Thieves Fall Out (16 page)

* * *

When he got back to the hotel he found that Anna was out, shopping in the town, but she would be back in time for dinner, according to the manager, that master of misinformation. Idly Pete strolled out into the garden at the back of the hotel. Under the trees was a certain coolness, for which he was grateful. He sat on a bench in the shade and looked west toward the river.

Boats with red sails tacked across the snake-gray water. A flight of birds crossed the blazing sun. For a moment he was at peace, all thought of trouble gone in the warm green silence of the garden. He shut his eyes and dreamed of Anna, of the life they would have together in the States. He saw a house, children in the vague background. But he saw no job, and thinking of that, he opened his eyes again, frowning slightly. Would they really give him a part of the proceeds from the necklace? He could feel the weight of the jewels against his side. They were his if he wanted them, if he had the nerve to double-cross Said and Hélène. He put this out of his mind. There were rules even for those who lived outside the law. He could break the laws of Egypt, of the United States, but he could not break those laws that demanded that partners in desperate adventures play it straight with one another.

But why was he a partner in this scheme? Why had they asked him to do what they themselves could obviously have done better? Said’s reasons had been good, but not good enough. He wondered if perhaps they were testing him and, if so, for what?

Then he remembered what Said had said about Anna and he grew suddenly cold at the thought. Was it possible she wanted the necklace? Was it possible that all her words of love had been false? A means to an end? Even while he considered this possibility, he knew instinctively that Anna was his. At the worst, she was being controlled by others. He thought back over all that she had said and left unsaid about her situation in Egypt. But no matter how hard he tried, he could make no real sense of it. She was involved, some way or other, with the government and the King. She was not free to do as she pleased and she was also very likely under the surveillance of the police. The simple explanation that she was the King’s mistress and he was keeping an eye on her did not explain the apparent freedom with which she had behaved here in Luxor; then, too, he believed her when she told him there had been nothing between her and the King. The mystery of her behavior was impenetrable. All that he could believe in, finally, was her love.

Mohammed Ali appeared in the French window of the dining room and looked about him. Pete wondered whether or not he should light out, avoiding a meeting with the eager Inspector, but he was spotted before he could hide.

The policeman was as cordial as ever. “Feeling better?” he asked, sitting down uninvited beside Pete.

“I’m all right.” Pete moved to the far end of the bench.

“I’m glad. I have been looking for you all afternoon. I supposed you were at Said Pasha’s, and of course I didn’t want to interrupt your conference.”

“You did once before.”

“Exactly, and for that reason I shouldn’t like to do it again. I have the highest respect for Said Pasha. He is one of the great men of Egypt.”

Pete did not bother to ask why Said was great; instead he asked why Mohammed Ali wanted to see him.

“We wished to know if you cared to file a report concerning your—misadventure across the river. If so, I will be happy to make it out for you.”

“No report.”

“As you wish. They are a nuisance, but the law says they must be made, if the victim wishes.”

“Well, the victim doesn’t wish any more trouble than he has already.”

“You did see Said?” The look Mohammed Ali gave him was sharp as a knife.

“I thought you knew everything I did.”

“Almost everything.” The Inspector chuckled, became relaxed again. “But that is no business of mine. You are quite right.”

“When I get the necklace I’ll let you know,” said Pete.

“I hope I won’t need to be told,” said Mohammed Ali pleasantly, and Pete felt the necklace burning under is arm like hot coals. The garden became for all its green shade, as close and stifling as a Turkish bath.

“Won’t Said let you know?” Pete played innocent. “I sort of gathered that you were working close with him and Hélène.”

“I am, but that doesn’t mean that we necessarily operate in an atmosphere of—what shall I say?—mutual trust. For some reason, after all our years of doing business together, they have decided that I might trick them. Don’t deny it. I know. But Said is a suspicious man and I understand quite well why he should be suspicious. The necklace is of great value and there are at least a dozen people in Egypt at this moment who would risk anything to have it.”

“And who know that I’m going to be the one who carries it from Luxor to Cairo?”

