Page 81 of Acting on Instinct
“She is right here. Fatima, what did you send to Kira?”
“Yes, the painting by Zara.”
There was a smacking sound and a whimper. “You said a book.”
“Books.” Aunt Fatima panted. “Four. They are handwritten novels written in the 1800s. They were given to me by a friend who asked that they be sent along to Kira to study.”
“Oh, the books. Yes, in my mind, it was Aunt Fatima’s friend who sent me those.”
“Where are these books, Kira?” Kira could hear the cruelty in the undertones of his words. She could feel the menace and roiling anger.
“In the lab,” she said truthfully.
“You have a lab? Where is this?” Uncle Nadir asked.
“I don’t have a lab. I had to send them out for analysis,” Kira explained.
“What would a lab analyze?”
“The ink, the paper, verifying the age. They will swab for bacteria and other molds and such, so I can decide the best practices to preserve the works.”
“Can you get these books back?” Uncle Nadir asked.
“Yes. Of course. I can call you as soon as the lab results come in, and I go to pick them up.”
“Why are you in Washington? Tell me the truth.”
“Because of your friend William. Christen called to say that her dad was taken by helicopter to the hospital. She’s flying in from her base. She should be here at any moment. The plan is for her to spend the night and then fly to Tanzania tomorrow. But her ticket is standby. I’m here to support her as she’s understandably upset. She needed a friend.”
“And you took the books with you to Washington?” Uncle Nadir pressed.
“I don’t have the books. They’re in the lab.”
“Have you spoken with London?” Uncle Nadir asked.
“Not since she left the United States to go live near you. William’s health will devastate her. Do you have an update on William? ”
“No. Your Aunt Fatima, too, is in crisis.”
She heard her aunt scream, and Kira couldn’t fathom what Uncle Nadir was doing that hurt Aunt Fatima so badly. Kira wanted to vomit. She looked around and spotted a trash can, and the second man seemed to understand the look, moving the bin next to Kira.
She decided to treat him as if he were a gentleman. “Thank you.”
“I wish to speak with you,” Uncle Nadir yelled.
“I’m speaking with you.”
“I wish to speak to you in person. You will drink the bottle that is being handed to you.”
The gun reached into an interior pocket in his suit and pulled out a bottle of something blue and bubbly. He held it out to Kira.
“I … what is it?” She pulled her hands into fists and tucked them under her chin.
“Rohypnol.”
Kira gasped. “A date rape drug? Uncle, that is stunning.”
What should she do? Succumb? Fight? Did she get a choice?
