“She’s waited too long already. That’s what this is all about. Reardon is so angry with her, he’s going to leave right after the race and take Sasha and the horses with him. She knows that would make her even more helpless than she is now. She told me she wasn’t going to be stupid, and she won’t be. But she said she could see it coming and she won’t dodge it.” She swallowed to ease the tightness of her throat. “So I ran out of there and came to you in a panic. Just as I did when I hopped the wall at that palace in Morocco. You’d think that I’d learn that you can’t fix everything even if you want to. Because the only way I can see to stave off what may happen is to keep her away from Masenak and Reardon. That’s why I asked how close you are. We can’t let him take her. We even have to cut down the risk time of her contact with them. But maybe it would help if we bring her into any planning. She might feel more willing to wait if she felt she was doing her part in taking them down.”

“For someone in a panic, you’re already thinking of ways to solve it.” He was silent a moment. She could almost sense the wheels turning. “This is what I was worried about. He’s making his move to take total control of Chaos from Masenak. I’d bet that’s the reason he changed the departure again. He might have been angry tonight, but he’s also using it as an excuse. I’ve been working my ass off to keep him in check, but it’s not going to be easy to block him.”

“We’ve got to do something.”

“I didn’t say we couldn’t. We’ll have to switch our thinking and scheduling and maybe go at it from an entirely different direction.”

“I’m afraid to do anything else. You didn’t see her face.”

“No, I didn’t. So I’ll have to take your word for it.” He was silent again. “What the hell. Changing any plan is always a challenge. We escalated at Szarnar Jungle, but this sounds like more than any escalation is needed. Where are you?”

“Starting the climb up the cliff. About thirty minutes from the cave.”

“Then keep on going. Once you’re there, stay put. If Gilroy calls you again, don’t pay any attention. Do you hear me? I don’t want you going back there.”

“If Sasha needs me, I have to—”