Chapter Two
They sat there in the dark, watching Maalek as he so casually chatted with Banatt. They were a most unlikely duo. Maalek was the lead magistrate in Cairo, one of three judges tasked with determining the fate of the ever-growing number of criminals who chose to wreak havoc on their beloved city. He was neat and polished, average height, bald, with smooth even features. Though other than his head, Ardeth guessed he was probably hairy, as what he could see of his hands and arms, even his fingers, were quite hairy. Banatt, a weasel of a man, tall and skinny, and a bit unkempt, easily recognizable by his large hawk nose and beady eyes, was the chief of the city’s police force. He’d taken the position about the same time as Maalek became lead magistrate. And life had not been good for the citizens of Cairo since.
Ardeth had read all of Armad’s reports on both of them and then Rick had filled him in on what he’d found also. Rick, finding once again that he enjoyed playing detective, had taken what Armad had found on the two and had continued investigating them. He watched them, determined their patterns, their comings and goings, where they ate, which bath house they preferred, as well as which whorehouse they frequented. They were both married, but that didn’t seem to stop them from finding ‘entertainment’ in venues other than their respective homes.
“Banatt likes throwing his weight around…makes up for his personal shortcomings” Rick said quietly.
“Maalek has been in the judicial system for nearly three decades, the lead prosecutor for the past ten years before becoming magistrate. Banatt, as you say, has shortcomings…many shortcomings. He’s a thug…as you say, a mobster. You must tell me more about the mobsters in
“Actually, Banatt would be the enforcer…Maalek would be the mobster. Well, actually, I guess that’s really the same thing, isn’t it…bad.”
“It doesn’t matter what we call them, my brother. They have to be stopped. They have every merchant in this city paying them tribute, just to do business, to protect them from the bad guys, who happen to be them, as if these people didn’t have the right to work and provide for their families. Armad said they also extort money from travelers, tourists, archeologists. It does not seem to matter to them whom they victimize. And if anyone does not pay, it seems they simply disappear. Armad has found that maybe half a dozen have disappeared after being contacted by Banatt and his men.”
They watched as Maalek and Banatt parted ways for the night. Their chat had obviously turned sour for some reason and when they split up, Maalek huffed off, his arms flapping, grumbling to himself, and loudly growling at those he passed on the street.
“I take it back” Rick said, an amazed tone in his voice.
“What?”
“He’s not a mobster…he’s scrooge.” As he stood, stretching his cramped legs, he said “All of a sudden, it’s freezing out here…let’s go home.”
“Yes…it is cold, my friend” as he, too, stretched his legs and followed, “Who’s scrooge?”
~~~***~~~***~~~
“I’m going to pay Maalek a little visit tonight, I think…” Ardeth started as he sat in one of Rick’s new chairs in his den, thinking the chair was just as comfortable as the ones he’d sent him.
“Why?” Rick asked, just a bit of disbelief in his voice.
“Maybe a little late night chat will make him think…about stopping what he’s doing and leaving town.”
“Again…why?”
“Because we have no real proof…nothing physical anyway, and you know from talking to the merchants, they’re too afraid to cross him.”
“I’ve watched them…seen them extort money from people.”
“I know, my friend, but without the victims to testify against him, you’re witness of their actions will not put them away. They will simply say you were not a party to any conversations they had with anyone, so you misunderstood whatever you think you heard. I am sorry, but it simply will not stop them. And these people have been victimized enough. We cannot force them to do what they cannot. If they were strong enough to do this, they would likely have been strong enough to stand up to Maalek and Banatt in the first place. I’m just going to pay Maalek a little visit. People, especially those who already have something to fear, are always afraid at night. He knows he’s made enemies, and I would bet that he doesn’t even trust his friend Banatt, not totally. They are comrades in crime, not true friends.”
“I don’t like it. His house is a fortress, and he’s got guards, Ardeth. These guys aren’t your run of the mill body guards. They’re not good guys who just happen to be unknowingly working for a bad guy. They’re criminals…guys he put in prison at some point…and probably released just to work for him.”
“I know, my friend…”
“Do you? I’ve checked on some of the guys working for Banatt. Some are…”
“I know, my friend…I will be careful…”
“I will be careful…” Rick mocked in his best Ardeth voice. “You say that as if I’d let you go in there by yourself.”
“I’m just going to talk to him. Explain the error of his ways…and explain what I expect him to do…tomorrow. I have to admit, I am curious as to why he does these things…what…”
“What made him turn bad? I can tell you that, little brother…money. Isn’t it always about money? He’s obviously gotten tired of plodding along in life, doing the right thing, and remaining poor for his efforts. He’s getting older and can’t see any relief in his life.” Rick had started pacing around the den as they talked. He normally paced when he was upset.
“That could certainly make a man reconsider his life. But not a truly good man.”
“No, not a good man. He was probably always bad, probably always doing little bad things, and then one day…maybe when he acquired the power to back up his desires…he decided to take it full out…do what he’d probably always wanted to do.”
“Yes…be the big, bad guy he’d probably always pictured himself” Ardeth agreed, and then hoping to calm his brother, asked again, “Who is scrooge…you never explained that.”
Rick just signed, “He was a…” and then realizing what Ardeth was doing, “Oh, no you don’t. You can’t just change the subject like that.”
