The Sheikh

by Anne Herries

  ‘Does Ahmad give you an allowance?’ she asked as Sashimi simply signed for everything, seldom even glancing at the total.

  ‘Oh, no,’ she replied uninterestedly. ‘He tells me to put everything on his account. He wouldn’t give me money in case—’ She stopped abruptly as if afraid of saying too much.

  ‘Do you know how much you’ve spent this afternoon?’ Chloe inquired. She herself had bought a pretty silk blouse, which she’d paid for with her own money.

  ‘Who cares?’ Sashimi pulled a face. ‘Ahmad owes me—and he can afford to pay.’

  The other woman’s sullen look and her tone shocked Chloe. It was obvious that she was troubled, and Chloe felt concerned for her.

  ‘Are you unhappy?’ she asked. ‘Is there anything I can do?’

  Tears suddenly welled up in Sashimi’s eyes. ‘I hate him!’ she said. ‘I wish I had refused to marry him.’

  ‘Oh, Sashimi…’ Chloe stared at her in dismay. She had suspected there might be some source of friction between husband and wife, but nothing like this. ‘Is there anything I can do to help you?’

  ‘I want to go home,’ Sashimi said. ‘I don’t feel too well. Will you come with me, Chloe? Please do. I need to talk to you—in private.’

  It was clear that Sashimi was distressed, and Chloe didn’t think twice.

  ‘Yes, of course,’ she said. ‘We’ll go to your apartment and you can tell me what has happened to upset you like this.’

  Chloe remembered that Pasha had thought that Sashimi was merely spoiled and probably sulking because she couldn’t get her own way over something. Well, that might be the case, of course, but Chloe felt there was more to this than a mere tiff between Ahmad and Sashimi. Looking at her face as they were driven back to the apartment in a taxi, Chloe thought it must be more serious. Sashimi was pale and on edge, her hands moving restlessly, as though she was nervous. What on earth could have happened to upset her so badly?

  Chloe reached across and held her hand comfortingly. ‘It can’t be so very bad,’ she said. ‘I am sure Ahmad cares for you. If you’ve quarrelled you will make it up again.’

  ‘You don’t know him,’ Sashimi said, then bit her lip and lapsed into silence.

  Chloe paid for the taxi as Sashimi opened the door of her apartment block and led the way to the lifts. She was silent as they travelled up to the top floor, and as she fished out her key and opened the door. She dumped her parcels on the floor of the expensively furnished sitting room and left Chloe standing as she went through into one of the other rooms. Perhaps she wanted a few minutes on her own, Chloe thought, and sat down on one of the large, comfortable sofas to wait.

  Sashimi did not reappear even after several minutes, and Chloe was about to go and investigate when the hall door opened and Ahmad came in.

  ‘Chloe…’ he said, looking at her strangely. His face was strained, and his eyes had a dark, wild look. ‘Have you heard? Is that why you came round—to see if I had news?’

  ‘Heard what?’ Chloe asked and her heart jumped with fright as she saw his grave expression. ‘I haven’t heard anything. We’ve been shopping…’

  ‘And most of this is Sashimi’s, of course.’ He frowned and then came towards her. Chloe had risen instinctively to her feet. ‘I’m sorry, I don’t know how to tell you.’

  Chloe felt her stomach clench with fear. ‘What has happened?’ she asked. ‘You must tell me, Ahmad, please! Is it Pasha?’

  He nodded, his dark eyes intent on her face, their expression frightening her. ‘There was an attempt on Prince Hassan’s life. Pasha went for the assassin and there was a struggle…’ He paused and Chloe’s heart took a sickening lurch. ‘The gun went off as they fought and…Pasha was injured.’

  ‘No!’ Chloe stared at him in shock. Her head was whirling and she felt dizzy. She had been afraid of this, but it was worse than she had feared. It couldn’t be happening. Oh, God, please don’t let it be happening! Ahmad caught her as she swayed towards him, steadying her. ‘Is—is he dead?’

  ‘No, not yet,’ Ahmad said and his voice caught with emotion. ‘I am so terribly sorry, Chloe.’

  ‘Where is he?’ she asked. ‘Is he still in Paris?’

