The Exodus Quest

FIFTY-ONE
I

Claire's cell-door banged open and Augustin burst in, closely followed by a short, slim man in a beautifully cut charcoal-grey suit. 'Have you told them anything?' asked Augustin.

'No.' It had been close, though. She'd been on the verge of opening up to Hosni when Farooq had returned, bringing confrontation back with him. Hosni had rolled his eyes in despair, had even allowed himself a complicit smile at Claire, both aware of just how close he'd got.

'Good girl,' exulted Augustin, planting a kiss on her forehead. But then he took a step back, as though worried about overstepping his bounds. 'I only mean, it's important you take proper legal advice first.'

'Of course,' she agreed.

'Great. Then come with me.'

'I can go?'

Augustin nodded at his companion. 'This is Mister Nafeez Zidan, Alexandria's finest lawyer. I've had to use him once or twice myself. You know how it is. He's made the arrangements. You're free to leave, as long as you agree to come back tomorrow afternoon. That's okay, yes?'

'You'll come with me?'

'Of course. And Nafeez too.'

'Then it's fine,' she said. She turned to Nafeez. 'Thank you so much.'

'The pleasure is mine,' said Nafeez.

She clung to Augustin's arm as he led her out towards the lobby. Suddenly, she couldn't get away fast enough. 'We had to agree to certain conditions to gain your release, I'm afraid,' he told her. 'The important thing was to get you out tonight.'

'What conditions?'

'For one thing, your passport has been confiscated and won't be returned until the investigators are satisfied.' He opened the front door for her, then led her down the front steps and opened the back door of Mansoor's car which was waiting at the foot. 'I've also had to assure them you won't try to leave the country before then.'

'I won't,' she promised, climbing inside. 'But how long will it all take?'

'It won't be quick,' admitted Augustin, sliding in beside her. 'Things in Egypt rarely are.' He took her hand in both his, gave it a reassuring press. 'But you mustn't worry. It's going to work out fine. Mansoor and I have worked out a story that-'

'Ay, ay, ay, ay, ay!' protested Nafeez from the front, covering his ears. 'I can't hear this. I'm a lawyer.'

'Forgive me, my friend,' laughed Augustin. He turned back to Claire. 'Just trust me. It's going to be fine. It's who you know in Egypt that counts. Usually I hate that about this place. Tonight I welcome it. Because I know a lot of people, Claire. A lot of connected, powerful people. I'll call them all if I have to.'

'Thank you,' she said.

'I've made some other commitments on your behalf. I've undertaken to be personally responsible for making sure you show up for all interviews and court appearances, should it come to that, which it won't. But I'm afraid that means you're going to have to stay as my guest for the time being.'

'Won't I get in your way?'

'Of course not. It'll be my pleasure.'

She glanced down at her hand, still pressed between both his. He realized what must be going through her mind, blushed furiously, let go of her hand, shifted away along the back seat. 'No!' he protested. 'It won't be like that at all, I promise you. You'll have your own bedroom. At least, it'll be my bedroom, but I won't be in there with you, I'll be on the couch in the living room, I'll just grab a blanket and a pillow, I've slept there before, it's fine, it's comfortable, much more comfortable than the bed actually, I don't know why I don't sleep on it all the time, anyway you'll be completely safe, that's the point, I give you my word.'

He broke off his schoolboy blathering, drew a deep breath, looked directly into her eyes to see if she'd bought it, evidently came to the conclusion that he still needed to give it one last push. 'Honestly, Claire,' he insisted, 'I'd never dream of taking advantage of you like that, not after everything you've just risked for me.'

There was a heartbeat of silence.

A second heartbeat.

'Oh,' she said.