The Sheik's Ruby (31 page)

Shelby took in a deep breath. She looked directly into the camera and held up her head. “Hakim.” She spoke in a loud voice.

The men behind her chuckled.

Ignoring their cruel laughter, she squared her shoulders. “If you do what these vile men say, they will destroy the country you love. Do not give in to—”

The man next to her thrust his hand over her mouth to silence her.

She bit down and jerked her head to the side, smashing into his face. Shelby faced directly at the camera and yelled, “Stay strong, Hakim! Don’t—”

Glaring, the man backhanded her across the face, and another slammed the butt of his rifle into her forehead.

Shelby crumpled to the ground.

Hakim drew in a sharp breath, and his body tensed.

He raised his gun to strike again, but the man with the broken nose yelled through a mouth full of blood. “No, we must follow orders. We will wait until tomorrow at sundown.” He turned his bloody face to the camera. “And then,
Prince
Hakim. We will make this woman an example of your foolish western ideology. She will pay the price, painfully, for the choices you have made.”

“No!” Hakim screamed as the screen went blank. He picked up the computer monitor and threw it across the room. It slammed into a giant plasma screen with a spray of sparks. “Nasir. We must find her,” the prince pleaded.

“Yes, Your Highness. We are doing everything we can.”

The Sheik placed his hand on Hakim’s back, leading him away from the computer terminal. “Come, son. You have not slept in days. You must eat.” He softened his voice. “And you must again call Shelby’s family.”

Hakim shook. His throat constricted, and he clenched his fists. Knowing his legs would no longer support him, the prince sank into a chair, wrapping his arms around his stomach to try to ease the ache.

****

Shelby regained consciousness slowly. She tried to move her head and moaned as pain throbbed. Her arms were still tied, and she was too weak to struggle with the rope. She laid still, her memory returning in flashes.

Her face had been covered. She saw the men with weapons, their faces hidden. Mr. Hairy mocking her, insulting Hakim. Biting his hand.
That was disgusting.
Smashing his nose.
Kind of awesome.
And after that, pain had exploded in her head, blinding her. She wondered vaguely if she was bleeding. She was too tired to lift her head and check.

The house was silent, and Shelby was grateful. She didn’t want to listen any more. She should have blurted out
Al-Kalija
instead of saying anything else. For days, he had been planning to get that information to Hakim. She had her chance, and she’d blown it once she’d seen the camera and thought of his face watching. He needed to know everything was all right. That she didn’t blame him. Why had she felt the need to comfort Hakim instead of giving him the clue that might unravel the terrorists’ plans?

Shelby was almost too tired to feel disappointed in herself. She was pretty sure
Nahl
wouldn’t be releasing her now. A hostage who didn’t do what you wanted wasn’t valuable. So, they would kill her.

Wasn’t she supposed to feel desperate? Afraid? Her mind was too fuzzy to hold onto anything for very long. She did feel a pang of regret when she thought of Hakim. She had never told him how she felt about him. That they could work out their differences and figure out a way to be together. Is this what it took to realize a life with him was what she wanted? She heard the door to the outside unlatch and gave a little start. It sounded like shrill-voice-lady was home.

Memories of riding
Al-qamar
with Hakim, looking into his eyes, watching him laugh, eased Shelby back into unconsciousness.

****

Hakim did not know how long he sat in the security office after he talked to the Walkers. He had never felt so useless. Shelby was out there somewhere, and she needed him. Yet, he was powerless to do anything.

Nasir, the head of security, and his father had all taken turns checking on him. Someone even left food on the table, but each recognized his desire to be left alone.

He must have dozed off and woke suddenly when the sun began to shine through the glass door ushering in the day he knew would be Shelby’s last. Hakim heard arguing and stepped through the doorway to investigate. There in the hall, he saw the stable boy.
What is his name? Kadir.
The sight of him brought a lump to Hakim’s throat. He thought of the picture of the two in Shelby’s room.

Kadir argued with the guards who held his arms, pulling him away.

“Wait.” Hakim held up a hand.

“Your Highness, I am sorry this boy has disturbed you,” a guard said, bowing.

Hakim silenced him with a look. He put his hand on the boy’s shoulder, meeting the boy’s eyes. “Kadir, what is wrong?”

