Chapter 18 #2
Theo sneered. “Save your jokes. I don’t have to listen to them anymore.”
“And you?” Jack ground out to the officer, who just sat there, smoking without a care in the world. “What do you get out of this?”
“Roger will be compensated. And if you cooperate quickly, he’ll even let you through the border so you can find another way to get to Baghdad.”
Jack dropped his hands from the bars. He wasn’t completely caught yet, then, and maybe he could find a way to spin it to his advantage.
He didn’t have that amount of money on him right now anyway, so he could always make some excuse about needing to contact the bank or someone to disburse the funds.
“Tell me something,” he said, his voice low, almost a growl. “Did you rehearse this? Or is it your natural gift to be an insufferable bastard?”
Theo’s grin widened, but his eyes hardened. “You’re not half as clever as you think, Darby. Are we done exchanging pleasantries? The money. Now.”
“What—do you think I have it on me? I’m not the one with cabbage for brains.”
A knock at the door was so soft it nearly got buried under the distant whistle of the departing train. Theo’s head snapped toward it, eyes narrowing. He unlatched the door an inch.
“Theo,” Ruby’s voice came, tight but calm. “Let me in.”
Then she is in on it.
An acrid feeling crept through Jack’s throat, biting with acidity.
“Stay out of this, Ruby.”
“You wouldn’t make it two seconds without me. Now open the door. I’m not going to ask again.”
A dark look crossed Theo’s face, and he scowled. “I told you to stay back.”
Ruby pushed her way through, silk-smooth. No fear in her eyes, just that infuriating calm. She didn’t glance at Jack but went straight for the officer, and her voice dipped low and sugar-sweet. “Roger. Still crooked as ever, hmm?”
Roger stood, flustered, cigarette dangling between his fingers. “Ruby—this wasn’t part of—”
She stepped in close. Too close. A lover’s distance. Her arms wound around his neck.
Jack’s heart stuttered. Don’t do this, Ruby. Don’t tell me you’re playing me too.
“Always a pleasure, Ruby,” Roger said, his arms around her waist.
But then her hand slipped free, and Roger went stiff. As she drew back, Jack saw the reason: Ruby had pulled a Derringer out and now held it at his throat, silver glinting in the dim light.
Well, that’s interesting.
Theo swore. “What the hell—”
“Not a word, Theo,” Ruby snapped. “Or I swear, I’ll blow Roger’s throat out right here. He’s about as loyal as a flea—aren’t you, darling?”
Roger choked on a half-formed protest.
“What are you doing?” Theo demanded, taking a step closer.
“Uh-uh,” Ruby warned, digging the gun deeper into Roger’s skin. “Not a step closer, darling idiot brother. I’m warning you.”
“I’m doing this for you,” Theo growled, his teeth baring. “For us.”
Jack almost barked with laughter, his brain spinning. “You mean she’s not taking your orders on this one, Theo? Sounds like poor planning.”
“Be quiet, Jack, I’m trying to save you here. Don’t make me second-guess my choice.”
Jack couldn’t stop the low laugh that rasped out of him. He met Ruby’s eyes through the bars. Something fierce glinted there—fierce, reckless, and true.
Maybe I’ve got her wrong. Maybe I haven’t. But at least she’s aiming the gun at the right bastard.
“Keys and gun,” she ordered Roger. He fumbled them free, and Ruby tossed them to Jack.
“Let yourself out.”
Jack sorted through the seven keys, trying to guess the right one.
“Hurry up, old man. We don’t have time to waste.”
Jack’s grin felt rusty but good as he tested the jangling keys on the lock. “I’m moving, sweetheart.”
Theo still came closer. “Ruby—”
“I will shoot you and Roger if it comes down to it, Theo.” Ruby glared at him. “I’m not letting you ruin this for me again. You’re threatening the loss of the best-paying job I ever landed. And maybe that means nothing to you, but I haven’t forgotten why I’m doing all this—have you?”