  ‘Yes.’ Ahmad looked at her sadly. ‘I am not sure if we could get there in time…’

  Chloe grasped frantically at the straw he was offering her. ‘Will you take me to him?’ she asked, her eyes wide and dark with fear. ‘Will you help me, Ahmad? I must see him. I must…’ Her voice caught on a sob.

  He seemed to hesitate for a moment, then inclined his head in assent. ‘You must leave everything to me. There is no time to return to your apartment, Chloe. We must leave immediately. Sashimi will stay here to arrange for some of your things to be packed.’

  Sashimi had come out of her bedroom, having changed her dress. She stood watching them in silence, and then, at a look from her husband, came forward.

  ‘You must go, Chloe,’ she urged. ‘Don’t worry about anything. Give me the key to your apartment. I shall pack a few things for you and follow as soon as I can.’

  ‘Oh, yes…thank you,’ Chloe said gratefully. She recalled that Sashimi had been going to tell her something, but that must be forgotten for the moment. Nothing mattered now but that she should reach Pasha in time…in time for what? To say goodbye? Her heart twisted with pain as she took her key from her bag and gave it to Sashimi. ‘Could you telephone Justine for me, please? Her number is in the book on the hall table and perhaps you should also let Sir Henry know that…’ Her voice broke on a sob. She wanted…needed to see Pasha. Her heart felt as if it were being torn in two.

  Oh, God! Why hadn’t she told him she loved him before he left for Paris? Perhaps then he would not have been so reckless.

  She turned to Ahmad, catching at the lapels of his suit wildly. ‘We must leave at once.’

  ‘My car and driver are waiting outside.’ Ahmad glanced at his wife. ‘You know what to do?’

  Chloe was too distraught to notice the further look that passed between them. She could think of nothing but Pasha lying wounded in a French hospital. Ahmad seemed to think that he was dying, but she was praying as she allowed him to hurry her downstairs and out into the waiting car. She was a little surprised when he got into the back of the car with her, but then he reached for her hand and gave it a comforting squeeze.

  ‘I have a plane standing by at a private airfield, Chloe. We shall be there as soon as it is possible. You mustn’t despair. Everything is being done for Pasha that can be done. I am sure that we shall get there in time.’

  Chloe was pathetically grateful for his kindness. She did not know what she would have done if he had not been in London, how she would have coped with getting a flight to Paris alone.

  ‘You are so good to help me.’

  ‘It was written,’ he said, a slightly odd note in his voice. ‘Your arrival at my house that day was meant for a purpose, Chloe. All things are as Allah wills them.’

  Chloe had closed her eyes. She did not see the fanatical gleam in his own.

  Pasha walked into his apartment that evening, sensing already that it was empty. He frowned as he felt a sharp jolt of disappointment. Why should he have expected Chloe to be here waiting for him? She’d made it plain she didn’t want to be around him. It wasn’t likely that she would welcome him home or fling herself into his arms. Especially when he told her what had happened in Paris. Besides, he had telephoned her earlier to tell her he was flying back, and got no reply.

  She wouldn’t have broken her promise to stay with him until after the child was born, would she? The pain of that possibility hit him like a hammer blow as he went into her bedroom and glanced round. He saw at once that some of her things were missing.

  The wardrobe door was open, and there were several articles on the floor, lying in a heap as if they had been dropped carelessly. Chloe had obviously been in a hurry to leave. Had she guessed somehow that he was on his way back, and decided to go before he could stop her?
His heart caught with grief as he saw her key to the apartment tossed carelessly on the dressing table.

  She had left him! She had waited until Mariam’s visit was over, and then she’d run away from him. He felt as if someone had plunged a knife into him, and it was all he could do to stop himself crying out his agony aloud.

  Why had she broken her promise? What had made her run off like this after she had given her word that she would not? Was it that kiss? Did she hate him so much that she would do anything to be free?

  Pasha’s mind was in turmoil as he heard the doorbell peal several times. He felt a surge of hope. Perhaps Chloe hadn’t left him, perhaps she had merely forgotten her key?

  He went to the door and wrenched it open, then stared blankly at the young woman who stood there. She recovered the power of speech before he did.

  ‘You’re him, aren’t you?’ she said. ‘Chloe showed me your photograph—and I tipped a drink over you on the ship at Southampton. I was so embarrassed that I didn’t really see you then, but I would know you from your photo. Is Chloe here? Has she forgotten that we were going to the pictures this evening?’

