She listened. Something was different. The hall was quiet now, but some- one was there. She could sense it.

The single knock seemed as loud as a pistol shot. Surely, Ali had heard it. She scrambled for the bag, dropped it, picked it up again, and cradled Karim in her other arm.

Darya opened the door and whispered, “Hurry!” Amira followed her to a door at the end of the hallway. Darya used a key to open it. A stairway. Amira’s heels clacked loudly, echoing in the stairwell. They went down several flights. Another door, another key. They were out in the night, in some kind of alleyway.

“Damn it!” said Darya. “He should be waiting.”

“Who?”

“Your friend. He’s late.”

“Women,” said a heavy voice behind them, “what are you doing out in the night?”

They both froze.

The SAVAK man stepped from the shadows. “You’ll have to come with me and explain yourselves,” he said.

It’s over, thought Amira.

Darya flew past her with animal speed and clawed at the man’s face. Cursing, he knocked her aside, but suddenly there was movement behind him. Amira heard a slapping thud, then another, and the SAVAK man’s legs gave way. Two young men stood over him.

“Are you all right, Darya?” one of them said.

“Yes. Damn! Where did that son of a bitch come from?” “God knows. What do we do with him?”

“Let me think.”

“What is it, Mommy?” said Karim, half asleep. “It’s all right, baby.”

“There’s only one place to take him,” said Darya. “If we can get him there.” She looked down the alley. “Damn it, Princess, where’s your friend?”

“I don’t know.”

“Look, maybe the best thing for you to do is go back upstairs. Try to get into your room without being seen.”

“I can’t. I left my keys. I didn’t think I’d be back.”

“God! Here—take mine. One of them is for your room. Wait! Who’s that?” A tan vehicle had pulled into the alley.

“That’s him! For God’s sake, Highness, go!” “I want to thank—”

“Go!”

She ran to the car, a battered Land Rover. Philippe pushed open the door and pulled her in.

“I’m late—sorry,” he said. “Trouble there?” “Yes.”

“Tell me about it later. For now, let’s get out of here.”

It must have been around midnight. There was little traffic, but the side- walks were crowded with men out on the town. Amira felt as if every one of them were staring at her, memorizing her face, as Philippe pulled onto the boulevard and accelerated.

23. Brother Peter

Brother Peter