The Midnight Palace (Niebla 2)

‘Seth is right,’ said Siraj. ‘The fire at Jheeter’s Gate caused a great scandal in its day, and a lot of people still remember it. There must be records on the subject. Goodness knows where, but they must exist.’

‘Then we’ll have to search for them,’ Isobel said. ‘They could be a good starting point.’

‘I’ll help Seth,’ said Michael.

Isobel nodded vigorously. ‘We must find out everything we can about this man, his life, and also the amazing house which is supposed to be somewhere near here. Tracing it might lead us to the murderer.’

‘We’ll look for the house,’ suggested Siraj, pointing at himself and Roshan.

‘If it exists, we’ll find it,’ Roshan added.

‘Fine, but don’t go inside,’ warned Isobel.

‘We didn’t intend to,’ Roshan reassured her.

‘What about me? What am I supposed to do?’ asked Ian. He couldn’t think of a task that would suit his particular skills as easily.

‘You stay here with Ben and Sheere,’ said Isobel. ‘For all we know, Ben might start getting crazy ideas into his head before we even realise it. Stay by his side and make sure he doesn’t do anything stupid. It’s not a good idea for him to be seen out on the streets with Sheere.’

Ian agreed, aware that his was the most difficult task of the whole lot.

‘We’ll meet in the Midnight Palace before it turns dark,’ Isobel concluded. ‘Any questions?’

The friends looked at one another and quickly shook their heads.

‘Good, let’s get going.’

Seth, Michael, Roshan and Siraj set off at once to carry out their respective tasks. Isobel stayed behind with Ian, quietly watching them leave through the heat haze rising from the scorched dusty streets.

‘What are you planning to do, Isobel?’ asked Ian.

Isobel turned to him and smiled mysteriously.

‘I have a hunch,’ she said.

‘I trust your hunches as much as I trust earthquakes,’ Ian replied. ‘What are you plotting?’

‘You mustn’t worry, Ian.’

‘When you say that, I worry even more.’

‘I might not get to the Palace by this evening,’ said Isobel. ‘If I haven’t appeared, do what you have to do. You always know what has to be done, Ian.’

He sighed. He was worried. He hated all this mystery and the strange glint he noticed in his friend’s eyes.

‘Look at me, Isobel,’ he ordered. She obeyed. ‘Whatever your plan is, forget it.’

‘I know how to take care of myself, Ian,’ she said with a smile.

Ian, however, could not return the smile.

‘Don’t do anything I wouldn’t do,’ he begged. Isobel laughed.

‘I’ll do one thing you would never dare to do,’ she whispered.

Ian stared at her, mystified. Then, her eyes still shining enigmatically, she moved closer to him and brushed his lips gently with a kiss.

‘Take care, Ian,’ she said softly. ‘And don’t go dreaming …’