Nightmare in Morocco by Vickie Britton, Loretta Jackson Page A
Authors: Vickie Britton, Loretta Jackson
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this hotel . Maybe he followed the tour down to the medina . I don't trust this place anymore, Noa . I'll be glad when we leave here!"
Noa thought with a chill of apprehension that whoever attacked Belda was sure to be leaving Tangier with them . She wasn't at all sure that Cathy was not in some way involved, but even if she wasn't, she had no doubt but that the thief was someone signed up for this tour, and that meant only one thing: their trouble was only beginning!
* * *
As Noa entered the luxurious dining room where the welcome dinner was to be held, she was greeted by a scene that could have come straight out of the "Arabian Nights." The dinner was to be served in full blown Moroccan style, complete with music and entertainment . The waiter, in wine colored tarbrush and robe, led her to a low table where Greg, Johnny Ramos, and Cathy lounged comfortably upon cushioned benches that arched around the table.
Cathy sat between the two men, obviously delighted by all the attention . The daring black cocktail dress that she wore was too grown up for her . Noa did not like the way Johnny, the bus driver, eyes already bright from too much liqueur, leaned toward Cathy, his hand roaming familiarly across the bare skin of her back . From the nearby table, she saw Marie Landos raise a skeptical brow and realized she was not the only one watching Johnny with wary eye.
Greg moved over, making room for Noa on the cozy seat beside him . "This is great, isn't it?"
Noa's gaze drifted to a table in the far corner, and her eyes unexpectedly met with Taber's . Surrounded by such Arabic splendor, dressed in a flowing kaftan threaded with gold, he put Noa in mind of some rich and all powerful sultan . His eyes were so bright and smoldering in the darkness, the lashes so black they looked as if they were smudged with kohl.
Noa, breath catching in a strange way, smiled and waved to him, expecting to be greeted with that flash of white teeth against olive skin that she knew so well . But instead, his black eyes remained cold and unresponsive as he barely acknowledged her greeting . Noa felt a sinking feeling in her heart . It wasn't like Taber to retreat into dark corners . Why didn't he come over and join them? The waiter brought a flaky pastry filled with meat and sweet almonds . The low, primitively pleasant sound of a lute filled the air . But the delicious food, the romantic atmosphere, was wasted on Noa . She cast a sidelong glance at Taber, whose dark face and glowering eyes loomed an angry shadow in the candle lit glow of the room . She kept wondering what was wrong . What had she done to make him appear so foreign and distant?
"I'm not used to eating with my fingers," Greg commented as he broke off a piece of the steaming pastry.
"Just imagine its pizza . When in Morocco — "
"Do as the Moroccans do?" Greg finished for her . "I'd still trade my gold watch for a fork and spoon." Noa heard a purring sound near her feet . Greg noticed the kitten with an amused smile . "We've got a guest . I guess animals aren't barred from the restaurants here like they are back home."
"Evidently not," Noa said . The kitten rubbed against Noa's leg, unashamedly begging for food . "This one looks like a steady customer."
"He's cute!" Cathy cried . "I'll bet he's hungry."
Johnny Ramos put a chunk of meat on a piece of napkin and called boisterously, "Here, my friend!" They all watched as the unexpected intruder lapped up the meat, then with a cat's indifference to loyalty, moved on to the next table.
Neither the Wards nor Marie Landos' group of girls were infallible to the kitten's charms . Contented, and with a full stomach, it made its way to the last table, where it curled up comfortably on the empty pillow next to Taber . Noa watched Taber stroke its silky fur . She suddenly imagined herself snuggled up next to Taber on the cushion, his lean fingers stroking her neck and shoulders, and felt a tug of envy for the kitten.
"Look! Here come the
Noa thought with a chill of apprehension that whoever attacked Belda was sure to be leaving Tangier with them . She wasn't at all sure that Cathy was not in some way involved, but even if she wasn't, she had no doubt but that the thief was someone signed up for this tour, and that meant only one thing: their trouble was only beginning!
* * *
As Noa entered the luxurious dining room where the welcome dinner was to be held, she was greeted by a scene that could have come straight out of the "Arabian Nights." The dinner was to be served in full blown Moroccan style, complete with music and entertainment . The waiter, in wine colored tarbrush and robe, led her to a low table where Greg, Johnny Ramos, and Cathy lounged comfortably upon cushioned benches that arched around the table.
Cathy sat between the two men, obviously delighted by all the attention . The daring black cocktail dress that she wore was too grown up for her . Noa did not like the way Johnny, the bus driver, eyes already bright from too much liqueur, leaned toward Cathy, his hand roaming familiarly across the bare skin of her back . From the nearby table, she saw Marie Landos raise a skeptical brow and realized she was not the only one watching Johnny with wary eye.
Greg moved over, making room for Noa on the cozy seat beside him . "This is great, isn't it?"
Noa's gaze drifted to a table in the far corner, and her eyes unexpectedly met with Taber's . Surrounded by such Arabic splendor, dressed in a flowing kaftan threaded with gold, he put Noa in mind of some rich and all powerful sultan . His eyes were so bright and smoldering in the darkness, the lashes so black they looked as if they were smudged with kohl.
Noa, breath catching in a strange way, smiled and waved to him, expecting to be greeted with that flash of white teeth against olive skin that she knew so well . But instead, his black eyes remained cold and unresponsive as he barely acknowledged her greeting . Noa felt a sinking feeling in her heart . It wasn't like Taber to retreat into dark corners . Why didn't he come over and join them? The waiter brought a flaky pastry filled with meat and sweet almonds . The low, primitively pleasant sound of a lute filled the air . But the delicious food, the romantic atmosphere, was wasted on Noa . She cast a sidelong glance at Taber, whose dark face and glowering eyes loomed an angry shadow in the candle lit glow of the room . She kept wondering what was wrong . What had she done to make him appear so foreign and distant?
"I'm not used to eating with my fingers," Greg commented as he broke off a piece of the steaming pastry.
"Just imagine its pizza . When in Morocco — "
"Do as the Moroccans do?" Greg finished for her . "I'd still trade my gold watch for a fork and spoon." Noa heard a purring sound near her feet . Greg noticed the kitten with an amused smile . "We've got a guest . I guess animals aren't barred from the restaurants here like they are back home."
"Evidently not," Noa said . The kitten rubbed against Noa's leg, unashamedly begging for food . "This one looks like a steady customer."
"He's cute!" Cathy cried . "I'll bet he's hungry."
Johnny Ramos put a chunk of meat on a piece of napkin and called boisterously, "Here, my friend!" They all watched as the unexpected intruder lapped up the meat, then with a cat's indifference to loyalty, moved on to the next table.
Neither the Wards nor Marie Landos' group of girls were infallible to the kitten's charms . Contented, and with a full stomach, it made its way to the last table, where it curled up comfortably on the empty pillow next to Taber . Noa watched Taber stroke its silky fur . She suddenly imagined herself snuggled up next to Taber on the cushion, his lean fingers stroking her neck and shoulders, and felt a tug of envy for the kitten.
"Look! Here come the
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