Nightmare in Morocco (19 page)

Marie's talk about Wendell's gambling, his unexpected interest at the hospital in having her as a partner sprang to mind
.
The tour company was Wendell's life
.
If his debts were heavy enough to jeopardize Carlson Rand tours, Noa knew he might go to any lengths to save it
.

No!
Nothing could ever convince her that Wendell would do such a thing
.

Noa thought again about Johnny and his connection with Cathy
Johnny, Cathy, and Ali.

Noa reached a sharp turn in the path and found the way before her suddenly dark and deserted, much like it must have been when Wendell had been attacked
.
Noa heard a sound, like stealthy footsteps echoing behind her
.
Johnny!

Her heart raced with sudden fear
.
He had definitely not liked her coming to Ali's shop asking questions, finding him there
.
Was he thinking she had evidence to prove his involvement?
Then she was in danger!

She shot a glance back over her shoulder
.
A large, shadowy figure slipped back into the gathering darkness of the narrow alley.

Panic exploded in Noa's chest
.
All the terror of the medina she had felt as a child, all the fear she had been
suppressing
burst forth like a sudden explosion
.
Memories of grasping hands and locked walls, of darkness descending, quickened her steps as she ran down one dark passage, then another
.
Mud colored walls and long, narrow streets twisted and turned before her without beginning or end, forming one giant, frightening maze
.
When the ache in her side finally forced Noa to slow down, she looked back again
.
She had managed to lose whoever had been following her
.
But now she was utterly, hopelessly lost herself! Lost in the medina
her greatest fear had become reality
.
Holding back tears, Noa looked helplessly around her, searching for familiar signs
.
Noa remembered telling the tour group this morning how one could walk for hours and see only a small portion of the walled city
.
Her own words now seemed to mock her
.
How would she ever find her way out of here?

"Does this lead outside?"
The woman's dark eyes met Noa's curiously above the veil, then she turned shyly away
.
Noa would keep trying to find someone who spoke English
.
Until then, she would continue walking
.
Noa chose the wide path to her left
.
She did not know where the passage led, could only hope that it would take her to closer to the city gates.

Noa walked until her legs began to ache from sheer exhaustion
.
As she turned the corner, the eerie sound of chanting filled the air
.
From the minaret, the Moslems were calling the faithful to evening prayer
.
Noa could see clearly the ornate designs upon the tall, thin minaret
.
The nearness of the building told her that instead of moving toward the entrance, she had been steadily working her way deeper and deeper into the heart of the medina.

Standing beneath the shadow of the minaret, Noa felt like a child again
.
Through a haze of tears, she chose another path and began to walk
.

"You're going the wrong way, Noa."

Noa turned, startled to see Taber only a few steps away from her
.
His tall form
separated
him from the crowd as he moved toward her.

Wendell's suspicions of him jumped to mind, still she was grateful to see him
.
"What
what are you doing here?"
She wondered if he had been the one following her from Ali's shop
.
"Were you looking for me?"

He came closer, his smile amused
.
"No, but I'm glad I found you
.
In the last place I'd expect you to be
.
I've always had the impression that the medina frightens you."

"I was lost here once as a child."
Noa wondered why she could tell Taber so easily about the terrifying experience she had never before shared with anyone
.
"And now I'm lost again."

The amusement left his face
.
His dark eyes studied her with kindness.

"Just show me the way out of here!"
She attempted a smile, hoping he could not tell that she had been on the verge of tears.

"I know many short cuts."
A protective hand drew her close to him, making her feel safe
.
"We'll be at the gates in no time
.
Now, why are you here alone?"

"I came down here to talk to Ali Balsam."

"Definitely nothing I would have recommended
.
Did you find out anything?"

"Johnny Ramos was in the shop
.
I think Ali's the fence, but Johnny's the one who attacked Wendell."
Pain caught in her voice as she added, "I'm afraid they are both partners of Cathy's."

"Noa!
You can't really believe that!"

"Read this."
She drew Mike's letter from her purse and handed it to him.

Lines of concentration deepened along his brows as he studied the words
.
When he was finished, he handed the letter back to her
.
"This is a different type of crime than stealing from a father
.
I don't believe she has anything to do with what's happening here."

Anyone capable of deceiving a man like Mike would certainly do this
.
Noa stole a look at Taber, unable to understand his confidence in Cathy's innocence
.
Did he know something she didn't?
She wished she hadn't shown him the letter, meant only for her
.
"Are the police still at the hotel?" she asked.

"Yes. I've already filled out most of the necessary reports on the missing jewel
.
Of course, they'll probably want to talk to you."

