Pussycat in Peril (Pussycat Death Squad Book 3) (7 page)

“If he was so worried why didn’t he leave?” Kaeden asked.

“I think we were both complacent. Farah was ill. I think she did not wish to die in a foreign land. But mostly we grew complacent. We’ve been through bad times before. The Civil War.” Dawood shook his head sadly. “The war nearly destroyed this country. Indeed I think it did destroy it, we were just too stupid to realize we were holding onto a corpse. Even so, I don’t think either of us predicted the depth of depravity IJIWO would display. It is almost inconceivable that such evil could exist.”

“We will not be here for long. We just need to make contact with a ship,” Kaeden said.

Sarai shook her head. “No. We are under quarantine here.”

“Quarantine? There’s been an outbreak?” Kaeden asked.

Astaria frowned. How much more could go wrong? All they needed now was a disease outbreak. Of course, she should’ve considered it. War and disease went together in a vicious
pas de deux
of death and destruction that was as old as mankind.

Dawood pursed his lips as though he wanted to spit but was too polite to do so. “That’s what they’re calling it. No one is allowed out of the city. No ships. No airplanes.”

“But we drove in. Can we return to Amaru?” Astaria asked.

“People are allowed in, at least automobiles are, but no one is allowed out,” Sarai said.

“For how long? This is insane. No one can keep a city this size under lockdown for any length of time,” Astaria said.

Dawood shrugged. “Who knows? Everyone seems to have run mad. IJIWO is advancing as is the LOV. The fighting around Amaru is moving in the LOVs favor, at least that’s what we’ve heard. A siege on Laria seems inevitable, but instead of preparing for it, there is nothing but chaos. We have two governments, and neither seems capable of running anything. Indeed, both seem to have taken leave of their senses. You need a pass to exit the city, but everyone is afraid to issue them. And if you find someone willing to issue a pass, some minister from another government might well cancel it. Madness. Utter madness.”

“But what will we do?” Astaria asked.

“I have some friends in the regime government I can approach...” Dawood began.

“No, Ami,” Kaeden said automatically slipping into the honorific “uncle” as Astaria had, though, like her, he was not related to either of the Hamadis. “That would draw unnecessary attention and frankly, I’m not sure our documents are up to that level of scrutiny. This quarantine cannot last very long. Let’s wait it out, if necessary we can go to the American consulate.”

“They closed the embassy three days ago. An American air campaign is expected at any time,” Sarai said, her large expressive brown eyes conveying a magnitude of sorrow.

“American air campaign?” Astaria gasped giving Kaeden a sharp look.

He shook his head. “I think that’s just a rumor. After all, who would they bomb? Right now there’s the Regime Government, the Revolutionary Government, the LOV, IJIWO and who knows how many other rebel groups out there. Did I miss any?” he asked, looking at Dawood.

“No. That sums up the situation nicely. Even so, I also have connections through less official channels. Though those may prove more difficult,” Dawood said.

“No Ami. We don’t want to get you involved any more deeply if possible. Kaeden do you think we should leave? We’re bringing more danger.”

Kaeden pursed his lips as he considered what she’d said. “I don’t think so. I think we did a decent job covering our tracks. If we come up with a good cover story—a visiting relative. That’s not unreasonable. We should be able to stay a week or two with no trouble,” he said.

“Do you have someplace here where we could hide until the quarantine is lifted?”  Astaria asked.

“Hide? Why should you hide, daughter of my dearest friend?” Dawood shook his head fiercely. “No we realized this during the Civil War: hiding is the best way to be discovered. With the wars going on there are displaced persons everywhere. No one is going to question a couple more.”

“He does have a point Astaria. Sometimes it is better to hide in plain sight. I will speak as little as possible to hide my accent,” Kaeden said. “Though my Laritrean is improving rapidly.”

“Actually, it’s not that you have an accent. It’s the lack of one that sometimes gives you away,” Astaria said. “But really, your Laritrean is excellent. Better than your French anyway,” she said with a smirk. “Besides, this is a port city; people are accustomed to hearing many different dialects.”

