Tess jumped off and he let the bike fall to the ground. Grabbing her hand, he pulled her toward the Carsikapi Gate. It was one of four entrances to the huge bazaar. He glanced back just as they reached the arched doorway. The two motorcycle officers had just rounded the corner and saw them.

  They ran inside the enormous covered bazaar. Jack had only been there a few times before, and his memory was sketchy at best. There were over sixty streets and hundreds of vendors lining the long vaulted halls. It was a city within a city, all indoors. Restaurants, tea houses, leather goods, furniture, stores of every variety sat in bays along the numerous roads.

  Even though it had just opened, the bazaar was already crowded with tourists and locals alike. Early morning bargain hunters made great cover, Jack thought as he hurried Tess down one of the lanes, then up another and down yet another.

  They passed stores with hundreds of brightly colored hanging lanterns, like miniature old-fashioned air balloons lit from within. There were textiles and plates and food and jewelry. Every store was packed from floor to ceiling with goods. After a few more meandering turns, he finally reached the area he’d been looking for.

  The first clothing store sold belly dancing outfits, but since they were looking for less attention and not more, they moved on. Luckily, two doors down he found what he was looking for. Modern, normal clothes. He grabbed a few dresses and shoved them at Tess.

  “Changing room in the back,” he said as he spun her around, hoping he was right.

  The proprietor watched Tess walk past him and smiled and gestured to the back. The man grinned broadly and came to Jack’s side.

  He lifted up a jacket. “Finest leather? No better deal in all of Turkey.”