Protecting the Desert Princess(8)

                When he was a teenager Igor, a government worker, had stepped in and given Mikael an identity, a surname, an assumed date of birth and then a home.

                Igor was the reason Mikael was driving to chambers now to prepare for court—he was the reason Mikael believed absolutely in the need for a solid defence. For without one justice could never be truly served.

                He did not want to think today of Igor; instead his eyes moved from the procession of royal cars to his dashboard, where the mileage read six hundred and forty-nine. He would be bored with his new toy by the time it read one thousand, but for now the low silver sports car was his new baby.

                Finally the procession passed and the traffic inched forward.

                Mikael arrived at chambers and spoke to Wendy, his clerk, for a few moments. His world had centred around this trial for a very long while, and all he wanted was the arguments delivered, the jury out, the verdict in and then to get away.

                He’d take one of his toys to the water—he didn’t even want crew.

                Then Mikael changed his mind.

                A couple of crew might be essential.

                He had no intention of cooking or cleaning.

                Perhaps Mandy could join him for a couple of days too?

                Or Pearl?

                Mikael soon put all such thoughts out of his mind and sat for a quiet period in his office, preparing himself for the day ahead and getting back to the real love of his life.

                The letter of the law.





                                      CHAPTER THREE

                ‘I WANT TO drive that car!’ Layla’s slender finger pointed to a low silver sports car that gleamed in the morning sun as they passed an intersection.

                ‘You can’t drive,’ Zahid said, but he did smile—it was nice to see Layla so excited and animated. Her face was up against the blacked-out window as she watched the world go by unseen, fascinated by it all.

                ‘When can it just be us?’ she asked. ‘I am tired of all the formalities.’

                ‘Soon,’ Zahid said. ‘Once we are at the hotel things will be more relaxed.’

                ‘We can go shopping then,’ Trinity added.

                ‘Just Trinity and I?’ Layla checked with her brother who, after a brief hesitation, nodded. ‘Good.’ Layla smiled. ‘I want a red dress, red shoes, red…’

                Her list went on until they were at the hotel.

                Soon the Ishla royals and their retinue were taking up the entire top floor. There were guards at the lift and Layla paced her suite nervously, waiting for Trinity to come and take her shopping.

                ‘Let me do your hair again,’ Jamila offered.

                ‘My hair is fine,’ Layla said. ‘You can go and rest in your room now.’

                ‘I will wait for Trinity to get here.’

                ‘You are dismissed, Jamila.’ Layla said.

                All Layla wanted was to be alone with her thoughts and to go over her plans for a minute or two before Trinity arrived.