Contents ( 84)
- ONE
- TWO
- THREE
- FOUR
- FIVE
- SIX
- SEVEN
- EIGHT
- NINE
- TEN
- ELEVEN
- TWELVE
- THIRTEEN
- FOURTEEN
- FIFTEEN
- SIXTEEN
- SEVENTEEN
- EIGHTEEN
- NINETEEN
- TWENTY
- TWENTY-ONE
- TWENTY-TWO
- TWENTY-THREE
- TWENTY-FOUR
- TWENTY-FIVE
- TWENTY-SIX
- TWENTY-SEVEN
- TWENTY-EIGHT
- TWENTY-NINE
- THIRTY
- THIRTY-ONE
- THIRTY-TWO
- THIRTY-THREE
- THIRTY-FOUR
- THIRTY-FIVE
- THIRTY-SIX
- THIRTY-SEVEN
- THIRTY-EIGHT
- THIRTY-NINE
- FORTY
- FORTY-ONE
- FORTY-TWO
- FORTY-THREE
- FORTY-FOUR
- FORTY-FIVE
- FORTY-SIX
- FORTY-SEVEN
- FORTY-EIGHT
- FORTY-NINE
- FIFTY
- FIFTY-ONE
- FIFTY-TWO
- FIFTY-THREE
- FIFTY-FOUR
- FIFTY-FIVE
- FIFTY-SIX
- FIFTY-SEVEN
- FIFTY-EIGHT
- FIFTY-NINE
- SIXTY
- SIXTY-ONE
- SIXTY-TWO
- SIXTY-THREE
- SIXTY-FOUR
- SIXTY-FIVE
- SIXTY-SIX
- SIXTY-SEVEN
- SIXTY-EIGHT
- SIXTY-NINE
- SEVENTY
- SEVENTY-ONE
- SEVENTY-TWO
- SEVENTY-THREE
- SEVENTY-FOUR
- SEVENTY-FIVE
- SEVENTY-SIX
- SEVENTY-SEVEN
- SEVENTY-EIGHT
- SEVENTY-NINE
- EIGHTY
- EIGHTY-ONE
- EIGHTY-TWO
- EIGHTY-THREE
- Acknowledgements
Mansour turned his full attention on Duffy as the question hung in the air. To Michael he somehow seemed more certain. More confident.
At the very least, he’s a hell of a lot more engaged.
‘Why do you help me?’
The question was unexpected, but Duffy’s reply was instant.
‘Because it’s our job.’
‘No one has the job to help everyone.’ Mansour’s response was just as fast. ‘Why do you help me?’
‘Because a man I trust asked me to,’ Duffy replied. It was the more honest explanation. ‘A man who thinks I can do this better than anyone else.’
‘Which man?’
‘The same man you trusted last night, Nizar.’ The answer came from Michael. ‘DCI Bruce Bull. The man who protected you from Special Agent Meyer.’
A flicker of anger crossed Mansour’s eyes at the mention of the name.
‘Romeo.’
‘What?’
‘His name is Romeo.’
‘Romeo Meyer,’ Duffy confirmed. ‘That’s right.’
Mansour’s eyes moved from Duffy to Michael, then back again.
He’s considering his next step, Michael could tell. Judging whether or not he can trust two strangers. No matter who sent them.
‘How do I know you tell the truth?’ he finally asked. ‘That you are sent from Mr Bull? And not from Romeo?’
‘You think we’re from the US Secret Service?’ Duffy asked. He sounded bemused at the suggestion.
‘No. I think Romeo lie about being agent. So I think maybe you lie about being lawyers and knowing Mr Bull.’
‘What do you mean, he lied about being an agent?’ Duffy asked.
Mansour went silent again. Michael had wondered the same thing, but he could see that they were losing Mansour. Interrogating him would only accelerate that.
‘Let’s forget Romeo for now,’ Michael said.
He hoped Duffy would realise why he wanted to change the subject.
‘For now let’s focus on today. No names. No accusations against anyone else. Just the simple facts. Will you be happy with that?’
Mansour’s eyes stayed down. He seemed to be bristling with distrust. With paranoia.
Who can blame the poor sod, Michael thought.
‘Nizar, please. You don’t have to tell us anything you don’t want to. But please. Help us look after you. If only for today. Then if you want someone else, you’ll never have to see us again.’
Mansour looked up and fixed his gaze on Michael.
‘Just for today,’ Michael repeated.
This time Mansour did not glance towards Duffy. Instead he focused on Michael as he considered his decision.
‘If I speak,’ he finally asked, ‘who else will hear my answer?’
‘Not a soul, if that’s what you want,’ Michael replied. ‘Neither Mr Duffy nor I can repeat a word of what you say if you tell us not to. Those are the rules.’
Mansour took a moment. Longer this time. Michael understood why: an assurance of confidentiality was not worth much if there was no trust between them.
He would need to keep the questions uncontroversial if they were to make progress.
‘What do you want to ask?’ Mansour’s deep voice faltered. It was filled with uncertainty; he was unsure of the step he was taking.