The Exodus Quest

II

'Murder?' protested Knox. 'What do you mean, murder?'

'I mean exactly what I say,' said Farooq. 'I mean I believe you deliberately killed Omar Tawfiq and tried to make it look like an accident.'

'You must be crazy.'

'Answer me this, Mr Knox. How long have you owned your Jeep?'

'What?'

'Just answer my question, please.'

'I don't know. Ten years.'

'And tell me this. Did it have a passenger-side seat belt?'

'Oh Christ!' muttered Knox. He rocked forward on his chair, looked up at Farooq. 'Is that how he died?'

'And there was a driver's-side seat belt. You knew that, not least because you were wearing it when you were found. So you'd agree, wouldn't you, that if the driver deliberately crashed into a ditch, there'd be every chance he himself would escape with light injuries while his passenger would be very severely injured, maybe even killed?'

Knox shook his head. 'You'd have to be mad to do such a thing.'

'Not mad. Only very highly motivated.'

'What motive could I possibly have had to do that?'

'That's for you to tell me, isn't it?'

'This is crazy,' protested Knox. 'Omar was my friend. I didn't murder him, I swear I didn't.'

'I thought you'd lost your memory,' said Farooq. 'How can you be so sure?'

'Because I'd never do something like that. Ask anyone.'

'We have been asking.'

'Well, then,' said Knox. But he felt a twinge. Who knew for sure what they were capable of under stress? More to the point, who knew what others would say about them?

'I hear you're quite the celebrity in archaeological circles,' said Farooq. 'I hear you can't get enough of the media spotlight.'

'I found myself in it once. That doesn't mean I enjoyed it.'

'It goes to your head, though, doesn't it?' grinned Farooq. 'It brings you alive. And then it goes away again and leaves you feeling empty.'

'Speak for yourself.'

'You know what I think happened?' said Farooq. 'I think you found something yesterday. I think you found it on Peterson's site. I think that's why you went back after dark. I further think that you and Mister Tawfiq argued about what to do next. His colleagues say he was the most scrupulous of men. He'd have insisted on going through the proper channels, reporting it to his secretary general in Cairo. But you couldn't bear that, could you? Everyone tells me you have history with the secretary general, that you can't stand each other. The thought of him getting all that glory, all that attention, when it should rightfully have been yours… It wasn't to be borne, was it? So you decided to silence Omar.'

'That's rubbish.'

Farooq nodded to himself. 'You know what I had to do this morning, Mister Knox? Visit Mister Tawfiq's family; inform them of his death. The very worst part of my job, as I'm sure you'll appreciate. You know much about his family?'

Knox shook his head. 'He never talked about them.'

'Can't say I'm surprised. A respected academic like him.'

'What are you getting at?'

'His father is a very powerful man, Mister Knox,' grunted Farooq. 'His brothers are all very powerful men.'

Knox felt sick. 'You don't mean…?'

'I'm afraid I do. And they're not happy, believe me. They want explanations. I had to tell them you were driving. I had to tell them your Jeep had no passenger-side seat belt.'

'Oh, Christ.'

'They hold you responsible for his death, Mister Knox. And they're dangerous men, I assure you. Not the kind of men to let the death of a son and brother pass without taking certain steps.'

'They're coming after me?'

'You asked why I had you brought in,' said Farooq. 'I wanted to talk to you, yes. But I was also concerned for your safety. This is my city, Mister Knox. I won't have people murdered here. Not even foreigners. Not even killers. But I'll tell you this: I wouldn't be in your shoes, not for anything.'

'I didn't do it,' said Knox weakly.

'You'd do well to get your memory back as soon as possible,' advised Farooq, pushing himself to his feet. 'We'll meet again tomorrow morning. I'd use tonight wisely, if I were you.'