  ‘You are Justine,’ Pasha said. ‘Chloe has often spoken of you as her closest friend. Would you come in for a moment? I’ve been away for a few days and Chloe isn’t here.’

  Justine followed him inside. ‘I am sure our arrangement was for this evening,’ she said with a little frown. ‘Mariam was leaving this morning and Chloe asked me to come over, but I had engagements all day…’

  ‘Yes, that’s right, Mariam left this morning. I have spoken to her on the telephone in Paris this afternoon,’ Pasha said looking thoughtful. ‘I cannot understand it. Some of Chloe’s things are missing. She didn’t say she was going somewhere?’

  ‘No. And it isn’t like her not to ring if she was unexpectedly called away,’ Justine said. ‘She wanted to see the film as much as I did.’ She looked at him thoughtfully. ‘Would she have gone to see her father?’

  ‘I don’t think so,’ Pasha replied. ‘But she might have gone to stay with Henry. Yes, that is a possibility. Will you excuse me a moment while I telephone?’

  Justine nodded agreement. She wandered into the bedroom she knew Chloe used, looking round in surprise. Chloe must have departed in a hurry to leave things in a mess like this—and what was that smell? She had never known Chloe to use a heavy musky perfume like that; it just wasn’t her.

  She went back into the sitting room as Pasha was replacing the receiver. He was frowning, looking anxious.

  ‘No luck?’

  ‘Henry says she was talking to him earlier. She told him she would ask me to take her down there as soon as I got back.’

  ‘It seems a bit odd,’ Justine said and wrinkled her brow. ‘This isn’t like Chloe. She’s usually tidy, and she wouldn’t let me down without a good reason. That room looks as if a bomb hit it, and that perfume…it isn’t Chloe’s. Unless you gave her something exotic.’

  ‘Perfume?’ Pasha stared at her for a moment, then went back into Chloe’s room. He had been so disturbed by the state of it that he hadn’t noticed the first time. Now he could smell it clearly and he knew it at once. ‘Sashimi has been here…and recently.’

  Justine nodded. ‘That’s what I thought. I noticed it particularly when we met here a few days ago. I found it too strong. I wouldn’t mind betting that Sashimi did this.’

  ‘But why—and where is Chloe? Why hasn’t anyone left me a note?’ Pasha was thoughtful. ‘Do you think she went to stay with Sashimi?’

  ‘Not without ringing me to explain,’ Justine said. She hesitated uncomfortably. ‘I am sorry if you don’t like this, but I warned Chloe to be careful of your cousin. I didn’t like the way he looked at her, and I didn’t particularly trust him either.’

  ‘What do you mean?’ Pasha’s eyes were suddenly narrowed and intent. ‘How did he look at Chloe? You must tell me, this could be important, more important than you imagine.’

  ‘It was sort of a leer…and speculation too, as if he were wondering what she would be like in bed.’ Justine’s cheeks went bright red. ‘Oh, that sounds awful. Mummy would be absolutely furious if she heard me. Perhaps I shouldn’t have said?’

  ‘I am very glad you did,’ he said. ‘Thank you, Justine. You’ve been a big help to me—more so than you may guess.’

  ‘Has something happened?’ Justine asked, looking anxious. ‘I know it sounds as if I’m letting my imagination run away with me. Chloe would probably say I watch too many romantic films…but I think she may have been abducted.’

  ‘Yes, I’m very much afraid you may be right,’ Pasha said and a nerve flicked in his cheek. ‘I was aware that I had an enemy—one that I did not know, working in the shadows, but I was looking in the wrong direction. I learned that in Paris earlier today.’ He smiled grimly. ‘Thank you, Justine. I think you may have saved me a lot of wasted time and anguish.’

  ‘What are you going to do?’

  Pasha’s eyes were icy cold as he looked at her. ‘I’m going to pay Sashimi a little visit.’

  ‘Do you know where to find her?’

  ‘I have a good idea,’ Pasha said. ‘But if I don’t find her this evening, I have a head start on them.’

  Chloe was getting restless. They seemed to have been driving for ages. When would they get to the airport? She peered out of the car window into the darkness. They had left London more than an hour ago—how much longer could it take?