“Ok, then, why has this upset you so? This is not the most dangerous thing I have ever done.” He’d felt it even while they were watching Maalek and Banatt. Rick was getting agitated about something, and Ardeth guessed it was that Rick knew he would be taking some action against them and worried that he wouldn’t be up to it yet. He could not express his gratitude for his brother’s concern and protectiveness; he had trouble finding the words. But he understood it, as he felt the same way about Rick. He would do anything, go anywhere, risk death itself, to keep him from harm. Rick was bigger and tougher than him and always felt he needed to be the big brother and look out for him; just as Nafad and Kashell had always done. Ardeth felt truly blessed, with his big brother ever guarding and protecting him, and his beloved Ani always worrying about him and taking care of him. He almost chuckled to himself. He was the Chieftain of the Twelve Tribes of the Medjai, a fierce warrior, presumed to be the best warrior among them, though he knew he was not. Nafad could best him if he wished to do so, though he would never embarrass him so or cause their warriors to doubt his capabilities, and Kalil was every bit as good, if not better, than him. He was by all appearances, the fiercest of men, able to kill in a thousand ways, capable of torturing a man, or woman, when circumstances dictated, and often held the fate of men, sometimes mankind, in his hands, at his discretion. And yet, he knew that as every man needed the love and care of his family and friends, he did need his big brother looking out for him and he did need his beloved Ani caring for him. And he thanked God he had them.
“Exactly…”
“Exactly, my friend. You know I can sneak into just about anyplace…unseen…unheard…”
“Exactly…”
“So, why are you so mad?”
“Exactly…” he stammered, and realized that in his frustration he’d been repeating himself, and then with an almost imperceptible quiver in his voice, “Because you’ve been through too much lately.”
“I am fine, my brother, truly…even the stiffness in my shoulder is almost gone.”
“No, it’s not. I’ve been watching you. This late in the day, after using it all day, you’re shoulder is still sore.”
“Just a little. You know Ani would have insisted I postpone this trip if she thought it wasn’t healed enough.”
“Yeah, well, you can’t for a second think I’m letting you go in there, or anywhere, alone” Rick said flatly.
Ardeth stared at him for a few moments, seeing that he wasn’t going to calm down about this until he gave in. “Ok, you can go…”
“Hah! As if you can say I can or can’t go…” Rick said, still pacing. Ardeth just watched as he did so, and then smiled when Rick turned to him and said “Ok, so let’s just do it. We’ll go in, have a chat, and get out…hopefully without any of his guards catching us.”
“Actually, I was thinking that we should pay Maalek a visit first, and then Banatt. Let them stew about it tomorrow…”
“And see if they get together again…”
“Yes. If we do this right, we may get them to turn on each other. And then tomorrow, or tomorrow night, I’m not sure which, we pay Maalek another visit.”
“Yeah…scrooge” he mused, and then “Maalek is in the best position to do something about Banatt…if we scare them enough…turn them against each other.”
“Who is scrooge?” Ardeth finally insisted.
“Come on, I’m hungry. I’ll tell you while we eat.”
“You’re always hungry.”
“You’re right…so let’s eat, and I’ll tell you all about scrooge” he said as he headed down the hall towards the kitchen. “Scrooge was a mean, creepy old guy…he was visited by some nasty ghosts one night.”
“That is creepy…”
“Yes…but he was creepy, too.”
~~~***~~~***~~~
“Ok, so tell me again why we’re out here alone, with all those warriors at the compound…not to mention we’ll have to explain this to Kalil and Alex. You know they’re going to have something to say about it” Rick groused as they made their way towards Maalek’s big house. It was a nice big house along the river, well secluded, and well guarded.
“They would want to come…”
“And tell me again why we’re not going to take out any of his guards?”
“Because, once we’re gone…I’m gone…he will find out I crept in right through all his guards, and that will unnerve him all the more.”
As they now sat in the dark shadows of the trees along the perimeter of Maalek’s residential grounds, watching to determine the pattern of the guards’ wanderings, “I know the answer to this one, little brother, but I have to ask anyway. I just want to hear it, so indulge me, ok? Why don’t we just take Maalek…and Banatt for that matter…out? It would certainly save everyone, especially us, a lot of trouble in the future.”
“As despicable as they are, and though I agree it would be less aggravation for us in the future, I cannot just kill them. And you could not either, I know that. We cannot simply commit murder, or we’d be no better than they are. I kill when I must, for reasons that warrant it. But I will not just murder someone, even if they deserve it.”
~~~***~~~***~~~
“I should be there” Za’id groused.
“I know you want to be there, but father is right. Your responsibilities will be more than just protecting Kalil, as much as we both know he needs someone looking out for him” Daya said, trying to calm him.
“Yes, he’s likely to get himself into trouble, you know that.”
“I know…but I’m glad you didn’t go. I feel better with you here at night…to protect us.”
Za’id looked at her, his obvious question in his eyes “You don’t feel safe? Has something happened I should know about?” He knew it was likely that Imaias Bokhar’s intrusion and assault on her probably still made her feel too vulnerable when she was alone at night.
After putting Inara to bed, they’d sat on the pillows in the main chamber, her behind him, letting him lean back on her. She’d wrapped her legs and arms around him and hugged and caressed him as they talked. He’d had a busy day with Nafad, and she knew that and the fact that he was worried about Kalil had caused him stress. Now, he turned in her arms and looked at her intently.
“Nothing has happened. It’s not that I don’t feel safe here, at home. It’s just that…well, only when you’re gone…I guess I don’t. And now with Inara, I just feel better when you’re home.”
“No one will get in here…no one will hurt you, my angel, or Inara” he said as he caressed her face. He moved off her and sat back on the pillows, pulling her to sit on his lap. She snuggled against him, and they sat quietly for a few minutes.
“Have you written anymore?” he asked.
“Yes, some. I talked to Elder Kadeem about grandfather…to get a different perspective. He was one of grandfather’s best friends and he has some wonderful stories. They were quite a pair when they were young. Now I know where father got his youthful mischievousness. He said father drove grandmother crazy; he was always getting into trouble. I could probably write an entire book just on father’s childhood.”
“Maybe you should.”
“Kalil said he’d get me a few more journals while he’s in Cairo. I think I’ll need them.”
Za’id moaned at the feel of her hand as it now inched its way into his shirt. She’d undone one of the buttons while they talked and slid her hand in. Now her fingers were gently circling his nipple, exciting him.
“You know, we still have an hour or so before Inara wakes again.”
“Yes?”
“Well, I was thinking I could relieve some of that stress you’re feeling. You are awfully tense.”