Mohammed Ali shrugged. “How much the others suspect I do not know, though I can guess.”

“For somebody who once told me he knew everything that was going on in Egypt, you seem to be awfully uninformed.”

“Perhaps.” The Inspector was unruffled. “The others know Said has the necklace. I am not sure how many suspect your role in all this. How could they know when even you and I don’t know what you are supposed to do?”

“What do you mean by that?”

“Exactly what I say. I have known Said Pasha for many years. He is perhaps the cleverest man in Egypt. He never will do what you think he is going to do. I will admit to you frankly that he does many things that not even I know about until they are done. He does one thing with the right hand and, while you watch him, he accomplishes what he wants with the left hand, swiftly, secretly.”

For the first time Mohammed Ali had said something that Pete could believe. “I’m sure of that. Even so, why would be bother having me up here all this time, paying me a salary, if he intended to give the necklace to somebody else to carry?”

“Allah knows,” said the Inspector with a sigh. “One thing I am certain of: You will never be taken into his confidence, nor will I.”

“And this makes us buddies?”

Mohammed Ali smiled. “Not exactly, but we are both involved in his plans. I am his cover in the police. You are his courier. He uses us both in his own way, and there is an excellent chance that we will never know precisely
how
he has used us. He is afraid I will steal the necklace. Don’t deny that, Mr. Wells. I know and you know he is disturbed. As a matter of fact, between us, I am flattered. Imagine the remarkable Said Pasha considering
me
as dangerous to his plans! You have no idea how that pleases me.”

“I can guess,” said Pete, amused by the other’s performance.

“I am sure you can.” Pete’s irony was ignored. “But I am cautious, too. I should not care to cross Said any more than he would care to cross me. We are cellmated.”

“You mean stalemated.” Pete thought the slip significant.

“Yes, stalemated. I sometimes miss the unusual words in your language. Did I ever tell you that I was educated in the American College at Beirut?”

Pete said that this was news to him and indicated that it was about all the news he was willing to hear from the Inspector, concerning his private life, anyway.

Mohammed Ali did not pursue the subject. “There are times when I feel you dislike me,” he said, almost petulantly.

“I don’t dislike you. I just don’t trust you as far as I can see you.”

“And I have tried to be candid with you. It is very discouraging.”

“Candid about what?”

“About our situation, yours and mine. We are both being used by Said Pasha. You must admit that that is a bond.”

“So?”

“I wish to repeat only what I requested on the occasion of our first meeting in Luxor, in your room: Let me know when Said gives you the necklace.”

Pete laughed. “So that you can take it away from me?”

“I would hardly do that. In the first place, I am sure that you will be an intelligent and tough custodian, and in the second place, Said is already suspicious of me and I should not like to make an enemy of him.”

“Is he that powerful?”

“He is more powerful than you will ever know, my friend.”

“Then what’s to keep you from turning me over to the police when you know that I have the jewels?”

Mohammed Ali smiled. “If I did that, Said would have my head. I anticipate a long and easy life. To cross Said in Egypt would mean the end of ease and probably of life.”

Pete was about to remark that the policeman, if he stole the necklace, could probably get out of Egypt altogether and live contentedly on the loot, endangered perhaps by the international organization to which Said claimed to belong but relatively safe if he was clever. Pete pretended, however, to accept this particular line. It was a considerable advantage to have Mohammed Ali believe he was a fool and not on guard.

“I see your point,” said Pete slowly. “I don’t suppose it will do any harm if you know. I haven’t been instructed one way or the other about you. As far as I know, I’m to get the necklace tomorrow and leave for Cairo on the evening train. Then I report to the Countess. Beyond that, I know nothing.”

It worked. The Inspector was noticeably relieved, “Good. That is what I thought. Meanwhile, beware of the others.”

“What others?”

“Don’t you really know?” Mohammed Ali looked at him curiously. “Haven’t you suspected?”

“Suspected who?”

“Anna Mueller.”

Pete had a sudden inspiration. Could it be that Said and the Inspector were working together? It was too much of a coincidence that both should warn him against Anna in the same way and on the same day. “What makes you think she wants it?”

