I came back to the corner where the cart sat, still hunting for a makeshift weapon. I poked my head cautiously around the corner—I had seen both men run after Redvers, but I was still nervous about their whereabouts.
The street was deserted.
But the truck was still parked at an angle blocking most of the road.
As I hurried toward the truck, the rumble of the engine made me weak with relief. In their hurry, Radwa had failed to turn it off. While I’d had rudimentary driving lessons at home, I had no desire to start this truck by myself and have my arm snapped off by the hand crank. I hefted myself up into the driver’s seat and used the foot pedal to put the car into reverse. I slowly pushed the gas, trying to gauge how sensitive the pedals were, and the truck shot backward.
Sensitive gas pedal, then.
I pushed the third pedal down to the floor for first gear and eased the gas, praying I wouldn’t kill the engine. Then I pulled the truck into a wide arc, crates careening wildly to the opposite side of the truck bed. I winced, hoping the antiquities would survive whatever happened next.
I had no idea which way the men went, nor whether the alley they had traveled down had an exit. I hoped for Redvers’ sake that we hadn’t hurried into a dead end. I took an abrupt left, crates sliding, and for a long moment worried that the change in weight would tip the truck. I wasn’t certain how well it was built. But all four wheels stayed on the ground, and I accelerated down the street in the direction I thought the alley would let out.
None of the men were anywhere in sight, so I slowed and put the truck in neutral for a moment, trying to listen for sounds over the truck’s substantial rumble. There was no way for me to kill the engine and listen—I would never get the thing started again. I thought I heard voices to my right, so I took the next turn, but a vacant street greeted me once again. Frustration wrinkled my brow. I was beginning to fear that my theft of the truck had been an ill-advised plan, when I heard what was definitely a shout. I put the truck into first and held on to the large steering wheel with both hands as I pushed the truck toward the sound.
As I rumbled around the next corner, I nearly hit Redvers. His reflexes were fast and he dove out of reach of the truck’s tires at the last moment. The colonel wasn’t nearly so lucky. The brakes on the truck were not nearly as sensitive as the gas, and I wasn’t able to stop before he bounced off the right side of the truck’s grill.
I felt an uncomfortable bump.
Radwa was close behind the colonel, and even as I mashed the brake to the floor, the truck knocked Radwa straight over and he disappeared beneath the front of the vehicle. I grimaced as I felt another bump under the right wheel. The truck finally ground to a halt and I killed the engine.
The sudden stillness was a sharp contrast to the rumbling and shouts of a moment before. The street was silent except for the ticking of the truck engine—and the groans from the colonel as he lay on the ground. Redvers was disarming him before I could even dismount from the truck.
“Does Radwa have a weapon?” I called to Redvers. I squatted beside the front left tire and attempted to peer beneath the truck. If Radwa did have a weapon, I hoped I could get behind the large tire before he could get a shot off.
“No, I only saw one on the colonel here.” The offending weapon was now pointed unwaveringly at the colonel. “Doesn’t mean he doesn’t have one, of course.”
I nodded even though Redvers couldn’t see me. I didn’t hear any noise from beneath the truck, and I decided Radwa was either biding his time or had been knocked unconscious by the impact. I was guessing the latter. I stood, brushing myself off, even though I knew it was a lost cause. My entire outfit was bound for a trash receptacle.
I walked on shaking legs over to the colonel and looked down on him, hands on hips. He was rocking back and forth in the dirt and gravel, moaning as he tried to reach his lower leg. The first bump I felt had obviously been the truck rolling over his leg. Or possibly his foot. It was hard to tell which, but I was overcome with the urge to kick him and find out exactly where he was hurt.
I restrained myself.
“I suppose he really will need that cane now.” I could hear my voice shaking slightly. I wasn’t nearly as calm on the inside as I hoped I looked on the outside.
Redvers grinned at me. “He certainly will.”
CHAPTER FORTY-TWO
We needed a phone.
I volunteered to find one, despite my lack of Arabic, since I was too shaky to hold a gun on our captives. I might accidentally shoot them or someone else. Although I wouldn’t have been terribly upset about either of our two criminals.
I walked two blocks over to a street where the buildings were taller. Small balconies with wrought-iron railings decorated the walls above my head, and the laundry hanging from several of the windows indicated that families lived on the floors above the ground-level shops. I pounded on several doors until I managed to wake someone. The man who finally came to the door was disheveled and highly aggravated, but with a series of hand motions, I managed to indicate that I needed a telephone. I could tell he was thinking about slamming the door on me again, but he grudgingly led me a block over where he himself pounded on a peeling wooden door. Another sleep-addled shopkeeper answered, and I smiled politely as the two men gestured angrily back and forth. Finally, the second shopkeeper stood aside and allowed me the use of his telephone. I managed to indicate to the operator that I wanted the police by repeating Inspector Hamadi’s name several times—the operator’s English was as bad as my Arabic, but Hamadi was well known enough that I was put through.
The police arrived minutes later, and things moved quickly after that. Hamadi refused to acknowledge that I might have been helpful in any way, ignoring me as he praised Redvers’ quick thinking in apprehending the two men. I rolled my eyes behind Hamadi’s back—frequently—and Redvers accepted the praise with indifference as he passed the colonel’s gun over to the inspector.
