Midnight Runner - Jack Higgins [31]
Carver glared as he walked out, and as Villiers stood, he realized Abdul was carefully cleaning a glass-topped table close to the open French door. He'd obviously heard every word.
"Another lager, Colonel?"
"No, thanks." Villiers smiled. "I'll be down for dinner later," and he walked out.
H e had a long hot shower to get really clean, then relaxed in a tepid bath for half an hour, thinking about things, particularly his encounter with Ben Carver. A good man, Ben, DFC in the Gulf War, but with an eye to his bank account. He wouldn't want to rock the boat, especially the Rashid boat. There were certain things Villiers could take for granted about Kate Rashid, though. She would stay at the Rashid Villa in the old quarter, a Moorish palace. At some stage, she would proceed to Shabwa Oasis by helicopter. And she would dine at the Excelsior restaurant that night, because she always did.
Evening was falling, orange streaks coloring the horizon beyond the harbor. He toweled his long hair vigorously, remembering his years with the SAS, when you were never sure what would happen next, when if you'd suddenly have to assume a civilian identity, an Army haircut wouldn't do. All that Irish time that would never go away.
As he stood at the mirror combing his hair, he thought about how to handle dinner, then decided to go all the way: no linen suit tonight, something to impress. He took a tropical uniform from the wardrobe, khaki slacks and bush shirt, the medal ribbons making a brave show. He held it up and smiled. That would do nicely.
R upert was much impressed with the Rashid Villa. He stood in the great hall, looking up at the vaulted ceiling. There were wonderful rugs scattered on the marble floor, Arab antiques on every hand, and the walls were painted with frescoes.
"This is really quite a show."
"Thank you, darling. There are offices at the back, computers, the full Monty. This is headquarters for Rashid Investments in Hazar and the whole of Southern Arabia."
The head houseboy, who had greeted them at the great copper door, said, "Abdul, from the Excelsior, has been waiting to see you, Countess."
"Where is he?"
"With Abu."
Abu was her body servant, a fierce Bedu warrior from Shabwa Oasis. He was always there to greet her when she arrived in Hazar and stayed at her side for the length of the trip.
"We'll have tea and coffee on the terrace. Bring him to me."
She led the way up marble stairs, Rupert following, passed along an airy corridor, and came out on a wide terrace, the awning flapping in the early evening breeze. The view was stupendous, for they were high up above the rooftops.
"Magnificent." Rupert sat down and offered her a cigarette.
"It'll be dark soon. Dusk doesn't last long here," Kate said.
Behind them, Abdul was ushered in by Abu, who was tall and bearded with a hard face, and wore a white head cloth and robe.
"Abu, it is good to see you," she told him in Arabic.
He smiled, a thing he rarely did, and salaamed. "And for me to see you, Countess, is a blessing as always. This creature wishes to see you."
"Then let him speak." She said to Rupert, "Abdul is the barman at the Excelsior."
"Countess, I have news," Abdul said in Arabic.
"English, please, my cousin has no Arabic."
"Colonel Villiers came in from the border earlier this afternoon. Two Land Rovers and seven Scouts. He was ambushed when they halted at the pool at Hama. One of his men was shot dead. Omar. There was a sniper on the cliffs."
The houseboy came in with the tea and coffee, served it unobtrusively, and withdrew.
Kate Rashid said, "How do you know this?"
Abdul shrugged. "The Scouts are in the bazaar and they've been talking."
She nodded. "Is Villiers Sahb eating at the hotel tonight?"
"Yes, Countess, but I have more. The colonel was drinking lager on the terrace and Mr. Carver joined him. I managed to hear their conversation."
She turned to Rupert. "Ben Carver is an old RAF hand who runs air taxis out of Hamam. He does