"He had me come over to tell me about this big operation he had going for Qushmarrah. Just in case. So there'd be somebody to keep it going."
"What was it?"
Carza shook his head. "I can't say. He was firm about that. Don't tell bel- Sidek anything. I'm supposed to take over that one thing and you the rest of the organization. He was right about it but the only way I could show you would be to tell you." Bel-Sidek did not argue. No point. Instead, he decided to define the time gap in which the murder had taken place.
It could have been ten minutes or it could have been thirty. Carza could not be exact about when he had departed. Hadribel arrived looking harassed. "I got messages off to the others," he said. "It's going to be light out soon."
They can be grieving relatives," bel-Sidek said. "We've been setting it up that way." Carza said, "You won't be able to get hold of Zenobel."
"Why not?"
"The old man sent him out ... Hell. No need to keep it secret. You have to deal with the consequences."
Bel-Sidek asked, "What?"
"The new civil governor sent men to throw the widow out of her house so he could have it. The old man sent Zenobel to throw them out."
"Aram! Is that what he calls letting them think we're falling apart?"
"It had to be done."
"I realize that. But ..."
Hadribel beckoned bel-Sidek. "Can I talk to you privately?"
Bel-Sidek left Carza scowling. He did not like being shut out, either. Near the hearth bel-Sidek asked, "What?" While he was there he started a fire for breakfast.
"While I was out rounding up messengers I got a few reports from the street.
The Darters left men in the maze overnight last night. And last night, while we had the traitor out on some sort of exercise, his wife left the house. The man on watch lost her in the fog. In this part of Char Street. A man brought her home later, a few minutes before the traitor returned." "What the devil was he doing?" "I don't know. The old man had me blindfold him and take him up to Scars Comer. Somebody else took him over there. I ran off on other errands."
"We'll talk to the woman. Though she wouldn't seem a likely candidate."
The Witch summoned Torgo from his repose. "I have to see Ishabal bel-Shaduk. Do you know how to reach him?"
"Yes, my lady. But why?"
"I have a commission for him."
"I suspect that Ishabal agrees with Azel. He just doesn't want to argue. He hasn't been around."
"Find him. Tell him he can name his price on this one. It'll be the last."
"My lady?"
"I found him, Torgo! I think. I stumbled right over him in Char Street, while I was out. It's almost over with, Torgo. We're almost there."
Torgo did not seem pleased.
"Three, four more days, Torgo. Things will be back to the way they were. Come. Why so glum?"
"I'm afraid we're doing too much to attract attention to ourselves."
"Foo! I'm surrounded by old women. Get your writing instruments. I'll give you the instructions you're to relay to Ishabal. Then we'll examine the boy theLiving want, just to make sure he wasn't Ala-eh-din Beyh in his lastincarnation."
"Why bother, my lady?"
"Azel will come for him. I don't want him or the Living to suspect what I'veaccomplished on my own. It'll take Ishabal a while, anyway, so I won't lose much time. And once we're sure we have what we need, we won't have any more use for Azel or the Living. Will we?"
She watched Torgo mull that over, begin to smile. "We won't at all. Not at all." "So let's get to work. Get your writing materials."
Aaron left home groggy and distracted, unsure how he felt about Reyha's visit and revelations. He was concerned for Reyha and Zouki, yet resented this ominous certainty that a vortex of events, to which he was indifferent, was sucking him in, making him a blind player in a deadly game where there was no chance he could win or even get out unscarred.
What was all that up around bel-Sidek's place? Comings and goings like he'd never seen.
He turned uphill instead of heading for the harbor.
Bel-Sidek's door stood open. He paused on the threshold, not quite sure what he was doing there or if his interest would be welcome.
Bel-Sidek saw him and limped to the doorway. "Yes, Aaron?"
"I saw all the people. I thought ... Is it your father?"
"Yes. During the night.
"I'm sorry. I really am."
"It isn't like it was a surprise. Maybe it was a blessing. He had to live with a lot of pain." "Maybe. Is there anything I can do? Could Laella and her mother come up and help?"
"No. No, Aaron. We'll manage. Thanks for offering."
"I'm sorry," Aaron said again. "Well, I guess I'd better get to work."
"Yes. Thanks again. Oh. Aaron. Did Naszifs wife drop in on you last night?"
"No." He answered immediately, surprising himself. He walked away before there were any more questions, wondering if he had been protecting Reyha or himself.
Only when he was halfway down the hill did he realize that he should have stood his ground long enough to find out why bel-Sidek had asked. General Cado dressed while Colonel Bruda reported his midnight visit from Vice-Colonel bar bel-Abek. "Did he seem rational? I wouldn't want to waste him. Should we pull him out whether he wants it or not?" "He was completely self-possessed. And quite determined. I don't think he's at risk as long as they think they control him. Leave him where he is. They might get overconfident and let him close to something they shouldn't." Cado grunted. "Time to see Sullo off to his new country home. Let's talk on the way. Did you look into the kidnapping?"
"I did. If it weren't that it's being used against our man, it would be just another of a rash of similar crimes."
Cado descended a stair without speaking, headed toward his work office. "A
rash? Of kidnappings?" "More than thirty in the last six weeks."
"The Living twisting arms?"