Danger In The Museum

CHAPTER //

The long flight from D.C to Morocco provided plenty of time for rain to multitask.
His first order of business was to catnap , to catch up on sleep he forfeited to the sexy model, second was to brush up his Arabic he'd learned over the years from Kareem. Most phrases he ' d picked up Involved ordering beers or cursing. But there were enough polite words sprinkled in there for in there to order a meal and find his way around town.
The rest of the flight he spent studying the dossier Alpha had pulled together on this crazy legend. It made for some wild reading.
Supposedly, the goddess of love, truth. Cosmic order gifted the king but he gives it to it empress, it was said the necklaces give so much beauty , and anyone she touched always speaks the truth , many believe she uses it to control the king . Many believe it was use to bring order in the court.
For thousand years, many followers believe the necklaces will appear again to restore order to a chaotic world. Included in the dossier was a digitized photo of a statue now in the Morocco museum , it depicted the empress in gold and lapis lazuli , she was seated on a throne with the spider diamond necklace on her neck.
A headdress crowned by towering blue stone circle her forehead.
The blue stone, the ancient believed was use to bring peace and tranquility,  and the goddess has two principles for those who show her mercy , she rewarded with beauty and peace, condemned the soul of those who don't by devoured there souls by demons or deceased to a final death.
Heavy stuff for a assistant archivist from Seattle. Rain mused . Just how the hell Imka neo vaal landed in the middle of  a plot to restore Morocco rain wonder.

The late afternoon sun blazed down on the gesticulating group and made Imka glad she'd left her lightweight jacket on the bus , she was perfectly dress for the hike in sneakers, a short sleeve blouse and a large tote bag.
Are you sure you want to do this Imka?
Joan buckett hovered a few feet away their tour guide .
Imka nodded.
This way, madam. This way.
The end of his blue headdress flapped as he steered her towards the entrance. The guard from their bus followed them.
I can't wait to see the bridge, no books or dry academic treatise could compare with the vibrant reality.
Talking about timing!
The moment rain had cleared security at Morocco airport. He 'd contacted Kareem Abdul. As promised. His friend had obtained an updated itinerary from the museum, rain jumped in a rental car and arrived at the bridge.just in time to spot his Target  lumbering off.
He'd hung back, mingling with the crowd while he observed his Target.
It didn't take him long to decide  the goddess had to be pretty hard up , Imka neo vaal looked just short of ridiculous with a greasy hair headdress tilted over one eye and an overstuffed tote bag thumping against the hip while she bobbed along.
That came from a smallish woman wearing a visor decorated with a university of DC  gator.
Standing a few yards away. Her worried glaze on the part.
I hope Imka is okay? She said to another member of the group. The tour guide warned us to not take a detour.
Rain has spend enough time to know about how tourist can be an easy target for this guy's.  The incipient panic on her face elicited a Twitter of dismay from her group.
Khadija! The woman turned to a Moroccan in a blue suit  ringed with sweat . Do something!
The man is a guard assigned to the group , judging by the weapon bulging the back of his suit coat. Cast a glance at the duo.

Do not worry , she will be fine and return. Rain hid a predatory smile. Perfect! He 'd just been handed  the ideal opportunity. His instructions were to get close to the target. What better way to win her trust than to rescue her .
He took off , luckily rain found her wandering around  with an unscrupulous tourist guide.
Stop, you son of a bitch! It was one of the most useful Arabic phrases , he learned from Kareem. Very handy when dealing with Morocco taxi drivers.
The tourist guide took off , by pushing Imka off , christ! The woman was going to fall right in to the water.
Rain sprinted the last two yards and caught her just as she tumbled to the water . He broke her fall, but she took him down with her. Grunting. They hit the water.
I...uh..." Scrambling for purchase, the target dug an elbow into rain's clavicle .
I'm so sorry .are you okay?"
I will be." Manfully, he repressed a grimace."as soon as you remove your elbow.
Huh oh!
She squirmed, digging the bony joint deeper. "sorry."
Her face brick red , she wiggled off him. She managed to mash her breasts into his chest in the process.the maven in rain didn't  fail to note they were lush and ripe as her lips even as the undercover operatives took full advantage of her obvious embarrassment.
No problem. He rolled to his feet and held out a hand . Here . Let me help you up.
Thanks . I ..ouch.
Her leg folding, she almost went down again.
Rain kept a grip on her hand and slid his other arm around her waist.
Your ankle?"
Yeah. I banged it coming down. Biting her lips. She took a tentative step. It's not bad. Just a little.
When she broke off, wincing, rain almost didn't believe his luck. He couldn't have scripted a better scenario.
Better let me carry you back to your bus.
No really. I'm okay.
Ignoring her protest, he scooped her into his arms.
I'm Imka. Self -consciously, she hooked an arm around his neck. Imka vaal.
Ethan James.
You 're an American.
It was a statement , not a question. But he nodded any way. Yep.
Are you on a tour ?
Business. His civilian occupation provided the perfect cover. I flew over to do some consulting. Just got in today and decided to stop by the bridge on my way.
She gave him a sheepish smile. I'm certainly glad you did.
Whoa ! The woman passport hadn't done her justice. Rain see himself in her eyes. The irises were bluer than they'd appeared in the photo, almost as deep  and airy as the sky , her shy smile gave her a kind of girl next door appeal.
Definitely not his style. Aside from the fact she was his Target and therefore off limits.rain went for lass wholesome types. But he had to admit she made for a nice armful. Firm thighs, slender hips, narrow waist. The behind pressing against him wasn't bad either.not  bad at all.
Imka.
Led by the diminutive woman in the gator visor, vaal colleagues rushed to greet her.
Are you hurt?
I'm okay. Just uh banged my knee alittle.
More than a little if you can't walk. You 'd better have it a rayed Khadija, where's the nearest hospital?
Not far, the gun toting guard frowned. I call someone to take her , yes. The rest of you can continue on with the tour.
Imka heart sank. The next portion of their itinerary include a visit to the tomb of the kings  . Time to explore the city and dinner at an open air restaurant before the spectacular laser light show telling the history of the ancient. She can't miss the show.
I don't need to go to a hospital . Really.

You can put me down , Mr James. I'm fine. Hard to sound convincing while hefted in the arms of a total stranger. Embarrassed all over again. Except she wasn't. When her tall broad shouldered rescuer eased her to her feet, she grimaced and had to lean heavily on his arm.
I 'll just , I'll just take a taxi back to the hotel and wrap my  knee in ice. She gulped fighting back pain and disappoinment. If it still hurting tomorrow. I'll find a doctor.
Oh ,Imka  buckett clucked her tongue in sympathy. I know how how much you worked hard for this evening.
How about I offer a solution?
The whole group, Imka included looked to her rescuer.

She'd had plenty of time to study his profile, the strong, square chin. The brown eyes framed by lashes as his nearly trimmed hair. The faded almost invisible scar above his right eyebrow. She'd had time too  to feel his muscles under his lightweight shirt.
He'd carried her so easily,  no doubt about it. The man was buff.
The show doesn't start until dusk, he said in a slow , easy voice. That a good three hours yet.
Three hours to sit in her hotel room with an ice pack on her knee. What a way to spend her evening.imka tried not to let her disappointment show while her rescuer continued.
The wife of one of my business associate here in Morocco is a physician. She operates a clinic not far from here. I could drive you there, have you checked out and bring you back to your group.