Page 11 of The Search

“It’s about Chen Li. Everything is about Chen Li. You allowed her to be buried in that disgustingly simple grave like a thousand others in that cemetery. How could you do that?”

“She was buried with quiet dignity and grace. The way she lived.”

“The way you made her live. She was a queen and you made her common.”

“Don’t talk about her.”

“Why not? What can you do to me that you haven’t done? Am I making you feel guilty? You are guilty.”

“And you’re a crazy son of a bitch.”

“I wasn’t crazy when I went into that prison. If I’m crazy now, it’s because of you. You knew what I did was right and you let me rot in that cell. But I’m not insane, and when this is over I’ll be able to live again. Do you know why I hit that research facility?”

“You knew it was important to me.”

“No, that wasn’t the reason. Think about it. It will come to you. I’ll even help you along. Did you get the scarab?”

“I got it.”

“Good. I thought it was a fitting signature to Santo Camaro. It was the first Egyptian piece I gave to Chen Li. It wasn’t very expensive or important, but she didn’t care. I was able to give her much nicer pieces later.”

“That you stole and murdered to get. Do you think she would have accepted them if she’d known how many people you killed to get those artifacts?”

“But she didn’t know and those people didn’t matter. She was the only one who mattered. She deserves the best. I’ll always give her the best.”

“You’re talking about her as if she’s still alive.”

“She’ll always be alive to me. Every day in that prison she was with me. She kept me sane. I talked to her and told her how much I hated you and how I was going to hurt you.”

“You can’t hurt me, Rudzak.”

“Oh, but I can.” His voice lowered to a silken murmur. “I may be white-haired, but Chen Li would still think I’m handsome. I remember how she would stroke my face and tell me how beautiful I was, how kind and—”

“Shut up.”

Rudzak chuckled. “You see, it’s easy to hurt you. I’ll be calling you again. I’ve gotten a great deal of satisfaction out of this conversation.” He hung up.

Bastard.

Keep calm. The anger pouring through him was counterproductive. Rudzak would enjoy knowing how that jab had pierced his defenses. He did know. Logan had been caught unprepared and let Rudzak see his rage and pain.

You are guilty.

Chen Li.

Don’t think of her. Think of Bassett and the problems Rudzak was causing now.

Don’t think of Chen Li.

Rudzak pressed the disconnect on the phone and looked down at the tiny round box in his other hand. He wiped the raindrops from the lid. It was a lovely thing, studded with ivory and lapis lazuli. He’d been told that it had once belonged to a princess of Egypt, but he’d embroidered the tale for Chen Li when he gave it to her.

“This belonged to Meretaten, the daughter of Nefertiti. She was supposed to be even lovelier and more clever than her mother.”

“I never heard of her.” Chen Li held the box up to the window to see the sunlight glitter on the blue stones. “I love it, Martin. Where did you get it?”

“A collector in Cairo.”

“It must have cost the earth.”