“Yes, you can be my dear nephew, coming to me for assistance in these trying times. You can even work in my shop. Do you have knowledge of electronics? That’s what I do, sell and repair small electronics.” Astaria didn’t ask why Kaeden would be the relative instead of her; the answer was obvious. Her blackness might make some question the relationship. Her father was Arab while her mother’s family was originally from Kenya. She looked distinctly more Kenyan, though she’d never lived there. Her mother had been born in Laritrea as well. Though unlikely to be a concern in such a cosmopolitan city, it made more sense to keep any questions to a minimum.

“I’m a bit of a tinkerer...” Kaeden said as color rose on his cheeks.

“Kaeden’s being modest. He’s really good with electronics and can repair pretty much anything. I’ve often thought he was much like you in that way, Ami,” Astaria said with a smile in Kaeden’s direction. She knew he was uncomfortable with the knowledge that he’d gained much of his electronics ability from dismantling IEDs in Iraq. She was fairly certain her father hadn’t told the Hamadis that her husband was an American Marine, even so, his knowledge would help with their cover now. “Uncle, do you really think this quarantine will last a long time?”

“Who knows? Though I doubt more than a few weeks. Your father left some money and some papers with me. I haven’t examined them too closely, but it is clear that he’d planned to use them to escape if necessary. I think he just misjudged how rapidly things would disintegrate.”

“Poor Babba. Though it’s a relief to have some money, I don’t suppose the papers will do us any good.”

“That is true, my daughter. It is dangerous in these times to even have identity papers signed by the wrong government official. People are not just losing their ministerial positions, they’re losing their heads. And you could be arrested or worse if someone who is now discredited signed your papers,” Sarai said.

Astaria didn’t even address the insanity of blaming a person for having papers signed by the wrong official. After all, who knew one bureaucrat from another, or generally had any idea who their papers were signed by? “Is the money in
duvoes
?” The Laritrean currency was practically worthless.

“No. No. Your father was far too clever for that. It’s in American dollars mostly. With some Euros. Using it might draw unwanted attention, though,” Dawood said.

Kaeden nodded. “I understand, but the people we would be dealing with would probably be in the black market and the underworld, and such things are a part of doing business.”

“Of course,” Dawood said. “I myself don’t like dealing with such men. But in current circumstances…”

“Husband, husband. Here we sit at table and our guests must be exhausted. Poor Astaria is practically asleep in her chair, and Kaeden is not much better. We can talk more tomorrow or even the next day. Somehow I do not believe this quarantine will be lifted anytime soon. Anyway, you come upstairs with me. Our home is small, but you will have your own private toilet as our daughter married last year and is now in Paris with her husband,” Sarai rose to her feet, drawing Astaria up with her.

Sarai led them to the third floor of their modest home, which hosted sleeping quarters. There was, of course, only one bed in the room, but then that would be appropriate for a married couple. Like all the rooms in the house, the walls were whitewashed white, with a dark wood ceiling and ceiling fan. There was a white iron bed and the only other furniture was a straight back chair and an oak chest of drawers. Like the rest of the house, the floor was covered in local tiles, but in this room they were soft blue and white. 

She and Kaeden had shared an apartment back in the States for more than two years now, but it was a two-bedroom apartment and they’d never shared a bed. She glanced at him over Sarai’s head, but he seemed perfectly comfortable with the sleeping arrangements. Astaria was horrified, especially after the kiss they’d shared. Then again, maybe he’d only kissed her because he was relieved she was safe, and it meant nothing more than that. Try as she might she couldn’t quite convince herself that the kiss meant nothing and that was more than a bit troubling. At this moment though she was so exhausted she couldn’t think of any way to get out of the current arrangement. Sarai bustled over to a chest of drawers on the wall opposite the bed. “Kadiyya had so many clothes and she bought new things for Paris. This gown isn’t that old and  these undergarments are new.”