“I am a bit tense” he agreed, and then moaned as her fingers slipped inside the waist of his pants. He laid back as she moved off him and began unfastening his pants, every touch of her hands electrifying. His last coherent thought being that he was glad he was here with her.
~~~***~~~***~~~
A short while later, standing in the shadows just inside Maalek’s bedroom, they listened for anything that might mean they hadn’t been as stealthy as they thought they’d been. They’d found that Maalek’s wife slept in a bedroom down the hall, both thinking she was a smart woman. She probably knew her husband, and though for some reason remained married to him, chose not to sleep with him. Maybe she was aware of his philandering.
Ardeth thought again of the plan they’d discussed. Quite surprising himself, he’d found he liked Rick’s little scrooge story, finding the lesson quite intriguing, though deep down, he truly doubted that he’d be able to scare Maalek into changing his ways. They’d agreed he would be the ghost in Maalek’s nightmare, and Rick would remain a shadow, only making his presence known if things didn’t go as planned. Rick had agreed that while he was more the take action, kick butt type, Ardeth was indeed the scary type. As much as Ardeth tried not to be so, he could be quite fierce and dangerous. When the situation warranted it, Rick had seen him effortlessly slice a man, barely breaking the skin, the simple threat of being cut in two and the control Ardeth showed when being so threatening enough to bring terror to a man’s heart. And then, he’d seen him lop a man’s head off with one smooth stroke, as if he were slicing through a loaf of bread. He could indeed be scary.
He watched as Ardeth silently stepped up next to Maalek’s bed, a large four-poster bed, with dark bedding. Using his scimitar, he eased the heavy quilts off Maalek’s body, seeing that he had no weapons at his sides. Then, surprising even Rick, he carefully slid his scimitar under the pillows that so gently cradled Maalek’s head, ensuring that no weapons rested there either. He looked at the nightstand next to the bed, realizing there was probably a pistol in the drawer. He would have to make sure Maalek didn’t move in that direction. He would not risk the drawer creaking or squeaking if he tried to open it to see. He watched as Maalek shivered from the cold night air. He wore only pajama bottoms, as Rick called them, and Ardeth was amazed to see that as he guessed, the man was extremely hairy, not just his chest, but his entire torso and his arms, and probably his back as well. That would be likely from the extent and thickness of the hair covering what Ardeth could see of him. He had relatively little body hair compared to Nafad and Rashid, who were both somewhat hairy, but they had nothing compared to the coat of fur this man wore, Ardeth thought, as appalled by the sight as he was amazed.
Then Ardeth slowly, skillfully slid the tip of his blade down Maalek’s cheek, pressing enough to draw him from whatever his dreams might be, but not enough to break the skin. He did it again before Maalek woke, his eyes popping open, his breath hitching, and as he started to jerk up, Ardeth pressed the blade against his neck.
“Don’t move, Maalek” he said, and Rick almost giggled at the sound of his voice. Ardeth’s normally deep, smooth voice now had an even deeper, eerie tone to it, a ghostly sound. He could indeed be scary when he wanted to be. And Rick was sure that with the only light, dim though it was, coming from the adjacent bathroom, the door only cracked open, and Ardeth in his dark robes, he probably did appear to be a big spooky ghost in the night. Maalek could only see a large dark presence at the side of his bed. He would not be able to make out any features. He’d surely have no idea it was the Medjai Chieftain paying him a ghostly visit.
“What…who…what do you want?” Maalek voice quivered.
“Don’t speak…listen…” Ardeth growled, again running his blade slowly down Maalek’s cheek and neck.
“Don’t hurt me…please…” he again stammered.
“I said…don’t…speak…or I will hurt you.” Ardeth paused for a few seconds, for effect, and then continued, “I will tell you a story…a short pathetic story…”
“Wha…” Maalek squeaked, but stopped at feeling the tip of the blade against his Adam’s apple.
“I will tell you of a man who, though I now doubt his seeming devotion to justice even then, was once a supposed defender of the innocent. This man prosecuted the criminals who would prey upon the citizens of our wonderful city. It saddens my heart to see what this man has become and to know what he now does to the very innocents he has sworn to protect. Justice finds no measure with this man, and I wonder if it ever did.”
As Ardeth talked, Rick noticed his blade relaxed just a bit away from the Maalek’s neck, and he could see it in his eyes. He would go for the gun that was surely in the drawer, and Rick knew Ardeth would know it was there also.
And he did, as soon as the blade was little more than an inch from his neck, Maalek’s hand quickly jerked over, his fingers quickly pulling the drawer open and grasping the handgun from the drawer. He screeched at feeling the blade cut his hand as the weapon was knocked away, making a heavy thumping sound on the floor before sliding away from the bed.
“Now, that may get you hurt, Maalek” he said calmly, almost too calmly, sending a chill down even Rick’s spine. He thought about how Ardeth got in situations like this, like he was someone else, not the mild, gentle man he knew he truly was. Also causing the hairs on his neck to stand up was the tone in Ardeth’s voice when he said Maalek’s name, as if it was something evil that could only be spat from his mouth, not spoken.
“No…no…please. Who are you?”
“I said…don’t speak…I’m not finished with my story” he said firmly. “Now, this man now recruits the very criminals, the scum of the earth, whom he once prosecuted, to victimize those he once presumably protected.” He watched the angry glare in Maalek’s eyes grow darker, and then a sneer cross his face. “Now, I see you are thinking that if I had any proof of my allegations, I would bring this man before the other magistrates. That may yet happen” he said, and then smiled “Any other thoughts, Maalek?” not waiting for an answer, simply tapping his neck with his blade “I thought not.”
He stared at Maalek for another few moments and then continued, “I can see that you’ve guessed that you are the man in my story. I was too obvious, huh? I must improve my storytelling skills” he teased. And then his voice changed back to its scary tone, “Was it always a show? Did you ever truly represent justice, or were you simply furthering your own desires, coming to this?” Again, he didn’t wait for an answer as he could see from Maalek’s eyes that he would not answer those questions.
