Shadow Zone by Iris Johansen, Roy Johansen Page A

project at Marinth.”
    “Oh, yes, Marinth. I watched that special on the Discovery Channel. Fascinating.”
    “I’ve been at the site for the past several weeks. Kirov was supposed to be there with me, but he took off with no explanation just before we left.”
    “That sounds like him.” She made a face. “Kirov has a way of dropping in and out of his friends’ lives without notice.”
    Hannah nodded. “So I’ve found.”
    “With you, though . . . It’s different.” Eugenia bit her lip. “You’re special to him. I didn’t know him when he was married, but I’ve never seen him behave with anyone the way he does you. He’s very careful about giving too much of himself.”
    “I noticed,” Hannah said.
    “But then you’re a very private person, too, Hannah. I imagine the two of you coming together would be like trying to break into a Swiss bank.” She threw back her head and laughed. “I admit I would like to see it. I’m not usually a voyeur, but there is always an exception.”
    She had to deflect Eugenia and head her in the direction she wanted her to travel. “I admit Kirov and I formed a certain attachment. How could I help it? He helped me at a time when I was at my lowest point after my brother died. But this isn’t about any personal relations. It’s about Marinth. Kirov may be over his head this time, and if it involves Marinth, it also involves me.”
    Eugenia smiled. “I sincerely doubt that Kirov is over his head. He’s quite good at taking control of situations.”
    “For God’s sake, he’s not Superman.”
    “Do you know, I never found Superman interesting. Too pure.”
    “Eugenia, listen to me. I understand there’s someone else in the mix. A man named Gadaire.”
    Eugenia’s eyes narrowed. “ Vincent Gadaire?”
    “You know him?”
    “Not personally, but I see why you might be worried. Where does he fit into this?”
    At last, she had Eugenia focused, Hannah thought with relief. She quickly told her about the recent Marinth discovery, its theft, and the previous evening’s visit by the U.S. agent.
    After she finished, Eugenia was quiet for a long moment, lost in thought. She finally looked up. “Before he left, did Kirov have access to any special information about Marinth?”
    “He had access to the same materials I did. Which is to say nothing that hasn’t already appeared in thousands of books, articles, and documentaries.”
    “There must have been something else that set him off.” Eugenia shook her head. “Why are you here? Why did you come to me?”
    Hannah moved to the edge of her seat. “I need you to help me find Kirov. I need to know what’s going on, and I need to get that artifact back. And despite what you think about his control of the situation, he needs help. Between Gadaire, the Feds, and whoever else he’s crossed, Kirov is in deep trouble. He’s wanted for murder.”
    “If what you say is true, he killed those men to save another man’s life. He may not be charged.”
    “And then again he may. The Defense Intelligence Agency wants him, and that would be an excellent tool for manipulation. At any rate, he’s still being hunted for it. You know him much better than I do. The people he knows, the way he operates . . . Will you help me find him?”
    Eugenia was silent again. “But what if Kirov doesn’t want to be found?”
    “Even by me?”
    “Especially by you. I’d guess that’s why he hasn’t been in touch. He doesn’t want to put you in danger. He also probably knew that the authorities would come to you looking for him, and this way you didn’t have to lie to them.”
    “Or give him up?”
    “You and I both know you wouldn’t have done that. I’m sure Kirov knows it, too.”
    No, she owed Kirov too much. But that didn’t mean she was feeling anything but extreme annoyance toward him at the moment. “You’re right, I’d want to deal with Kirov myself. But, dammit, I can’t do it if I can’t find him. I need your help,