Chapter 11
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Chapter 11“Good evening, James, this is Khalid.”
Since my camera and listening devices in Khalid’s suite and phone in Paris were directly connected to the internet communications, I was able to hear Khalid’s conversation with James.
“Khalid, how good of you to call. I had been wondering how you were doing. How’s Paris? Have they caught up with Osnoir yet?” The questions were tumbling down the line. James’s impatience to receive the latest news from the ‘two love birds’, as Terry called them, was obvious.
“I am fine, James, but I needed to ring you in order to advise you that Talya has gone on her own once again...”
“What?” James exploded over the line. “Has she gone totally mad?”
“I don’t think that’s the reason for her escape. I think she’s gone after the head of the drug cartel in Florida.”
“You’re joking, of course.”
“When it comes to Talya, James, I don’t joke.”
“I know, I know and I’m sorry. I didn’t mean to be offensive, but this is quite unbelievable.”
“On the contrary, I should say this move was predictable. Do you remember when she first learned of Rheza’s death and the attack on Hassan and Mohammed? At that time, already, she had in mind to go for the head of the pack.”
“Yes, I remember. In fact, she mentioned something about it when we talked on the phone that night.”
“Yes. And now I believe that she’s made her intentions a reality.”
“Are you going after her?”
“No. I have decided not to pursue her this time.”
The line went dead for several seconds.
“Why not? Miami is on the way to Sinosetu, isn’t it?” James asked.
“Yes it is, but I won’t stop over in Miami. I will choose another airport to do the refueling and I will be in Sinosetu, as arranged, at the end of the week.”
“Alright then. Wouldn’t you at least consider getting a message to her?” James was trying to smooth the roughness of Khalid’s determination and to ease the distress he was hearing in the man’s voice.
“No, James, and that’s final. If you want me to resign...” Khalid sounded past the upset stage.
“Not at all, Khalid, we need your cooperation in flying the work teams in and out of our properties as we discussed, and that will never change no matter what happens between you and Talya.”
“I won’t comment on that now, James. I’ll only say that this pilot is back on your payroll and I’ll see you in Vancouver in about ten days’ time.”
“Good. I’ll inform Terry of your schedule and he should be able to be in Cayenne in two days. Louis will contact you in Paris before you leave to let you know why and how we intend to seal the Sinosetu site.”
“Very well; I’ll expect his call.”
Khalid was still sitting by the window, when he heard a knock at the door.
“May I come in?” Mark asked apologetically.
“You might as well,” Khalid said, moving away from the doorway.
“Where is Talya?” Mark’s eyes roved around the room.
“She’s left last night,” Khalid said, closing the door.
“And why are you still here?” Mark lashed out. “Don’t tell me. She’s gone and you’re not going after her.”
I had noticed this before; Mark seemed to know the prince and Talya as well as he would the back of his hand.
“You have answered your question correctly, my dear Mark. Now what can I do for you? Aren’t you supposed to leave for Cannes today?”
“Yes, I’m booked on this afternoon’s flight, but why? Why aren’t you following her?”
“Because, she doesn’t want me to follow her for one thing, and I want, no, I need to know if she really cares for me or if she’s just used me.”
“Khalid Saif Al-Fadir, you’re an i***t!”
Khalid had to smile at this insulting remark.
“And pray tell, why, in your opinion, am I an i***t?”
“Because Talya is in love with you, and you know it as well as I do.” Khalid hung his head and shook it. He knew all too well that Talya was not in love with him. “But you’re as stubborn as a mule,” Mark went on, “and since you obviously didn’t speak to her last night, she’s hurt and she did exactly what you should have expected she’d do; she’s left to deal with this on her own.”
“All right, Mr. Psychiatrist, tell me then why I should go after her when she wants to deal with this on her own, as you’ve pointed out?” Khalid was sneering.
“Because, if you are in love with her you two should be together and you should understand her dilemma.”
“And what dilemma would that be?”
“Khalid, don’t play games. You know exactly what I mean. When I met Talya in Sabodala, you’ve been the one who told me that she had vengeance in her heart and that she would be doing away with anyone who would try to stop her. If you think things have changed since then, you’re wrong. Nothing has changed. She knows I’ll get rid of Osnoir; she actually counts on me to make that happen. And now that the pawn is practically out of the way, she’s going after the king.”
“And do you know who this king is? Not that I am particularly interested, since I haven’t changed my mind to follow Talya in this latest pursuit.”
“All I can tell you is that CSIS has its eye on two men. One of them could be our target. His name is Ben Slimane.”
“Why would he be the preferred choice?”
“I see that the shock of Talya’s latest evasion has blurred your deductive powers.”
“I can assure you that much more than my deductive powers have been blurred by Talya’s departure. But I’m not ready to get a lecture on my recent behavioral changes; I want answers, Mark.” Khalid was getting impatient.
“All right, Ben Slimane is not only this man’s name but it is the name of a town near Casablanca. And...”
“And Osnoir resided in Casablanca for many years before retiring in Paris...”
“Exactly. And, do I think Talya knows about this guy? Yes, because I think she must have seen the name mentioned on the police report that Sir Gillian handed to her when she first made light of the trafficking scheme in West Africa. And that name would be the only reason she would have gone to Florida without ferreting out other information from anyone.”
“Good. Now that we have settled the question as to who Talya is after, I’ll show you something and you tell me what you make of it.” Matching words to action, Khalid retrieved Talya’s note from his breast pocket and handed it to Mark.
I didn't see any reason for me to continue listening to their conversation. I wanted to get back to Miami. If CSIS knew the name I had adopted at the outset – Ben Slimane – I had to get my guys ready to meet Talya whenever she decided to get down to Florida, as I knew she would. On second thought, I considered it a very good idea to observe Talya for a couple of days. I might have learned something else about her intentions. Who knew?
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