“Ask her about her friend Le Mouche.” And though Pete questioned him further he could get no more out of him.

Anna reappeared at five, flushed from her trip in the hot sun to the town. She had several small packages, which Pete took as she entered the lobby. “I’m worn out,” she said as they walked to her room, the manager pretending not to watch them.

When they got to the room, Pete told her that Mohammed Ali was hot on his trail. He didn’t explain why and she didn’t ask. “We’ve got to get out of here, baby. To Cairo. Tonight.”

“But—well, I mean are you sure it won’t be all right to stay over another day?”

He shook his head. “Not if I want to stay alive.”

She looked at him seriously for a moment; then: “In that case we must go.”

He was suddenly glad. There had been no hesitation. Whatever her plans were, she had been willing to change them for him. “What’s the best way of getting to Cairo without that policeman finding out?”

She thought a moment. “Fly, I think.”

“Is there a scheduled flight tonight?”

She shook her head. “You can charter a plane. It’s not too expensive. Many people do it all the time. It’s quick and in this country many places are difficult to reach. I flew here myself. I’ll see if I can find the pilot’s name.” While she looked for it, Pete went to his own room and packed, leaving the Stanley Hotel as a forwarding address. The manager would undoubtedly be upset to have a guest depart without paying his bill, but Pete could take no chances; he didn’t want it known he was going.

Anna was talking German over the phone when he returned with his suitcase. After a quick sentence or two, she hung up. “A countryman,” she smiled. “The same who flew me here.”

“Will he take us?”

She nodded. “He’ll be ready at the airport in an hour.”

“Good girl.” He took her in his arms briefly and kissed her.

He helped her pack and then they slipped over the balcony into the garden of the hotel and, undetected, crossed a grove of trees to the street beyond, where carriages waited. It was not until they were almost to the airport that Pete asked her about Le Mouche.

But all she said was: “I’ll tell you when I can, Peter, but not now. Don’t ask me now.”

Long before dawn they were circling over the golden lights of the old city, but by the time they got from the airport to the hotel, the moon had set and dawn lingered fresh in the air. To his surprise and pleasure, she agreed to go with him to the Stanley.

Shortly before noon they awakened, ordered coffee in the room, and then, while Anna sat at a dressing table arranging her long hair in the glass, they talked for the first time of why Pete had gone to Luxor, of his criminal mission.

“I think I knew from the beginning,” she said thoughtfully. He sat on the bed opposite her, wearing only his trousers, his bare toes making designs on the cool tile floor.

“Well, I thought since we’ve come this far together, you ought to know the whole thing.” He was a little surprised at himself; he had not intended to tell her anything. He had been warned and, as a cautious man, he should have told her no more than he had to. It was to her credit that she had never asked him, even when it had been more than obvious that he was involved in some elaborate game.

“You have it now, this necklace?”

He nodded, but he did not tell her where it was.

“Then turn it over to that woman, Peter.” She spoke urgently, looking at his reflection in the mirror.

“What do you mean?”

“Get rid of it. Tell her you won’t go through with this insane business. Tell her that.” She turned and faced him, her face serious. “Peter, you will be killed for that necklace. I know it. I feel it. They are clever and cold, cold as death. They won’t give you a chance in the world to live, if only because you know too much about them all. Say you’ll refuse to go on with this, please…for my sake.” There was no mistaking the sincerity of her appeal; he was glad he had told her at last.

“But I can’t, baby. As you say, I already know too much, and on top of that, having gone through so much already for the damned thing, I don’t want to lose out on the final sale.”

“You
will
lose out anyway, Peter,” she said emptily. “It may be too late already.”

“Well, if it is, then there’s nothing to be done anyway.”

She shook her head fiercely. “No, don’t say that! We must try to survive. Sometimes it looks hopeless, like a terrible web, but if we are strong enough we can get loose. I am so tired of being helpless, Peter. I am so tired of being pushed this way and that by the killers. And that’s what they are, the whole vicious lot of them.” And she began to sob. He took her in his arms and they sat side by side for several minutes while she recovered.