Heir to Danger by Parv Valerie

Author:Parv, Valerie [Parv, Valerie]
Language: eng
Format: mobi
Tags: Suspense
Publisher: Harlequin
Published: 2004-09-06T05:00:00+00:00

Chapter 11

She saw Tom assess the man standing with Horvath. If ever the description tall, dark and dangerous fitted a man, it was Jamal. He’d been a champion runner in his youth, and he was still superbly fit. There wasn’t an ounce of spare flesh on his six-foot, well-muscled frame. Not a man to be trifled with, and she saw Tom’s expression harden as he reached that conclusion.

“He hasn’t seen you yet,” Tom said. “Stay put until this group moves out. When they do, we’ll go with them.”

It took all her courage to remain still, not a dozen yards away from Jamal, willing the tour group to move.

Glancing out of the airport, she saw what she had been unconsciously looking for, the private jet painted with the standard of the Q’aresh royal family standing on the runway. Hope sent her spirits soaring. If she could only get to the plane and find the tape, this might all be over. She might not be forced to leave Tom.

She couldn’t remain still a moment longer. “Can you create some kind of diversion?”

Tom nodded, having no idea what was in her mind. “As soon as I do, you head for the car. I’ll be right behind you. Got it?”

She had no intention of running for the car, but doubted if Tom would approve of her plan. So she inclined her head in apparent agreement. He approached the tour leader. “Tom McCullough, shire ranger,” he said, offering his hand.

The man shook hands. “I didn’t know anyone from ranger headquarters was meeting us.”

“It isn’t standard procedure,” Tom said smoothly. “I’ve had a report that a rare snake was spotted around the bags belonging to this group. I’d like you all to check your belongings carefully. Or I can take a look if you’re squeamish about snakes.”

“What kind of snake is it?”

“A Jamal viper,” Tom improvised. “A bite from one can be nasty.”

“Can’t say I’ve heard of it, but it’s rare, as you say. We’d better all do as the ranger asks,” the leader urged.

“You only need to worry about open bags,” Tom said hastily. If he had to examine everything they carried, he’d be here all day.

The members of the group immediately dropped their belongings as if the bags themselves could bite. A few, mostly the men, began gingerly to examine their possessions. The rest flatly refused to touch anything without Tom’s help. As he searched for the nonexistent snake, he made sure to spread the group out and create as much chaos as possible.

Out of the corner of his eye he saw Shara start to move. Then he suppressed a curse. Instead of heading for the parking lot, she ran out onto the tarmac where he saw her approaching a parked plane. As she reached it, she swept the ranger’s hat off her head.

What the devil was she doing? Surely not surrendering to Jamal’s people in some kind of misguided notion of self-sacrifice? The thought was like a knife in Tom’s gut. She must know they wouldn’t honor any agreement she tried to make with them.

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