Justin shrugged. “We’ll figure it out. In due time.”
Abdul let out a loud groan and stepped back. “Ah, in due time, yes, everything, in due time.”
“Did you find out why the colonel is so interested in me?”
“Yes. And it’s not good.”
“It never is.”
“The colonel’s cause is personal. He happened to be in the same Unit 78 of the prison.”
“Unit 78? The same unit you and I decimated during our prison break.”
“We killed his brothers in arms…”
“And he’s out for revenge,” Abdul finished Justin’s thought.
Justin sighed. “He acts so gentle, so polite. What great self-control.” After a moment, he added, “That explains Tarek last night. The colonel sent him to settle the account.”
“Yes, about that,” Abdul said, “I spent two hours at the crime scene last night.”
“You found him?”
“No, I didn’t.”
“What?”
“There was no Tarek there.”
“Impossible. His body fell right in front of my feet. I saw him stop breathing with my own eyes. Did you find the pool of blood?”
“Yes. And we also found the body of a dead policeman. But it wasn’t Tarek.”
“Who was it?”
“A new guy.”
“Somebody took Tarek’s body away before you got there.”
“Why would someone do that and leave the other body behind?” Abdul asked.
“Or maybe, just maybe he made it. Maybe my wound wasn’t deadly. Did you check hospitals? Medical clinics?”
“Or maybe Tarek wasn’t there,” Abdul said quietly.
“What are you saying, Abdul, that I’m making things up? That I’m crazy?”
“I’m saying that people who used to be dead are now suddenly alive, and you are killing them again. But, we can’t find the body.”
Justin realized he had no time to argue about this with Abdul. I’ll have to figure this out later. On my own. “We have to go now, otherwise Nour will become wary.”
“When he asks, tell him the colonel wants you not to be too nosey and not to cause any scandals.”
“Why would the colonel say something like that to me?”
“Because you’re a pain in the ass. He told me so, after you left his office. He also warned me to keep you two on a tight leash. Nour will believe this. He knows you’re a loose cannon.”
“Huh?”
“I saw him shouting at you earlier in the car. Tell me it had nothing to do with your meeting with the colonel.”
Justin grinned and turned around. “That would be lying.”
“I thought so.”
They walked back to the GMC. Nour was fidgeting with the steering wheel.
“OK,” Abdul said, “I’ll lead the way to the lab, which is half an hour away, down south. Stay close, so you can follow me.”
“Can you give us the address, in case we lose you in traffic?” Nour asked.
Abdul shook his head. “There is no address. And you won’t be able to find it on your own. Just keep up with me.”
“OK,” Nour agreed.
As soon as Justin climbed in his seat, Nour asked, “Tell me you didn’t screw things up even worse with the colonel.”
“Thanks for your confidence.”
“Don’t be a smart-ass. What did he want?”
“Making sure I don’t cause trouble.”
“Kind of late for that. Did he threaten you?”
“No, no, he didn’t.”
Nour nodded and turned the steering wheel, after Abdul passed them in a white Nissan Patrol. They drove in silence for a few minutes, until Justin’s BlackBerry chirped.
“I have to take this,” he said after glancing at the caller ID.
“Sure, but I ain’t pulling over.”
“Hi, what’s up?” Justin said in a low voice, and with certain uneasiness, since Nour could hear every word.
Nour kept his eyes on the road, seemingly uninterested in Justin’s conversation.
“Hello, Justin,” Anna said. “How are you?”
“Good, good. How ‘bout you?”
“OK, I guess. Sorry I missed your calls. We’re in meetings all the time. The merger, you know. The client’s so secretive, and they don’t allow us to bring our BlackBerries into the conference room.”
“No problem. How’s everything?”
“Oh, crazy. I miss you so much. When are you coming home?”
Justin hesitated for a moment.
“You’re not coming home any time soon, are you?”
“No, I’m afraid not.”
“Will you call me tomorrow?”
“Yes, I will. For sure. I’m not going to forget your birthday.”
“And our anniversary. But nothing we plan seems to work out any more.” Her voice shook with a tinge of despair
“Once this is over, it won’t be this crazy. Then, we can make plans.”
“Plans to sail the Caribbean? Again?”
“Hey, that’s not fair,” Justin replied to her sarcasm.
“It’s not? We cancelled our Caribbean trip because of your tour of duty. I’m not up for another rejection, so why bother to pick a place?”
“You know I’m not the one making decisions.”
“Yes, Justin, I know. That’s the nature of your business and you’re just following orders. I’ve heard this all before.”
“So, why are we even having this conversation?”
“Because I don’t want to be alone, without you. And that’s why I get mad when you’re away.”
Justin looked over at Nour. He was focused on the congested traffic in all four lanes of the road.
“Move it you jerk, c’mon, move it.” Nour slammed his left fist on the horn.
“What’s going on?” Anna asked.
“Oh, nothing. We’re stuck in traffic.”
“Where are you? Some place warm?”
“Bloody hot and sweaty, but we’ve got air conditioning.” Justin adjusted the dashboard’s air vents, so the cold air would blow toward his damp face.
“Tell me you’re gonna take good care of yourself,” Anna said.
Justin shifted in his seat and felt a needle-like pain on his left knee. The shrapnel wound was healing fast, but it still gave him sharp jolts of pain.
“I’ll try,” he replied warily.
“Is Carrie there?”
“No, she’s not here.”
Justin did not tell her Carrie was going to land in Tripoli in a few minutes.
“When will you call me?”
“No idea. Later, perhaps in the evening. If not, tomorrow for sure.”
Anna sighed and fell silent. Justin waited, his eyes following Abdul’s car changing lanes, in order to escape the crawling traffic.
“OK. Hopefully, we’ll talk then.”
“I hope so. I love you.”
“Ditto.”
Justin saw Nour’s grin forming at the corner of his lips. “Women,” was all he said.
How much did he hear? Before Justin could put away his BlackBerry, it vibrated in his hand.
“More women.” Justin glanced at the screen, displaying the word ‘Carrie.’ “Hey, you’re early.”
“Yeah, we made good time.”
“What’s rattling in the background?”
“Oh, I’m in a taxi, we’re on our way to the city. How far till we’re there?” she asked. “The driver tells me about thirty minutes,” she added after a couple of seconds.
“Was the flight good?”
“Excellent. Where are you?”
“Good question. Let me see.” Justin peered through the window and began searching for a landmark or a road sign. “Hmmm… I think we’re on Tariq Zanatah Road, right?” he said, as he looked at Nour, who nodded. “Yes, we’re on TZ Road and we’re going south, toward a large traffic circle, and now, now we’re stuck in traffic.”
A few seconds of silence followed.
“Carrie?”
“Yes, I just told my driver to take us to this TZ Road. He seems to know where that circle is. Where are you going?”