Chapter Twenty-nine


Kefira looked grim as she broke the connection with Quest Compound and turned to Jessie.

"I knew it was a bad sign that we did not hear from Jonny or Hadji this morning."

"I never disagreed with you," Jessie replied from her position on the sofa. "All I said was that we promised them not to do anything stupid. We have to move with a great deal of care. One wrong move on our part could easily get them killed."

Kefira rose from her chair decisively. "I cannot stand by any longer. I am going to return to Bangalore. If nothing else, I will go to my family's home and speak with my father. He will know what to do. Do not try to talk me out of it."

"I don't intend to," Jessie replied.

Kefira stared at her in surprise. "But you said . . ."

Jessie interrupted her. "I've been saying that we need to be cautious. We're going to be going into a situation with no backup . . . what my dad used to call a 'mission on the lunatic fringe'. We have to be as prepared as possible before we head out." Jessie thrust herself to her feet, looking at the other girl with a trace of irritation. "What did you think I was going to do, sit here and wait for them to ship Jonny's body back to me in a box? I've been arranging for the two of us to go in after them from the moment we knew there was a problem. By midnight tonight we'll be well on our way to Bangalore."

"What kind of preparations have you made?" Kefira demanded.

"The kind that may serve us well heading into a war zone."

"Be more specific," the other girl said flatly. Jessie gazed back at Kefira with a stubborn expression, causing Kefira's mouth to straighten in a hard line. "This is my country . . . my husband. I have the right to know. Furthermore, as much as I trust you, I do not intend to follow you blindly." She hesitated for a moment and then her tone softened slightly. "Jessie, I am not asking that you compromise the identities of the people your father entrusted to you. I only wish to know what you are planning."

After a moment, Jessie sighed and relaxed slightly. Motioning Kefira to the sofa, the two of them sat down. Jessie ran her hand through her hair in an unconscious parody of her father and said, "Sorry. I think I'm starting to understand why Dad hated the spy business so much. It's just too damned easy to get caught up in all of the secrecy and paranoia, and the next thing you know, you're doing nothing but hurting the people that mean the most to you. I don't mean to be deliberately secretive."

"Then tell me what you are planning."

"All right, look, Jonny and Hadji were going to try a frontal assault on the situation. The fact that no word of Hadji's return to Bangalore has hit the news services says that either they didn't make it, or else they changed their minds about coming in openly."

"You believe they might be dead," Kefira said flatly.

"Actually, I don't," Jessie disagreed. "I think Bennett's right . . . there is a coup in the making, probably being instigated by Arun Birla. If Hadji had been caught and killed, Birla would no longer have any need to keep a low profile. I figure that as soon as he's sure Hadji is dead, he plans to declare himself Sultan. He's in the perfect position to do it. He could have Neela killed and produce her body, saying she was killed in the fighting, then declare himself head of the government using the argument that the entire Royal family is gone and as head of Hadji's Advisory Council, he is the most logical person to take over." Suddenly she looked thoughtful. "Is Birla married?"

Kefira shrugged. "I do not know. I would assume he is . . . most males in Bangalore take wives, if for no other reason than to produce heirs."

"I suppose if he doesn't have a living wife, he could force Neela into marriage and claim the throne that way."

"Not as long as I am alive. Now that Hadji and I are married, the Lady Neela has no legitimate claim to the throne."

Jessie contemplated the other girl seriously. "I know what you're saying, Kefira, but I have the feeling that if you tried to claim the throne there would be problems. For one thing, your marriage didn't occur according to Bangalore custom. Let's face it, you're the one who keeps telling me how stuck on tradition the place is. Under the circumstances, do you think they would willingly accept you as Sultana if Hadji was killed . . . particularly if he was never given the chance to stand up and openly declare you as his wife?"

"Not readily," she acknowledged reluctantly.

"Another issue would be that you are female. I remember Hadji telling me that there were problems when he named his mother as Regent. I suspect trying to declare yourself as ruler would be a whole lot worse. Unless . . ." Jessie looked at her speculatively. "What are the odds that you might be pregnant?"

"Pregnant???" Kefira sputtered. "I have only slept with him once!"

