BAMAKO - Aribert Raphael (red queen ebook TXT) 📗

went quickly to open it. She was apprehensive.
As Hassan marched in, she saw the signs of fatigue deeply etch his face.
“Where’s Mohammed?” was the only greeting Talya got. She still had the doorknob in her hand.
“He went back to his room. He said he wanted to talk to you alone.”
“Okay. I’ll go and see him. I’ll be back in a few minutes,” Hassan said gruffly, while marching out and closing the door in her face.


78
Hassan took the stairs down to the floor below and walked to Mohammed’s room. Knowing what Talya had said to Hjamal hurt him more than the discovery he had made about Rheza’s dwindling estate. Mohammed opened the door as if he had been waiting behind it for Hassan’s arrival. “Come in. Let’s sit on the terrace.”
Without a word, Hassan strode to the terrace and sat down in the chair he had occupied the evening before. Mohammed was anxious and went to sit opposite him.
They looked at each other before Mohammed decided to speak. “You’ve told me on the phone that you’ve discovered something about Savoi, and Hjamal using Rheza’s estate. Can you explain what you meant?”
“It’s fairly simple actually. Amadou Savoi helped himself to Rheza’s money, or she willingly gave some of her estate to him, probably thinking this was a good investment.”
“And what can we do about it? Can we recover the money somehow?”
“Yes. You should be able to, but it’s going to be tricky. If she invested into the venture willingly, and, if and when the mine goes into production, she can claim dividends and maybe recover her funds that way.”
“And if she didn’t?”
“Then it’s up to you to see that Savoi does the right thing when he claims dividends.”
“I see.”
“In any case, if Savoi goes to prison for embezzlement, any proceeds from the sale of the mine or its take-over will be returned to the creditors or investors if they wish to recover their funds. I suggest we talk to an investment advisor either here or in Bamako when this is over.”
Mohammed shook his head. “I guess we’ll know better once Rheza’s back. By the way, tell me something: why were you so abrupt with Talya just now?”
“Do you want to know the truth?”
“Of course I do. What a stupid question.”
“I don’t know that you’ll find it stupid once you know what I’m talking about.”
“Don’t beat about the bush—”
“Okay then. Hjamal told me that Talya promised to help him to develop Sabodala. Tell me, how could she do such a thing, when the man is a thief and a felon?”
“Now you’re the one jumping to conclusion. As you’ve said this morning—and I quote, “Listen to Talya…”—and, did you? Obviously you didn’t. You wouldn’t be here if you did.” Mohammed shook his head again. He could not understand why Hassan was so disagreeable.
“I didn’t hear her say she wasn’t going to help him?”
“Of course not, and you won’t.”
“You mean she’s going to help this guy?”
“I don’t know that she will or not, but what I know is that she will only do what is right, even if it hurts for a moment. In the end, you’ll see that she made the right decision in the first place.”
“I’ve got to find out from her what she intends to do. She’s driving me crazy.”
“I can see that. You’re like a bouncing ball that no one can catch. But you know what’s even more worrisome…?”
“No. What?” Hassan’s edginess was lashing.
“You’re getting jealous.”
“Of course I am. I would go to the moon and back for this woman even if she rejected me every day for the rest of my life, but hearing she’s going to lend a hand to a man who’s not even worthy to kiss her feet, is more than I can take.”
“Hassan, you should really calm down. And—”
“I’ve got to go and see her, Mohammed. Sorry. I’ll see you later.” Hassan hurried out without another word.
79
“Well. How’s that for a huff and puff?” Talya said aloud, looking in puzzlement at the closed door. She went to the bar, poured herself a cognac, and carried the soothing drink to the terrace where she sat in one of the lounge chairs. The wind had not abated. If anything, it was getting stronger. She saw some clouds gather on the horizon. Very much in the same way, clouds were gathering at the rim of her thoughts. She watched the birds dancing overhead and soon began drawing a picture in her mind.
Suddenly, a loud knock at the door brought her back from her conjuring thoughts. It sounded more like a banging. That sort of thing doesn’t get Talya out of her seat usually, quite to the contrary in fact. She remained seated and sipped her cognac. The banging became louder. She leisurely ambled to the door. “Who is it?”
“Hassan. Damn it, open this door.” More because she didn’t want to disturb the neighbours than because she wanted to let him in, Talya opened the door and put on the most radiant smile she could find in the recesses of her tired face. He marched in as he did earlier. This time she closed the door and went to stand in front of him in the middle of the living room.