Ardeth sighed heavily. “Well, I admit, I have heard better stories…but let me finish. The ending is always the best part of any story” he said and then moved closer to Maalek, pressing the blade against his throat with just a bit more force, showing him how close he was to death, and growled “I know exactly who you are…what you are. I know everything about you and your miserable life…every little detail…every…dirty…little …secret. You will stop everything, and you will resign and leave Cairo. You have one day…or I will return…and I will do more than tell you a story.”
As Ardeth moved back from him slightly, he yelled “Who do you think you are…you can’t come in here and threaten me…” but his rant was strangled by a powerful hand around his throat.
“You do not want to anger me further, Maalek…do as I said and this story will have a happy ending.”
As he released his grip on his throat, Maalek squeaked “You won’t get out of here alive.”
“I got in” Ardeth said calmly and then smashed his fist, still grasping the hilt of his scimitar, into Maalek’s face, knocking him unconscious.
~~~***~~~***~~~
Once outside and away from the house, Rick said “Well, I thought it was a nice little story” with a smile.
“It was ok…not quite as good as your scrooge story.”
After they slipped passed the guards, quite a pitiful bunch as they were, Ardeth explained that he wanted to get to Banatt quickly, and tell him a similar story.
~~~***~~~***~~~
Later, as they explained what they’d done to Kalil and Alex, Rick boasted “You have no idea how scary your father can be. I’m standing in the shadows, listening to him, not believing at times that it’s really him.” And then turning to Ardeth, he said “You left Banatt that little mark on purpose, didn’t you?”
“Yes, I made a point of letting Maalek feel my scimitar along his face and neck enough that when he sees Banatt’s cut, he’ll assume that he’s double crossed him. And I doubt there will be any way Banatt can convince him that he’s not my source.”
“But what reason would he have for crossing Maalek?” Kalil asked.
“Doesn’t matter” Rick said. “They’ll each think back to any number of things they can hold against each other, suspect each other of using for his own interests.”
“But Maalek is the only one with the power to stop what they’re doing. I am sure he had a hand in Banatt becoming Chief of Police. He does not have the credentials to get it on his own.”
“So, then, why put them at odds with each other? What does that get us? Just make Maalek do what you want” Alex asked.
“Insecurity…” Kalil said. “The loss of trust between them will make them both feel they are vulnerable and they might come to believe they have no choice but to do as father instructed. They have to fear the consequences of their actions. Or…they’ll either continue here thinking they can best father, or they’ll go elsewhere and start over.”
“It would be nice to know who, and how many, they’ve killed. Some may have given in to their threats and given them their money…other than the merchants, I mean. Those who didn’t were killed, and they must have families who might want to know what happened to them.”
“I’ve thought of that, but it is unlikely Maalek or Banatt will tell us who their victims were, or would have kept any records that might incriminate them. And relatives would likely have gone to Banatt to report their people missing. He would not have kept records, for the same reason. We know that sociologist from New York disappeared. He foolishly let it be known that he was backed quite heavily. He was back and forth between the dig and Cairo, and then he just disappeared. Armad said that the university in New York sent someone to inquire, but he learned nothing. He was given to believe that their man probably absconded with their money.”
Ardeth looked at each of them and then said “Let’s get some sleep. We’ll need to watch them from first light. And hope they do the right thing.”
“Yeah, if not, we’ll have to pay them another visit.”
“Yes, but we will need to be even more careful. Maalek will probably have more guards tomorrow night, and possibly some in the house, perhaps even in his bedroom. Only one more night of playing scrooge, my brother. I believe my instructions were simple enough. But if not, I will make it painfully clear what he is to do.”
“Ok, but you’re not scrooge…you’re the ghost” Rick said as they all headed upstairs.
~~~***~~~***~~~
Kalil was amazed at just how easy it was to follow Maalek. His father and uncle had been sure that Maalek would not know who had paid him the nightly visit, certainly not that it had been a Medjai, so it wasn’t likely that he’d be particularly noticed. But Maalek should certainly be more cautious given the previous night. And considering all that he and Banatt were up to, one would think that he’d always be more alert to his surroundings and those around him. His guards were no more observant than he seemed to be; though Maalek probably thought they were. They didn’t seem to be interested in anything other than getting through their boring day.
He waited until Maalek left his office, followed him down the hall to his courtroom and began the proceedings set for the morning. Then he made his way, obviously unnoticed, back to the judge’s chambers and slipped inside. Maybe he could find something incriminating, or maybe something that would help them identify those Maalek and Banatt killed, though he doubted it. What he really wanted was any financial records, to help determine how much they’d stolen from their victims. He knew his father and uncle were going to the bank to seize Maalek’s and Banatt’s accounts. The bank manager, Akmed, a Medjai, would help with that, though technically it wasn’t legal. But it would be nice to at least return some of the stolen money, especially to the merchants. Their lives were difficult enough without having their hard-earned money being stolen from them.
~~~***~~~***~~~
Alex followed Banatt throughout the day. He almost chuckled to himself when he saw the nice neat cuts Ardeth had left on the man’s cheek and neck. From his description of what he’d done to Maalek the previous night, there was no way he would not see that Banatt had had some dealing with his ghostly visitor.
Banatt, too, had gone to his office, stayed about an hour, and then left with half a dozen of his men. They had all agreed that Maalek was the key to ending this. Banatt was his puppet, the enforcer. He and his men would do the dirty work, but Maalek determined what the dirty work entailed. Alex was appalled at how they simply swept through the town, business as usual. Ardeth had determined that most of the police force were honest men, dedicated to justice and helping the citizens of Cairo. He guessed it was difficult for them to work with men they must know are criminals. Under the circumstances, their efforts would prove fruitless. They could not oppose Banatt.
~~~***~~~***~~~
“Maybe he really thought he was visited by a ghost” Rick said, a bit of amusement in his voice.
