Nightmare in Morocco by Vickie Britton, Loretta Jackson

always start about fifty percent higher than what they expect to get."
    Belda laughed . "My dear, when you're as wealthy as I, it's getting what you want that's important, not what you pay for it."
    They walked quickly and in silence back toward the store where the group waited . Taber, his dark eyes worried, left Milton's side and strode forward to meet them . "Everyone's been looking for you . I just hope no one gets lost!"
    "What did you mean," Milton chimed in, "running off like that!" He did not appear to notice Belda's wound, which she had made an attempt to conceal by gray curls.
    "Shopping . What else?" Belda replied.
    "You were supposed to stay right here in this gift shop."
    "Oh, this junk's just for the tourists . I wanted something authentic." Belda stepped forward, shaking a warning finger at Milton . "And I don't want to hear a word out of you . Not one, single word!"
    "I knew it! Just don't even tell me!" Milton rolled his eyes and shook his white head like a playful, old lion . "You bought that darn green rug!"
    * * *
    As soon as the tour returned to the hotel, Noa checked the mileage on the bus . This, her last routine job of the day, marked the end of her duties until the group met in the evening for the extravagant welcome dinner in the hotel's "Arabian Room."
    As Noa entered the hotel lobby, she saw Greg through the glass window of the gift shop . Though he pretended to be looking at the brass souvenirs, as soon as he saw Noa, his eyes brightened to match his sudden smile .
    His reaction gave her the feeling that he had been waiting for her . She was not surprised when he caught up with her on the way to the elevator . "Noa, won't you have some coffee with me before you go up to your room?"
    Noa was looking forward to a shower and maybe a rest in the air conditioned coolness of the comfortable hotel room before the big dinner . She was about to decline Greg's offer, but something in his earnest manner made her hesitate . "I really need to talk to you . I have something very important to say."
    Noa followed him into the lounge, where he ordered coffee for both of them . But when it came, he did not drink, only stared down at his cup, avoiding her eyes with an uncharacteristic shyness . "Noa, I was wrong about Taber taking my money," he confessed finally, with some obvious embarrassment .
    "I'm glad you didn't accuse him, then . What made you change your mind?"
    "Well, he's turned out to be a pretty right guy, helping me file a report and all." He stirred sugar into the already sweet Arabic coffee . "It's just that...well...this isn't easy for me to say, but I...guess I was a little jealous when I saw you having dinner with him . And I felt like Taber resented my intrusion . He knew I was bound to offer to pick up the tab . So naturally I thought maybe Taber had taken my wallet to show me up, to make a fool of me in front of you."
    "Taber would never do anything like that."
    "Oh, Taber set me straight when he explained that the two of you were just business partners . I hope what he said is true, Noa."
    Anxious to change the subject, Noa asked, "Do the police have any leads on the stolen money?"
    "No, but the more I think about it, the more I believe someone in the gift shop must have picked my pocket . Maybe it was that guy in the hooded robe . He could easily have sneaked up on me without my even seeing him."  
    "You know, Greg, you could be right . This afternoon in the medina, Belda was attacked by a figure in a brown, hooded robe . I think he might have been after her ring."
    The blue eyes widened . "This could be serious . Did you tell Taber or anyone about this? Maybe you should."
    "No . I scared the attacker away before any damage was done . Belda wasn't hurt and thinks this the work of a common purse snatcher . Now I'm beginning to wonder..."
    "If the same person who took my money tried to get Belda's jewel?" Greg ran a hand through sun lightened, brown hair . "Maybe there's a thief working from