Kadir gazed up at Hakim, his dark eyes wide. “I think I know where Miss Walker is.”

Hakim breathed to calm the racing of his heart, knowing it would only lead to more pain if he allowed himself to hope. “Tell me.”

“I was carrying a bag of groceries for my mother home from the
souq
when a woman stepped onto the sidewalk in front of me, and we collided, spilling both of our bags. I could not see the woman’s face beneath her
burqa
, but she yelled in a high voice as I hurried to gather our spilled food.” Kadir glanced at the guards.

Hakim squeezed his shoulder to regain his attention. “Please, continue.”

“She bent to pick up her bags, and I saw the woman was wearing Miss Walker’s red cowboy boots.” The boy twisted his fingers together. “I followed her, staying far behind so she would not see me. She went into a house, and I hid behind a car and waited to see if she would come back out.”

Hakim leaned closer. This was the first hint they’d found of Shelby’s location. “Tell me about the house, Kadir.”

The windows were covered with heavy curtains, and while I watched, more people came and left. But I did not see the woman again.”

Hakim summoned Nasir and asked Kadir to repeat the story.

Some of the guards whispered to each other, shaking their heads and rolling their eyes.

“Could you find this house again?” asked Nasir, glaring at the other men, ending any further cynicism.

“Yes.” The boy gave a vigorous nod.

Twenty minutes later, a convoy of armored vehicles sped through the city. Once the decision had been made, the police force was mobilized.

Nasir drove the lead vehicle with Kadir and Hakim in the back seat. Nasir had simply nodded when Hakim refused to remain at the palace.

When they reached the house Kadir indicated, Hakim grabbed the door handle.

Nasir cleared his throat. “Your Highness, I know you are anxious to get in there and find Miss Walker. However, I must insist you remain where it is safe.”

Hakim opened his mouth to argue. His stomach clenched, and adrenaline shot like electricity through his veins. He needed to get into that house and see if Shelby was inside.

“We do not know what we will find.” Nasir shook his head. “There are too many variables, and your safety must be our primary objective.”

“I will wait. But not for long.” Hakim sat back and clenched his hands into fists.

Nasir exited the car and walked to the other side, leaning against the door, his weapon drawn, and his gaze glued on the house.

Soldiers burst from the other vehicles and surrounded the small house, breaking down the door and storming through.

Hakim could see a flurry of movement through the open door. The curtains on the windows shifted, and he strained to see inside. His heart pounded as more soldiers were waved in, and then everything was silent. Hakim’s mind churned with questions. Had they found the right house? Was Shelby inside? Were they too late? He glanced to his side at Kadir.

The boy stared wide-eyed at the house, his hands clenched into tight fists that made his knuckles white.

The prince patted the boy’s knee, catching his gaze and giving what he hoped was a reassuring smile, although it felt strained and probably appeared more like a grimace. He turned his attention back to the house, the silence stretching until he could not stand it any longer and he pushed opened the door.

Nasir took in a breath as if he would protest, but at that moment, an officer appeared at the door, giving the “all-clear” signal.

Heart racing, Hakim bounded from the car and followed Nasir into the house, his heart in his throat. He could hear snatches of conversation around him.

“…we were met with no resistance…”

“…confiscated their cache of weapons…”

He paused in the doorway as his eyes adjusted to the dim light of the house. He saw officers in various stages of arresting the five men and two women. As Hakim’s gaze swept the small space, he recognized heavily curtained windows and an area cleared of furniture with a camera on a tripod.

More officers swarmed the small home, searching through drawers and unhooking computers to confiscate for evidence. On the far side of the room, a small medical team crowded around a doorway.

Hakim gasped and rushed across the room. “Shelby!”

Dried blood spread over Shelby’s forehead, and her lip was split. She was conscious and trying to sit up. She looked toward Hakim with eyes that didn’t seem to focus.

One of the medics attached a device to her finger to measure her oxygen level, while another shined a light in her eyes. The medical team made room for Hakim to kneel by Shelby’s head.

He held her hand and brushed the back of his fingers across her cheek. “Everything will be all right now, my darling,” Hakim whispered. “Just rest.”

