Jenna waited.

“It was David’s idea,” said Laila. “I was always talking about you and Karim, always saying, you know, quel dommage. And one night, David said, ‘Look, no one this kid meets for the rest of his life is going to understand his problem like you do. There’s the phone. Why not give him a call?’ And so I did. I got the number from Jabr.”

Laila peered around the room with open curiosity, probably wondering, Jenna thought, what lay beyond the door that led to the cells.

“At first, he didn’t want to talk. Then he did, but it was all … bitterness.

Anger. I wasn’t getting through to him. So the next day, I flew to Boston. David came with me. Karim was packing. His visa had just come through. The Remali consulate had sent him a ticket and some money. But I managed to talk with him some more. For hours, really.” She shrugged helplessly. “I tried to show him what I had learned for myself, about my father. That it wasn’t his fault—wasn’t your fault. That both of you had done what you thought was best. Karim didn’t want to hear that. I wouldn’t have listened, either, at that stage. But at least I planted a seed. I think he’ll remember. It’s a start.”

“Laila, whatever you did, I can’t thank you enough.”

“Don’t thank me at all. I didn’t accomplish much.” She looked at Jenna with deep sadness, then suddenly brightened. “But do you know what, Aunt Jenna? I think it’ll be all right. I think he’ll be back someday. He won’t hate al-Remal like I did—and even I could see that the place has a kind of … strength. And beauty. But he’s no more a Remali than I am. The time will come when he’ll long for home—his real home. And he’ll be wiser, then. He’ll begin to understand why you did what you did. I’m sure of it. I know it. What I’m saying is, don’t give up hope.”

“Laila …” Jenna couldn’t hold back tears. She couldn’t help seeing, in her mind’s eye, the other Laila, that night in al-Masagin. And now it had come full circle.

Laila smiled. “Don’t cry, Aunt Jenna, or I’ll have to send you to a shrink. Listen, here’s the good news: I made Karim promise to stay in touch with me. I’ll call him—I don’t know, as often as he’ll put up with it. That way, it won’t be as if he’s totally disappeared.” She spread her hand on the glass partition for Jenna’s hand to meet. “It’ll work out—you’ll see. But now I have to go.”

“But you just got here!”

“Someone else waiting to see you. Bye. See you soon in better surroundings.” She hurried out, stopping just long enough to smile at Brad as he entered. He sat at the partition and looked long and longingly at Jenna.

“I just talked with Boyle,” he said. “It’s done. You’ll be out on Tuesday. Three more days.” “Good. Thank God.”