Читать книгу Creatures of the Chase - Mikail - L. M. Ollie - Страница 15

Craig Heywood and David Rossi, Sarah’s personal bodyguards and Brett Saunders, Head of Security at Cavendish Hall stood side by side and ramrod straight watching and waiting; trying to anticipate what action might be necessary although right at that precise moment, shock and disbelief ruled. Under the circumstances, no one knew exactly what to do. It was Jack Mulphy who took control.

‘I will call Abran at Ksar el-Zerhoun and tell him what has happened. He in turn will tell Ali Tha. The meeting of the Benghazi families is scheduled for next week so I …’

Sarah shook her head. ‘Who at Zerhoun knew that Alan was in Boston?’ She looked straight at Jack then Kevin Brosner. ‘Did either of you mention Alan in any manner whatsoever?’

‘No ma’am,’ Brosner replied.

‘I thought Alan was still here.’ Jack regarded Sarah with caution. ‘What are you suggesting ma’am?’

‘Cui bono, Mr. Mulphy – who profits? Ali Tha is a fundamentalist Muslim dedicated to the Mauphet family and the Benghazi tribe. Yusuf’s death would have been very difficult for him to accept as it was very difficult for him to accept me as Yusuf’s wife. As far as religion was concerned Yusuf remained totally ambivalent which angered Ali Tha who was determined to force me into embracing Islam. What I ended up embracing four months and fifteen days after Yusuf’s death was a Christian, a none-believer, an infidel. The very idea of Yusuf Sarquazi Mauphet Benghazi’s children being raised in a Christian household by a Christian stepfather would be considered a sacrilege.

‘Ali Tha must be made to understand that I have no intention of putting my children at risk. They are safe here and this is where they will remain until I have absolute assurances and even then ...’

‘In fairness ma’am, we have no proof whatsoever that there is a connection between the death of Alan Rose and anyone in remotely associated with the Benghazi families.’

‘Please Mr. Mulphy, spare me. Alan Rose was not murdered; he was sacrificed and, whoever did this was sending a strong message. Tell me that you don’t agree?’

‘I’m sorry ma’am but I can’t give you that assurance.’

Sarah looked across to Brett Saunders. ‘Mr. Saunders, would you please have the staff from Communications come here. Have them bring the telephone log with them.’

‘Yes ma’am.’

*****

‘Gentlemen, has anyone here at Cavendish Hall made a phone call or phone calls to Morocco in the past three weeks?’ Sarah knew that all out-going calls went through the switchboard with the exception of one telephone; the one in Richard’s private office.

‘Yes ma’am, the young Moroccan girl, Mina has made several calls. She misses her family ma’am so I … she never talked for very long ma’am.’

Sarah had spread the log on the coffee table in front of her. ‘Mr. Mulphy, would you please check these telephone numbers and confirm that they all belong to the house at Ksar el-Zerhoun.’

‘This is the main switchboard number.’ Jack pointed to several entries. ‘The rest belong I guess to the various out-buildings since they all share the same prefix. I’m sorry ma’am but I’ve spent very little time at Ksar el-Zerhoun so I can’t say for sure which numbers belong to which phones.’

Sarah picked up the logbook then rose. ‘Thank you gentlemen, that will be all.’ Slowly she moved away towards the far end of the Amber Room, coming to rest next to the small table and the two photographs of two husbands. The men exchanged glances. Sensing their unease, she turned to face them.

‘She’s lying; all Mina’s family live in Rabat. She has no one in Ksar el-Zerhoun except perhaps her co-conspirator.’ She looked down at the picture of Richard then the one of Yusuf. She wanted to cry, wanted to scream. She did neither.

‘Whoever this individual is we will pluck him out and any others. This is what I wish done.’