Sheba's Gambit Read online

  It didn’t take long to find her seat. She opened the carry-on, took out the diary then slid her carry-on under the seat. She opened the diary, but then she looked up to meet the eyes of a well-dressed man who sat down behind her. He didn’t look like the squeenchy eyed man, but he had the same aura of menace. She shivered as Marshall’s words came back to her. “Our mutual enemy would have other muscle on his payroll.”

  A moment later, Tony Bond came bounding in. Before he could sit down, she said, “We’re changing seats.”

  Tony said amiably, “Sure. I don’t care where we sit as long as it’s first class. I’m too big to be a sardine.”

  When they had changed places, and the plane door had closed, he leaned close. “Why did you want to change places. I don’t remember you being picky.”

  Quietly she said, “I was reading the diary while the plane was loading. The man who was sitting behind me acted very interested in what I was reading.”

  “Nagle said you didn’t see him.”

  “I didn’t at that time. Marshall, the marine who was assigned to protect us, got a picture of him on his camera. It’s not the same man, but he feels the same.”

  While they had been talking, the plane had reached cruising altitude. Tony hadn’t looked around as she described the man but when the seatbelt sign went off, he got to his feet. Without saying anything, he went back to the restroom in tourist. When the attendant asked him to use the forward lavatory, he headed front to the first class lavatory. When he came out, he was talking on his cell.

  Sitting down, he connected his phone to his tablet. Tapping the screen, he transferred the picture to the tablet. A few minutes later, he turned the tablet toward her. “You have good instincts. That’s Edington Phillips. He’s one of Breckenridge’s accountants.

  “Do you think that he might have seen the diary?”

  “Probably, but don’t worry about it. He couldn’t have read it. It’s okay if you want to read it now. ”

  She pulled the diary and the copy out of the seat pocket. She handed him the copy. “Do you want to read the diary?”

  He shook his head. “I been up for two days. I’m going to sleep.”

  She began reading. The writing was thin, reminding her of spider legs. The pages had gotten wet at one time in the book’s long life, as a result had a strong smell of mold. She had read five or six pages when she straightened up. “He agrees with me,” she said quietly.

  Tony nodded. “We probably shouldn’t talk too much about it here. I know that I can barely hear you and the airplane noises should hide what you are saying, but you never know for sure. There are recording devices that can pick up the sound of a pin dropping at 500 feet.”

  Just before the sun came up, the pilot said, “Ladies and Gentlemen, we will be arriving at Heathrow in about thirty minutes.”

  --------

  She heard her name called. “Aunt Sheba. Aunt Sheba, over here.” Braden called waving wildly.

  Pushing past Tony, Sheba hurried over to grab Braden in a big bear hug. Then she reached over and pulled her sister into the hug. Braden put one arm around his mother and one arm around his aunt and said, “I love three’m hugs.”

  “Hi, sis,” Sheba said. “You look really great. The London climate really agrees with you.” Theo had on a deep blue wool outfit that exactly matched her eyes. Her hair fell in ringlets to the middle of her back and she looked like she had lost some weight.

  Tony stood a few feet away, looking at the family reunion. When Sheba looked over at him, he wasn’t actually sneering, but the look was pretty close. She motioned to him. “Tony, come meet my sister and my nephew.”

  Braden said, “Where’s Marshall. I was hoping he was coming.” He looked at his mother. “He was the marine I was telling you about. He was really cool. He had a really cool car, too, but I don’t remember what it was, but it went really fast and it was a-a”

  “A convertible.” Sheba supplied.

  Yeah, that’s what it was called. We had fun with him.”

  Theo looked at her watch. “We’d better get back to the embassy. She looked Sheba over critically. “I really wish you would have worn something,” she paused looking for a nice word, “less casual. You’re going to be staying at the embassy. You can’t go around looking like some kind of slob.” She gestured to her tailored pantsuit. “You need to dress more like me.”

  “Sorry,” Sheba muttered, her face glowing red.

  Theo continued. “There’s a really important soiree tonight. I hope you brought a formal dress.”