"Once could be enough if the timing's right. Was it?"

Kefira contemplated the question. "Perhaps," she replied cautiously. "What are you thinking?"

"That a claim to the throne would be a lot easier if you were carrying his heir." Then Jessie shook her head sharply. "But that's getting way ahead of ourselves. I have no intention of letting it come to that. Hadji and Jonny are both alive and we're going to get them out of this mess.

"When do we leave for Bangalore?" Kefira demanded eagerly.

"Tonight. We've got a rendezvous with Jean-Paul tonight at 10:00 in New York. We'll take off directly from there."

Kefira raised her eyebrows. "Jean-Paul again? What for?"

Jessie's smile was cold. "To pick up the kind of weapons that both Jonny and Hadji would strongly disapprove of, but that are liable to save all of our skins in a war zone. We were originally scheduled to get them last night, but the missile launchers took longer than Jean-Paul anticipated and the meeting got pushed back by 24 hours. I also decided that we needed some new identification papers and that took extra time."

"I assume you are not planning to go into the country openly, then?"

"No. Besides, with the weapons that we'll be bringing with us, I doubt there's any border we could cross openly."

Kefira frowned thoughtfully. "How do you plan to get us and the weapons into Bangalore then?"

"I've got an idea, but I'm not entirely sure yet. I won't lie and say that this isn't being done by the seat of my pants . . . I'm playing the hand dealt to me as I go along, but one way or the other we'll get in there."

"When do we leave?" Kefira asked again, and Jessie could read her restlessness easily.

"How do you feel? Honestly."

"I am fine. I have been resting since Thursday night and am ready to go."

Jessie nodded decisively. "Then let's throw some stuff in a duffle and get out of here. We'll take our time driving to New York to be sure we aren't followed and be there in plenty of time to scope out the hangar and be ready when Jean-Paul arrives with the merchandise."

"Hangar?"

"He's delivering the weapons directly to the Quest private hangar at La Guardia. I'm going to use both Dr. Quest's plane and his influence to get us past customs and to India. I'm planning to fly directly to Mumbai and go from there."

"What will Dr. Quest say when he discovers that you are using his plane . . . both without asking and to transport weapons illegally?"

Jessie's face was hard as she replied, "I don't give a damn. I intend to get the man I love out of a war zone, and I don't really care what I have to do to accomplish that. Are you with me?"

"You know that I am," Kefira replied without hesitation. Then she paused once more. "Are we going to tell Race and Dr. Quest what we are planning to do?"

"No," Jessie replied decisively. "I'm not going to risk one or both of them trying to stop us. What they don't know about, they can't try to prevent."

"Good. Then I believe it is time to get started."


~ ~ ~ ~ ~


They were an hour out of Boston when the familiar ring of a cellular phone interrupted their desultory conversation. Kefira reached down and picked up the receiver of the dash-mounted phone and then looked at Jessie in confusion. "Dial tone," she said economically.

Realization dawned and Jessie gestured toward the back seat. "The one in my purse . . . get it quick!" Kefira dove into the back and was pulling the bag open even before she settled back into her seat. She snatched the phone, hit the connect button and passed it to Jessie swiftly.

"Bon jour." Her voice became slightly deeper with the faintest trace of an accent as she answered. "Ah, Jean-Paul, mon ami! I was hoping to hear from you today. Have you heard about the delivery of my sculpture? Bon! Anton will be so pleased . . ." Suddenly, a frown creased her brow. "Inspect it? But Jean-Paul, I trust your judgment. I do not feel the need to inspect it before delivery. If you say it is in good condition and worth the price we pay, then I do not doubt you." She listened for a moment more and then sighed. "Oh, very well, if the seller insists, I suppose I do not have a choice. When and where should I meet you?" Jessie listened for a moment and then shook her head. "Non, that will not work. I am not at home at the moment. I have a meeting in New York City later today and I am already en route. Non, Jean-Paul, I tell you, it is not possible." By this time, Jessie was sounding decidedly irritated. She listened a moment more and then said flatly, "Then I am afraid we must cancel the deal. I simply cannot make that meeting. If the seller refuses to release the merchandise without it, then he must find another buyer. Extend my regrets to him and say that I hope we will be able to do business again some day. Thank you for your efforts on my behalf. À bientôt, Jean-Paul." And with that, she hung up on him.