  ‘How much further?’ she asked. ‘Surely we have travelled too far? We could have got to an airport in London much quicker.’

  ‘This is a private airfield. It will be better this way.’

  ‘But why?’ Chloe glanced at his profile in the growing dusk, feeling a prickling sensation start at the nape of her neck. Something was wrong. She was suddenly sure that she had been tricked into coming with him. ‘Where are you taking me? We aren’t going to Paris, are we?’

  ‘We shall be there soon. Pasha is waiting for you.’

  ‘No,’ she said, a new decisive tone in her voice. ‘I don’t believe you. You lied to me, didn’t you?’

  Ahmad turned to look at her, an unpleasant smile on his lips.

  ‘It was much easier than I anticipated. Sashimi said you would suspect something was wrong immediately. She didn’t want to help me, but I bribed her. My wife is addicted to spending money, Chloe. I threatened to close her accounts…that soon brought her to heel.’

  Chloe felt chilled as she heard the menace in his voice. So many things were beginning to make sense now. Sashimi was desperately unhappy—that was probably why she spent so much money. And that last shopping spree had been defiant, as if she were buying things she did not want simply to punish her husband.

  ‘Why have you abducted me?’ Chloe asked. Surprisingly, she was more angry than frightened as she accepted what had happened to her. Her mind was working busily as she tried to make sense of all this. ‘It’s to get back at Pasha for something, isn’t it?’

  ‘Keep your mouth shut, woman,’ he muttered fiercely. ‘What I do is my business. I do not discuss it with a woman—any woman.’

  Chloe refused to be cowed by his bullying. ‘Pasha hasn’t been injured, has he? You were lying to me.’

  Ahmad glared at her but said nothing.

  ‘And there wasn’t an assassination attempt.’

  Ahmad’s hand shot out, grabbing her by the throat. ‘Still your tongue! You tempt me to kill you, but it may be necessary to keep you alive for long enough to lure that traitor Pasha to his death.’

  ‘Pasha is not a traitor!’ she said, choking a little as he relaxed his hold and thrust her back into the seat.

  ‘He has betrayed his ancestors by becoming a Christian,’ Ahmad said, his face twisted with hatred. ‘He makes a mockery of all that he once held sacred and for that he must die. I tried to tell my uncle that he shamed our family, that he was less than the dust beneath his feet and unworthy of favour, but still he prefers Pasha. He will make him his
heir and so they both must die.’

  ‘You want the land Pasha inherited?’

  ‘I want it all—the money and the power.’ Ahmad looked at her, eyes narrowed. ‘Pasha is a fool. He would give it all away.’

  ‘So you plan to kill him.’ Chloe said. ‘You are in league with Abdullah.’

  ‘Abdullah is dead,’ Ahmad said. ‘He was a fool. He let hatred rule him, and became careless. He tried to kill the prince and failed. And Pasha killed him. It was true that they wrestled for the gun, but it was Abdullah who died.’

  ‘Oh.’ Chloe felt slightly sick as she listened to him spew out his bitter words. It was all so hateful…the killing and the greed that had led to it.

  ‘Pasha is too clever, or perhaps he has been lucky. Three times I have tried to have him killed so that I could take his place as our uncle’s heir…and three times he escaped.’

  ‘That was you!’ Chloe opened her eyes and gazed at him in horror. ‘Pasha thought—’

  ‘That it was Abdullah, of course. I planned it that way, fed the poison into his mind so that he would believe it was the same man who had killed his father.’ He smiled horribly. ‘As soon as I saw the way Pasha looked at you I knew I had found the key. You are his weakness.’ He traced the line of her cheek with his fingertip, making Chloe draw away in disgust. ‘Oh, yes, he will walk into my little trap now that I have you. Once before I believed I held him in the palm of my hand, but Lysette was a fool.’

  ‘You were the one who shamed her! It was your child she was carrying…’ Chloe felt the horror trickle through her.

  Mariam had been right! Chloe was careful not to blurt out her thoughts. This man was ruthless, and Mariam was ill and vulnerable. If he knew she suspected him…a shiver ran through Chloe as she imagined what he might do to anyone who stood in his way. She glanced at his profile, realising that this man was truly evil.