A tense anticipation was jiggling her heart as she took the path to the central complex of the hotel. She wanted news of Hannah’s situation but was frightened of what it might be. Something pertinent had transpired at last night’s dinner or Zageo would not have come to her. From his attitude—from what he’d said—Emily sensed the news was not good. The trade was giving him more trouble than he’d bargained for.
Guests were breakfasting on the terrace and in the main restaurant. Neither Zageo nor his aide-de-camp, Abdul Haji, was amongst them. Emily walked on to the grand reception area—built like a pavilion with its splendid columns and open-air sides. She found Leila, the employee Zageo had appointed to look after her needs.
‘Have you seen the sheikh this morning, Leila?’
‘Yes. He left the hotel very early with Mr Haji.’
‘How early?’
‘At sunrise.’
‘And they haven’t returned,’ Emily muttered, wondering if Zageo had left a message for her at reception.
‘Mr Haji has,’ came the helpful reply. ‘I saw him walking by the river a little while ago. Would you like me to find him for you, Miss Ross?’
‘No. No, thank you,’ Emily answered quickly, acutely aware that Zageo’s right hand man was not at her beck and call and would be affronted by such a move on her part. However, if she ran into him accidentally…
‘Is there anything else I can do for you?’ Leila inquired.
Emily flashed her a smile and shook her head. ‘I think I’ll just idle away this morning. Thanks again, Leila.’
Where would Zageo have gone by himself? The question teased her mind as she left the reception area, passing by the Livingstone Lounge—honouring the explorer, David Livingstone, who’d discovered and named Victoria Falls after the then Queen of England. It was furnished like a British colonial club room with many groups of leather chairs and sofas, card tables, chess tables, mahjong tables, plus a bar at the end—all designed to cater for every recreational taste. A glance at the few occupants assured her the black bearded Abdul Haji was not present.
She stood on the terrace, looking from left to right, hoping to spot the man. To the left, the view along the river was unobscured. Everything from last night’s dinner and entertainment had been cleared away, leaving nothing but pristine green lawn and the magnificent shade trees. She saw no one taking a stroll in that direction.
To the right there were more trees, plus the cabana providing service to the swimming pool, and closer to the river bank two white marquees where various types of massages were on offer. If Abdul Haji was still walking, Emily decided it had to be somewhere beyond the marquees.
Five minutes later, Emily spotted him, leaning on the railing of a small jetty, apparently watching the swirl of the water as it rushed towards the fall. He caught sight of her approach and straightened up, focusing his attention on her with what felt like a hostile intensity, which was highly disquieting. She hesitated on the bank beside the jetty, torn between her need to know about Zageo and the sense of being distinctly unwelcome.
Abdul Haji frowned, made an impatient gesture and tersely said, ‘There is no news. We must wait.’
It seemed that Abdul thought she knew more than she did. Hoping to elicit some information, she prompted, ‘Zageo left at sunrise.’
Hands were thrown up in disgust. ‘It is madness, this adventure—’ his eyes flashed black resentment at her ‘—flying directly to the farm over the heads of Zimbabwe officialdom. What if your brother-in-law persists in not seeing reason, even when your passport is shown to him? So much risk for nothing.’
Shock rolled through Emily’s mind and gripped her heart. Zageo was putting his own life at hazard to keep his word to her. It was too much. She would never have asked it of him. Never!
Diplomatic connections…bribery…deals under tables…big money talking as it always did…all these things she had imagined happening, but no real personal risk. However, the comment about Malcolm not seeing reason suggested that Hannah’s husband hadn’t cooperated with what had been initiated to help the family’s situation. And Emily realised her own attitude about payment had virtually forced Zageo to deliver.
‘I’m sorry,’ she blurted out, her own anxiety for his safety rising. ‘I didn’t mean for it to go this far.’
Abdul glared a dismissal of her influence. ‘His Excellency, the sheikh, does as he wishes.’
‘Yes, of course,’ she agreed, not about to argue against male supremacy in this instance. ‘It’s just that if we hadn’t met…’
‘It is futile to rail against Fate.’
Emily took a deep breath as she tried to stop floundering and gather her wits. ‘I didn’t realise Malcolm would cause problems.’
‘A man does not easily give up what is his. This I understand. But Malcolm Coleman must be made to understand that the loss is inevitable. There is no choice,’ Abdul said fiercely. ‘That was made very clear last night.’
The meeting…Zageo coming to her afterward…deciding what had to be done to honour his side of their trade.
Emily felt sick. ‘I shouldn’t have asked him to help.’
Abdul frowned at her. ‘You made a request?’
‘Yes,’ she confessed miserably. ‘After I’d received the e-mail from my sister…when we met for dinner that evening—’
‘The decision was already made,’ Abdul cut in, waving a dismissal of her part in promoting this action.
Flutters attacked her stomach. ‘What do you mean…already made?’
‘On his return to the palace from your visit to The Salamander Inn, His Excellency sought me out and ordered a preliminary investigation into ways to secure the safety of your sister and her family,’ Abdul curtly informed her.
‘Before dinner?’ Emily queried incredulously.
‘It was late afternoon. His Excellency wished to alleviate your distress, Miss Ross. Surely he told you so when you met that evening.’
She’d rushed straight into the trade!
It hadn’t even occurred to her that Zageo might care enough—on such short acquaintance—to initiate action which might give her some peace of mind about her sister. No wonder he’d been angry at her assumption that he’d only do it to have sex with her.
‘Yes, he did say he’d help,’ she muttered weakly.
‘These are difficult times in Zimbabwe. Our negotiations kept breaking down. It has been very frustrating,’ Abdul muttered in return.