petroleum refineries. “I can’t get over how beautiful your house turned out.” Lee stopped and did a 360-degree turn, taking it all in.
“And your house will be just as beautiful.”
“Not quite, but it is nice of you to say.”
Durrani had purchased a smaller lot next door for Lee, his business partner. Lee had started building at the same time as Durrani but was still months away from finishing. Lee complained that the contractors took advantage of him, but Durrani had talked to the builder and found out that the engineer in Lee made it very difficult because he wanted to inspect and sign off on every piece of work.
The two men shook hands and Durrani said, “How long until your house is complete?”
Lee shrugged as if to say your guess is a good as anyone’s. “They tell me two months, but I’ll believe it when I see it.”
“I will see if I can hurry them along,” Durrani said with a wink as he grabbed Lee by the elbow. Whispering in his ear, he said, “There is something that I want to show you.” He led Lee by the elbow into the house.
Halfway down the hall to the study, Durrani stopped and pressed the button for the elevator. Lee looked surprised, “The basement.”
“Yes.”
“Did you put in a pistol range?” Lee asked hopefully.
“No… I did not think of that.” Durrani stroked his mustache and then laughed. “That is a wonderful idea. I will have my architect look into it.”
They stepped into the elevator and Lee took the opportunity to lecture Durrani about the engineering of an indoor pistol range. Durrani couldn’t get off the elevator fast enough. He’d had about all he could take of this condescending American. He showed him to the secure door and punched in his code.
“I didn’t know you had tunnels,” Lee said as he walked along the cement floor.
“I had them installed for security.” Durrani continued the small talk until they reached the door that led to the smaller of the two guesthouses.
As they started up the stairs, Lee asked, “What did you want to show me?”
“These tunnels are very convenient. I think we should think about putting another one in.”
“Between our two properties?”
“Yes.”
“I never thought of that.”
By the time they got to the top of the stairs Durrani was out of breath. Lee continued to talk and eventually got around to asking a question. Durrani held up a hand, signaling that he was out of breath, while his other hand searched for his pack of cigarettes.
“You know those things are going to kill you, right? As your business partner, I have every right to get on you about stopping. If you die, our partnership will go up in flames.”
There were so many things that Durrani wanted to say, but instead he stuffed a cigarette between his two lips and nodded in agreement. Kassar appeared, standing at the edge of the sunken living room. “Vazir,” Durrani said, “you remember Larry?”
“Of course,” Kassar said with a nod of recognition.
Durrani took in several deep drags, which in a strange way seemed to settle his breathing. After exhaling a big cloud of smoke, he waved for Lee to follow him. As they walked down the hallway, Durrani began talking in a quiet voice. “What I’m about to show you is a real tragedy. I have another American friend, who was savagely beaten by a group of street thugs in Rawalpindi. I have arranged for him to recover here where he will be safe. It is embarrassing the way my countrymen treat our greatest allies at times.”
“Not everyone is so rude. Your behavior alone, General, helps a great deal.”
“Why, thank you.” Durrani stopped outside the closed door and said, “Give me a moment alone with him and then I’ll call for you.”
“Of course.”
Durrani slid into the room and closed the door. He approached the bed, still not used to the ugly sight before him. “Are you awake?”
Rickman was lying with three pillows beneath his back. He let his head fall to his left and said, “Yes.”
“Good… I see you can barely open one of your eyes.”
“The nurse has been making me ice every hour. It’s torture.”
“But that’s good… isn’t it?”
Rickman ignored the question and said, “You’re going to kill her, aren’t you?”
“Why must you always assume the worst in me?”
“Because you have a history of killing people when they no longer serve your plans.”
“Oh, that,” Durrani said with a smile, refusing to let Rickman’s sour mood spoil this special moment. “And you are such an angel, my friend. We both do what we must do. That is why we work so well together.”
“The nurse?”
Durrani sighed, “What about her?”
“Why do you have to kill her?”
“Stop it. We have more important things to discuss. I need to show you something.”
“What?”
“You will see.” Durrani was back at the door. He opened it a foot and signaled for Lee to join him. He held his finger to his lips and said, “We must speak softly.”
Durrani walked back to the bed with Lee at his side.
“My God,” was all Lee could manage to say.
“I know… it’s horrible.”
“Kids did this?”
“I wouldn’t exactly say that. Grown men, really.”
Lee’s face was a combination of shock and revulsion. “Who is he? Have I met him?”
“I’m fairly certain you have never met.” Durrani looked at Rickman. “Joe, have you ever met this man?”
Rickman craned his head back and through a narrow slit in his right eye, he took in a blurry image of the man. He gave his answer through his swollen Vaseline-laden lips. “No,”
“Was he in a bad neighborhood?” the Kansan asked.
“You could say that. That is why I’ve warned you that you must be very careful.”
“This is horrible. Have you contacted the police?”
“No.” Durrani shook his head. “We don’t need to get them involved. My men will handle things.”
“And his family?”
A devilish smile creased Durrani’s lips. “Ah… like you he has no family.”
“Where is he from?”
“Denver, I think. Is that right, Joe?”
Rickman sounded bored. “Yes.”
“Is there anything I can do to help?” Lee asked with genuine concern.
“As a matter of fact there is,” Durrani said with a huge smile. He glanced over his shoulder and gave the signal to Kassar. Looking back at Lee, he made an apologetic face and said, “If you would die, it would be a huge help.”
Lee’s face twisted into a confused frown.
Kassar had put on his gloves while they were talking and had casually unfolded the plastic bag. In one fell swoop he yanked the bag over Lee’s head and yanked it tight around his neck. Kassar had learned this little trick many years ago. The key was to wear gloves, because the victim always scratched and clawed at your hands. One time, though, a very uncooperative victim had been smart enough to shred the plastic covering his face. It had turned out to be an ugly, lessthan-professional kill, as they ended up rolling around on the floor. Kassar had used the remnants of the bag to strangle the man but had not walked away unscathed. His slightly crooked nose was a constant reminder that he needed to continue to refine his craft. The trash-bag manufacturer Glad solved his problem when they came out with their tear-proof ForceFlex bags.
This particular American was easy to handle. He was neither violent nor physical, and all Kassar had to do was keep him from breaking some of the furniture. He kept a firm grip on the bag and danced the man around in the