"What was that all about?" Kefira questioned as Jessie tossed the cell phone into the back seat in disgust.

"My father's friend being an idiot. He wanted us back at the warehouse in Boston at 2:00 this afternoon . . . I assume to test our prowess with the new set of weapons."

"You told him no?"

"Yes, I did. I do not need a babysitter."

"Do you actually know how to use the weapons he was going to provide?"

"Yes. Dad taught me a long time ago. And truthfully, the only really touchy ones are the land mines and the explosives, both of which I have experience with. The only ones I have very little exposure to are the missile launchers and even those I've handled before." From the back seat, the cell phone began to ring again. Jessie shook her head at Kefira's questioning look. "No, let it ring. We already had a meeting set for the delivery of the merchandise."

"And if he does not come?"

"Then we go without them. I told you I was setting this up as I go along and I meant it. We've still got the small stuff we got the other night and we've got access to money to buy on the black market if necessary." She suddenly looked thoughtful. "I wonder . . ." Jessie gestured to the cell phone in the back seat, which had finally stopped ringing. "Could you please hand that to me again. I've got an idea." Kefira fished it out of the back seat once more and glancing at it quickly, Jessie dialed a well-known number. After a moment, she said into the phone, "IRIS, this is Jessie Bannon. I have a job for you . . ."


~ ~ ~ ~ ~


It was shortly after 8:00 p.m. and darkness had fallen over La Guardia airport when a low, warning tone permeated the quiet of the Quest aircraft hangar. Kefira appeared in the office doorway and called out, "What is that?"

Jessie pulled her head out of the access panel in the front end of the Quest Lear Jet and replied, "We've got company . . . that's the perimeter alarm." Dropping down off of the ladder she had been standing on, she moved quickly to a computer on the nearby table and called up the security program. After the near-disaster at this hangar the previous December, Race had decided that stepped-up security was necessary in all of the outlying Quest holdings. Over the summer, with the help of Jonny and herself, he had installed state-of-the-art security and defense systems in all of the facilities the family used the most frequently, including the New York and Boston storage facilities. It had been a lot of work, particularly considering how much other stuff she and Jonny were faced with in their new life in Boston, and they'd sacrificed a lot of nights and weekends to get the system up and running, but right now she was seriously grateful they had taken the trouble. Skimming through the output screens, she told Kefira, "Four men. They just crossed through the outer sensors."

"Accident?" the other woman questioned as she pulled her gun and primed the chamber.

"Not the way these guys are moving. The approach is coordinated to cover each other, and they all have infrared equipment." Jessie smiled grimly. "I'd say we've got spooks."

"What do you suggest?"

Jessie's chuckle wasn't particularly pleasant. "Night vision equipment is wonderful stuff . . . as long as you're sure you're gonna be in the dark." She gestured to the front visitor's entrance. "Cover that door. I'll take the one on the back side of the hangar." She hit three quick keys on the computer in front of her and then commanded, "Activate vocal command access to security protocols."

The feminine voice that suddenly echoed through the large room was eerily familiar. "VOCAL COMMAND ACCESS ACTIVATED. PLEASE PROVIDE ACCESS AUTHORIZATION CODES."

"Access command Jessica Bannon mark 2008 authorization 69 Omega Edward Zebra 348493 mark access."

"AUTHORIZATION CODE ACCEPTED. SECONDARY USER?"

"Access command Kefira Subramanian mark 2011 authorization 77 Tom Baker David 194291 mark access," Kefira replied immediately.

"SECONDARY AUTHORIZATION CODES ACCEPTED. BE ADVISED THAT INTRUDERS HAVE BEEN IDENTIFIED WITHIN THE SECONDARY SENSOR WARNING PERIMETER APPROACHING THE PRIMARY HANGAR FROM TWO SEPARATE DIRECTIONS."