“Maybe…” Ardeth agreed. “Or maybe he figures that because he was visited in the middle of the night and not charged through normal legal channels that his ghost truly had no ground to stand on.”
“Well, he’s figured wrong. Once he sees Banatt’s face, he’ll know he no longer has the upper hand. He’ll guess that Banatt talked, that that’s how the ghost knows so much.”
“Yes” Ardeth agreed. The four of them sat and watched. Maalek and Banatt generally met at this time of the day, probably to compare notes and assess their gains for the day.
“You know, Marie mentioned some months ago that the marketplace seemed different, but I didn’t really pay much attention at the time. She’s very intuitive. I just didn’t get what she was saying. And mother noticed that some of the vendors were gone…some of those she’d dealt with for years.” And then looking at Ardeth, he said “That might upset Aunt Ani…that old man she was so fond of just kind of disappeared several months ago. I thought he just died or something…maybe he didn’t just die.”
“Yeah…I know who you mean” Rick added. “Your mother would buy a few things from him when she’d go to the market, just because Ani had taken a liking to him, and he obviously needed the business.”
Maalek walked up to the café and sat at a table along the outside wall, near the corner of the building, probably so he could see anyone approaching from either street. He ordered something to drink and sat, once in a while looking down the street, his eyes once sweeping around spotting his men where they had taken up posts on both sides of the street.
They all smiled when Banatt rounded the corner. He sat opposite Maalek at the table. They watched as each man studied the other, Banatt speaking first, obviously asking about the bruise on Maalek’s face and the bandage around his hand. Maalek said something, probably about some incident at the courthouse during the day’s proceedings, and then obviously asked about the cuts on Banatt’s cheek and neck, his eyes squinting at Banatt’s reply. They all knew that Banatt had lied about what, or who, had caused the cuts, and Maalek knew it. They could see in his eyes that he remembered how the ghost had run his blade over his cheek and neck.
“I wish we could hear what they’re saying” Alex whispered.
“As do I, nephew” Ardeth said, his eyes never leaving the two. “But we know they are at odds now. Maalek will believe that Banatt is our source.”
“Why don’t they just tell each other they were visited?”
“Because they do not truly trust each other. Maalek will not say because he’s spent all day wondering who gave his ghost information. He does no trust anyone enough to seek their help in determining who betrayed him. Now he knows…or thinks he knows. And Banatt will not want Maalek to think he is so useless that someone snuck into his house and caught him off guard. What good is an enforcer if he can’t protect himself? He might find himself suddenly replaced.”
“And you planted that little seed last night, my friend” Rick added.
“Yes…I hoped he would believe that his master would think he was incapable of continuing their little partnership if he thought he couldn’t even protect himself from such an attack. Since they both received such visits, it is slightly possible that if they were honest with each other and compared notes, they would believe each other. But they are not honest, sane men, given to reasoning things out. Whatever Maalek told Banatt about his bruises obviously seemed plausible enough that he could not see the connection. Criminals are not rational, intelligent men, my friend. All we had to do was plant a seed. It took root in their distrust of each other.”
“So, I guess you’ll be paying them another visit tonight?” Kalil asked.
“Just Maalek” his father said. “He is the only one who matters now.”
They watched as Banatt left. Maalek jerked his head and one of his men ran across the street to him. They talked for a minute and the man ran off. They followed Maalek back to the street that led to his home, to make sure he was indeed going home.
“Let’s get something to eat before we do this…” Rick said, “and then you can tell me again why we don’t just off them both and be done with it. We do that with evil, you know…just do it and be done with it…let the world rest easy for a while, until the next evil comes around.”
“Yes, big brother…in some cases we do that. But in this case, we must at least attempt to do it right, for the sake of justice.”
“Letting them go can’t be justice.”
“No, but without concrete proof, we wouldn’t be able to convict them, and then in a sense, they will have won…and they’d still have all that money. We can stop them and run them out of town, and send word to every other city in
“But you’re thinking we may still need to take care of them the hard way, aren’t you…you’re dreading it.”
“Yes…and you’re always hungry, my brother.”
“Yes…I am.”
~~~***~~~***~~~
Again, Ardeth stood next to his bed. He’d checked under his pillow, finding no weapon there, and again pulled the covers off him to check for weapons, finding a pistol grasped in his hand, his finger on the trigger. Ardeth found it amazing that he could sleep so soundly when he had to believe that his ghost would return, and also that he slept so still that he hadn’t actually fired the pistol. Ardeth often slept with his weapons at the ready, even his handgun in his hand in the direst of circumstances, but never did he sleep with his finger on the trigger.
He sighed quietly, thinking he should just get this over with, and then gently tapped Maalek on the cheek with his scimitar, immediately pulling it back to Maalek’s hand. Maalek’s eyes shot open and as he started to sit up, he also started to pull his gun hand up and towards the dark figure standing next to his bed.
“What the…” he yelled, and then screeched at feeling his arm cut.
“I will cut your hand off if you do not drop the pistol” the ghost hissed at him.
Maalek immediately dropped the pistol on the bed, his eyes darting to the dark corner of his bedroom.
“He was not vigilant enough…” the ghost sighed as Maalek’s eyes fell to his ‘guard’ lying on the floor in the corner. “You really ought to hire better help.”
“What do you want?”
“What do I want? I told you last night what I want…but maybe I was not clear enough. I want the extortion to cease and the terrorizing of tourists. But I know for a fact that it continued today. I want you to pack up your things and leave Cairo. You are no better than these men you hire…these criminals. And under the circumstances, no more alert either.”
“You are the criminal…stealing into my home at night. You have no proof of anything…or you would take this to the other magistrates. I suggest you leave my house now and do not return, or I will find out who you are and deal with you. I have my ways.”
“For a man sitting in his bed with a blade to his throat, you are awfully bold. Maybe I should just kill you and be done with it…if I am such a criminal.”