Redvers was happy to turn over custody of the colonel to an eager cadre of officers. A handful of others pulled Radwa from beneath the truck. He was a bit tattered, but not that much worse for wear considering he had been run over by a truck. Radwa had indeed been knocked unconscious by the impact of his head against the packed-dirt road, and his leg was definitely broken. Probably some ribs as well.
Once the adrenaline that had been pumping through my system stopped, my body started to shake and I found a place nearby where I could sit down. Hard. Redvers left his post next to Hamadi and came over to me.
“I’m sorry I don’t have a jacket to offer you this evening.” Redvers indicated his long robes.
“It’s quite all right.” I marveled that my voice sounded so calm and normal after yet another harrowing evening. “I’m not actually cold. I think I’m just in shock.” I tried to smile, but it was more of a grimace.
Redvers took a seat next to me, his back against a stucco wall, long legs stretched out before him. “Well, the police seem to have this in hand,” he said. “I’ll see if I can arrange us a ride home.”
“Not the truck?” I asked. “I’ve become quite fond of it.”
Redvers smiled. “They will need it for evidence. Hopefully, all the pieces in those crates can be returned to Engelbach and he can sort out where they belong. He’ll be thrilled.” Redvers looked at me. “And I’m not sure I’ll be letting you drive again any time soon.”
“Surely you’re joking. I saved your life with that truck.”
“Barely. You nearly took me out with it.” Then he turned serious. “I do have to thank you for coming to my rescue, yet again.”
“I’m not sure how you ever managed without me.” This time I managed a real smile, mirrored by his. “I have to thank you, too, for drawing the colonel and Radwa away from me in the first place. We make a good team.”
Redvers agreed and took my hand in his own.
By the time we pushed our stiff bodies from the ground, Inspector Hamadi had decided that instead of re
leasing us to our hotel, we would accompany him to the station to make our statements. Even Redvers’ complaints couldn’t sway the man. Most of the officers had arrived by small motorcycle, so we were loaded into one of the few police cars and bounced the several miles to the main police station. Redvers had been right—I would have struggled to walk the distance, given the shape I was in.
The sky was growing light when we arrived at the station, and as the car came to a halt, Redvers nudged me awake—I couldn’t keep my eyes open any longer. I looked around and realized we were now close to downtown and the museum. The faint morning light bounced off the light pink façade of the police station. I was quite surprised at its run-down appearance. I wouldn’t have thought that the fastidious Inspector Hamadi would stand for it.
We were bundled inside and taken through the lobby to the main office area. Scarred wooden desks were crammed into the small space, with two offices at the far end. I assumed one of the offices belonged to Hamadi. I could hear the colonel being brought inside, his shrieks of pain alternating with indignant blustering. They were being none too careful with his injured leg, and I found that I didn’t feel bad for him in the slightest. The officers bundled him off to an interrogation room in a different part of the building and I decided not to ask where that was. I didn’t want to give the inspector any ideas about where I should be seated.
We gave our statements to an officer with a curling moustache, who was thankfully nimble on the typewriter; he made good time on the keys as we recited our tales. Redvers, ever the gentleman, allowed me to go first. Hamadi sat glowering beside the officer, interrupting me frequently with sharp questions. If it weren’t for the inspector, we would have been done in less than an hour. While Redvers gave his statement, I slumped in a chair and propped my head against the wall. I was asleep within moments.
By the time we were able to leave, the sun was fully up and I was delirious from exhaustion.
* * *
The ride home passed in a blur, and I only vaguely remembered Redvers helping me stumble to my room. I crawled into bed and strong hands tucked in my covers around me. When I awoke, the sun was already setting—and judging by the clock, I was late for dinner. Yet despite the growling of my stomach, I didn’t hurry. I needed to bathe and check on my aunt before heading down for dinner.
I ran a lukewarm bath and lowered myself into it. The cuts and abrasions screamed, even more so as I carefully washed each one out. I let my bruised muscles soak until the cold water and my empty stomach forced me out of the tub. I found the loosest clothing possible and dressed before crossing the hall to knock on Millie’s door. I tried to steel myself for the worst in case something had happened while I was out. The doctor answered, and he gave me an up-and-down look.
“You’ve looked better, miss.”
I nodded. “It was a long night, Dr. Williams. How is my aunt?”
He smiled widely—a genuine grin—the first I had seen since I’d met the man. “She’s a tough old bird. She was up and about today, but I made her go back to bed. She’ll be right as rain in a few more days.”
I smiled. I was relieved that she had continued to improve.
“Miss Lillian and that other young sheila went to have some supper, but they should be back soon. Your aunt is resting now.” The doctor shooed me away from the doorway, stepped into the hall, and closed the door behind him.
When Millie was back on her feet, I was going to have a serious talk with her about making a full confession to Lillian, if the young woman didn’t know already. Life was fleeting, and they both deserved the chance to spend time together without any more lies and secrets between them. But for now, I would let her regain her strength.
Dr. Williams eyed me again. “You want me to take a look at anything?” He nodded toward the cuts visible on my arms and wrists.
