Catching Up
“Mr. Fawkes, I didn’t expect you back so soon.”
Ibn al-Xu’ffasc nodded at the doorman. His name was Charlie. While he was certainly no Alfred, he did his job well and didn’t ask a lot of questions. “My trip was cut short. How’s the wife?”
“Fine. Fine. She’s been worried that you aren’t eating enough. You should come to dinner. Her sister’s in town and they loved those U2 concert tickets.”
Ibn kept himself from smiling. “Charlie, I told you that I’m not quite ready to date. Not that your sister-in-law isn’t quite attractive. . .”
“Ah don’t worry about it, Mr. Fawkes. The Missus just thinks you look like some celeb from the tabloids that’s supposed to be missing.”
Ibn raised an eyebrow. “I trust that you have clarified the matter.”
“Yes, sir, boss. I know which side of the bread is buttered. And thanks for getting Trudy into that school.”
“An education is very important.” Ibn pauses for a moment. “Have the detectives reported back to you?”
Charlie frowns. “They haven’t found her. Even with the hundred large reward.”
“Up it to five hundred thousand.”
“That’s not going to help, Boss. They just can’t find her.”
“Try anyway. And Charlie, we’re going to have large packages delivered. Things are likely going to get very lively around her.”
“Time to earn the pay then.”
Ibn flips open his cell phone and dials a number. He had been hoping he could wait for this.
The voice on the other side is gruff. “Password?”
“Alea iacta est.”* Ibn flips the phone shut. “Charlie, I have a lot of work to do.”
* Alea iacta est means the die is cast. It was said by Caesar when he was crossing the Rubicon.
Ibn al-Xu’ffasc nodded at the doorman. His name was Charlie. While he was certainly no Alfred, he did his job well and didn’t ask a lot of questions. “My trip was cut short. How’s the wife?”
“Fine. Fine. She’s been worried that you aren’t eating enough. You should come to dinner. Her sister’s in town and they loved those U2 concert tickets.”
Ibn kept himself from smiling. “Charlie, I told you that I’m not quite ready to date. Not that your sister-in-law isn’t quite attractive. . .”
“Ah don’t worry about it, Mr. Fawkes. The Missus just thinks you look like some celeb from the tabloids that’s supposed to be missing.”
Ibn raised an eyebrow. “I trust that you have clarified the matter.”
“Yes, sir, boss. I know which side of the bread is buttered. And thanks for getting Trudy into that school.”
“An education is very important.” Ibn pauses for a moment. “Have the detectives reported back to you?”
Charlie frowns. “They haven’t found her. Even with the hundred large reward.”
“Up it to five hundred thousand.”
“That’s not going to help, Boss. They just can’t find her.”
“Try anyway. And Charlie, we’re going to have large packages delivered. Things are likely going to get very lively around her.”
“Time to earn the pay then.”
Ibn flips open his cell phone and dials a number. He had been hoping he could wait for this.
The voice on the other side is gruff. “Password?”
“Alea iacta est.”* Ibn flips the phone shut. “Charlie, I have a lot of work to do.”
* Alea iacta est means the die is cast. It was said by Caesar when he was crossing the Rubicon.