BAMAKO - Aribert Raphael (red queen ebook TXT) 📗

you’d be thirsty.”
She served everyone their drinks and saw Hassan pull a little canister of pills from his pocket—quinine.
She sat down again and took up where she’d left off. “I would say that by now, Monsieur Hjamal has been advised that I’m in Dakar.” Talya took a sip of her juice and went on, “As to what I plan to do next, I have not decided yet. Several factors will be influencing my approach. First, where is the Dutchman? The man was supposed to contact me days ago. Second, Monsieur Hjamal knows where Rheza McLean and Savoi are, I’m sure of it. I didn’t have time to find out if they were anywhere near the plant when I was there. Or, and I hate to think of this alternative, they’re both in collusion with Hjamal or even being blackmailed into participating in his scheme.”
Mohammed understood the meaning of that last suggestion. He nodded with a rueful look in his eyes.
“Third, I’ll have to face Hjamal and this Rasheed character fairly soon I suspect. Lastly, as soon as the authorities in Bamako have advised the Dakar police that I’ve skipped town, I should expect to be questioned as a witness, because, remember, we have a murder in our hands.”
Samir had been intent on Talya’s every word. He now sat up and looked at the three of them in turn. “Madame Kartz, I thank you for providing me with the many pieces of this puzzle. I’m not sure yet as to how I may be able to assist the three of you to clear up this mess. However, when I accepted to bring Hassan and Monsieur Fade to Dakar, I became involved.” Directing his comments to Hassan in particular, he went on, “Leaving you now would be offensive to Allah, and really that isn’t something I’m in a habit of consciously doing.”
“Samir,” Hassan said, “you have a business to run. Maybe you should return to Bamako as early as it’s suitable for you to fly?”
“I appreciate your concern, Hassan, but how could I miss all this fun? I have an idea I’ll enjoy this little interlude very much indeed.” They all chuckled. Samir had a warped sense of humour, Talya decided. He also had a way of making everyone feel at ease.
“How would you propose to assist us then?”
“Monsieur Fade, to answer your query adequately, I need time to reflect and pray for guidance. We are in an oasis now. It is proper therefore, to account for the past and to plan for the future.”
Turning to Talya once more, he rose. “If you’ll permit me, Madame, I will now retire to my room to meditate on this most interesting quandary.”
Talya got up, indicating her assent for him to leave. “Once again, please accept my gratitude for everything you’ve done so far. The desert will be kind to you. It will open the routes of your future, I’m sure.” Talya was grateful for remembering some of her father’s teachings.
Mohammed, in the meantime, had extricated himself from his comfortable chair and was visibly preparing to take his leave as well. “It was a great relief to see you’re safe and sound,” he said. “Now, if you will allow me, I’ll do the same and go to my room. I’m sure Hassan needs some time alone with you right now.” He winked and flashed a smile at Hassan.
The latter took his friend by the arm, and escorted both men to the door. Speaking in Bambara, Talya couldn’t understand anything of what they said.
Hassan then returned to the living room to face her. “I have something to ask you…. Would you promise me never to do this again…?”
“Hassan, I…”
“Let me, please. I know my attitude hasn’t been the best. I also know you had to leave Bamako. However, as your friend, I think I deserved better than a letter telling me to stay in bed while you were preparing to confront a murderer in a game of chess, as you put it.”
“What did you want me to do?” Talya asked. “You were fighting the onslaught of malaria. You were delirious at the best of times. How could I come to you and tell you what I was planning to do?”
“I understand that, believe me, but you wrote, and I quote: “please don’t follow me.” How could you expect me to abide by that plea? You knew very well I would do exactly the opposite.” He smiled. “You did, didn’t you?”
“Yes, I did,” Talya mumbled, lowering her eyes. She had to admit it. She had lured Hassan into following her, and she was pleased to have done so.
As if reading her thoughts, Hassan said, “And, to top it off, you seemed to be delighted with the results. I’m here aren’t I?”
Questions were racing through Talya’s mind: How could I feel the way I do about him? What is happening to me?
He looked down at her. “And now, would you promise me never to do the gallivanting alone anymore?”
“I will, or is it I won’t? I promise.”
“Either will do, as long as you never do it again.” They both laughed.
A knock at the door brought them out of their little bantering. Talya went to open it. Standing on the threshold, Pierre and John looked embarrassed. She invited them in.
“Is it time for dinner already? I thought you were going to ring me.”
As they walked in, they saw Hassan. He was standing by the window.
“I’m sorry. I didn’t realize you had a visitor…,” Pierre said.
“Don’t worry, this is a friend. He’s my solicitor.” Turning to him, Talya called, “Maitre Sangor…?” Hassan turned and walked toward the two men.
“May I introduce Pierre Masson, and John, whose last name I don’t know; the two people who brought me to Dakar.”