"How is Belda taking the loss of her ring?"

"Exceptionally well
.
In fact, she insists that we go on with the tour."

"I was afraid the police might detain us."

"They have our schedule
.
They said they would contact us along the way, if they need to
.
We are free to be on our way to Marrakech tomorrow."

Chapter Nine

Noa, fingers laced in Taber's strong grip, was being led forward toward a man in white, wearing a dark blue turban with a scarf looped around his neck
.
Around him grazed five camels
.
An unsaddled one stood nearest Noa, a gristly, ugly animal with a single, very high hump
.
Noa stopped and reached out to him cautiously
.
His neck had shedded, leaving bald, bare skin, but a thick, shaggy fur remained on his back
.
Wild hair like masses puffed out under his chin and on the crown of his heavy head
.
"I'd rather go horseback riding," Noa said a little wistfully.

Slender, white Arabian horses and a handsome, desert
sheik
!
Exciting!
More what she had in mind!
This mean, awkward beast with thick lips moving ever so slowly had no part in her dream
.
She cast a glance at Taber
.
At least he did
Taber definitely qualified as
sheik
!

His white shirt opened at the throat revealed thick, black hair
.
The tight clothing made him seem leaner, more muscular
.
His smile showed teeth as white as the shirt he wore, contrasting dramatically with olive skin.

When Taber said, "Better put on that hat," she admitted to herself the uselessness of trying to talk him out of this camel ride into the desert.

Obediently she adjusted the straw hat that dangled from a ribbon across her back
.
The attendant with a long stick prodded one of the camels to kneel
.
The saddle was covered with a woven red blanket
.
A circular hoop was attached to it that she clung to as she mounted
.
Taber stood close by as the long legged camel with slow, jarring motions arose to a startling height
.
"Where are we going?"

"Not far
.
About a mile and a half straight south."
Amusement showed by a tightening of his lips, though he spared her the smile
.
"You'll survive."

Taber caught the bridle rope, keeping it tight in hand as he rose easily unto his camel
.
He stopped to say something in Arabic to the owner, to put bills in his hand that brought forth a huge smile
.
Then he, as far ahead as the long rope allowed, moved ahead, looking back now and then to shout encouragement.

The stubborn animal Noa rode seemed to have a definite preference to remaining near the patch of grass stacked beside his owner
.
Taber urged him to move.

The camel, deciding all at once to go along with Taber,
loped forward with a speed that caused Noa to think she would fall
.
She leaned toward the skinny neck, both hands grasping the metal loop.

The sky seemed filled with a giant sun that penetrated her straw hat, beat down upon her back and caused her blouse to stick tight against her skin
.
"Where are we going?"
she asked again
.
"An oasis, I hope!"

"To my
kasbah
!
Like the king, I have a palace in each of the four imperial cities
.
Plus Tangier," he added
.
"I feel as if I am dragging you along."
He skillfully shifted the rope, drew her camel to his side so close to him that their legs touched.

Noa could not help but notice how very straight he sat, how adept he was at
controlling
the willful animals
.
"Why did I ever suggest Arabian horses?" Noa said with some sarcasm
.
"This is so much fun!"

As if in answer, Taber pulled a camera from his pocket and snapped a shot of her
.
If the lens was able to capture a picture of such a jogging subject, it would certainly be a horrible one!
Noa's damp hair strung around her face, her eyes squinted from the light reflected from bright, glistening sand.

Taber snapped another picture
.
"My scrapbook full of Noa's first journey into the Sahara!
That is going to be very valuable to me!"

Straight ahead rose bare, sandy hills, which looked higher from a distance than they did upon close range
.
Between
two slopes grew three palm trees, one looming twice as high as the others
.
Behind them Noa spotted a white house, low and sprawling.

They headed directly to it
.
At the trees Taber slipped to the ground and caught Noa in his arms
.
Once her feet were on the sandy earth, he pulled her close, the quick brush of his lips surprising her
.
She felt their brief, electric touch, felt the inclination, but not the time, to respond
.
Taber moved away quickly, his hand tight around hers, as he led her to the doorway.

Because she had such a powerful attraction to him, it was not wise to be alone with him
.
She actually knew so little about him
.
He was Thomas Rand's son, but that, according to Wendell Carlson, was in itself cause for second thoughts
.
If Taber could afford mansions like this one, why would he be wanting to work for Carlson Rand Tours?

"This is
magnificent
," Noa remarked
.
"I guess the rumors that you are bankrupt haven't much credibility."

"So the talk of Tangier has reached your lovely ears," Taber said
.
"It's true I've had some reverses there, but luckily I have holdings elsewhere."