  Sheba said, “Theo, I don’t even own a formal dress. I live in the city that fashion forgot. I don’t need formal evening dress.”

  Sheba looked over at Tony who was watching the crowd. “We’re heading back to the embassy.” she said.

  Theo frowned, but didn’t say anything.

  Tony leaned toward Sheba. “I’ll see you this evening. In the meantime, I’ll be keeping an eye on you, but you probably won’t see me.” He picked up their luggage and followed Theo out to the embassy limo that waited in the no-parking zone.

  Once Sheba’s luggage was in the trunk, Tony opened the door for the women. “Don’t tell her anything yet,” he warned. “We need to do some checking to make sure Breckenridge hasn’t bought anyone.”

  She nodded as she got in the car.

  “I’ll meet you at the embassy.” He looked up at the crowd. “I wouldn’t tell your sister any more than she needs to know to keep Braden safe. The less she knows the safer she’ll be.”

  “Okay.”

  He shut the door with a slam and walked away toward the car rental bus.

  “Who in heaven’s name is that?” Theo demanded. “He has the same manners my ex had.”

  “You don’t want to know.” Sheba said, looking out the window.

  The car stopped at the gates to the U.S. Embassy. The driver showed his ID, then the car passed through the elaborate metal gates into the embassy driveway.

  “Welcome,” she said as the guard opened the elegant front doors. “I hope you don’t mind a lot of formality because this embassy is famed for it.”

  She led the way up the wide curving staircase that was lined with what looked like original paintings by some of Britain’s great artists.

  When they got to the fourth floor, Theo used her key to open a white paneled door that was touched with gold. “This is my suite,” she said. “I have an extra bedroom so I thought you’d rather be with us.”

  Smiling, Sheba said, “Of course, I’d rather be with you.” She ruffled Braden’s crew cut. Theo walked across the sitting room. “This is your room”

  Sheba walked over to the long windows. Pushing aside the long, filmy curtains, she looked out the window. She noticed that the center windows opened on to a balcony. Slowly, she unlocked the door. From where she was standing she could see the tall buildings that made up the center of London. Then she looked down at the street. She stiffened. That looks a lot like Breckenridge’s hit man.

  Before Braden could join her, she stepped back into the bedroom. “I like the view. I don’t think the noise will bother me. After all, I live in D. C.”

  Theo laughed. “I know you love the view from your own balcony, but the noise would drive me crazy.”

  Braden came up and put his arms around Sheba. “Aunt Sheba, I’m glad you’re here.” He gave her a hug. “Do you think we can go to the park on the Thames? It has a huge Ferris Wheel.”

  “I don’t see why not, if it’s okay with your Mom.” She looked at Theo, “Do carnival rides still make you sick?”

  “Worse than ever. I’d love it if you’d take Braden. He’s been pestering me to take him but it would be a waste of money because he wouldn’t enjoy my getting sick.” She looked at her watch. “Hey, we’ve only got about an hour to get ready for the soiree tonight. We won’t have time to go to shopping, but I do have a dress that you can wear.”

  “Can’t I plead jet lag and stay up here with Braden?”
/>   “’Fraid not. I got a text from your boss, telling me to tell you that you need to go tonight. Tony will be your escort. There will be some people there who might be able to give you some information.”

  Sheba sighed, “I hope I don’t embarrass you or me. I’ve never been to a soiree. I don’t really know what a soiree is.”

  Theo laughed, “Soiree is an evening party.” Ours are formally informal or informally formal. There will be music in the background—quite a good chamber ensemble. All you have to do is move around and talk to people. It’s not hard.”

  “Yeah, right! I’m not like you.” Sheba said in a panic. I can’t just walk up to someone and strike up a conversation. That’s not something I feel comfortable doing. That’s why I’m a decoder.”

  Sighing, Sheba added, “At least, I’ll have Tony. He can talk to anyone about anything.”

  “I’ll go get the dress. I just hope you have the right under garments.” Theo said snidely.

  Me, too. Sheba thought as she pulled a dress from the suitcase. It was badly wrinkled. “I wonder if I can find an ironing board,” she said as she shook the dress hard.