“I knew you’d come,” she murmured, closing her eyes.

“We must be sure she is stable and safe to move, and then we can get her to the ambulance,” one of the medics told him.

Hakim nodded, glancing behind her at the small concrete closet that Shelby had apparently just been pulled out of. His relief at finding her was replaced by anger. He stared back at the group that had kept Shelby prisoner. What Kadir had told them was true. One of the women wore Shelby’s boots on her feet. He had to squeeze his eyes shut and breathe as a red-hot fury clouded his vision. He listened to the conversations around him.

Nasir spoke with one of the officers. “Did any resist?”

“Only Miss Walker. When I opened the door, I got a kick in the…you know…”

A shadow of a smile crossed Nasir’s face.

Hakim looked back down at Shelby and cradled her cheek in his palm.

The medic poked an IV into her arm, causing Shelby to stir.

“Do not worry, Shelby Jo. You are safe, now,” Hakim murmured through a dry throat.

Shelby’s eyes snapped open, and she blinked a few times. “Hakim, I need to tell you something.”

“It is all right. You—must rest.”

“No, it’s really important.”

“You can tell me later. Rest now.”

The medic filled a syringe and inserted it into her IV tube. “I’m giving her morphine. Some of her ribs are most likely broken. A doctor will need to assess her for internal damage.”

“Listen, I heard them,” Shelby continued, struggling to speak. “I didn’t understand much, but I heard them say
Al-Khalija
. They said it a lot.
Al-Khalija…
” Shelby’s blinks grew longer, the morphine starting to take effect. “The horse guy, with the droopy face. And May first. Something…bad…May first,” she slurred. Her body relaxed, and her head dropped to the side.

Hakim watched as the medical team loaded Shelby into the ambulance. His memory flashed back two months before where this same scenario took place on a cold mountain. But, this time, his anger at the people responsible threatened to overshadow his feelings of helplessness and worry. When the door closed, he turned to Nasir. “Please have somebody retrieve Shelby’s boots.”

“Yes, Your Highness.” Nasir spoke to a passing soldier and then turned back to Hakim. “And now, is it your wish to follow Miss Walker to the hospital?

“It is, but there is something I must do first.” Hakim pulled his cell phone out of his pocket and smiled as he scrolled through his contacts. He imagined the pain Shelby’s parents had suffered over the past few days and was thrilled to call with good news. After he hung up the phone, Hakim climbed into the car next to Kadir.

The boy’s eyes were wide, and he twisted his fingers together. Obviously watching armed soldiers invade a house and lead out cuffed prisoners at gunpoint, then seeing his friend taken away in an ambulance was a lot for a boy to handle.

“Kadir, I am indebted to you. You have saved Shelby’s life and helped the police to discover the identity of men who are plotting against Khali-dar. You are a hero. I do not know how to ever repay you.”

“I just wanted to help Miss Walker. Will she be okay?”

“Yes.” Hakim’s voice caught, and he swallowed. “She will live, thanks to you.”

Kadir breathed a sigh of relief.

Hakim and the boy sat quietly for a moment. The prince rubbed his eyes then heard a soft knock, and looked up to see Nasir standing next to the car holding Shelby’s boots. He rolled down the window, reached for the boots, and handed them to Kadir. “I am entrusting you with these boots. They are very special to Shelby, and I would like you to keep them safe and return them when she is healed. Will you do that?”

Kadir took the boots from Hakim. He ran his hands over the embroidery on the leather. “Yes, Your Highness.” He spoke in a solemn voice accepting the assignment. “You can trust me.”

“At this time in Khali-dar, there are few men whom I can trust. I am grateful to count you as one, Kadir.” Hakim pressed his hands together and bowed to the boy who returned the formal gesture.

Hakim and Kadir got out of the car, and Hakim motioned for the captain of the guard to join them. “Please see to it that Kadir is taken home discreetly. I do not want any repercussions from his involvement today to fall upon him or his family. Also, I would like to meet with Kadir’s parents next week. Please set up an appointment.” He bowed once more to Kadir and watched the soldier lead him to an unmarked car to take him home. Hakim sat in the passenger seat as Nasir drove toward the hospital.