She gave them a grunt and then motioned to the other agents who were scattered around the lobby that it was time to leave. Harry gave Yaffa a smile, tapping Cristal on the foot to signal for her to do the same. Cristal gave her a forced smile. Yaffa returned the fake smile, turned around and walked towards the hotel entrance, the agents tailing behind her. She glanced over her shoulder briefly before leaving the hotel.
“Shalom,” she said before walking out the door.
Chapter 19
What Next?
HARRY PACED BACK AND FORTH in front of her. He glanced at his watch while mumbling under his breath.
“Sit down,” Cristal demanded, pointing to the chair beside her. “You’re making me nervous.”
“I’m trying to figure out what to do next,” he said quietly.
“Kerim is going to be here soon,” Cristal stated in a matter-of-fact way. “Are you going to tell him what happened?”
Harry whirled around and pointed a finger at her. “Don’t say a word! You got that, Cristal? Until we find out more about him, consider him a hostile.”
Cristal couldn’t believe her ears. She leapt out of her chair, and stood facing him eye-to-eye, as if daring him to challenge her. “Hostile? This isn’t a game, Harry. You said you checked him out before inviting him to the Truth Seekers. Just because some crazy agent shows us some weird photos, now you think that Kerim is a hostile?”
Her voice echoed in the lobby.
She followed Harry’s gaze to see where he was looking. She noted that he was peering at the main entrance of the hotel. She sucked in her breath and gasped when she saw Kerim standing between the opened glass doors. His olive-colored skin contrasted his white unbuttoned long sleeve shirt and black jeans. But what made her hold her breath was the bright blinding light that blazed around him like angry flames.
He moved away from the door, and the light behind him flooded into the lobby. She realized that the setting sun had played optical tricks on her. Or so she thought.
He stood motionless.
“Kerim,” she called out, walking over to him.
He looked past her, as if not seeing her. His grey eyes were fixed on Harry. “What’s this about?” he asked.
Harry moved in closer, but he didn’t volunteer a response. Cristal sighed, knowing that she would have to be the first person to speak.
“An agent was here asking questions about you,” Cristal said.
The heat from Harry’s glare could have disintegrated steel.
“Agent?” Kerim asked.
“Let’s go somewhere else to talk,” Harry demanded, glancing at the group of hotel guests that were entering the lobby.
“Sorry,” Kerim announced, “but I’m not going anywhere with anyone who thinks I’m the enemy.” His jawline was tense, his voice quiet. He gave Cristal a look.
She reached out for his arm. He pulled it away from her, turned and walked back towards the hotel entrance. The doors opened and he marched outside onto the street towards his motorbike.
“Kerim, please,” she called out in a loud voice, while running after him.
“Cristal, let him go,” she heard Harry say as he followed behind her.
“Leave me alone, Harry,” she snapped.
Kerim was already on his bike with the engine roaring.
“Wait for me, please!” You can’t leave me here.
Kerim turned around and looked at her. His eyes met hers.
Please, don’t leave me here.
He paused for a moment and then tilted his head for her to climb on. Without hesitation, she grabbed his shoulder and jumped onto the back of the bike. This bike wasn’t as flashy as the Ducati—a matte black color, shorter in length and not as shiny.
Kerim looked hot on any motorcycle as far as Cristal was concerned. He revved the engine and glanced over his left shoulder to check the traffic.
Cristal saw Harry standing on the sidewalk, his shiny blue eyes stabbing her a hundred times with his piercing stare. He shook his head as Kerim pulled out into the street.
***
Although there was a breeze, the evening air was heavy and her sweat clung to her like a heavy coat. Kerim weaved in and out of the chaotic traffic like a seasoned local. Plumes of black smoke from the tailpipes of cars and trucks as they rode past filled her lungs. She could taste the diesel fuel in her throat. When he turned off onto a side street, she marveled at how many homes could be squeezed onto one street.
She watched rows and rows of short, three-story buildings pass by them; they all seemed to have the same crumbling alabaster, sand-colored stucco with splashes of spray-painted graffiti angrily emblazoned here and there.
Air-conditioning units stuck out from windows and grey satellite dishes pointed their noses in a south-easterly direction. But regardless of the passing terrain, Kerim adeptly swerved around the narrow streets with motorbikes, scooters, and cars half-parked on the sidewalks and on the road.