"Total number of intruders, IRIS?" Jessie questioned, moving quickly to the back window.

"SENSORS SHOW FOUR MEN APPROACHING, TWO FROM THE NORTHEAST, TWO FROM THE SOUTHWEST. LONG-RANGE SENSORS ALSO INDICATE A FIFTH MAN STILL OUTSIDE THE OUTER PERIMETER."

"Transport?"

"THERE APPEARS TO BE A VAN AND A TRUCK ON THE EXTREME EDGE OF SENSOR RANGE, PERHAPS TEN METERS BEYOND THE FIFTH MAN."

"Identities of the intruders?"

"UNABLE TO ASCERTAIN."

"Dollars to donuts, its Jean-Paul," Jessie called to her companion. "Are those men within the perimeter still utilizing infrared equipment?"

"AFFIRMATIVE."

"Good. Activate electronic lockdown of aircraft access doors. Arm exterior, high intensity lighting and bring to ready status."

"BE ADVISED THAT THE STANDARD EXTERNAL LIGHTING CIRCUITS HAVE BEEN COMPROMISED."

"Are the high intensity lights still secure?"

"AFFIRMATIVE."

Jessie laughed. "Surprise, surprise, Jean-Paul. Distance of intruders to hangar complex, IRIS?" Leaving her post quickly, Jessie ran to a nearby locker and opened it. Pulling out two sets of dark goggles, she threw one set at Kefira and then crossed back to the door. "Put those on. You're gonna need 'em."

"THIRTY METERS."

"They'll get as close as they can and then make a break for the building. IRIS, when the intruders get within five meters of the building, activate the high intensity lights. Also, I want a high intensity spotlight on the fifth man and a burst of electromagnetic radiation directed at the vehicles." Jessie glanced across the hangar at Kefira. "I want any surveillance equipment they're using on us to be fried . . . preferably permanently. Jean-Paul wouldn't pull this kind of crap on my father and he isn't going to pull it on me! The high intensity lights will overload the infrared equipment our friends are using and effectively blind them. I want them disarmed and inside as quickly as possible. I'm guessing they're wearing communications devices. With any luck, we'll take that down with any surveillance equipment. Once that's . . . "

"INTRUDERS ARE MOVING," IRIS warned. "TWENTY-FIVE METERS AND CLOSING."

"Prepare to disengage locks on pedestrian entrances on my mark."

"ACKNOWLEDGED. TWENTY METERS," IRIS intoned. " FIFTEEN . . . TEN . . . HIGH INTENSITY LIGHTING ON." Pained cries sounded clearly through the hangar walls.

"Pedestrian entrance locks off!" Jessie snapped and she immediately heard the panic bar on the front entrance disengage as Kefira knocked the door open with her shoulder. "Watch that fifth man, IRIS!" Jessie dove out the door coming face-to-face with one of her adversaries almost immediately. He was clawing at the night vision goggles, trying desperately to remove them in the blinding glare of the lights. Jessie slammed the heel of her left hand up under the man's jaw, carefully aiming the blow so that the momentum of the strike sent him staggering into the hangar. She spotted the second man, as well. He was leaning against the hangar wall about four meters away. He had managed to remove the night vision equipment and was wiping frantically at the streaming tears that ran down his face. Some semblance of sight must have been returning, because he shied back at her approach. Fearing she had little time to be gentle, she slammed a roundhouse right into his ear, causing the man to drop like a stone. Then she grabbed the back of his black jumpsuit and dragged him to the entrance and through the door. As she came in, she spotted the first man, still conscious and groping blindly on his hands and knees in search of god-alone-knew what. Dropping her burden, she used the butt of her gun and smacked the man as gently as possible on the back of the head. As she did so, she heard Kefira command,

"Reactivate electronic locks on pedestrian entrances. Status of fifth man?"

"HOLDING JUST OUTSIDE OF PERIMETER SENSORS."

"Shut down all exterior lights and activate infrared scanners. Advise of any breach of exterior perimeter sensors."

"ACKNOWLEDGED." Both women heard the relays click as the exterior lighting shut down and then there was silence.