  Braden took her hand. “Aunt Sheba, don’t let Mom make you feel bad. You can talk to people.”

  “Thanks, sweetie. I just wish my sister didn’t make me feel so stupid.”

  Pretending that she hadn’t heard Sheba’s last comment, Theo walked back into the room carrying a royal purple dress. It was made of chiffon and had a handkerchief hem. The skirt was flared with long, sheer, cuffed sleeves. Sheba immediately fell in love with it.

  “Theo, this is gorgeous.” She held it up in front of her. “It looks like it would fit. Thanks for lending it to me.”

  “You can have it. I look like a hag in it.” She shook her head. “I really don’t know why I bought it. It just isn’t my color.”

  Sheba gave her sister a hug. “Thank you. I love it and it is my color.”

  Later that evening, Sheba carefully walked down the long curving staircase, her hand lightly touching the rail. She had borrowed a pair of strappy, silver sandals from one of Theo’s co-workers. She had to admitted that she felt glamorous, elegant and scared to death all at the same time.

  When she looked down into the foyer, she saw Tony looking up at her. He mimed a wolf-whistle, then pretended to clap his hand over his mouth.

  As she stepped from the last step, he took her hand and kissed it. “You look positively fantastic,” he said. His face hadn’t changed, but she had a feeling he was mocking her.

  Later that evening, Tony guided her toward two men who were standing close to the terrace doors. “I’m going to introduce you to a couple of the experts Nagle wanted you to talk to. Don’t say anything about the diary.”

  “Okay,” she swallowing hard.

  “Don’t look so nervous. This is a party. You’re supposed to be having fun.”

  “Yeah, my government is paying me to find a mythical land so the balance of power doesn’t shift and throw us into a world war. I have absolutely nothing to be nervous about.”

  Tony laughed, “I can understand your point of view. How about forgetting the government and the balance of power. Why don’t you just remember your dream of finding Sheba? Talk to them about your theory that the Yemen tradition isn’t true.” He looked at her. “You’re a pretty woman. Even experts like to talk to pretty women.”

  Before she could respond, he said, “Mr. Carmichael, I don’t know if you remember me. I’m Tony Bond. We met in France last year.”

  “Ah, yes, I do remember you. You’re interested in Middle Eastern Art as I recall.”

  Tony said, “I was told you have a phenomenal memory.” He put his arm around Sheba’s waist, drawing her forward. “I’d like you to meet Sheba Bentley. She’s Solomon Bentley’s daughter and has inherited his love for the Kingdom of Sheba..”

  “Sheba,” Tony said, “I’d like you to meet Carr Carmichael and Antoine Bargeron. Both these men share your passion for Sheba.”

  Bargeron bowed over her hand before he gently kissed it. “I was so sorry to hear of his death, but he keeps his legacy alive in his beautiful daughter.”

  She smiled. “I think I’m more fascinated by the verses in the Bible, than my Father’s obsession.”

  Carmichael said, “I, too, was raised on the Bible. I believe that that is where my interest in Sheba began.” He stroked his small, grey goatee. “I have studied Biblical history and there isn’t much on the location of the Kingdom of Sheba. I know the people of Yemen believe that they are direct descendants of King Solomon and the Queen of Sheba. They have a very elaborate version of how Solomon tricked her into having sex with him.”

  Bergeron nodded, “I believe that it is the true version. It is in both the Bible and the Koran. Their trade routes also show that they had dealings with the Jews.”

  Carmichael snorted, “It could only be true if Yemen was a part of the Kingdom of Seba in Ethiopia which most historians don’t think happened. The Queen of Sheba lived in Seba and was a lineal descendent of Moses and Queen Tharbis as Josephus the Jewish historian pointed out.”

  Before Sheba could say anything, Tony gripped her elbow.

  “Still arguing the inarguable I see,” a tall, thick-set man said as he joined the group.

  “Ah, Nathan, I wondered if you would be here tonight.” Bergeron said. “I didn’t think you’d miss the Queen’s Chamber Musicians. I believe they are a favorite of yours.”