“You wouldn’t…or you would have already done so. You think you are such a noble man, when you are actually nothing but a coward. If I were the criminal you say I am, I would have used my day to find out who you are and have you killed for threatening me. If I was the criminal you say I am, I would have spent my day ensuring that there were no witnesses to speak against me” he said, a sure tone in his voice.
If he could have seen his ghost’s face, he would have seen a look of shock. Quickly, Ardeth composed himself. “You should hope that I do not find truth in your words…or I will return.”
“And do what? Kill me? Like I said…you are too much of a coward to do that. You’re all talk.”
“There are worse things than death, Maalek. I will be watching tomorrow. I also have ways” he said calmly, and if Maalek had any sense, the calmness of the ghost’s voice would have scared him. But he simply stared up at the figure before him, a sneer on his face. Again, before he knew what was happening, the ghost’s fist smashed into his face, knocking him unconscious.
~~~***~~~***~~~
Sometime later, he woke. For all his boldness with the intruder, his heart now pounded. He looked down at his worthless guard lying on the floor. And then he gasped. Not once during the encounter had he thought about his wife sleeping down the hall. Was she also dead? He rushed down the hall to her room, finding the door ajar. He slowly pushed the door open and peeked in. He heard a sound coming from the bed, quickly reached in and switched on the light, before rushing to her bed. She was there, tied up and gagged. Momentarily, he was relieved. There had been no deep love between them for some years, but they were good together, both getting out of the marriage what they wanted. He liked her in a way, and in other ways they satisfied each other. She knew him and yet tolerated him, as he knew no other woman would.
He quickly untied her and eased the gag from her mouth, hugging her for just a moment.
“You all right?”
“Yes…” was all she had time to say before he rushed out of the room.
He went back to check on the man in his room, finding he was simply unconscious. Puzzled, he left the room and turned down the hall, finding another guard at the end of the hall at the top of the staircase. And then another halfway down the stairs. The others, more than a dozen, were all unconscious, some bound and gagged, some obviously hit hard enough that they were not considered a threat for the ghost’s visit, all left throughout the house and the yard where they were to be on guard. Some guards, he thought.
As he walked back into the house, it struck him that he should be afraid of his ghostly visitor. He knew he wasn’t truly a ghost, he just wished to appear as such, to scare him. And in a way, it did scare him. The ghost wasn’t alone in his visits. One man couldn’t possibly take out all of his guards alone. He had help. And if he had help, then more knew about his little side business. That’s what truly scared him. Despite his threat to the ghost, he hadn’t been able to find out anything about who he might be. The ghost left no clues, nothing in what he said or did, no way of discovering his identity. Banatt had received no information about anyone unusual being in town. And Banatt should certainly know. He was the chief of police, after all. For all the good he seemed to have been. And he’d obviously lied about the cuts on his face. Chances are he had been the one, for whatever reason, however it all came about, to tell the ghost about their illegal dealings. They had profited nicely for some time now. But now, if he couldn’t figure out who the ghost was and eliminate him, he would have to reconsider his options. But he knew he could not go back to way he was for so long, a simple man living on the meager pittance the city paid him.
He sighed again, now becoming angry and resolute; he determined what he must do. Somehow, he would find out who the ghost is and eliminate him and his men. He was curious as to why anyone would champion those he’d chosen to prey upon. They were the nobodies of the city, the marketplace vendors. No one ever paid any attention to them. They were the lowest of the low, and in his mind, they probably cheated enough people throughout the years to justify their victimization. And the foreigners, all coming to Egypt to find treasure or make deals for things that they had not right to, that should never be removed from the country. They always bragged about how everything was such a steal here. They could buy or trade for what they would take home to impress their family and friends. They cheapened the very nature of
~~~***~~~***~~~
“Ok…that was scary” Rick said once they were off the grounds. He watched as all the warriors who’d incapacitated all of Maalek’s men and then stood guard around the house now moved up around them.
“Yes…I believe we will find Banatt and his men are dead. I underestimated him, Rick. He was not going about his life as usual today. He only wanted me to think he didn’t believe my threat. He has had his men busy eliminating witnesses. I set Banatt up to be killed. I marked him so that Maalek would suspect him as my source of information. I did not think Maalek would act so quickly. I got Banatt killed.”
“Whoa…wait a second. First, we don’t know that Banatt is dead…”
“Or his men?”
“Or his men. And second, even if he is dead, you didn’t get him killed. His involvement with Maalek got him killed. He chose his life.”
“And what about the merchants? What if he had them killed…or some of them, the ones he thought might find the strength to speak against him?” Ardeth said, and then turned to Armad.
“I have heard nothing of any merchants being harmed or killed. Maalek must know that they are too afraid to speak against him, or they would have by now. And he could not extort money from dead men…he would be killing his source of income.”
“Besides, he’d have to kill them all…and that he could not hide” Rick asked.
~~~***~~~***~~~
“We found Banatt, his wife, and his men in his house…all dead” Armad said. He’d been waiting for them to return from their nightly visit to Maalek and had found Rick’s big chair quite comfortable. Momentarily, he thought he’d have to get a chair like that one.
“Who was watching him today?”
“I had warriors following him throughout the day. He and his men went into the house early this afternoon, and never came out. They didn’t seem nervous or concerned…talked about being hungry. Banatt said his wife would fix something for them.”
“So, how’d they die?”
“I didn’t know he had an escape tunnel, of sorts. He had a hidden passageway that leads out to an out-building at the far end of the grounds. Looks like a gardener’s shed or something…not that the grounds around his house look like they’ve been tended. Maalek’s men obviously went in through there. I would guess that Maalek has something similar, some way to get out of the house if he thinks he needs to. All were gutted or throats cut.”
“I should have considered something like that” Ardeth groaned.
“None of us did” Rick tossed in.
“I had a chat with Hasim” Armad continued. “He and those not on Banatt’s private detail are good men, I believe. I told him to wait until I told him to take care of the mess at Banatt’s. I wasn’t sure if you wanted Maalek knowing we’d found them. Hasim will see to it that things get back to normal around town.”
