Joe held still.
A group passed by, two guards prodding a young woman along. Her face showed fear, but more of something else. Kurt settled on acceptance or resignation.
She passed by in a blink, but a strange feeling rushed over Kurt as he considered her appearance. She was short, with dark spiky hair, a tan complexion and sad eyes. She looked like a prisoner, and, what’s more, she looked like …
Kurt leaned back against the wall. “We have a problem,” he announced.
“You mean beyond being trapped in a maze in the middle of the desert surrounded by ruthless thugs?”
“Yeah,” Kurt said, “beyond that. You’ve met Kimo, right?”
“A couple of times,” Joe said. “Why?”
“Describe him for me.”
“Great guy,” Joe said. “Built like a running back. Stocky, broad-shouldered. He was only about five foot seven, but he was strong as an ox and probably one hundred and eighty pounds.”
“Now, describe his sister.”
“Sad and a little unstable, but with good reason.”
“This isn’t the time get deep on me,” Kurt prodded. “What does she look like?”
“Beautiful,” Joe said. “High cheekbones, fine features, long tan legs.”
“Right,” Kurt said. “Tall and thin, with long limbs and fine silky hair.”
“What are you getting at?”
“I just saw a woman in the hall who looked a lot more like Kimo than the woman we left back on Aqua-Terra.”
“You’ve really got to be kidding me. Was she a prisoner?”
“Looked that way.”
“You don’t think …”
“I do.”
Joe grasped the seriousness of the situation instantly. “So if Leilani is here, then who’s back there on Marchetti’s island?”
“I’m not sure,” Kurt said. “But considering how quick she pulled the gun on Marchetti and then somehow found a way to make up with him afterward, I’m guessing she’s a professional.”
“You called her a hit squad,” Joe reminded him.
“I was joking, but she didn’t bat an eye.”
“No, she didn’t,” Joe said. He took a deep breath. “Paul, Gamay and Marchetti are in danger.”
Kurt nodded. “We have to warn them. Whoever she is, she has to be working for Jinn.”
Before Joe could add anything the door burst open, kicked in by a heavy boot. Men carrying Uzis piled through the gap, swarming over them before they could respond. They were knocked to the ground, subdued and disarmed without a fight.
Two men searched them while others held them down.
“Jabberwocky,” Joe grunted.
“Thanks,” Kurt grunted back sarcastically, the weight of three men holding him down, “I didn’t realize.”