by Alex Archer
“I did. Last night after you’d gone to sleep.”
“You could have mentioned that this morning.”
“You didn’t ask.”
“This is me asking now.”
Roux flagged down a server and ordered another round of drinks. “As it turns out, an ancestor of Thabit’s was one of the men who was supposed to assassinate Uthman ibn Affan.”
“The third caliph.”
“Yes. Thabit’s ancestor went to Abdelilah Karam and tried to warn the caliph about the assassination attempt. The ancestor felt like the murder would only further split the Muslim people.”
“Which it did.”
“Yes. The ancestor told Karam this in confidence, but it was recorded and evidently the man knew this. One of his sons, who also knew what his father had done because the man confessed on his deathbed, decided to destroy the records. He was the one who chased Karam from the caliphate.”
“Thabit’s lineage could be traced back that far.”
Roux nodded. “That was how he was able to influence so many Shiite supporters to his cause. He hadn’t counted on it ultimately providing his downfall.”
“Would that really matter these days?”
Roux grimaced. “The Middle East has been at war with itself since Muhammad’s death, Annja. Everything that happened then matters. They’re probably fortunate they don’t know more.”
Annja sipped her drink. “Except Karam’s scrolls may bring even more things to light.”
“Perhaps. But people need to make their peace with the past.” Roux sighed. “Though that is often more difficult than it should be.”
Garin approached, dressed in a fine suit and seemingly content with his life in general. “Well, well, how go the history lessons?”
“Do you really want to hear about it?” Annja asked.
Taking a seat at the table, Garin shook his head. “Not really, no. By the way, you never thanked me for saving your life, Annja.”
“Really?” Annja arched an eyebrow. “The way I hear it, you just ransomed Habib ibn Thabit to the United States government.”
“It wasn’t ransom. It was a bounty. Quite impressive, actually.”
“So maybe you owe me a thank-you.”
Roux lifted a hand casually. “Or, at the very least, a finder’s fee.”
“Nonsense. I did all the heavy lifting on this. It was my security team, after all. How about if I take you to lunch?”
Annja laughed. “You’ll take us to lunch.”
Roux finished his drink. “And it had better be a big lunch.”
* * * * *
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ISBN: 9781460301043
Copyright © 2013 by Worldwide Library
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