  “They are. They are one of the best, if not the best, in Britain today. Even the Queen has them play at her parties. But I’m sure that you aren’t arguing music. You are arguing Sheba, are you not?”

  “We are, old boy,” Carmichael said. “As I was telling Sheba here, that Josephus supports my view. I recently read an article about an archeological dig in Yemen that supported Josephus’ history. It said that they had found evidence that Yemen had been conquered by Ethiopia back in 1500 B.C.

  Breckenridge said, “Yemen never had a history of female rulers. So where did the Queen of Sheba come from, if all Yemen rulers were male?”

  Nathan turned to Sheba and Tony, “Could I be introduced to this charming young woman?”

  Tony said, “Sheba, I’d like you to meet Nathan Breckenridge.” She stiffened at his name, but forced herself to relax so she wouldn’t give away the fact that she knew about him. “He is a devoted follower of the Queen of Sheba. Nathan, this is Sheba Bentley. She just arrived from the United States this afternoon.”

  “I hope you enjoyed your flight,” Nathan said, as he shook her hand, but instead of releasing it, he stood patting it, his eyes never leaving her face.

  I hope he can’t read body language because I’m sure that mine is saying a whole lot more than I wish it was saying—like I want to punch him in the nose.

  Smiling, she gently pulled her hand away. “Thank you, I did.”

  “So, Miss Bentley, do you agree with Antoine or myself?” Carmichael asked. “Or are you a complete Philistine like Nathan here?”

  “Please call me Sheba.” She said as she turned to Breckenridge. “How did you earn the title of complete Philistine?”

  He took a glass of Champagne from a waiter and sipped from it. “They think I am a Philistine because I don’t believe that either theory is correct. They think their theories are fact, but I refuse to believe them because they can’t be proven. Show me a 3,500 year old gold mine in either of these areas and I’ll consider it.”

  Sheba took a glass of ginger ale from the same tray. Theo had let her know that ginger ale was served along with the Champagne.

  “What is your theory?” She asked.

  “I believe that Sheba was from Turkey.” He said it in a no-nonsense tone of voice, like he was daring anyone to disagree with him.”

  Bergeron said, “But Breckenridge, dear boy, you have no proof. There are no legends, no histories, nothing to back up your statement.”

  “My biggest question is,” Sheba said, “Why the barges if she tra
veled overland.”

  “Too true, dear girl!” Breckenridge said delightedly.

  “Mr. Breckenridge, why do you think Sheba is located in Turkey?” Sheba asked bluntly.

  He shrugged. “These men will tell you that it is impossible. However, I have found evidence that they are wrong, but at this point, I’m not ready to publish my information. Let them keep looking in the wrong place. When I find Sheba, I’ll publish my results and they--well, I’m not sure what they will do or say, but deep inside, they won’t be happy with me.”

  Suddenly he turned on her. “Do you disagree with me, Miss Bentley?” The challenge in his voice was clear.

  “Actually, I agree with you. I think that it isn’t wise to let the competition know what one is doing. Who knows, they might get there first.

  “My poor deluded child,” Bergeron said. “There is absolutely no history in the area that.”

  Theo walked up to the group. “Sheba, I hope I’m not interrupting anything, but the ambassador would like to meet you.”

  Sheba smiled at the three men as she turned to follow her sister. “Excuse me. It has been an interesting discussion. I hope we can continue it sometime.”

  When they were out of earshot, Sheba said, “Thanks for rescuing me. I wasn’t ready to have my theory massacred by those experts, nor was I ready to cross swords with Nathan Breckenridge.”

  “You sound like you don’t like Nathan,” Theo challenged. “I find him very charming. He is also extremely generous. He and I sit on the boards of several charities. He is always ready to donate money to a good cause. It’s just too bad that he doesn’t have the Earldom. The current earl, Nathan’s half-brother, is a miserly recluse. He has the social skills of a Neanderthal.”

  Theo slipped her arm through Tony’s. “So how do you know my sister?”

  “We met at work,” he said smoothly. “She’s the best analyst we’ve got. I always go to the best. She’s never failed me.”