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Nicholas stretched his arm across the back of the sofa. “May I speak to your chief of Operations? Lilith Forrester- Clarke?”
“Lilith? Whatever for?”
“I believe Ms. Forrester-Clark was involved in obtaining the services of a particular thief, even traveled herself to the Topkapi to verify the thief was there, in place, ready to execute the theft.”
She said, “If Lilith traveled to Istanbul it would be to discuss something with the museum director, Haluk Dursun. Haluk is a consultant for the Genesis Group. Feel free to contact him, of course.”
He nodded. “I shall. Tell me, where do you think the staff is?”
She paused, smiled at him. “Perhaps it now resides at the bottom of a lake, or is being sold on eBay. Some people are so credulous.”
“Still, I would like to speak with Ms. Forrester-Clarke. Is she here with you now?”
“No, she is in Rome, doing the foundation’s work.”
“Ah, now that’s strange. We called there, looking for her. We were told she was here with you.”
“Whoever you spoke to was clearly mistaken.”
“When might I have the pleasure of meeting your brother?”
“Soon, I expect. Perhaps he’ll run into your partner and bring her back with him. Does Agent Caine enjoy Scotch?”
“She’s more of a wine drinker.” Nicholas knew he needed to buy Mike and Kitsune more time. “The Genesis Group is quite renowned. You and your brother are young to be running such a large foundation.”
She shrugged again. “I was raised to run the Genesis Group, it’s the family business. I’m surprised you aren’t running yours.”
“Perhaps I will one day, but for now, I’d rather track down criminals.”
He set the drink on the marble table beside him, looked closely at that beautiful, lethal face. “Tell me, Ms. Kohath, what have you done to further your search for the Ark of the Covenant?”
CHAPTER THIRTY-EIGHT
She smoothed a hand over her sleeve, and he saw a slight tremor, but when she spoke it was in a teacher’s voice, “I cannot tell you about the scope of our searches for the Ark. That we keep close, but I will say that our search has continued throughout many years, since the Ark ties to our family all the way back to Moses, a Levite. Also, the Ark’s discovery would be, indisputably, the most important archaeological find in history. The Genesis Group wants to be the one to discover it. No, I want to be the one to discover it. As I said, it is my family’s duty to find it, to be reunited with it. I’m very determined, Agent Drummond.”
“So determined that you will allow nothing to stand in your way? Stealing the staff from the Topkapi to prove it’s a fake? Manipulating the weather to empty the Gobi Desert of sand to uncover your mother’s lost site, killing thousands of people in Beijing in the process? Don’t you believe that is a bit over the top, Ms. Kohath? A bit extreme? A bit crazy?”
Calling her crazy, it had simply come out of his mouth. But it had triggered her. He saw the sudden wildness in her eyes, like rolling fog, gathering speed, momentum. Would she try to kill him now? Right in this room? Then the madness died and she was once again in perfect control of herself, and that, he’d learned over the years, was what happened when madness melded with brilliance. She even laughed.
“Controlling the weather? Surely that belongs in the realm of science fiction. And blow all the sand out of the Gobi Desert? A romantic and terrifying notion.”
“Terrifying, yes, but romantic? I strongly doubt it if you were one of the thousands who choked to death on the sand. That does not include the missing.” He tapped on his ear three times.
“It is tragic, of course, but when there are huge storms such as the one that buried parts of Beijing, I suppose it natural to weave all sorts of conspiracy theories as to its genesis. This is a very odd idea you’ve got, Agent Drummond. May I inquire where and how you dreamed this up?”
He’d met only one other criminal in his life like her—very smart, utterly focused, perfectly presented, and greatly talented at manipulation. A true psychopath. If he didn’t know what Cassandra Kohath had done, and he’d simply met her, would he still believe her crazy?
Nicholas smiled, took another sip of Scotch, let the peat scent rise up his throat. He said mildly, “You’re a very good liar.”
“Me? A liar? I’m not lying, Agent Drummond, I have no need to. I have no earthly idea what you’re talking about.” She looked at her watch, a lovely thin rose gold band that circled her wrist three times, like a small golden snake. “This house is vast. I hope your partner isn’t lost. Or perhaps looking in places that are not safe.”
“I’m sure she’s fine, probably being escorted back by a dozen or so of your guards. Bulgari, is it?”
Cassandra moved her wrist this way and that. “Why, yes, it is. You have a good eye.” She rose with a smile and took his glass from the side table. “Let me freshen your drink.”
“Thank you.” Nicholas rose at the same time and brushed against her. She looked up at him and gave him a slow smile. As she turned to the drinks cart, Nicholas took the opportunity to signal Mike again; he tapped his ear three times. She needed to get back, and quickly.
“Kitsune’s here, but there’s a problem.”
