“Don’t tell me that,” she said fiercely. “I was the one who decided to come with you, didn’t I? I could have said no. That means we’re in this together. What’s bad for you is bad for Maria and me. That means I’m just as much responsible for whatever happens to you or your men as you are for me. Now how do we find out what happened to Nash?”

“Sherman is already trying to do that. He’s reaching out to some of the contacts in Stockholm I’ve used before to go and check out the airport. I should know something soon.”

“Then can we climb in that Land Rover and get out of here?” she asked jerkily. “Can’t Sherman call us while we’re on the road?”

“It may not be an emergency situation, Lara,” he said quietly. “We should have time.”

“What if we don’t? What if they’re on their way? I don’t want to take a chance. We’re free now, I want to stay that way.” Her hands clenched into fists at her side. “I can’t let them get their hands on Maria.”

“I won’t let that happen. I promised I’d take care of both of you.”

“But what if you can’t do it? You don’t know them. I’m the only one who can protect her.” She added through set teeth, “Can we please leave.”

He nodded slowly. “Get in the car. I have to go back into the office and talk to Sherman. We’ll be on the road in five minutes.” He turned on his heel and headed back into the office.

She whirled and strode back to the Land Rover.

“I was about to come and get you. You looked like you were pretty upset,” Maria said as Lara got into the car. “Did Tanner screw something up?”

“No, I did,” Lara said. “I forgot something I should have remembered.”

“You don’t forget anything,” Maria said. “Sometimes I wish you would.”

“I did this time.” She paused. “Tanner can’t get hold of Nash. Maybe something’s gone wrong.”

“Or maybe it hasn’t,” Maria said. “Nash seemed very smart while I was with him.” She glanced at Tanner, who had just left the office and was coming toward them. “But he doesn’t look too happy.”

“Sherman hasn’t been able to contact anyone in Stockholm yet,” Tanner said as he opened the driver’s door and got into the vehicle. “But I’ve set everything in place here, if there proves to be a problem.” He took the leather box he was carrying and handed it to Maria in the backseat. “Still, it’s just as well I had to go back to Sherman. I almost forget this.”

Maria was looking at it, puzzled. “What is it?”