“As of this morning, she said everything was okay and the flight on time.”
Not good. Far away. If she disappeared from Nepal, she’d be hard to trace. “Don’t move.” He needed to search for evidence without their hindrance. Lev moved through the house, and detected the invader’s scent. A man, not a werewolf. Why would a human want a woman with Stallo’s gene? Maybe their mole worked for humans and not a secretive rogue pack.
He returned and faced the couple. “I was never here and go about your business.”
They nodded in obedience.
Lev raced to the cab. His driver had been compelled to wait. He planned on packing her and taking her to LIA’s waiting helicopter.
Plans changed. In the cab, he called his pilot. “Max?”
“Yes, sir?”
“Looks like Becker’s daughter left for Nepal.”
“No kidding.”
“Can you arrange to have an LIA jet fly me to Nepal?”
“Might be difficult, sir. I need to check with headquarters.”
“Never mind. I’ll have the driver take me to the airport.”
“Are you sure? You might be on standby for days.” Unlike most werewolves, Lev could control his shift for more than three days, perhaps four if necessary.
“Don’t worry, I’ll have a contact arrange it for me t
hen I will apprise Rylee of the situation.” He hung up and texted Natalya.
By the time he stepped out and paid the cabbie, Natalya had arranged first class seating on flights from here to Kathmandu. If they were lucky, the people who wanted Rachel may have backed out to wait out until they could grab her. Even if they followed her to the airport, once she crossed security, they would not have a clue where she headed.
Chapter 8
Rachel breathed a sigh of relief as the plane landed at the Kathmandu airport. Rain, but no snow. Not in Kathmandu, situated in a valley below the towering peaks of the Himalayas. During her layover in India, she’d arranged for a hotel in Kathmandu for the first couple days and then lodging near hiking trails. Who would be crazy enough to go trekking during the winter? Apparently, plenty of people. Half the plane’s passengers were twenty-somethings from the U.S., Europe and the UK. Millennials with deep pockets. Trust fund babies.
Halfway around the world, she didn’t have to worry about a stalker, or as Madam Montfort had ranted about Lev, a werewolf would make her his. Hah. How can I consider that as even remotely possible? Though the idea turned her on. Imagine, Lev claiming her as his. Just like those paranormal novels Maggie loved. Not that she would ever find out. Most likely, Lev died in the explosion, despite Madam Montfort’s claims he survived. If he hadn’t, he should have had the decency to let her know. Even if he was an international spy gathering information, he could have texted her a short message. She would have kept his secret.
Rachel disembarked and hastily left the airport. Bringing only one carry-on bag saved her time. Once settled in her hotel, she’d buy winter clothing and gear. She flagged a taxi and it pulled up. Before she got in, she turned to make sure she wasn't being followed. Paranoid. If he had just taken her laptop, she’d have understood. Old as her computer was, a thief would have been happy to download any banking or financial information. But stealing her toothbrush and hairbrush gave her a sinking feeling of dread. The idea someone wanted her DNA seemed as ludicrous as someone placing a curse on her. A mentally disturbed stalker must have wanted a few personal things as trophies. Good thing he left her panties and bras alone. Someone taking her toothbrush was in-your-face personal. Disturbing. At least she had distance between herself and the Toothbrush Bandit.
“Where to?” asked the driver.
Rachel looked at her phone and her email confirming her reservation. “Hotel Annapurna.”
“Very good. I take you, ma’am.”
Splurging on the pricey hotels for a few days was money well spent. Time for R& R. Rachel glanced out the window at the bustling chaos of narrow roads, exotic markets, mischievous monkeys and temples. This vacation would be her Zen moment. No work. No stalkers. No nearly dying from Ebola and the Boko Haram. And Lev? Her chest pinched and she winced. Best she remembered him as a hero. He sacrificed his life and saved thousands. This vacation would store his memory in its place. Secure in her heart, but in the past.
At the hotel, she checked in. She texted Maggie to let her know she arrived safely and had not been followed by the Toothbrush Bandit. Insomnia on the flights bothered her, but no needle pokes her skin or pain resulting from her stalker creating a Rachel Becker voodoo doll. The thought that some mad geneticist stole a sample of her DNA was far more ridiculous than a nut using it to exact a voodoo curse. Why would anyone want to harm her, spiritually or not? The only people she pissed off were the Boko Haram terrorists. Fortunately, they were dead. More likely, the intruder who first broke in to her and Maggie’s home had been angered someone called to complain about his pet wolf, and just wanted to put a good scare into her. Maybe Madam Montfort had known the wolf’s owner and made up the werewolf story to scare her into leaving? Okay, let it go. I’m just being uber-paranoid. She inhaled slowly, held it to the count of ten, and then released.
The rest of the day she’d rest and then tomorrow spend a leisurely day at Nepal’s famous Garden of Dreams across from the royal palace. The next day she’d shop for winter clothing before her journey to the lodge in the foothills of the Himalayas. But before leaving Kathmandu, she’d visit a Buddhist temple and meditate in honor of Lev’s spirit. For someone she’d only known so little, it felt as though she’d known him a lifetime.
Lev called Rylee. “I made it to Kathmandu.”
“You might want to follow her before approaching. The main thing is she is safe from would-be abductors.”
He laughed. “I might stick out like a sore thumb as you say, but will do my best.”
“I talked to the king and the LIA staff. We’ve decided it’s best you tell Rachel about our society as long as she agrees to the non-disclosure terms.” She paused. “Mark her.”