Talya looked up at him. “Hassan, I’d appreciate if you would remember whom you’re talking to when you come in to my home.” Her voice was striking as a crop on a horse’s behind. “I’m not in the habit of responding to loud banging at my door nor am I used to be addressed in the same manner as you do your servants. Now, if you wish to sit down, be my guest. But don’t expect me to kneel at your feet, because I’m not in the mood at the moment.”
She had about as much as she could take for one day, and Hassan’s mood swings didn’t do anything to smooth the edges of her feelings.
Hassan stared at her in surprise as if he were coming out of comatose. “I’m so sorry. Please forgive me. I am tired. Everything I’ve learned this afternoon is quite unnerving for me, to say the least.”
For a moment, Talya thought he was going to take her in his arms. He sat down instead.
“Don’t tell me this was the first time you’ve made such discoveries. After all, you’re a lawyer. You’ve faced détournement of funds before today, I’m sure. That sort of thing shouldn’t affect you that much.”
“No. You’re right it shouldn’t, but it does because it’s hitting close to home, I suppose.”
Talya went to the terrace, grabbed the snifter, drank a little more and went back to sit beside him on the sofa, putting the nearly empty glass on the coffee table. Hassan looked at it but made no comments. She knew he didn’t approve of anyone drinking during the day. However, at this point, Talya didn’t give two hoots about what he thought on the subject.
Hassan had a questioning look in his eyes. Now what? His all attitude was disconcerting.
He said, “When I was in Hjamal’s office he told me a little bit about your discussion this morning. He told me that you promised to help him.” So, our Monsieur Hjamal had been bragging.
“I won’t explain anything of that discussion to you or to anyone for now. I don’t have to, but for the sake of fairness I’ll tell you this: all I’ve said to Hjamal was that ‘I could see us around the same table some day, reviewing the Sabodala project.’ I certainly didn’t promise him anything.”
“He said you’d help him.” Hassan was pleading for some sort of denial from her.
“Please don’t do this.” She paused. “However, since you insist, yes, I did say there was a possibility Carmine would help him.”
“With your recommendation—”
“No. Not mine, not anyone’s, that’s were you’re deluding yourself. Carmine couldn’t help Hjamal, or anyone for that matter, just on my say-so. They would only help if they were satisfied the owner of Sabodala was in possession of all documentation necessary to enter into such a partnership.”
“So, where did he get the idea that you were going to help him?”
“Do you realize that you are doubting my word?” Talya was getting annoyed. “You’re taking Hjamal’s babbling over my explanation of what happened between him and me.”
“No. You haven’t given me any explanation as you call it. You’ve only told me what Hjamal was supposed to understand. And I tell you, he didn’t understand what you meant—none of it.”
Jealousy is a very dangerous feeling and it was raising its ugly head in Hassan’s eyes.
“All right. I won’t go over this again. You believe what you like and whom ever you want to believe, I don’t really care. The discussion I had with Hjamal was a business discussion, and it has no bearing on what may happen next.”
“And pray tell me what should happen next?” He was sneering.
“Can you tell me something?” She sat closer to him. “Are you jealous?”
“What do you think? Of course, I’m jealous and I’m hurt. To think that you’d even contemplate helping a man the likes of Hjamal is beyond me.”
“I’m sorry, but if a misunderstanding should raise barriers between us, such as jealousy, I would have to conclude that your impartiality has gone by the wayside.”
Mixing friendship and business is always dangerous. It’s my fault for letting it go thus far.
“I know, but how could I be impartial when you go around telling Hjamal, of all people, that you’d help him? Tell me, how could I?”
“You know what Mohammed told me this afternoon? He said that you had a one-track mind, and that’s why you were where you are today. You know what else, I believed him. You have a one-track mind and look at where it’s got you now? You keep on repeating what Hjamal told you—out of context, I might add—and you won’t accept what I’m telling you, and the result got you into a fight with me.” Talya let that sink in for a minute while she drank the rest of her cognac. “You’ve got to look further than the tip of your nose.” She shook her head. “You have the tendency to jump to conclusions. In this business, it’s not only awkward but it’s also dangerous. If I said anything to Hjamal that can be construed as giving him my help, let it be. Furthermore, when you’re looking at the big picture, Sabodala is still a very prospective property. Carmine might be interested in pursuing its development with who ever owns it at the time, be it Hjamal or some other individual. Think about it.”
Hassan got up, went behind the bar and poured himself a glass of juice, which he brought back to the table and sat down again, across from Talya this time.
She went on undeterred, “You of all people should know that a deal is not made or broken just because of one man or his wrongdoing. We have a foot in the door here, and the future could be ours if we play by the rules and take the proper steps to stay in the game.”
“I understand