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By the time they got to the top of the stairs Durrani was out of breath. Lee continued to talk and eventually got around to asking a question. Durrani held up a hand, signaling that he was out of breath, while his other hand searched for his pack of cigarettes.
“You know those things are going to kill you, right? As your business partner, I have every right to get on you about stopping. If you die, our partnership will go up in flames.”
There were so many things that Durrani wanted to say, but instead he stuffed a cigarette between his two lips and nodded in agreement. Kassar appeared, standing at the edge of the sunken living room. “Vazir,” Durrani said, “you remember Larry?”
“Of course,” Kassar said with a nod of recognition.
Durrani took in several deep drags, which in a strange way seemed to settle his breathing. After exhaling a big cloud of smoke, he waved for Lee to follow him. As they walked down the hallway, Durrani began talking in a quiet voice. “What I’m about to show you is a real tragedy. I have another American friend, who was savagely beaten by a group of street thugs in Rawalpindi. I have arranged for him to recover here where he will be safe. It is embarrassing the way my countrymen treat our greatest allies at times.”
“Not everyone is so rude. Your behavior alone, General, helps a great deal.”
“Why, thank you.” Durrani stopped outside the closed door and said, “Give me a moment alone with him and then I’ll call for you.”
“Of course.”
Durrani slid into the room and closed the door. He approached the bed, still not used to the ugly sight before him. “Are you awake?”
Rickman was lying with three pillows beneath his back. He let his head fall to his left and said, “Yes.”
“Good . . . I see you can almost open one of your eyes.”
“The nurse has been making me ice it every hour. It’s torture.”
“But that’s good . . . isn’t it?”
Rickman ignored the question and said, “You’re going to kill her, aren’t you?”
“Why must you always assume the worst in me?”
“Because you have a history of killing people when they no longer serve your plans.”
“Oh, that,” Durrani said with a smile, refusing to let Rickman’s sour mood spoil this special moment. “And you are such an angel, my friend. We both do what we must do. That is why we work so well together.”
“The nurse?”
Durrani sighed. “What about her?”
“Why do you have to kill her?”
“Stop it. We have more important things to discuss. I need to show you something.”
“What?”
“You will see.” Durrani was back at the door. He opened it a foot and signaled for Lee to join him. He held his finger to his lips and said, “We must speak softly.”
Durrani walked back to the bed with Lee at his side.
“My God,” was all Lee could manage to say.
“I know . . . it’s horrible.”
“Kids did this?”
“I wouldn’t exactly say that. Grown men, really.”
Lee’s face was a combination of shock and revulsion. “Who is he? Have I met him?”
“I’m fairly certain you have never met.” Durrani looked at Rickman. “Joe, have you ever met this man?”