Free The Forbidden Tomb by Chris Kuzneski Page B

but it certainly wasn’t bankrupt.
    Cobb stopped and stared at Dade. ‘I’d appreciate if you could keep us out of the Agency’s spotlight. Considering what I did for you, I figure it’s the least you can do.’
    ‘No problem, Jack. Your secret’s safe with me.’
    ‘Glad to hear it.’ Cobb turned and started to walk away. ‘Nice meeting you, Mr Dade. Take care of yourself.’
    Dade stared at Sarah for an explanation, but she had nothing to offer.
    ‘Jack,’ Dade called out. ‘I can help you.’
    ‘I’m not interested in your help,’ he shouted back.
    ‘Hey,
you
reached out to
me
, remember?’
    Cobb spun around to address Dade. ‘And then
I
came to
your
rescue when you brought your troubles with you. Or have you forgotten that?’
    ‘What? Those two back there?’ Dade waved it off. ‘That was just a disagreement between friends. Nothing more. Besides, we could have easily outrun them. You just happened to be in the right place at the right time.’
    ‘Maybe so,’ Cobb snapped, ‘but can you outrun gunfire? Next time you have a disagreement, make sure they’re unarmed.’
    Dade smiled, intrigued. He knew Cobb couldn’t have seen the two men chasing him for more than a few seconds, yet he had still managed to pick out the silhouette of their pistols beneath their clothing. That was an impressive feat.
    ‘Seriously, Jack. It was no big deal.’
    ‘Listen,’ Cobb said calmly, his voice as steady as his gaze, ‘I already spend enough time looking over my own shoulder for trouble. I don’t need to be looking over yours, wondering when Bigfoot and Biggerfoot will show up again.’
    Dade raised his hand. ‘I swear to you, I’ll deal with them. They won’t be a problem. Just give me a chance to help. Tell me what you need to know.’
    Cobb stepped closer. ‘Why are you so interested in helping me? You don’t owe me anything, and I’ll be damned if I want to owe you anything. I saved your life, and in return, you’re going to keep our whereabouts unknown. Or are you going to have a problem with that?’
    ‘With all due respect, Jack, I’m not here for you – I’m here for
her
.’ He nodded toward Sarah, who was quietly watching the scene unfold. ‘The two of us go way back, and I owe her more than you can imagine. So please, tell me, what can I do to help?’
    Cobb glanced at Sarah. It was up to her and her alone. She knew her history with Dade, and if she wanted to call in a favor, it was her decision to make.
    Sarah nodded without hesitation.
    ‘Okay,’ Cobb said, ‘we’ll call on you when the time is right – but that moment isn’t now. In the meantime, quit following us.’
    ‘No problem.’
    Cobb lowered his voice, so only Dade could hear it. ‘I know you and Sarah have a past, but I’m a man who values his privacy. I can’t stress that enough. Now that I know what you look like, you’ll be on my radar from now on. And if I catch you snooping or lurking around, I won’t hesitate to take you out. Understood?’
    Dade nodded. ‘Understood.’
    ‘And trust me, I run a lot faster than the goons.’

11
     
    Cobb didn’t think Sarah would intentionally lead him astray, but he knew there were things she hadn’t yet shared. He was willing to take her word that Dade was a CIA asset, but what aspects of Dade’s life did he conveniently leave out of his résumé?
    Cobb needed to know what Sarah knew.
    And he needed to know now.
    After parting ways with Dade, Cobb and Sarah had returned to their hotel. Initially, Cobb had considered booking rooms somewhere else, but he eventually decided against it. Dade had found them once before, and there was no reason to believe he couldn’t do it again. Changing hotels would only tip off Dade that Cobb didn’t trust him.
    Cobb made his way to the window and pushed it open, allowing what little wind there was to circulate through the space. It still felt like summer in Egypt, and the unseasonably warm air was remarkably dry. The only relief