“Maalek will probably take out his own men, too…at least most of them. We’ll take those at his home tonight.”
Ardeth sat quietly for a few minutes, cursing himself for not thinking of how wrong this could have gone. He hadn’t considered just how evil Maalek was.
“Kalil…tomorrow I want you and Alex to check back with Akmed at the bank. We had Maalek’s and Banatt’s accounts moved to a new account so they couldn’t get to them. See if either one tried today. He was also going to have copies of their records made…they should be ready. I want to see when they’ve made big deposits. Armad…I want you to work with Hasim, if you trust him, and see if you can find out who has gone missing since Maalek and Banatt took over. Relatives would have reported their people missing to the police, though Banatt would surely have had those records destroyed, but Hasim and his men might recall something. Between that and the bank records, we might be able to find out which foreigners were robbed and killed.”
He finally stood, and said “I need to walk…” heading towards the door. “No…actually, I need to ride” and switched directions in the hallway, now heading out the back door towards the stables. He hadn’t brought Sharak with him this trip, but knew that Rick had a couple good mounts, good enough to give him a fast run.
Rick followed Ardeth, not wanting to let him out of his sight now. He knew he was feeling guilty, as he was also. They hadn’t considered everything they should have, and it cost lives.
~~~***~~~***~~~
The next night…
Maalek sat in his den, in the dark, waiting. He new the ghost would return. He guessed since the ghost had obviously had a connection to Banatt that he’d have found him dead, no longer able to speak against him. He wondered if those on the police force who were not among Banatt’s special detail had figured out yet what had happened to them. He’d heard nothing today of any massacre at Banatt’s home. Surely, if they’d been discovered, word would have spread quickly. But none of this would matter once the ghost came to visit this night, as he would not be leaving alive. He had impressed upon his men how important it was that they remained vigilant this night, as their lives and livelihoods depended on him staying alive and able to conduct business as usual.
Maalek sat in the chair behind his desk, his back to the curtains now closed over the big wall of windows. He’d made sure that all the doors and windows throughout the house were locked, and that his wife was now secure upstairs in her room. For whatever reason, the ghost hadn’t killed her the previous night, so he guessed he wouldn’t kill her tonight, for no good reason.
With gun in hand, he waited. It had been just after midnight when the ghost visited the previous two nights, so he guessed that would be when he’d appear tonight.
Two hours later, he jerked awake, his eyes darting around. He’d dozed off, he realized, so was it a dream or had he actually heard the whooshing sound of the night air. But then he heard it again. This time of year, the nights were even colder than usual and a heavy breeze tended to rush in off the Nile. But he’d secured all the doors and windows, so where was the wind coming from? Slowly, he pushed up out of his chair, his gun firmly in hand. He assured himself that he would not be surprised by the ghostly visitor again. Vaguely, he wondered why the man, and he knew it was just a man, chose to assume such a guise.
Slowly, he made his way out into the hallway, stopping to look down both ways, seeing nothing. Still, the cold night air chilled the space around him, and he stopped to determine from which way the cold air came. Down the hall from the living room, he guessed, so he turned that way. As he carefully entered the dark living room, he stopped, sensing someone was there. He edged in just a little farther to where he knew he would have his back against the wall, with nothing to impede his movement, or his retreat. As his eyes adjusted to the darkness, he saw that the drapes were wafting at the window on the far side of the room. The ghost had obviously entered there, and he guessed, was still in the room, likely hiding in the darkness until he foolishly went farther into the room.
“Show yourself” he said boldly, half expecting that the ghost would indeed step out and confront him.
And then, just as he quietly chastised himself for not turning on the lights, the ghostly voice said from right next to him “As you wish” startling him so that he jerked around towards the hallway. His retreat was cut off. His anger, both at himself for not considering the lights before, and at the intruder for getting the better of him, again, grew until he shook. Surprised that he still held his pistol, his hand instinctively jerked up, pointing at the figure before him. With the light from down the hallway at his back, the ghost looked even larger than he thought he did the previous two nights, and he’d thought then that the ghostly figure was indeed huge.
Just as it dawned on him that he hadn’t yet shot the ghost, the man that was the ghostly presence, his finger now shakily beginning to squeeze the trigger, he chastised himself for his hesitation, a strangled scream erupted from him. Momentarily, he thought that surely he hadn’t been the one screaming. But the pain in his hand quickly assured him that it was him. As he held up his bleeding hand, he vaguely heard the gun hitting the floor and sliding away.
“Again, you are too slow” the ghost said calmly.
And then again, he heard the screaming and realized that he had not been the only one screaming, her scream again echoing from her room upstairs and down into the hallway.
Realizing the ghost was not alone, he growled “You…don’t…” his breathing quickening, “…leave her be…please” surprising himself that he cared enough to beg for her life.
“I told you that there were worse things than dying.”
Maalek simply glared at him, until she screamed again.
“Why should I not kill her? You killed innocent foreigners, and even your own cohorts. For what? To hide your guilt? You would not have gotten away with it. I gave you a chance to just leave. You would have had your life…and hers.”
“No one is innocent. And you have no proof…no witnesses. If you kill us, you will be just one more murderer.”
“Justice often comes in strange forms” the ghost said. Ardeth knew that in a sense, Maalek would be right. But he had the responsibility of protecting the people, and sometimes that meant he had to insure justice for the many, not the one. Maalek might yet decide that killing some or all of the merchants he’d victimized would be worth any risk, rather than risk someone mustering enough courage to speak against him. He had to spare those innocents who would be victimized in the future, and in this instance, had to exact justice for those who had already fallen victim to this evil man. It was not as he wished it to be, and it certainly was not perfect justice. But it was as it had to be at this time.
Resignation in his voice, Maalek snarled, “Then go ahead and do it…kill me…I’m not afraid of you.”
Finally, Ardeth moved so that Maalek could see him, seeing recognition on his face, and then fear.