"Come on, let's get these guys tied up and out of harm's way," Jessie said. "I don't think it's going to take too long before we hear from Jean-Paul."

"You are certain we are dealing with Jean-Paul?" Kefira asked her as the two women began dragging their unconscious captives toward the wall near the office on the far side of the hangar.

"I am now," Jessie replied. She indicated the man she was hauling across the floor. "This is the guy that followed us in the BMW on Thursday night."

"Now what?" Kefira asked once they had all four men secured.

"Now we go back to what we were doing before and wait for Jean-Paul to call."

"You are so sure he will call?"

Jessie smiled coldly. "Oh, he'll call. I have no doubt of it."

When the cell phone that Jessie had retrieved from the car began to ring twenty minutes later, she was just closing the nose hatch on the plane. She took her time securing the bolts before descending the ladder and picking it up. As she did so, she noted that their four visitors were all awake and glaring at her. Closer at hand, Kefira didn't even pause as she carefully finished applying the decal that overlaid new markings on top of the old ones on the underside of the sleek plane, effectively changing the aircraft's identity. When Jessie answered the phone, she made no effort at subterfuge. "Do you think I'm an idiot?" she demanded in a hard voice.

"We need to talk," Jean-Paul replied in the same tone.

"So talk." Jessie picked up an electronic device and flipped a switch. Immediately, the red warning beacon on the top of the plane began to flash and the small device she held began to beep.

"Not on the phone. Let me into the hangar."

Jessie studied the electronic signature being broadcast by the plane's onboard flight computer for a moment and then nodded. Flipping a switch, she watched as the signature changed to something completely different. She grunted in satisfaction and then said, "Now why would I do that? We've already got a large enough crowd in here as it is."

"I don't know what you're into, girl, but what ever it is, you can't play it like it's a game of poker!"

"Poker?" she snapped. "You don't even know what it takes to ante into this little disaster, so don't tell me what I can and can't do!" She glanced at her watch. "In a very short time, I'm leaving here and you'd damned well better stay out of my way." With that, Jessie hung up on him again.

"What are we going to do with our visitors?" Kefira questioned in a voice loud enough for them to hear.

"Oh, we'll wait until we're airborne and then I'll call La Guardia tower and let them know that someone tried to break into our hangars again. After the last time, they'll send the cops out in force and these guys will be tied up more than long enough for us to get free and clear."

"SENSORS INDICATE A BREACH OF THE OUTER SENSOR PERIMETER. ONE MALE INDIVIDUAL IS MOVING ON FOOT IN THE DIRECTION OF THE EAST PEDESTRIAN ENTRANCE."

"Here he comes," Jessie said calmly. "Is he armed, IRIS?"

"AFFIRMATIVE. THROWING KNIFE, RIGHT JACKET SLEEVE; THROWING KNIFE, LEFT ARM SHEATH; THROWING KNIFE, RIGHT CALF SHEATH; SEMI-AUTOMATIC PISTOL, LEFT SHOULDER HOLSTER, POSITIONED FOR RIGHT HAND CROSS DRAW; SNUB-NOSED THIRTY-EIGHT, LEFT ANKLE HOLSTER; GAROT, COLLAR OF JACKET; GAROT, SEAMLINE OF JACKET AT WAISTBAND; EXPLOSIVE CHARGE, HEEL, RIGHT SHOE; UNDEFINED SUBSTANCE, HEEL, LEFT SHOE, EXPLOSIVE CHARGE OR ACID CAPSULE PROBABLE; TITANIUM THROWING STARS, RIGHT SIDE OF JACKET, QUANTITY OF THREE TO FIVE PROBABLE; ZIPGUN, RIGHT . . ." She saw Kefira grin at their four captives' response to the steadily growing list of weaponry identified by IRIS.

"Is he carrying anything in his undershorts, IRIS?" Jessie asked dryly.

There was a brief pause before the Quest computer replied, "HE DOES NOT APPEAR TO BE CARRYING ANYTHING DANGEROUS IN THAT LOCATION." A loud banging on the door of the hangar heralded the man's arrival.

Pulling her gun, Jessie moved over to stand near the door and yelled, "What do you want?"

