6
“I’ll have a private plane at the airport to make the international flight. Make sure everything is handled on your end. I’ll also have a car waiting at the airport here. Remember, no customs. No paperwork or documentation. My pilot will take over at the airport, and you won’t have anything else to worry about at that point,” Zaid explained over the phone as Alacabak entered his private office.
“I’ve got to go. Remember, everything else is handled. Meet the pilot at the airport. I have it from there. Talk to you again soon.” Zaid disconnected the call.
“I hope I’m not interrupting anything,” Alacabak apologized.
“No, making some business arrangements,” Zaid lied.
“Sounds like it,” Alacabak responded, his tone devoid of any emotion.
Zaid invited the Chief Advisor to sit down in front of his desk. He wasn’t completely over Alacabak’s dismissive attitude at the restaurant, where he’d allowed Rebecca to wander off without alerting anyone. He had created a liability for the Sheikh with his lack of concern over the well-being of the tour group. For now, however, he kept this concern to himself.
“What brings you by this afternoon?” Zaid asked instead.
“I want to talk to you about the woman from the diplomatic tour group,” he started. “Rebecca Reid. I’ve noticed you two seem to have some sort of history together.”
Zaid sensed he was being set up for something. He wondered how much Alacabak knew about their history already, since he was bold enough to approach Zaid about it. “I worked with her five years ago on a private visit to the United States to meet with some investors and other business partners. She was appointed as an assistant to me at the time,” Zaid said.
Alacabak nodded thoughtfully. Zaid could see the wheels turning behind the forty-eight year old’s eyes. He was up to something. Zaid knew he couldn’t trust him.
“How well do you know her?” he asked Zaid.
“I’m not sure I understand the question. I wouldn’t say I know her that well at all. We’ve only worked together,” Zaid answered. “What’s going on here, Alacabak? Why do I feel like you’re interviewing me?”
Again, the Chief Advisor paused thoughtfully. “I have to investigate any suspected incidents of impropriety,” he answered after a moment. His answers were so matter-of-fact and bold; Zaid was becoming certain that the man had some piece of information already that he wasn’t willing to share just yet.
“What impropriety do you suspect, then?” Zaid prompted.
“She was brought back to your private quarters after lunch. I’m simply following up.”
“I had her examined by a doctor after she was attacked outside the restaurant. I didn’t think I had to answer to you for taking that kind of action, especially not to someone whose inaction put the welfare of the group at risk,” Zaid answered.
“I guess it’s a good thing their welfare isn’t my responsibility, then,” Alacabak responded. “Maybe your sense of responsibility towards this woman is influenced by something other than your professional position in relation to her?”
“I’m not sure I understand what you mean, Mr. Noozu,” Za
id answered, dropping the advisor’s first name. He hoped he would get to the point and stop pursuing whatever information he thought he could expose by interviewing Zaid. “If you have a specific accusation, it would do you well to present it now or drop it altogether,” Zaid commanded.
“Yes, sir,” Alacabak said in a careful tone. “I do apologize if I have offended you in any way.”
“You certainly have, implying that I would have improper relations with a member of the diplomatic tour group visiting our country.” Zaid adopted a tone of seniority, re-establishing his authority over his father’s chief advisor.
“Yes, sir. That was hasty and presumptuous of me,” the advisor continued, his tone still neutral.
“It was.” Zaid let his last statement hang in the air between them for a moment.
“How did you like working with her before?” Alacabak asked, adopting a friendlier tone, though Zaid felt certain he was simply trying a different approach to get information out of the Sheikh.
Zaid couldn’t resist answering the question, though, and giving Alacabak an idea of who she was. “She is very easy to work with, and she is very passionate about her work. In fact, that is what got her in trouble today.”
“How did escorting the diplomatic tour group get her in trouble?” he asked Zaid.
Zaid realized he’d said too much, and now he had to tell Alacabak everything that had happened, and why.
“She wants the touring investors to visit Rajak and Timina. She’s afraid they’ll think twice before investing in us if they discover we haven’t been forthcoming about the situation of the unemployed,” Zaid said, bracing for the backlash, as he suspected Alacabak would think he’d somehow supported her ideals.
“So when she left the restaurant today, she went to Rajak, didn’t she?” he asked for clarification.