When Linda Rhodes discovers an ancient text written by Judas Iscariot, terrorists steal the scroll and imprison her. Her captors offer her a choice — to translate the scroll or suffer in solitary confinement. As she delves into Judas' account, Linda finds the courage to follow her conscience.
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From Chapter 21
The shackles digging into her ankles brought reality back. Allowing the prisoner to clean up wasn't a kindness. It was another ploy. He's manipulating me. Saying all these things to break me. Last night I shouldn't have felt grateful. Weak woman. Foolhardy woman. I'm here because of him. I let myself feel grateful when he permitted me to have necessities. A shower doesn't make him less dangerous. Clean clothes don't mean he'll spare me. Can he try me as a criminal? She laughed at such foolishness. He would never go near a court of law.
If anything, he'll just slit my throat.
Rabadi was talking. "Espionage. Subversion. The witnesses are lining up to testify at your trial."
He giveth power to the faint and to them that have no might. "What witnesses?"
"Abu, for one."
Impossible. Abu won't testify against me. I know it; I know him too well. Not as well as I wanted or would like, and not in all the ways a woman can know a man, but I know. Abu would never do that.
He preyed upon her worst fear. "Not that he told us willingly."
"What did you do to him?" Now the sob came out uncontrolled.
"Interesting how talk of Abu upsets you above all else." The sound of his resonant Baritone fluttered in amusement. The bastard enjoys this. "There are several ways to gain the truth."
Now his boots tread the cement floor in a tight circle around her. "Did we use bribery? How would it work on a man so obviously bewitched by a woman? Not our best option."
No. Not bewitched. What an ugly word. Abu is connected to me but not bewitched. He's in sympathy with me. We understand and respect each other. Willing to do or say anything that might hurt the other? Never.
"Torture? A better alternative, but would a proud man, such as Abu tell us what we want to know? Would he not cloud the truth and tell us, not what we have a right to know, but what he wants us to hear?"
Despite the overwhelming urge to let her chin drop to her chest, Linda managed to hold it high.
"Then, of course," he whispered in her ear, "there are drugs available to assist interrogators. You put a man to sleep. Then administer sodium pentothal and a clarifying booster, and poof. The truth is known."
Truth? What truth? "I'll tell you what truth. We willingly gave our artifacts over to the Jordanian minister. We worked together to bring jobs to this poor country."
"Very noble of you."
The truth? We wanted to share the knowledge we garnered with all the peoples of the region. She shook her head, as if somehow that would shake off his words.
He brushed some lint from her shoulder.
She jumped away.
"Be calm," he said. "We have a request."
Here it comes.
A moment before Rabadi's powerful voice declared his power over her. Now he transformed its sound. His tone became even and rational. "There is one way for you to prove your innocence."
"How would I do that?"
Laughter rolled from his mouth and filled the room. "You answer me with such bitterness."
His men laughed too. When they stopped, Rabadi said, "Will you help this Arab country? Or are you only interested in plunder?"
"I am willing," she said, "to promote peace."
"See?" He told the others in the room. "You doubted her sincerity, but didn't I tell you Dr. Rhodes is a woman of conscience?"
"Yes, yes," the others muttered.
She lost control. "What? How dare you? You think anyone can walk through this violence unscathed? You think you are immune? You expect to murder and plunder without your evil returning to you in kind?"
At first they met the outburst with silence. Then someone in the corner snickered. Tittering spread. Brazen woman. Foolhardy woman. They all joined in laughing long and hard. Finally silence recaptured the cell.
"What is it you want me to do?"
"Tomorrow," Rabadi said. "Tomorrow we will tell you."
"Tell me now or the answer is no."
He stormed toward the door. "Tomorrow we give you a task."
"And if I refuse?"
"You will not."
End of discussion. The laws and judges in your case are tainted. No one will defend you. No lawyer will state your case. You have already been tried and sentenced. No appeal.
He sucked his breath in. Then circled her.
Stand up to him. He wants something from you. If you don't do it now, you'll sink lower and lower.
She heard his feet head for the door. "I am not your pawn. I will not do what you want."
"Tomorrow, you will do exactly as you are told for the sake of peace." He chuckled the words.
"No."
"We shall see...."