"Let me in. I want to talk with you."

"Is he alone, IRIS?"

"AFFIRMATIVE."

"No sign of anyone else?"

"NEGATIVE."

"There was just the five of us," one of the men offered, but Jessie ignored him.

"How badly do you want in here, Jean-Paul?" she demanded.

"Don't play games! Just open the damned door."

"Strip," she said flatly.

"What!??!"

"Down to your shorts. Back off at least ten meters, strip down to your shorts, leaving your shoes and socks out there as well, and then come back to the door."

"What the-- It's only about 50º out here!"

"I'm sure it's not the first time you've ever been cold. Just do it!" Her voice was harsh and uncompromising. A string of profanity followed that comment, but a short time later the banging began on the door again.

"IRIS?" Jessie asked, backing away with her gun leveled. Off to her right, Kefira pulled her gun and moved to get a clear line of sight to the door, as well.

"HE HAS COMPLIED WITH YOUR DEMANDS. SCANS SHOW NO OBVIOUS WEAPONS."

"Other movements on the grounds?"

"NEGATIVE."

"Okay, turn on the hangar exhaust system and then unlock the door and let him in. Be sure it closes and locks tightly behind him once he's inside."

"ACKNOWLEDGED."

The banging on the door quickly melded with the muted roar of the large exhaust motors on the roof, and then Jessie saw the door swing open. The entrance was vacant for a moment and then Jean-Paul stepped around the corner and into the hangar. Almost immediately, the door slammed shut behind him, causing the man to stumble forward in surprise. He spun, searching wildly for another person. The about-face gave Jessie the chance to visually inspect him for hidden weapons. Considering that all he now wore were men's bikini briefs, there wasn't really anywhere the man could be hiding anything. It also didn't leave much to the imagination.

"IRIS, spectrographic analysis," she yelled over the sound of the exhaust fans. "Dangerous chemical substances?"

After a moment, the computer replied, "NEGATIVE."

"All right. Shut down the fans." The noise level dropped dramatically as the exhaust motors shut down. "Secure all doors, maintain exterior surveillance, arm exterior defensive weapons systems."

"ACKNOWLEDGED. DOORS SECURED, EXTERIOR WEAPON SYSTEMS ON-LINE."

Jessie now faced Jean-Paul in the middle of the hangar. She arched one eyebrow at him as she insolently ran her eyes up and down his nearly naked body. "Not too bad," she commented with a slight smile.

"What did you think I was going to do anyway?" he asked sourly.

"When a person approaches my door armed to the teeth, I take no chances. It's something my father taught me."

"I wasn't . . ."

"Somehow, they knew exactly what you were carrying," the man who had spoken earlier said. "All the way down to where it was located." Jessie saw Jean-Paul's eyes widen in surprise.

"How?" he demanded.

The man shrugged. "Don't know. But you might want to ask her where the other woman is. And I don't mean that one," he added, nodding at Kefira as she moved into the middle of the room to join Jessie.

"What other woman?" Jean-Paul demanded. "And where are the other two? How many people know about me now?"

Jessie shrugged. "You were the one that wanted to meet the other members of my team. And as for IRIS, she's none of your concern. Now, Jean-Paul, you wanted in. You're in. So what do you want?"

"There's still the matter of your merchandise."

"I told you, the deal's off. You're too inflexible and I had other things I had to get done. So I've made other arrangements."

The man's eyes narrowed. "What other arrangements?"

"Those are none of your -"

"I AM RECEIVING AN INCOMING CALL FOR JESSICA BANNON VIA VID PHONE," IRIS interrupted.

"Ah, so maybe you'll find out about the other arrangements after all." She glanced at Kefira. "I don't trust him. Put a pair of cuffs on him so he doesn't get too feisty and then keep an eye on him." Sitting in the chair at the computer workstation not far from the four bound men, Jessie said, "Put it through, IRIS."

The screen flashed and then the image of a beautiful, black-eyed, dark-haired woman steadied on the large flat-panel monitor. She smiled in that slow, sultry way that was a trademark throughout the orient and said, "Hiya, kid. How's things?"

