Page 122 of Grave Danger

“I will.”

He ended the call before Andie had a chance to change her mind—and his.

The valet attendant approached. “Can I have your ticket, sir?”

Jack reached into his pocket, then stopped. He didn’t want the police riding his bumper all the way to Jupiter Island.

“Actually, I need a taxi.”

Chapter 45

The taxi left Jack at the end of the private road, and the taillights faded into darkness. Jack could hear the ocean, even feel the salt in the air. Urban light pollution was nonexistent on Jupiter Island, and the thick tropical canopy blanketed the stars, making it impossible to see beyond the glow of the cottage porch lights. Jack went to the front door and rang the bell.

Zahra answered and invited him inside. “Yasmin tried so hard to wait up for you, but she fell asleep.”

“I’m sure she’s exhausted,” said Jack. “Better that we talk out your surrender in private anyway.”

“About that,” she said as they entered the kitchen.

Jack stopped and did a double take: they were not alone. Even though Jack recognized the man seated on the stool at the granite-top island, he wasn’t sure he believed his eyes.

“You remember Nouri,” said Zahra.

Jack had cross-examined Nouri Asmoun about his alleged affair with Ava Bazzi. “Of course I remember him. What’s he doing here?”

“Nouri is a friend,” said Zahra.

“A friendof yours?”

“I think it would be helpful for the three of us to talk,” she said.

Jack hesitated, his mind still processing what his client had sprung on him. Zahra walked around to the other side of the kitchen island and sat on the stool next to Nouri. He took her hand, and their fingers interlaced.

Jack blinked hard. “You two are—”

“Friends,” said Zahra, interrupting.

“Good friends,” said Nouri.

Jack took a seat on the barstool opposite them. “Mr. Asmoun—”

“Please,” he said cordially. “Nouri.”

“Nouri,” said Jack, not sure where to start—where the lies began. “I’m guessing you’re not an investment banker from Tehran.”

“I am a banker,” said Nouri, “though I’m not strictly ‘from Tehran.’ I have dual citizenship with the UK, which makes travel easier. I’m in the US quite often.”

“When did you get your UK passport?”

“About a year ago.”

“That’s when we met in Miami,” said Zahra. “Nourifoundme in Miami, I should say.”

“Why was he looking for you?”

With the exchange of a quick glance, Zahra and Nouri seemed to agree that the explanation should come from him.

“What happened to Ava was very upsetting to me,” Nouri said.