“Okay. Fine. But I want all the details when I get back,” she called as she marched out of the room.
Grateful for a moment of peace, he flung the thin blue sheets to the side and eased himself to his feet. Shifting his weight from one foot to the other, he tested his wounded leg. The red-hot needle sensation throbbed for a moment, but not as badly as before. The painkillers must be doing their job.
He limped over to the closet, carefully tugging the IV along with him, where a stack of clothing lay folded on a shelf. Relieved that someone had thought to bring him something to change into, he tucked his clothes under one arm and hobbled into the bathroom.
It took some effort, but he managed to at least get his pants on. The hospital gown was going to have to stay on for a shirt until he could get the IV out. When he emerged from the restroom, Emma was already waiting in the chair across from the bed.
She shrugged and showed him her empty palms.
Great. Just great. “They don’t have it?”
“Nope. Now tell me what’s going on.”
Xander ran a hand through his hair. He needed that phone. What if Leila had tried to call? It could be sitting at the bottom of the Nile for all he knew. Maybe the police had found it. He’d ask later. Lowering himself onto the bed, he turned his mind back to Emma’s request.
“I can tell you, but only if you swear not to talk about it to others.”
Emma held up a hand and nodded. “I do solemnly swear.”
Quirky as she was, he couldn’t recall a time she had gone back on her word. The details would be safe with her. Before he could change his mind, he hurriedly explained his meeting on the bridge.
“She seemed… credible,” he said as he finished.
Emma stared at him with wide eyes. “You mean shady.” She blinked, then jumped to her feet. “But what other choice do we have? I’ve got a jeep and we can—”
Xander lifted his eyebrows. “We?”
“Yes. We.”
“Oh no, no, no—”
Emma crossed her arms. “I’m coming with you.”
He shook his head. “Absolutely not.”
“Oh please, Xander. You very clearly have control over this.” She rolled her eyes. “I mean, you only spent two days in the hospital. It could have been ten—”
“What about your job? This excursion could take several days.”
Emma shrugged. “I can take vacation.”
“It could be dangerous.”
“No, duh.” Emma flailed her arms. “That’s why I should go. If you end up knocked out for three days in the desert, you’re a goner. You need backup.”
“What about uni? Don’t you have a colloquium coming up?”
“Already done.” Emma sighed and sat next to him on the bed. “Xander, going after Leila alone would be a mistake. She’s my friend, too. Let me help.”
“But that’s why I don’t want you to go. I wouldn’t want something to happen to you, too.” Xander looked at the ceiling. He shouldn’t have to feel responsible for Emma. He would be faster on his own, but without knowing where Leila’s kidnapper-rescuer-assassin was, or what she was up to exactly, there was still an immeasurable amount of danger. If something did happen to him out there, no one would know. And then he would fail Leila.
“All right.”
Emma leaped to her feet. “I’ll go get packing. Food, jeep, food, water, food, anything else?”
Xander shrugged. All he wanted was his girlfriend.
“Let me know if you think of anything,” Emma called over her shoulder as she grabbed her purse and rushed out of the room.
What was he thinking? He shook his head. He shouldn’t have told her so much. Too late for that now. He pressed the call button for the nurse. It was time to get out of there. And ask for a large prescription of painkillers.
CHAPTER 22
The next few hours waiting for the release forms felt like a lifetime. Things finally picked up speed once Inspector Elmahdy showed up, scowling and irritated. At last, the nurse handed Xander an envelope and bid him good luck.
Despite his bad mood, the detective was kind enough to offer him a lift back to his hotel. No, he didn’t offer. He insisted.
Once settled in the passenger’s seat, Xander ran a hand along his neck, the bruise from the needle prick still tender. Elmahdy lowered himself behind the wheel and started the engine.
“You’ve been very… helpful, Harrison,” Elmahdy began as he hit the blinker and glanced over his shoulder.
Xander shifted in his seat. Elmahdy didn’t sound grateful. It sounded more like he was restraining himself from biting his head off.
“But, while you were unconscious, Leila Sterling’s landline received a phone call.”
Xander’s chest tightened, bracing him for impact.
“The number belonged to a satellite phone. The registration was a bit muddled, but eventually we traced it to Tahir Awad.” The detective grimaced and scratched behind his ear.