Behind her, Jessie heard Jean-Paul's wordless exclamation of surprise as she shrugged. "Been better, been worse. You know how it goes."

Jade laughed leisurely. "All too well. How's Race? Estella kill him yet?"

It was Jessie's turn to laugh. "Not as far as I know, but it's been a close thing a couple of times."

"Having met your mother a time or two, I can believe that. Did they actually end up getting married again? Race said they were planning to."

"Yeah. Last Christmas. Believe it or not, I've got a baby brother or sister on the way."

"No kidding!"

Jessie held up her hand. "Scout's honor!"

"I'll be damned," Jade said and leaned back in her chair, laughing. Abruptly, the laughter died away. "So what's this about needing a cache of weapons?"

"You got the list?"

"I've got it," Jade replied cautiously. "What are you planning to do, start a war?"

"No, just end one. Can you get them for me?"

Jade picked up a piece of paper lying in front of her and scanned it quickly. "Yeah, I doubt there will be a problem. Missile launchers might take a couple of days, though. Who are you?" she demanded as Kefira drifted up into range of the video recorder.

Jessie tossed a glance up at the other girl and then looked back at Jade. "Jade Kenyon, Kefira Singh . . . Hadji's wife."

"Damn. You really have been shaking things up since the last time I saw you. Hadji's married? What about you and Jonny?"

Jessie grinned. "Co-habitating only."

That caused Jade to do a double-take. "You and Jonny? A couple? AND living together?" Jessie nodded, causing the other woman to laugh again. "Shaking things up doesn't even begin to cover it. Your parents must just love it."

The smile on Jessie's face vanished and she shrugged. After a moment she said, "So what about the weapons?"

Jade sensed that she'd hit a nerve and sobered as she contemplated the red-haired young woman. "I don't like this," she said flatly. She waved the piece of paper at Jessie. "Why do you want this stuff?"

Suddenly, Jean-Paul lunged forward. "Race doesn't know anything about this, Jade. Don't . . ." but his words cut off as the barrel of Kefira's gun buried itself under the point of his jaw.

"You were not asked for your input," Kefira told him coldly.

Jade gazed at the shackled, all but naked man and grinned slightly. "Playing strip poker in your spare time, honey?" she asked Jessie. "Looks to me like you've been winning. You're not looking too bad, Paulie. You should make it a point to look me up the next time you're in the orient. We might be able to have some fun." Then Jade turned back to Jessie once more. "So?"

"I need that stuff, Jade."

"Why?"

Jessie hesitated, then replied, "They're in trouble."

"Race and Benton?" Jessie shook her head. "Ah, the dynamic duo. What have they . . ." Then she paused and her eyes narrowed. "Wait a minute. Both of them? And there's trouble in Bangalore . . ."

"Bangalore!" Jean-Paul exclaimed in horror.

"They're behind enemy lines, Jade," Jessie interrupted. "We gotta get them out."

"Disappeared?" Jade demanded and Jessie nodded. "How long ago?"

"They left last Thursday."

"You have a contact schedule?"

"Yes."

"How many have they missed?"

Jessie glanced at her watch. "Four now."

"Damn," she said softly. Her eyes flicked to Jean-Paul again. "You giving her grief about this, Paulie?" she asked dangerously.

"She's told you more than she'd ever tell me," he griped, as Kefira eased off. "I didn't know they were looking to go into Bangalore."

"You got her weapons?"

"Yes, but she's not getting them until I know she can use them."

"Don't be an idiot. Of course she can use them," Jade replied flatly. "Race is no fool. You, of all people, should know that. Give them to her. You have a way to get them out of the country, Jess?"

"I can get them out."

"What about the ones you asked me for?"

Jessie jerked her head at Jean-Paul. "If he's got everything I asked him for, I don't need those. But I could still use your help. I can get them out of here, but I've still got to get them delivered to where I need them, when I need them."

"I can do that. Is Paulie in on the game?"

"No."

"Yes!" the man exclaimed at the same instant. He glared at Jessie. "You aren't going into that place alone. If I'd known that's what you were planning, I'd have called Race right away. Since it's not likely you're going to let me do that, I'm coming with you."