“Gentlemen, I’m pleased to meet you,” Hassan replied, extending a hand, “I was glad to hear you’d rescued Madame Kartz from Sabodala and brought her to her intended destination.” The men shook hands.
Pierre smiled. “But it wasn’t all our doing actually. I didn’t like the way we had dropped her off and left her to go to the mine without a proper escort. And it’s actually Monsieur Hjamal who told me to get a vehicle and get her back from the mine site.”
“Did he give you any reason for asking to bring Madame Kartz back from the mine?” Hassan asked.
“No, he only sounded surprised that Monsieur Rasheed didn’t come to meet her when we landed. He said he was going to find out where he was.”
“You mean he doesn’t know where Monsieur Rasheed is? I find that hard to believe,” Talya said. She then extended an arm toward the living room. “But let’s not stand here. Come in and have a seat….”
“Thank you,” John said, speaking for the first time since entering the room.
They sat opposite Hassan and Talya.
“Would you like a drink?” She noticed they looked quizzically at the four nearly empty glasses on the table.
“No-no, Madame Kartz, we’re fine. Thank you.”
“Well, tell us what’s happening then. Have you been able to get in touch with your company and what did your boss have to say?”
Pierre began, hesitating, “It’s a complicated situation for us. Our contract runs out in three weeks’ time. Monsieur Hjamal owes us some money, or I should say he owes the company. So, legally we could stop providing air services as of tonight.”
“But... There must be a but?”
“Oh, yes, there is a but, Madame Kartz. Although we followed Monsieur Hjamal’s instructions, we should have left you at the mine site….”
“But you called him…,” Talya cut in. “And he’s the one who told you to bring me back…?”
“Yes, he did. But now our boss doesn’t want to continue working for him.”
“So…, I don’t see the problem…,” Hassan said.
“But, Maitre, we accepted to follow his instructions even after we knew he was a suspect in a murder case—”
“And that could be construed as you two—and your company—being accessory after the fact or even conspiring in a planned abduction.”
“Yes, Maitre, that’s exactly what our boss said.”
“Alright then…, let me ask you this: when did Madame Kartz tell you Monsieur Hjamal was involved in a murder case? Was it before or after you were at the mine site?”
John and Pierre looked at each other. “It was after we took off from Kedougou,” Pierre replied.
“Well then, you have nothing to worry about. You had no knowledge of Monsieur Hjamal’s involvement before the aborted abduction happened. No one could accuse you or your company of any wrong doing at this juncture.”
The pilot and navigator appeared quite relieved now. “I should think our attorney would see things the same way you do, Maitre, but our boss will only be happy when the money owed to the company, is paid in full.”
“Of course, that’s what you’d expect from any business man. But you need to tell your boss he’ll never see any money, unless he fights for it. Regrettably, it seems to be the way Monsieur Hjamal operates.”
“Yes, I’ve no doubt of it,” Pierre rejoined. “When I talked to Monsieur Hjamal this afternoon, he said he wouldn’t pay a cent of the money owed unless we take him to Paris next week, supposedly to meet with his banker. He’s even threatened to take us to court.” Pierre nodded almost imperceptibly. “Can I ask you to do us a favour, Maitre?”
“Sure, anything. Since you brought Madame Kartz to safety, how could I refuse?”
“Well, if you could, would you come to my room and make the call with us. I think Jack—that’s our boss—needs to hear all this from you. We’re only two pilots and we don’t usually get involved with such things.”
“Of course, I’ll be glad to do it.”
“Madame Kartz, I’m sorry … we’re sorry,” John began to say.
“Please don’t be,” Talya said, waving a dismissive hand.

65
Not five minutes had elapsed since Hassan and the two pilots had left when Talya heard the expected knock, more like a loud banging. The man is in no mood to be kept waiting. However, Talya let him brew for a few seconds. Standing in the passage, she could hear her guest growling and muttering to someone beside him, probably his acolyte. When she decided they had lingered long enough in the hotel corridor, Talya flung the door wide open.
“You remember us, don’t you? Hjamal said by way of greetings. “May we come in?”
“Please do, gentlemen, I was expecting you.”
Monsieur Ahmed Hjamal was dressed in a powder blue ‘grand-bou-bou’ and matching mishlah, embroidered around the neckline, and sleeves trimmed in the same way—the traditional West African Muslim gown worn on prayer day. He must have gone to the mosque and pray. For what, I wonder. His face was drawn while the furrowed scars on his cheek deepened the tiredness in his eyes. None of the charm or the timidity Talya had seen in Vancouver remained in the man’s attitude today, only aggressiveness.
Abdul Rasheed, in his thousand-dollar suit, was at his Master’s heels. The dog’s body is here to wag the tail of the donkey. His face was sweating. He looked uncomfortable.
They marched in and sat on the