Shadow Games

Khalid reigned his mount once we reached the outcropping of rocks close to The Well of Jacob.

"You have the phone on silent?" he asked for the third time.

"Yes." I knew his concern was for me as well as his men.

"You know what to do?"

I nodded. Khalid and his team would remain here, hidden within the shelter of the rock formation. With any luck, no one had been close enough to witness our arrival.

"I’ll be fine. I can handle myself. If this thing goes south you need to get your people out of here as quickly as possible."

He nodded but I knew better. Khalid would be there for me at risk of his life.

When the men were in position, I nudged the mare’s flanks and she began a slow cantor.

While still in the protective shelter of the rocks, I pulled out the night vision binoculars and trained them in the direction of the well. Someone was there.

I’d tucked my Glock inside a hidden pocket of my jacket. Now, I touched its cold metal and somehow felt comforted.

I’d moved to within two kilometers of the well and yet the person leaning against it still hadn’t moved. I reined the mare to a halt and dismounted with weapon drawn.

"Rahab?"

The woman dressed in dark clothing from head to toe didn’t move. Piercing fear and adrenalin swept through me like a slug of alcohol. I hit the talk button on the phone and dialed the number Khalid gave me before creeping close enough to feel for pulse. The moment I touched her she toppled over. She was dead.

I had just enough time to see that the woman’s throat had been slashed.

Then I heard a noise behind me. As I turned, a heavy object hammered against my left temple. Then blackness.