“You have not been listening, Maalek…there are worse things than death” and he knew Maalek now saw that he had indeed had a chance, and he had indeed wasted that chance. He knew the Medjai Chieftain was the only person in
Adding to his horror, as if the Chieftain had somehow signaled them, half a dozen warriors entered the room.
~~~***~~~***~~~
Ardeth left Maalek to his men. As they took him from the house, he glanced up the stairs, obviously wondering about his wife, but didn’t ask about her. He knew he was a dead man, and Ardeth wondered if he worried that she might also suffer his fate.
Ardeth stood at the foot of the stairs waiting for Rick. When he appeared at the top of the stairs, with Maalek’s wife, Ardeth noticed that Rick had a firm grip on her upper arm. He also noticed that though she did not look at all happy, she was not harmed, no blood, no bruises.
“Convincing?” Rick asked as they descended the stairs.
“Yes…” Ardeth said, and then looking at her, said “You will be happy to know that your husband did show some concern for your well-being.”
“Some…I’m sure” she snarled. “Now what?”
“Now, you take what you need from this house and you leave Cairo. Your husband’s bank accounts have been seized. We will somehow determine if your husband’s victims had any relatives and the money will be divided among them and the merchants he extorted from.”
“What? I can’t…how will I live? I have a right to…”
“You have no rights here…and you will do well to remember that. Tomorrow, I expect to learn that you have made arrangements to leave Cairo.”
“And if I don’t…if I go to the law…to Banatt?”
“I do not believe you understand the full extent of your husband’s crimes. He has victimized the citizens of Cairo…as well as a number of foreigners, whom I am sure did not come to Cairo to be robbed and killed. And it seems now that he has killed all those involved in his crimes, including Banatt. If I have more than tomorrow to think about this, I may come to believe that you did indeed know about and possibly also had a hand in your husband’s crimes, and I might feel it necessary to deal further with you, Mrs. Maalek. Your husband will not know your fate…you can either do as I say or share his” Ardeth said sternly, and Rick heard how he emphasized her married name, almost as the name had spit from him when he was dealing with Maalek.
“Oh…” was also she could say.
“Tomorrow, Mrs. Maalek.”
“Yes…tomorrow” she said as she watched them leave through the front door.
They walked through the grounds and out to the jeep they’d left down the road. The warriors, along with Maalek and his men, were already gone.
“So, my brother…it does not end happily as your scrooge story did” Ardeth said sadly. Even knowing there was nothing else he could have done, taking any life, even a mean, hateful one, brought sadness to his heart.
“You’re wrong, little brother, for those they would victimize in the future…and the merchants of the marketplace…it is a happy ending.”
~~~***~~~***~~~
Two days later…
Ardeth entered their bedchamber quietly, trying not to wake her. He’d already removed his weapons and robes and boots in the other room. After removing his shirt and pants, he sat on the bed and thought for a minute. Finally thinking there was nothing left to think about in this situation, he willed himself to just stop thinking about it. He’d done what he had to do, the only thing he could do to resolve it in the best interest of the innocents in the city. All he really wanted to do was feel her soft, warm body against his.
He was just about to push further back onto the bed when he felt her move up behind him. She straddled his body, pressing her body against his back and wrapping her arms and legs around him, her small hands caressing his chest and stomach.
“I’m glad you’re home, sweetie” she whispered against his back. “I missed you.”
“As am I, Little One…and I missed you, too” he said as his hands covered hers, following them as she glided them over his body.
She kissed his scars and tattoos, “This does look like it’s healing well” she said as she kissed his newest tattoo and scar. “Does your shoulder still hurt?”
“Not really…just a little stiff at times. You feel good, Little One” he said, his hands now guiding hers. She could tell what he’d done bothered him, and probably would for some time. And she loved him all the more for that, that he could not kill as coldly and callously as some, without it affecting them in their hearts. No death should be taken lightly. Her beloved husband had a deep feeling heart.
As he guided one of her hands down his stomach, his body relaxing back against her, she took his other hand and slowly pulled it back between their bodies, to her, to feel her. A small gasp escaped him when he felt she was bare for him. Another sigh escaped him as his fingers explored her, enjoying the feel of her smooth soft skin.
He turned slowly to her as she moved back on the bed. She laid back against the pillows and watched him as his eyes raked over her body.
“You knew I would be home tonight? I told Nafad not to tell you…I wanted to surprise you.”
“He didn’t…Rashid did. I wanted to have your little surprise for you when you got home.”
“Remind me to thank Rashid…and thank you, Little One” he said as he began kissing up her leg, nuzzling his face against the inside of her thigh, kissing her little scar. And then he was on her, his lips and tongue electrifying her body, her moans and whimpers exciting him. His hands slid under her, grasping her bottom, pulling her to him as he brought her an explosive orgasm. As she still quivered, he kissed his way up her body. He suckled her breasts until she wiggled and moaned under him and then kissed up her neck to her lips, his powerful mouth taking hers passionately. He bent his legs up, spreading them wide, her legs draping over his thighs, opening her to him. He rubbed her slowly, exciting her, her body moving with him, her groaning telling him she wanted him inside her. As he thrust inside her, his tongue thrust inside her mouth, a deep groan escaping him when she sucked his tongue into her mouth as her body grasped his hard shaft. He paused for just a moment, the feeling of her warm, wet body pulling him into her, grasping him, caressing him, almost overwhelming. Then he thrust hard and fast until his warm fluids exploded inside her, a deep, loud growl bursting from him. Her strong muscles continued pulsing around him, finishing him, a soft whimper of his own escaping him at the sensation.
He slowly straightened his legs and settled on her, sighing as her small hands rubbed his back until he dozed. He slept for a few minutes and then feeling the cold night air, rolled off her and pulled her up onto him, pulling the covers over them.
“Thank you, Little One” he said as he hugged her to him, sighing when she pushed her leg between his and nuzzled his neck.
“You are most welcome, my love. I’m so glad you’re home.”
“As am I, Little One.”
The End