Maybe, just maybe, when the time was right, he could use that little tidbit to his advantage. He’d also have to ask some questions and discern the radically devoted from those forced into loyalty.
Like him.
And then, there was the status of his sister. Baahir looked up and pictured Zahra coming to his rescue with an army beside her. He saw the stairs, down which she would descend with a group of trained killers, men, and women who could rescue all of them.
He imagined it, a slight smile coming to his face. He willed it to be true, but he also couldn’t shake the feeling that what Khaliq had told him earlier might be true. That Zahra was not coming to the rescue.
Because Zahra was dead.
His smile vanished. He knew his sister, knew what she was capable of. But he also knew people like Khaliq. And he had been prepared — just looking around this place reminded him of that.
He had been prepared for all of it. And, he had no reason to lie to Baahir. Khaliq had told him that his sister was dead.
Zahra might not be coming at all.
Chapter 37
Zahra
Twenty minutes northwest of Oxford University was the private airport where Zahra would meet her pilot. At first, she hadn’t been thrilled that her father had offered to drive her there, but now, she realized how much of a blessing it was since it might be the last time that she ever saw him. The next leg of her journey wasn’t going to be easy.
In fact, it was going to be the toughest thing she had ever done.
George parked in a spot just outside a chain-link fence and killed the engine to his silver Lexus LS. He and Zahra sat for a moment in silence, watching small private jets roll up and down the tarmac on the other side. She took a deep breath, nearly gagging on the “new car” smell. Her father had, only recently, purchased the luxury sedan, and it still contained one of the most noxious smells in existence. It was similar to the way Zahra felt about tuna fish and air-fried Brussel sprouts.
Ugh…
After two minutes of inaction, George got them moving and climbed out. Zahra opened her door and moved to retrieve her overstuffed backpack from the backseat. Her father beat her to it, though. He threw open the rear driver’s side door and lifted the heavy bag with a grunt. Tossing it over his shoulder, he stood and met his daughter’s gaze.
She smiled. “Ever the gentleman.”
“Unfortunately, I might be the only chivalrous man left.”
Zahra rolled her eyes. “At least you’re modest.”
All joking aside, Zahra was sad to be leaving her father behind. She wished he could have come with her, but she knew it was much too dangerous for him to come along. George Kane was a lot of things, but a man of action, he was not.
Mom was the fighter.
A familiar two-engine prop plane whizzed by overhead and descended upon the tarmac. That was Zahra’s cue to get going. Cork wasn’t a patient person, especially when she was transporting illegal goods, such as Zahra’s pistol, among other items over the years. Once the aircraft touched down and refueled, Zahra would board and be off as soon as they were cleared to do so. Luckily, Cork knew Oxford Airport’s head of air traffic control. The two had been an item in the past and were still on good terms.
At least in terms of ‘hush-hush’ operations and booty calls.
George stepped away but stopped. “Aren’t we going?”
“Not yet,” Zahra replied. “Just wait.”
As soon as she had said something, a uniformed man approached them on the other side of the fence.
“Ms. Kane?”
Zahra stepped up. “Yes?”
“Head to the gate further down the fence, and I’ll let you in.”
The Kanes followed the controller’s instructions and marched left. Zahra could see a side gate up ahead, and they arrived just as the airport employee unlocked it and swung it inward.
“My supervisor says you’re some kind of VIP. We usually don’t do this kind of thing, you know.”
“Really?” Zahra replied, feigning ignorance. “I had no idea.” In reality, this wasn’t her first rodeo, and it made her question how many ports Cork had lovers in.
“No, we don’t.” Timmy Sunshine was a very pleasant individual.
Zahra stepped through the open gate but stopped when her father didn’t follow. “Walk me out, will ya?”
His face lit up, and he quickly caught up with her. The Kanes followed Timbo out onto the tarmac just as an antiquated Cessna 337 Super Skymaster stopped. Zahra loved the distinctiveness of Cork’s aircraft. Where most twin-engine planes had their props mounted one on each wing, the Cessna was of a completely different design.
One engine was mounted on the nose, and another on the back of the fuselage — on its ass — between the duo of booms holding the tail assemblies. The push-pull configuration produced a unique sound and was always a head turner to the novice aircraft enthusiast.
Especially when the plane looked like a hunk of shit.
George slowed when Zahra moved toward the off-white junker. It featured a weathered, angry octopus on its nose and the words Puss E. Galore on its flank. “Hang on,” he said, pointing to the plane, “that’s what you’re getting on?”
Zahra stopped and turned. “What? It hasn’t killed me yet.”
Cork could be seen moving around within the plane through the row of circular windows that dotted each side of the stubby fuselage. Zahra couldn’t wait for her father to approve her mode of transportation, and she headed away. George hurriedly caught up with Zahra, walking stride in stride with her.
“Don’t do this, Zahra!” he pleaded. “That thing has to be fifty years old.”
“Sixty, actually, but Cork keeps it in good shape.”
“Zahra, please, don’t do this.”
She spun on a dime and held up a hand. “Dad, stop!” He did, and Zahra felt bad for chastising him in front of Timbo. She backpedaled, calming her voice. “This is how we’re doing it, regardless of your approval, okay?”
Besides, she thought, it’s not like there’s a better idea.
He glanced over at the plane and swallowed. “I… I trust you.”
“Good.” She leaned in and hugged him. “I’ll stay in touch.”
“Please do. And tell Baahir that I’m sorry, will you?”
Zahra smiled, but she didn’t reply. Her attention wasn’t on her father anymore. She was looking past him, back toward the parking lot. A pair of blacked-out Audi S6 sedans pulled up next to her father’s Lexus, and a pair of ornery-looking men climbed out of each vehicle. Zahra was relieved to see that Timbo had shut, and presumably locked, the gate after escorting the Kanes through.
Zahra’s eyes snapped to her father and then back to the newcomers. She snatched his wrist and pulled. “Sorry, Dad. Change of plans.”
“What?”
“You’re coming with.”
His eyes widened, and he fought against her firm grip. “I’m not getting on that thing! I can’t go to Cairo!”
“Too bad!” she shouted, causing him to twitch. She extended a finger back the way they had come. “It’s either this or death by firing squad.”
He saw the men approaching them, and Zahra could see the confusion on his face. Two of the men were already checking out his car, while the two others were shielding their eyes from the sun and peering through the chain link fencing, looking for… them.
Chapter 38
Zahra
Zahra made eye contact with one of the men. “Dammit… come on, Dad!” She watched the guy alert his comrades, and the foursome charged for the main building.