No Greater Love - Eris Field Page 0,4

no guilt about the small lie. He knew that she considered Carl to be a business client, definitely not on her social level.

Carl motioned to the Jenever bottle on the side table and, as Janan moved quickly across the room to get it, Pieter watched, fascinated by the graceful movements of her slim body partially concealed by black wool pants and a shapeless charcoal-gray sweater. Not her colors, he noted to himself.

Janan poured two-fingers of the golden liquid into Carl’s glass and then moved to Pieter’s chair. With her eyes downcast and a faint pink color staining her cheeks, she held out a hand that trembled slightly for Pieter’s glass.

A flush of pleasure spread through him as he noted her reaction. I am not the only one who felt something out there in the snow. Despite the urge to touch her again, Pieter forced himself to take care not to let his fingers graze her hand as he handed her his glass and murmured a soft, “Thank you.”

Carl nodded and turned to Janan. “Pieter’s grandfather was my grandfather’s solicitor, his father, my father’s solicitor, and now, his mother is my solicitor. So many gone.” He sighed and then asked sharply,

“And Maarten? Any news of him?”

“I don’t think I know him.” Pieter closed his eyes, trying to capture a fragment of a memory.

“He’s your grandfather’s older brother. He’d be your great-uncle.” Carl studied the glass in his hand and said softly, “A long time ago, he was kind to my parents.” He took a sip of Jenever and paused as the smooth, heat of the Dutch gin slid down his throat before settling back in his chair. “I’m almost afraid to ask about your younger brother. Is he still worrying your mother?”

“Perhaps a little less. Dirk seems to have found something that he really likes this time. He managed to get another post-doctoral fellowship and is working with an archeological team in Turkey.”

“Where?” It was the first time that Janan had taken part in the conversation. “Where in Turkey?”

“He is working at the Gobekli Tepe excavation. It’s about six miles from Sanliurfa, in Anatolia, the eastern part of Turkey. He’s very excited about the work. He says that it is Turkey’s Stonehenge, nearly 13,000 years old.” He studied her animated face. “Are you interested in archeology?”

“No. Not archeology.” She added quietly, “I’m interested in any news of Eastern Turkey.” She stood up quickly. “Excuse me. I must check on something.”

Pieter stood up courteously as she left the room and Carl called after her, “Hurry back.”

“I didn’t mean to upset her.”

“No, no. She’s always eager for news of that part of Turkey. Her family was killed in the 1992 earthquake in Erzincan, in Eastern Turkey.” Carl frowned. “She lost her mother, father, and twin brother.” He shook his head. “The thought of it still haunts me. An eight-year-old little girl pinned under concrete rubble during a frigid March night, imprisoned until rescuers dug her out with their hands in the morning.”

“What a horrible experience.” Pieter shivered as he visualized a young girl with luminous dark eyes and vibrant curls trapped among the dead through a long, cold night. “How on earth did she get from Erzincan to here?”

Chapter 2

“Ah, there you are, Janan. Come, move your chair over closer to me. Pieter wants to know how you got from Erzincan to this small village.”

“Well, it will be about ten minutes before dinner is ready. Can you tell him the story in that length of time?”

“I really mustn’t intrude on your hospitality for dinner.” Pieter stood up, flustered at the thought of imposing.

“Nonsense! Of course you will join us but I should warn you, our dinner is a simple meal. We’ll eat together and make our plans for tomorrow. Janan will pick you up at the Inn and drive you, but we need to fix a time.”

“I really don’t want to cause you any trouble. I can drive myself.”

“I’d worry too much if I let you do that. Janan is an excellent driver and she works near the Cancer Institute. She is familiar with the route.”

Pieter turned toward Janan. “I . . .”

Janan was stunned at Carl’s words. She had not considered the possibility of cancer. He is too young, she thought frantically. Grateful for the years of experience that helped her control her reaction, she said, “You may as well give up now. When Carl makes up his mind, it’s best to give in and save the time.”

“Now, where were we?” Carl