When did they intend to kill him? She prayed it wasn’t that morning.
If only she could get word to Murad. But he had to be imprisoned, too. Alex had lived long enough within the Moslem world to know that loyal slaves suffered the same fates as their masters. Alex did not think that she was allowed any visitors.
Alex became aware of voices outside of her door. She stiffened, because one was female—and it sounded as if it belonged to Zoe.
Alex stood. She had no wish to see Zoe—unless it was to rip every single strand of hair from her head. Her door opened.
Alex grimaced as Zoe appeared. “Get lost,” she growled, clenching her fists.
Zoe laughed. “I have won, dear Zohara; your fate is death.”
Alex froze. It was a moment before she could speak. “Jebal has ordered my execution?”
Zoe laughed again. “Not yet. But he will. And if he doesn’t, his father will, I am sure of it.” Her gaze turned sly. “Of course, now they will wait to see if you are pregnant. They will wait, and if you are carrying his child, they will allow you to live long enough to bear it into this world.”
Alex was so horrified that she could not speak.
“Of course, we both know it is far more likely that the child belongs to Blackwell.”
Alex was stunned. It was difficult to force her thoughts away from the gruesome scenario of delivering a baby and then being abruptly murdered. She began to breathe again. It was exceedingly unlikely that she was pregnant. The odds were highly against it. She could not worry about that now. She must only use the slim possibility to stay alive. “No.”
Zoe smiled broadly. “You can deny it if you wish. Jovarknowsabout your rendezvous in the bagnio last year. He has spies everywhere.”
Alex could not believe her ears. “If he knows, then why hasn’t he said something?”
“Because Jebal would never forgive him for having such information and not revealing it. Because Jebal would become his enemy forever—and one day Jebal will be the bashaw.”
Alex managed to breathe. Her secret might still be safe—for a while.
“Did you really think Jebal would believe that absurd story about your being from the future?”
Alex tensed. How much did Zoe herself know? How much did she herself believe? She faced Zoe. Staring.
“I have everything. That strange document—the little blue book—the passport.” Zoe smiled. “Yourbirthdate.” Her eyes gleamed. “I had everything translated.”
Alex thought frantically. If she could convince Jebal that she was from the future, he would no longer think her a spy, even though she had been spying—and she would be halfway home.Ifshe could convince him of the truth. But Zoe possessed the evidence.
Zoe smiled. “I didn’t believe it, at first. But you are too smart to make up such a stupid lie, to forge such a document.”
Alex did not reply. It flashed through her mind then that they could all escape to the future together if she could regain the lamp,if itcould work that way: she, Blackwell, and Murad. But could it even transport her back to the present, much less herself and the two men? And how could she get Zoe to return the lamp?
It was as if Zoe read her mind. “I also have that strange blue oil lamp. You know, the one which causes you to act so oddly at times.” Zoe regarded her closely.
“It was a gift. It has special meaning to me.”
“You are the worst liar! That lamp is vitally important to you, but I cannot figure out why. Maybe it contains some sort of secret message. Plans of war, perhaps?”
“I am not a spy.”
“Save it for Jebal.” Zoe turned, then paused at the door. “I am going to destroy everything. Just in case you think to escape the present somehow. And Jebal will never learn who you really are, where you’re really from.” Zoe smiled. “An adulteress and a spy. You really aren’t very clever after all, sister dear.”
Alex watched her leave.
Jebal was in disbelief. “What do you mean?” he demanded of the captain of his regiment of janissaries.
The bowlegged Turk bowed his head, shifting uneasily. “We cannot locate the slave.”
“You cannot find Murad!” Jebal’s face turned red. “This is unforgivable, Kamel. I demand that you locate—and arrest—the eunuch now. He has to be somewhere inside of this palace. There is no way he could get out—I ordered the gates closed the moment I left my second wife’s rooms.”
