The Innocent

“How can you be so sure?”

“Again, the fun factor. I know Talal really needs to feel it right now.”

“Yes, I do.”

Robie turned to see Prince Khalid bin Talal walk down the stairs from his jet.

CHAPTER 98

Taal faced Robie. The interior lights had automatically come on, because it had grown dark outside. Robie could hear the rain pinging off the metal roof of the hangar. The large windows on the upper levels of its side walls revealed moisture-laden clouds.

Talal came to a stop about ten feet from Robie. He wore not robes but a stylish three-piece suit that somehow managed to make his portly form look sleeker.

“You look slimmer than your body double, Talal,” said Robie. “Not quite as fat, at least.”

“You will refer to me as Prince Talal.”

“Where are Vance and Julie, Prince Talal?”

Talal nodded and the two women were led out of a far corner of the hangar. Vance’s face was purple and black. She walked stiffly, as though every step was killing her. Julie had two swollen eyes, she carried her right arm at an awkward angle, and her left leg dragged a little. Their condition made Robie’s anger rise, but he willed himself to remain calm. He would need it for what was coming.

When they drew near to Talal he casually snapped his fingers and the men accompanying the two women pulled them to a stop.

“I’m sorry for all this,” said Robie, looking first at Vance and then at Julie.

They stared back at him without speaking.

Robie turned to Talal. “But at least the only one who died was your person. The president is safe.”

“The only one to die just yet,” said Talal. He smiled. “But you knew her, didn’t you? You knew her quite intimately if the photos are any indication.”

Vance said sharply, “What photos?”

“I know it was a game to you, Talal,” said Robie. “But it’s never been a game to me.”

Talal wagged a finger at Robie. “I could possibly excuse you for trying to kill me. I could perhaps excuse you for thwarting my plans to assassinate men who would lead the world to disaster. But I cannot excuse you for disrespecting me. My name is Prince Talal.”

The blow hit Robie from behind, knocking him to the floor. He rose slowly, his ribs aching. He looked at the man who had struck him. Abdullah was the biggest one of them all, and the look on his face was the fiercest.

“My friend here, Abdullah, also does not like your disrespect.”

Abdullah bowed slightly in Talal’s direction and then spat at Robie.

“Yeah,” said Robie. “I can tell.” He looked at Vance and Julie. “But now you have me and you can let them go.”

“As soon as you came here, as soon as your foot touched dirt in Tangier, you knew that was not possible.”

“It’s why I came. I expect you to honor our agreement. Me for them.”

“Then you are an idiot.”

“You don’t keep your word?” Robie looked at the others. “So how can they trust you, Talal? You tell them one thing and do another. Leader doesn’t keep his word, then what’s he worth? Nothing. He’s worth nothing.”

Talal was unfazed by this. And his men did not seem to even understand what Robie was saying.

“You might try explaining that to them in Farsi, Dari, Pashto, and the old reliable Arabic, but I doubt their opinion of me would change. They do what they do because I pay them far more than they would earn elsewhere.”

Robie said, “I’m going to offer you a chance to surrender. I’m only going to offer it once. After that it will be withdrawn and it won’t be offered again.”

Talal smiled. “You want all of us to surrender to you?”

“Not just to me.”

“Who, then? You were not followed here. We know that for a fact.”

“You’re right. I wasn’t followed here.”

Talal blinked and then looked around. “You speak gibberish. I expected better from you. You are obviously paralyzed with fear.”

“Trust me, it would take a lot more than your fat ass to make me afraid.” Before Talal could respond, Robie added, “I’m just making the offer. It’s up to you to take it or not. Do you refuse?”

“What I think I will do is watch all three of you die, right now.”

“I’ll take that as a no,” said Robie.

“Abdullah, kill him,” said Talal.

Abdullah drew two guns. It only took a moment, but he flipped one pistol to Robie, who used it to shoot three of the men closest to him, including the young man who had first met him. The bullet wound joined the knife wound on his neck as his life ended.

Abdullah fired twice, killing two other guards.

When the other men drew their weapons, Robie emptied his mag at them, grabbed Vance and Julie, and pulled them behind the front landing gear of the jet.

“Cover your ears,” said Robie to them.

“What?” said Vance.

“Just do it. Now.”

“Abdullah!” he shouted and the big man threw himself to the side and slid behind the van.