He knew he was being watched; otherwise he would have gone immediately to Zeitoun. Patience and a plan were both required. Sawi was sitting in the old man’s, the dead man’s, chair. For a moment Saber thought it was Khalil, then for the first time the truth of his actions hit him with a ferocious impact: he had taken a life.
I wonder if Khalil is thinking of me now? If he can, what thoughts must be passing through his mind?
He greeted Sawi, who returned the greeting quickly and looked back into the register, as though he had forgotten yesterday’s conversation.
He took his breakfast in the lounge, halfheartedly, without any appetite. Karima. No one is going to make a fool of me. Karima will not escape me. She can try what she will, but the hangman’s rope is in my hands. Nothing seemed changed in the lounge, the same chatter about war and money, and outside, the beggar chanting. Elham was on the phone.
“Can I see you today just for a few minutes?”
“I can’t.”
“Give me a good reason why not.”
“I can’t.”
“Even if it has to do with your father?”
“My father?”
“Yes.”
“What do you mean?”
“Let’s meet today.”
“I can’t.” Even his father could not save him from the whirlpool of his fury.
“But it’s about your father. The object of your search.”
“So what?”
“Shall I come?”
“No,” he said impatiently. What news could she have? Anyway, what difference is it to him now? Zeitoun, that’s the objective. His father. That was probably a trick to get him to see her. He drank heavily. Cheap wine. Walking around trying to think of a plan to fool the watchful eyes.
I’ll go up to my room. But I shall not sleep. The detective will. At dawn, he crept slowly downstairs. A servant was sleeping in the lobby in front of the door, the locked door. He dared not wake the man up. He might be the detective. Slowly, he went back up the stairs. Suddenly an idea occurred to him. He raced up the stairs, all the way to the roof. A shiver ran through him as he passed the closed apartment. He crossed the roof to the wall of the adjoining building, and without hesitating for a second, jumped over to the building. Breathing heavily, he went down the stairs to the entrance. The doorman’s room was closed. The front door was closed. Damn! Nothing but obstacles. He tried the key that was in the lock. It didn’t work. Why? He tried the door handle. It worked. The door wasn’t locked. Why? He opened the door slowly, quietly. Suddenly a man blocked the now open doorway. “Who’s there?” a voice cried.
Without hesitation, he drove his fist violently into the man’s face and kicked him in the stomach as he doubled up. The man fell, silent, motionless. He rushed out into the cold empty dawn. Crossing the street quickly and racing toward the square. Without warning, he collided with something.
“Oh! Help! Please, please, I’m blind.”
“I’m sorry, it’s very dark,” he said as he hurried on. He shuddered. That cursed beggar. Ubiquitous.
The taxi drove toward Zeitoun. The detective is going to have a long wait. He got out of the cab at the beginning of Sahil Street. He walked toward the small bungalow. Daybreak was slowly filtering through the dark.
He knocked on the front door, not caring what lay ahead. Karima! There she was, just as she appeared on her first nocturnal visit. He pushed past her.
“Are you mad?”
They faced each other under a bare, glaring lamp.
“You must be insane.”
“Maybe.” He looked at her with his bloodshot eyes.
“Don’t you realize the consequences of your action?”
“It’s better than waiting without hope,” he hissed.
“You must wait. Don’t you see that my situation is far more critical than yours?”
“And how long must I wait? Till death? Why didn’t you phone?”
“Sawi would have recognized my voice.”
“Anyone could have spoken instead of you.”
“They asked me so many questions. I panicked.”
“You panicked? You who plot murders in bed while making love?”
“Don’t raise your voice. My mother’s asleep.”
“Isn’t she your accomplice?”
“You’re mad. You look so strange.”
“I must see your bedroom.”
“It’s just like any other room.”
“Don’t be funny, I must see who shares it with you.”
“Have you gone out of your mind?”
“Your cousin. Your previous husband. Isn’t he here?” he shouted.
“Who said so? No one is here. You’ve brought disaster upon us now by coming here.”
“I don’t care. I must see for myself.”
He pushed her roughly out of his way and opened the first door he saw. An old woman was fast asleep. Another door, another bedroom. Hers, most probably. He searched every room. No trace. “You’ve driven me crazy,” he cried, returning to the hall. “You must avoid him during the investigation.”
“Saber, I think someone is behind all this. Some cunning devil,” she said, trying to calm him down.
“Weren’t you married to your cousin?”
“I was.”
“And didn’t he sell you to the man you plotted to murder?”
“They’ll arrest us, you fool. Today.”
“Answer me.”
“You’re an idiot. I risked my life because I love you.”
“He came to sleep with you in this…whorehouse!”
“Can’t you see the truth? Have you forgotten what was between us?”
“Every woman is an accomplished actress in bed.”
“Please, please believe me. These are all lies!” She was almost hysterical.
“Do you think I’m afraid of hanging? I’ll never leave you to another man.”
“There is no other man. Believe me. If you don’t, they’ll get us before sunrise.”
“Whore! Liar! You destroyed my life with a lie.”
“Believe me, I beg you. I love you. All I’ve done is for your sake!”
“You destroyed me to enjoy the fruits of my crime with your lover.”
“You are my lover! Believe me before it’s too late. This man stepped out of my life years ago!”
“You divided things like only the devil can. I get the murder and you, the money.”
“Oh, what’s the use? We’re finished. Once more, won’t you believe me?”
“No.”
“Then what do you want?”
“To kill you.”
“And hang?” she screamed.
“I don’t give a damn anymore!”
Several footsteps, followed by thunderous banging on the door. Karima screamed loudly, “The police! It’s too late!”
He pounced on her savagely, blindly, his hands closing around her neck. Screams, the door banging, more screams, the door crashing open.