Midnight Runner - Jack Higgins [42]
"You'll have to speak to the commanding officer of the Lifeguards. Bobby has a widowed mother and two sisters at university. They'll have to be told."
"I think the Lifeguards will take care of that."
"You know how long a body lasts out here, Charles, so I'm calling in a favor."
"What is it?"
"If you sent Lacey and Parry here in the Gulfstream, got them out of Farley within the next hour or so, they could make the flight in, say, ten hours. I'll get the right kind of coffin in Hazar, force the documentation through, and they can take him back to London."
"You don't need to ask, Tony." He nodded to Hannah. "Take care of it at once, Superintendent." She hurried out. Ferguson said, "Anything else?"
"Yes. I want you to know you can count on me from now on. There's something out there and I'll do anything I can to find out what it is. Anything I can do to pull her down, I will."
"That's good to know. We'll call and let you know Lacey and Parry's departure time."
Villiers clicked off. The men were waiting. "Right, let's move out," he said, got in beside Achmed, and they drove away.
A bu reached the Rashid Villa at five o'clock in the morning. The houseboy told him the Countess was up and taking a shower. He gave Abu coffee and went to announce his presence to his mistress. She appeared in a house robe at the head of the stairs and, as Abu stood up, Rupert, wearing slacks and khaki bush shirt, joined her.
She came down the stairs, Rupert following. "Your face looks awful. Is it bad?"
"The kiss of a bullet, no more."
"How did this happen?"
He told her, omitting nothing. "I have made bad trouble for you, Countess. The Colonel will not let this go."
"What's done is done." She frowned. "But Villiers will come straight to Hazar with the body. I want you out of here and now. Call at Dr. Yolpi's on the way out of town for treatment, then straight to the Empty Quarter and Shabwa. Wait there until you hear from me."
She held out her hand, he kissed it, then went out without a word. Rupert said, "So now what?"
"I'll get dressed, you pack, and we'll make the airport as fast as possible." She turned to the houseboy, who was hovering. "Have the limousine brought round to the front door."
As they went back upstairs, Rupert said, "Why the rush?"
"I've a nasty feeling where Tony Villiers is concerned. I'd rather not see him at the moment."
"What? Is the hard woman afraid?"
"Go to hell, darling."
Fifteen minutes later, they went downstairs again, Rupert carrying two suitcases. The houseboy opened the door, they walked out and found the five Land Rovers of the Hazar Scouts lined up across the street, all machine guns manned. Tony Villiers stood beside the lead Land Rover, his arms folded.
She hesitated, then came down the steps, Rupert behind her. "Why, Tony, what a surprise."
He didn't beat about the bush. He pointed to the body bag. "I'm sure Abu got here ahead of us. Bobby Hawk is in there. It's not Abu's work, really. It's yours, Kate."
"Is that so? And what do you intend to do about it?"
"I declare jihad on you, Kate Rashid, war to the knife. And I intend to cross the line into the Empty Quarter any time I want."
"I'll look for you there."
"Good. Now get out of here before I shoot you myself."
She hesitated, then got in the limousine with Rupert and drove away. Villiers watched her go, then walked to Achmed and got into the rear of the lead Land Rover.
"So, my friend, take me to the undertaker." Achmed gave the order and they drove away.
OXFORD LONDON
9
O N THE GULFSTREAM, KATE RASHID SAT THINKING, AND Rupert drank black coffee
"It's very unfortunate," he said. "Abu's enthusiasm getting the better of him like that."
"Yes, it's very provoking. Now I may have to deal with Villiers in a way I hadn't intended."
"You mean, if he crosses the line into the Empty Quarter?"
"Yes. I'd have to declare open season on him and the Scouts."
"Why not simply put the word out that they should all leave him, fade away into the night? After all, they're Rashid and you're the boss."
"You still don't get