Huda still feared the regime would learn the truth about the Bolt Cutter. But as time passed, she figured the fishermen at Lake Habbaniyah had found his corpse and the mukhabarat ID in his pocket. The tribes in that area loathed the regime. They would have gladly fed his body to the carp out in the depths of the lake, sold his car to the cross-border smugglers, and erased all signs that he was ever there. Huda wished it was as easy to wipe him from Khalid’s memory.

“Are you okay?” Ally touched Huda’s arm. “You seem a million miles away.”

A grimy minivan lurched to a stop at the curb. The crowd shuffled closer, waiting for the doors to slide open. Rania emerged first, tossing a silky scarf around her shoulders. Somehow, she made the act of clambering from the ripped bucket seats look as graceful as ballet, but when she straightened up she had the numb look of a soldier fresh from the front lines.

Huda wanted to rush forward and embrace her, but her feet wouldn’t move. It was Ally who stepped forward, pulling Huda behind her.

“Rania, thank goodness you’re here.” The young woman paused. “I’m sorry about your mom. Please, accept my condolences.”

“Allah has set a term for everyone,” replied Rania. She bent down to retrieve her suitcase, but not before Huda saw the brief glint of tears in her eyes.

“May Allah make heaven her abode,” said Huda quietly, hoping the ritual words of condolence provided a little comfort. Rania had never been a traditional woman, but she was clearly trying to honor the Muslim custom of limiting public displays of grief.

“We’ve been so worried about you,” said Ally.

“I left just in time.” Rania paused and glanced over her shoulder. Even now, far from Baghdad, she couldn’t bring herself to speak freely. “His son is traveling to Basra this weekend. Malik told me he plans to send for Hanan.” Rania shuddered. “He’s going to be furious when he finds out she’s not there.”

“You’ll feel much better when you and Hanan are together.” Huda touched Rania’s shoulder and pointed up the hill to a small café. “You must be thirsty. Let’s order a cool drink and you can tell us all about your plans for London.”

Rania met Huda’s gaze for the first time.

“I can’t thank you enough; truly, I wish I could.” The shadows under Rania’s eyes were the color of storm clouds. She glanced at Ally. “Or you, my dear. I will always be in your debt.”

Behind them, a bus honked and took off, spewing gray exhaust from its tail pipe. The three woman started toward the café.

“How about we order coffee to go with that cool drink.” Ally grinned slyly at Huda. “Maybe you can look at the grounds and predict what the future has in store?”