“She was keeping out of sight in the back seat.We returned to the resort long enough for her to get cleaned up, tend her injuries.But it was no longer safe.I ended up reaching out to a buddy of mine.We’ve been crashing at his place.”
“Hang on.”I might be slow, but I’m not totally stupid.“Any chance this buddy has a South African accent?”
Now Dr.Richard does look up, his expression clearly annoyed.“Exactly!And he wasn’t trying to kidnap Zahra.He was trying to bring her to Sabera.But, no, that became a bungled mess and then…”
“Sabera couldn’t leave town.”I finally get it.“Without Zahra, she was stuck.”
“Brava.”Lilla claps her hands.“And now that we’re all caught up… Where is the solemn-faced munchkin?Because this place is about to become very crowded.”
I scowl.This is the second time she’s pushed for Zahra.And I don’t like feeling rushed.Especially as I still have doubts about so many things.Up to and including everything.
“Police and ambulance will be here shortly,” Roberta speaks up.She has her cell phone out.“Daryl and Aliah need immediate medical attention.And as for them… Well, better someone else’s problem than ours.”
She stares at the two trussed-up Taliban fighters.I would like them to be someone else’s problem as well.My gaze automatically goes to Lilla, as our official international woman of mystery.
She’s staring at Sabera with a strange look on her face.Almost like regret.
Sabera raises a hand, rubs her forehead.Once, twice, harder.
I start to get a very bad feeling about things, just as Dr.Richard clambers to his feet, looking equally concerned.
“Sabera?”he asks sharply.
Her head comes up.She looks at him, almost surprised.Her mouth, opening, closing, opening.
A sudden wrenching gasp, as if she can’t get enough air, will never get enough air…
She pitches forward at Lilla’s feet.
“Sabera!”Dr.Richard is there, rolling her over, feeling for a pulse.“She’s not breathing.What did you do?”Then, shouting straight at Lilla, “What did you do!”
He’s already starting chest compressions, while the rest of us stare at Lilla in shock.He’s right.Lilla did something, had to be… I catch a glimpse of a large, surprisingly ornate piece of jewelry on her finger.A woman who carries a pistol up her sleeve and a dagger in her shoes.Why not also a poisoned ring on her finger?
Kurtz is now on his feet, homing in.
Just in time for Lilla’s snub-nosed gun to make an appearance.
“I wouldn’t get any closer if I were you.”
“You didn’t have to do this!”I can’t even… Sabera.We found her.We saved her.And nowthis?
“She is the key,” Lilla states softly.“Come now, poppet.They’re never going to stop looking for her.The first time they succeeded, it cost Sabera her husband.And next time?Who do you think they’ll hurt then?”
Zahra.I almost get it.But I can’t accept it.
“You killed her!”Dr.Richard is raging.He’s still working chest compressions, but his movements are growing weaker.Sabera’s eyes.Fixed.Dilated.
I think I’m going to be ill.
“There’s a cost to secrets,” Lilla murmurs, almostapologetically.“Even her mother understood, some things are best never to be discovered.I’d hoped Maryam had taken it all with her to the grave.I’m sorrier than you can imagine to realize she didn’t.”
“You’ll pay for this,” Kurtz rages.“We all saw you—”
“Do what?When?Where?I was assisting with her injuries.She took a turn for the worse.Terribly sorry.Such things happen.”
I can’t… I can’t…
“She was pregnant.You killed both of them.”
