Page 64 of Kiss Her Goodbye
BY THE TIMEDARYL ANDI climb back into the car, I’m a hot, demoralized mess.It’s only threeP.M.and I can’t believe everything that’s happened.Good news, we discovered where Sabera has been hiding out.Bad news, she appears to be long gone, while leaving yet another puzzle behind.
First Zahra had supplied “a lock to a key for a key that has no lock.”Now Sabera had added, “Beauty is power; I am her sword.”
I’m a person who doesn’t even like crossword puzzles.What am I supposed to do with brain teasers?
At least Daryl had been productive today, arranging for the delivery of furniture to Ashley the housing coordinator.Though what it means when outfitting a murder unit is the highlight of your day is beyond me.
“Daryl,” I state.
He glances at me in the rearview mirror, my cue to speak.
“Walk through this with me.Something happened three weeks ago, causing Sabera Ahmadi to take off.She disappears until justthe other day, when she reappears at a crime scene where two of her countrymen are brained to death.Do we think she’s a witness, perpetrator, or possible fellow victim?”
He shrugs.
“Exactly.Okay, so what else do we got?She’s been disappearing twice a week for a few hours each time.Going… somewhere.She’s also most likely taken to drinking, also somewhere.Do we think those two things are related, unrelated, or something else?”
Shrug.
“Great, happy to know we’re on the same page.Let’s see… Oh yes, she’s been networking with retired military officers to learn more about her mother’s spying activities in Afghanistan.Also, she got involved in the intelligence game herself, until being forced to leave under less than favorable circumstances.Do we think she’s a traitor, is working to her own end, or is representing yet another player in the geopolitical game?Maybe the South Africans?”
Third shrug.
“We agree!Okay, final puzzle piece: still-missing-in-action Isaad.What could’ve been delivered to him the other day to make him abandon his own child?A message from Sabera?A threat from someone else?A third totally different possibility that we haven’t even considered yet?”
Fourth shrug.
“We’re not doing very good at this game, Daryl.”
Finally, a nod.I sigh heavily.My phone rings.Saved by the bell.I check the screen and feel some hope return.I put the phone on speaker.
“Hi, Aliah!”In the front seat, Daryl perks up.“Have you heard from Isaad?”
“Still nothing, I’m afraid.Zahra is okay.Are you with Daryl the dancer?She’s been asking for him.”
“Hi, Aliah!”Daryl booms from the front of the car.I’ve never heard him sound so enthusiastic.
“Ah, that is good.We would like to invite both of you to dinner.”
I look up at Daryl, give him a questioning glance.Genni?
His crestfallen expression tells me enough.
“I don’t think we can do dinner,” I inform Aliah regretfully.“We have another commitment involving an iguana.”
Long pause.I get it.What do you say to that?Then:
“I would like to invite you to come over,” Aliah says, this time with just enough emphasis for me to catch on that what she really needs is to meet.“I’m at my restaurant.Perhaps you would like a snack?”
“We would love a snack,” I fill in.Then, as another one of the day’s developments occurs to me: “Hey, did you and Zahra make that pudding stuff?”
“We have made fresh firni, yes.Please, you should try.”
Daryl hits the gas.
“We will be there in ten,” I inform Aliah dryly.“Or five, given someone’s appetite.”
ALIAH ALREADY HASa table waiting for us when we arrive.She has set out two square bowls filled with what looks like custard; half is a pretty pink, the other half a creamy white.