I shook my head. I didn’t think they were serious enough to need medical attention.
“I’ll drop some salve off just the same. Put it on those burns.”
I gingerly touched the rope burns around my wrists and thanked him. I thought about showing him my ravaged knees, but decided against it. They looked better after I had washed them out, and there was little to be done but keep them clean and dry. I would consult him if they started to look infected.
I dragged myself to the dining room, my spirits light with the knowledge that Millie was recovering swiftly, but my body weeping in pain. I considered retiring to my room after dinner and soaking in another bath. Or perhaps I would break down and ask the doctor for a pain reliever.
A new face greeted me at the entrance to the dining room, a smiling young man, chest puffed out in pride at his new position. I gave him a smile, but his cheerful demeanor left me feeling sad as I remembered what became of Zaki. When he asked if I was waiting for someone, I shook my head and told him I was looking for friends.
As my eyes passed over the room, I saw Redvers at a table with Charlie and Deanna, and my heart lifted. I limped over to them and helped myself to a seat, even though they were nearly finished with their meals. The waiter appeared immediately and I ordered lentil stew. I needed to eat something, but I couldn’t tolerate the thought of anything more substantial. My stomach was still nervous from all the excitement.
“We heard what happened last night, Jane,” Deanna said. “I’m not at all surprised that you rode in to save the day. Women always do, you know.”
Both Charlie and Redvers rolled their eyes at her.
“Thanks, Deanna.” I smiled at her, then looked to Redvers. “What did I miss? Have you heard anything from Hamadi about what happened after we left the station?”
“Of course. I was just telling these two. The colonel finally confessed to killing Anna, although his statement was made under . . . duress.”
I grimaced. I could only imagine how the inspector and his men had elicited a confession from the man. I felt a small twinge of sympathy, despite his crimes and the fact that he intended to kill me.
Redvers continued. “He claims it was self-defense, that she was threatening him.”
I rolled my eyes, Charlie barked a laugh, and Deanna cocked a disbelieving eyebrow. It was difficult to see how he was going to pull that off as a defense.
“Anna was apparently going to either blackmail her father over the antiquities smuggling or kill him and take it over herself,” Redvers explained.
“What a sweetheart.” Deanna lit a cigarette.
“The inspector is still wondering why you ran the men over, Jane.” Redvers’ eyes had an unmistakable twinkle.
“He asked me that last night—several times, if I remember correctly.” I shrugged. “I honestly didn’t mean to. The brakes were a little stiff and I didn’t expect you three to be right around that corner. Did he ever find the papers Anna was using for blackmail?”
“No, the police are still looking for those. But he did give me this.” Redvers reached into his inside coat pocket and pulled out a small brooch, passing it to me.
“My scarab!” I pinned it to my blouse. “I’m glad to see it again. Millie gave it to me for my birthday last year,” I explained to Deanna and Charlie.
“Speaking of your aunt, how is she?” Charlie asked.
“She’s doing much better. She was even up and about today. Although, we’ll probably be here a bit longer than we expected. Just to make sure she’s fully recovered.”
Charlie and Deanna shared a look. “That’s too bad, because we have to leave soon,” Deanna said.
“It’s getting a little too hot for us here, now that word about cheating at the card tables is out. So we’re going to move on before management asks us to.” A wry smile touched Charlie’s mouth.
Deanna put her hand on mine. “When you make it back to the States, let us know. I meant it when I said we should keep in touch.”
I smiled and nodded. I certainly did intend to keep in touch with them both. A few minutes later, the pair excused themselves to start packing, and we said our good-byes. T
hey planned to leave first thing in the morning.
After they departed, I turned back to Redvers. “There are still a few things I’m wondering about.”
“And what are those?”
“How did both men come to use the same gun?”
“Well, that’s the interesting part. Zaki stole the doctor’s gun from his room before Anna was killed. Everyone assumed it was the gun used to kill Anna because it was stolen. But Zaki was holding on to that gun at his house. The colonel used his own gun and then held on to it. He had the exact same model—they were service pistols, if you remember. I’m sure they will find it’s the same gun we took from him last night.”
“And no one thought to check because none of us suspected the colonel. Awfully bold of him to hold on to the thing.” Then I sighed. “He seemed so devastated that day. He really would have made quite the actor.”
Redvers snorted.
“I suppose it also explains why he wanted me to go in and find her body.”
“It would have been more suspicious if he had been the one to find her.”
“At the time, I wondered why he would try to wake her so early. There was no way Anna Stainton was an early riser. But he knew that she was already dead.”
Redvers nodded sadly.
When I finished my stew, I set my napkin aside. “I’m afraid I’m headed straight back to bed. I feel as though I could sleep for a week.”
“Well, you’ve certainly earned the right.”
I took his arm and we passed through the lobby. The desk clerk smartly snapped to attention when he saw Redvers. “A telegram for you, Mr. Dibble,” he said, holding out the paper envelope.
I stopped short. “Dibble?”
For the first time, I watched an embarrassed flush creep up Redvers’ neck. He cleared his throat and moved a discreet distance away from any listening ears.
Murder at the Mena House Page 24