Astaria sighed in relief. After four days in the same clothes, she felt positively gross, with body odor compounded by the smoke from the fire.

“Thank you Amati,” she said giving Sarai another brief hug. Sarai’s diminutive stature was much like Astaria’s own mother’s, with a similar rounded figure, a fact that gave Astaria tremendous comfort.

“Take anything you like. You and Kadiyya are of a size, she’s tall and skinny like her father, so everything should fit.”

“Ya Allah,” Astaria said as soon as Sarai left them. I didn’t think we’d be sharing a bed. Maybe we could…”

Kaeden had dropped his bag on the chair that sat next to the bed, now he gave her an impatient glance. “Could what? Tell your aunt and uncle we’re not really married? You know full well if we’re not married we have no business being alone together when you’re not covered. That makes a difficult situation almost impossible. Besides, you heard what she said. They don’t have another bedroom anyway. They’d have to give one of us their bed and sleep on the floor. It’s probably better if we’re together as much as possible, just in case they come for us we stand a better chance fighting if we’re together.”

She sighed heavily. “I suppose you’re right. And to be honest…” she broke off lowering her head, totally embarrassed by what she’d almost revealed.

He walked slowly over to her and raised her face with his index finger. “To be honest what?” he said staring down at her. His eyes were almost totally golden now as the bright flecks obscured the green and brown ones.

“To be honest, I’m afraid to be away from you. I know it sounds crazy. I’ve been trained in combat since I was a child,” she said, slipping into his open arms.

“Why would it sound crazy? I’m your husband. Having your back is my job.”

“But not really though. You only married me as a favor,” she said, shaking her head.

“Yeah, but I did marry you. I guess I’m old school, but I take that seriously. And yeah, I know you’re more than capable of taking care of yourself, and me too for that matter, but it still makes me feel good that you trust me to have your six.”

She sighed and leaned forward to rest her forehead against his chest. He always smelled so delicious, so clean and fresh. Even after the hectic day they’d had when stress left her smelling like the backside of a goat, his scent reminded her of the fresh early morning breeze off the ocean. She took another breath of Kaeden-scented air. “The whole time I was in prison I thought I would die like my father. When I realized someone was coming to help I assumed Lelia had sent someone, I don’t know why, but I hoped it would be you.”

He brought both arms up to pull her closer into his embrace. The close proximity wasn’t unusual for them, more than once they’d relaxed on the sofa watching television together, but this was different, and the difference sent an involuntary shiver down her spine.

She could feel the rumble of a soft chuckle in his chest. “High praise indeed considering who you work with. But if you hoped I would come, why didn’t you tell me?”

She winced at the hurt in his tone, and she raised her head from his chest to meet his gaze, now more green than gold, compelled to do what she could to assuage it. “I thought you would be upset. That you might even come up with a way to keep me from coming. Lelia wouldn’t do that. She would argue with me. Call me a reckless idiot and a stubborn nanny goat, but there’s a strong possibility that you would have locked me in the basement.”

He opened his mouth then closed it again, and she knew he wanted to deny her assessment, but couldn’t bring himself to do so. 

“Yeah, well you have to admit it was a crazy thing to do,” he finally said with a sheepish smile.

“Crazy yes, but what choice did I have? Could I just leave them here? Mama was sick. I was hoping I could get them back to the States so they could at least have some peace.”

He sighed then stepped back to stretch. He was obviously as exhausted as she was and wanted to end this discussion. “Do you want the bathroom first?”

She nodded and without another word,  left the bedroom to go to the small washroom down the hall. Like the bedroom, the bath was fairly plain with the same white walls and blue tiles, but the tiles here were  more vivid. Most of all she squealed with delight when she saw the shower. She quickly stripped down and turned on the tap. More than anything she wanted to indulge herself with a long hot shower like she’d come to love in their apartment back in the States, but water was at a premium in this desert country and she made do with a brief, but thorough shower.