"Like hell you are!" Jessie snapped. "I don't trust you, and I don't need you breathing down my neck."

"You have three choices," Jean-Paul replied harshly. "One, I go with you. Two, you shoot me."

"Don't tempt me," Jessie muttered.

"Or three, the instant you're gone, I call Race and set him on your trail!"

"Why doesn't Race know about this, Jess?" Jade questioned. "You need to tell him."

"NO!!!" The response from both young women was violent enough to make Jade sit back abruptly in her chair. The three stared at each other for a long moment and then Jade said quietly, "I want answers, Jessie. You're in deep trouble. Word on the grapevine says that Bangalore is a powder keg and the fuse is already lit. It's not a question of if it will explode any longer . . . it's just a question of when."

But it was Kefira who answered. "Please, Ms. Kenyon. We need your help. We know who is responsible for the problem. Jon and Hadji went in to try to deal with the situation, and now they are missing. If we do not do something soon, Hadji will meet the same fate as his father, and Jon will most likely die with him."

"Look, kid, I can appreciate what you're saying. But that doesn't explain why you aren't telling Race. You need his help with this one."

Jessie and Kefira exchanged a look and Kefira said softly, "Please, Jessie, tell them."

Finally, she sighed and seemed to slump as she looked back at the older woman. "Dad's got his hands full, Jade. Something's wrong with Dr. Quest."

"What do you mean, 'wrong'?"

"We don't know. He's suffering from headaches, weakness, dizzy spells, that sort of thing. Stress seems to trigger it. Jon and Hadji didn't even tell him they were going into Bangalore because they were afraid of what the knowledge might trigger."

"How is it that Benton doesn't know they're gone? You can't tell me that he would overlook his sons not being around the house."

"None of us live in Maine any longer, Jade," Jessie replied quietly. "Hadji and Kefira are in New York and Jon and I live in Boston."

"Boston. Then all of you are in school."

"Everyone but Jon. He's working." Jessie sighed again at the other woman's look. "It's a long story and I promise that I'll tell you the whole thing later, but the short version is that Jon and Dr. Quest aren't getting along." In an instant, her face hardened and she sat up straight once more. "Nor are Dr. Quest and I." The iciness of the tone made Jade and Jean-Paul shiver slightly. "Jon and I moved out last May and we're on our own. We keep in touch with Dad and Mom, which is how we know what's going on, but that's about it. Dad's simply got all he can handle right now. This is our problem and we need to deal with it."

The silence was strained by the time Jessie finished. Finally, Jade asked, "How bad is Benton?"

"I don't . . ." she paused, and then continued reluctantly, " . . . we don't think it's good. Dr. Mason is seriously worried."

"All right. I'm in . . . on one condition."

"It's yours. Just name it."

"You bring Paulie there along with you. He may be a pain in the butt, but you can trust him and he's pretty good in a fight."

Jessie looked up at the nearly naked man who now stood at her shoulder, opposite Kefira. "Can you take orders, Paulie?" she demanded. "Because the first time you don't, you won't need Air India to get back home . . .I'll kick your butt so hard you'll be returning with the geese. Am I clear?"

The man snorted disgustedly and then looked at the woman who was still watching via vid phone. "Shit. She sounds just like Race."

"Sounds like him, thinks like him, acts like him, and in my experience, kicks butt just like him, too," Jade replied with a laugh. Then she looked at Jessie again. "When and where?"

Caution kicked in again as she contemplated that question. "You remember a couple of years ago when Jon and I were bumming around the Orient while Dad and Dr. Quest were attending a conference?"

"Which time?" Jade asked dryly.

"The time you had me help you pick out that God-awful piece of phony artwork for the guy you fleeced that sapphire from."

"Oh, THAT time."

"We'll meet you in the alley beside the shop where you bought that monstrosity at 8:00 p.m. tomorrow night local time."

"I'll be there," Jade promised. She looked at Jessie seriously for a moment longer. "You be careful, Jess. If anything happens to you . . . well, le'ts just say that I doubt Race will be in a very forgiving mood . . ."


To be continued . . .