Theo stopped short, glowering at her. “No, I haven’t forgotten. Why do you think I’m trying to buy us some time? It could be weeks before we get back from Baghdad. Every day we lose, we will never get back.”
The right key turned in the lock at last, and Jack pushed the gate open. He moved to retrieve his bags as Ruby nodded toward the cell. “Roger, in the cell.”
Roger sputtered as he took slow steps toward it, his face turning a deep shade of red as he went inside. “This isn’t what we agreed to, Theo.”
“Don’t worry. You and Theo will have plenty of time to discuss what went wrong together,” Ruby said, now aiming the handgun at her brother. “You get in that cell too.”
Theo blanched.
Jack stood, replacing his bags over his shoulder as he watched the scene unfold. He hadn’t been expecting this from her—and now that she was doing it, he wasn’t sure what to think. He should have been angry. He was angry. But, even more, he felt the bitter taste of relief.
She’d done this—for him? For the money? Hell if I know.
But she’d done it.
For the first time in days, he felt that old battlefield clarity slip back in. He met Ruby’s eyes. Don’t you dare break my trust now. Just don’t.
“Ruby, don’t do this,” Theo said, lifting his hands. He didn’t move toward the cell but instead went closer to her. “You wouldn’t shoot me anyway.”
“Will you still pay me if I help you?” Ruby asked, her gaze flicking to Jack.
He nodded. “Every cent.”
She lifted the gun higher, aiming for her brother’s head. “Then I guess you’ll just have to find out if I’ll shoot, Theo. Now, in the cell. And not a word to anyone about Jack. Or else I’ll make sure you and Roger pay for it.”
Theo’s glare was filled with resentment and fury, but he did what she’d said.
“Lock them in, Jack,” Ruby said, still aiming the gun toward the two men. “Now.”
“You don’t have to tell me twice, sweetheart. I’m not stupid enough to question a woman with a gun.” Jack hurried to the cell.
“You need me, Ruby!” Theo called out. “You always need me.”
She laughed, soft and sad. “I used to.”
Jack shoved the cell gate shut with a final clang. “You’re all heart, Theo. Really.” He leaned in, voice dropping to a conspiratorial murmur. “You know what the difference between us is? I’d die for my sister, but you’d sell out yours for pocket change.”
Theo lunged for the bars, but Jack had already pocketed the keys.
Without waiting for Ruby, Jack started for the door. She was only steps behind him, already storing her gun in her handbag as they stepped out into the busy sunlight-filled station. It hit Jack like a slap—sharp and blinding after the dim cell.
Ruby grabbed his hand, tugging him into the blinding stream of people.
“Do I want to know if this is your first time holding up a customs officer?”
Her laugh was breathless, wild. “Buy me dinner in Baghdad, and maybe I’ll tell you.” Then she winked. “You said you like crazy.”
A shout from Roger behind them made them exchange a look. “Hurry!” Ruby said. “This way.”
Am I making a mistake?
But what choice did he have? She’d saved him from that cell. And left her brother in his place.
He followed Ruby toward the rail line. “I didn’t expect you to be my guardian angel today,” Jack admitted, taking long strides to match her jogging pace.
“Yeah, well, I made you a promise.” Ruby shrugged. “I’m not all bad, you know.”
God, how I hope that’s true.
She was heading toward the train for Jerusalem. “I grabbed us tickets while Roger locked you up,” Ruby said, thrusting one into his hand. “I know it’s not what we planned, but you told Theo about Haifa. And this train is leaving now. It will buy us some time.”
Jack swallowed hard, still unable to shake the feeling of distrust, despite everything.
But Ruby had brought him this far.
And the screaming whistle of the train told him he didn’t have time to make a different choice. Roger and Theo might have already been discovered.
Ruby slipped her arm into his once again. “You owe me a hell of a bonus.”
Jack leaned close enough to catch that rose-scented warmth. “I’ll consider it. But, next time, don’t make me like you if you plan on selling me down the river.”
She laughed—a wild, bright sound that cut through the chaos of the station.
Then they ran for the train.