Nightmare in Morocco by Vickie Britton, Loretta Jackson Read Free Book Online Page B

looking at this rug . I turn around once, and she's gone . It was only a short time ago."
    For the next ten minutes Noa wandered up and down looking into stores and into the hollows of isolated passages . As time passed, her mouth grew dry, her legs stiff . She felt a return of the panic she had felt long ago when she had ran through similar passageways searching for her father.
    The best thing to do would be to return to the group and get Taber or Greg to help her . She hurried back to the sharp turn she was using to orient herself, but before turning the corner, paused to look back .
    To the right, a path opened to another row of stores . Surprised, she recognized Belda Ward strolling slowly along, absorbed in her shopping . Before Belda reached the intersection, a hooded figure pounced from out of a secluded doorway and struck her from behind.
    The old lady crumpled to the ground . Noa raced toward her . The hooded form was bending over her.
    "Stop! Stop, at once!" Noa called, increasing her speed.
    The figure, his face obscured by the hood, lifted his head at her shout, jumped to his feet, and fled before she could reach him.
    Noa knelt over Belda . She half lifted her, noticing the trickle of blood that gleamed evilly in the harsh sunlight .

Chapter Four
     
    Belda's hazel eyes blinked, looked dazed for an instant, then focused calmly on Noa . "I'm all right," she said firmly.
    Breathing hard, she allowed herself to be assisted . Once standing, she swayed a little, rubbing her forehead and testing the sore spot on the side of her head.
    "Did you see who hit you?"
    "All I saw was a hood and a face wrapped in a dark scarf." Belda dabbed at the cut on her head with the Kleenex Noa had supplied for her . "It's my fault . I should have stayed with the tour."
    "We must get you to a doctor."
    "I'm OK . See for yourself."
    The cut was deep, as if she had been hit by something with a jagged edge . Swelling and discoloration had started, but Noa believed she suffered no severe damage . Still Noa felt a helpless rage . How could anyone do this to her! "We'll go back to the group . Taber will want to contact the police."
    "I just won't hear of that!" Belda's hand tightened on Noa's arm . "It won't do a lick of good . It will only worry Milton and ruin my whole trip!" She drew herself up determinedly . "I'm just going to tell everyone I fell."
    "That's not a very good idea."
    "You'd think so if you had to live with Milton . He's a worrier! Besides, whoever attacked me..." Belda's emerald ring glistened as she waved it toward the endlessly winding walkways, "is long gone now . No one's going to find him here."
    When Noa said nothing, Belda added, "It was probably just some mugger after my purse." "He might have been after your ring."
    Belda stared at the emerald . "Do you really think so?"
    "It might be a good idea to put it in a safety deposit box . We'll return to Tangier at the end of our tour . You can pick it up then, and not have to worry about it." "But it's never been off my finger," Belda protested . "If I have to hide it from the world, then what's the use of owning it?" The stubborn resistance, despite the age difference, made Noa think of Cathy . "Please reconsider."
    "No, I won't give up my ring!" Belda began to walk briskly away, saying over her shoulder, "I just want to forget the whole thing!"
    "You're going the wrong way," Noa called to her.
    Belda turned back with an impish smile, "I'm going back for my rug!"
    Noa didn't catch up with Belda until she stopped at the corner booth, the one where Belda had spotted the rug . Belda gazed at the design of a thick, green weave for a moment, then announced, "I'll take it!"
    The turbaned salesman grinned widely . Noa waited impatiently as money was exchanged and plans were made for the rug to be delivered to the hotel . Belda turned to Noa with a wink . "At least this knot on my head wasn't all for nothing!"
    "You shouldn't have accepted his first price," Noa said . "They