She shook her head. “I told you, I can’t do that. I have to believe Vogel’s report. Masenak wanted to tear me apart, make me bleed. I could hear it from the moment he came on the line. That’s why I asked how Sasha died. I hoped it would give me some confirmation one way or the other. And it did. He couldn’t resist making sure it would hurt me and chose drowning while they were going upriver. He’s right, it’s not an easy death. But I’m glad he did, because Vogel reported Sasha being on that helicopter after they’d left the river. She was still alive.”

“Yes, she was,” Korgan said gently. “And that means that no matter how he feels about you, he still has a purpose for keeping her alive. It has to be a damn strong one if it could survive that big a blow to his ego.”

“Chaos,” she said curtly. “It has to be Chaos.” She was trying to think, but all the ugliness and pain and shock Masenak hurled at her had stunned her. “But you’re right, he does hate me, and I can’t let it touch me. There should be some way I can turn all that hatred he’s feeling toward me against him.” She reached up to rub her temple. “But I can’t seem to think of that now. I can’t think of anything but getting out of this hospital and on that plane to Morocco.” She headed for the door. “Because he lied. She’s still alive, Korgan. I know she’s still alive…”

*  *  *

Akbar Village
Atlas Mountains
1:40 A.M.

“The village should be just below this ridge.” Korgan pulled the Land Rover over to the side of the road. “Want to get out and stretch your legs? We won’t go into the village itself. It gets a lot of tourist traffic since it’s in the foothills, and that’s not why we’re here.” He was out of the car and around to the passenger side the next minute. “Gilroy said that he’d be here as soon as he could break free of the elders he was talking to.”

“Elders?” Alisa took his hand and let him help her out of the car. This wasn’t the time to be independent. She was stiff and aching from the drive from Mohammed V Airport in Casablanca to the mountains on these bumpy roads, and her shoulder was throbbing. This was a very welcome break. “What elders?”