BAMAKO by Aribert Raphael (smart books to read txt) 📖

/> “All right, but I can tell you right now Carmine won’t even consider paying you for this.”
“I know, but I can’t let the matter slide. I have to find him, even if I have to do it on my own time. The man is a menace. He’s got to be stopped.” Hassan’s temper was mounting as well.
“Yes, but as I said, it’s more important for us to concentrate on the acquisition of the Kankoon permit. The only thing I’m asking is for your help, if you have the time, of course.”
“I gathered that, Talya, and I will help you. But I’d like to find Savoi as well, not only for the sake of finding him, but to make him pay for what he’s done to you and to his family … and to others.”
All the while they were talking; Talya felt uneasiness rising between them. She sensed Hassan was not telling her everything there was to tell. She had to do something. She needed to pour water over the fire. Experience told her that these mini-storms had a way of turning into unstoppable typhoons. Although she would have liked to see some rain at that moment, she had no desire for a monsoon to descend on their budding friendship.
“I know you are an officer of the courts and I also understand you couldn’t let this ‘matter slide’, as you say. Maybe you’re right, we should find out as much as we can about Savoi’s whereabouts, just in case he decides to make more trouble for us. But I think we have to take it one step at the time.” Hassan seemed to rally round. He was less agitated now.
On an impulse, Talya said, “Now that it’s settled may I ask you to have lunch with me?” A broad smile came across his face. Would he accept? A woman should not invite a man to eat at her table—Islam is not that emancipated—but Talya was not Muslim and she was hoping Hassan had noticed the difference. His gaze was steady and kind. He had not objected. Yet, she was still waiting for his answer.
“I would be delighted,” he said finally. Whew! Talya, your mouth will get you in trouble one of these days. They finished their drinks and went to the restaurant.
As soon as they passed the doors, the headwaiter walked toward them.
“Allah be praised!” He was all smiles, extending a hand for the lawyer to shake. “Hassan, it’s good to see you. What are you doing here?”
“Ishmael, let me introduce Madame Kartz,” Hassan said, shaking hands with the man. “I’m sure the two of you have already met.”
Talya was smiling at the two men. She didn’t know what else to do. This introduction was unexpected. The two of them obviously knew each other.
“Talya, this is my cousin, Ishmael.” Gees! Is everyone related in this town? “He’s been working here since the hotel opened. And, I’m proud to say he’s been doing a great job.” These Malian families are so large; one could probably find a parent just by crossing the street.
“I’m very pleased to meet you, Ishmael. It’s great to put a name to a face, especially if you’re a member of Hassan’s family. I’m honoured indeed.” Muslim courtesy demands that a woman, in any circumstance, show respect to the men in the family.
Then, without further comments, Ishmael led them to a table overlooking the terrace and the swimming pool beyond. They ordered some sandwiches for Talya, and rice and fish for Hassan.
They ate and chatted about everything and nothing in particular. Talya told Hassan about the years she spent in a Muslim school and he recounted some of the stories from his early childhood, his mother, a French woman, who had left him when he was about ten years old after his father died. Family relations raised him and when he finished high school, he enrolled in law school at the Sorbonne in Paris. Throughout the meal they had deliberately avoided the subject foremost in their minds—the ‘Savoi Affair’. When tea was served, however, they couldn’t help themselves; they had to return to it.
Hassan was the lawyer once again. “I know you will succeed in getting a concession in Mali. However, I also know we can’t do it in a few days’ time. Even in the best of circumstances, it would be physically impossible.” Hassan drank a little and continued, “You’re dealing with bureaucrats that are particularly slow and a government, in this instance that would think nothing of sending Carmine home. There are other companies knocking on their doors. If you need them today, they may not need you, not now, not tomorrow. The only way you can hope to reach your goal, as your Mr. Quinlan suggested, is to redress the situation by proving Savoi has done you wrong, and by putting the government in a position whereby they would have to accept your application, no matter what.”
Hassan had hit the nail on the head. Talya recalled what Chantal had suggested earlier that week: “They want to get rid of Savoi but they want you to do it for them.” She knew Carmine was perceived as ‘the bad guy’ and it was a foregone conclusion that until given proof to the contrary, no one would do her any favours, such as processing or sanctioning an application for a permit on their land. It was not just a matter of filing the application and hoping the bribing matter would take care of itself, or hoping that Kane would see that Carmine meant business—no, it was a matter of either finding Savoi or getting out of Mali!
Hassan refilled his cup of tea watching Talya, while her mind wandered in a maze of conjectures. Watching the va-et-vient of people around the pool, Talya asked Hassan how, or what he intended to do about finding Savoi.
“At this point, I really don’t know. There must be a reason for which Savoi has chosen Dakar to seek haven. Maybe someone knows something. If Savoi has connections in Dakar, I’ll try to find out who they are or what the deal is.”
“Yes, I think it’s important we find out why the man has gone to Dakar. There must be something or someone there, which gave him a reason to flee to Senegal. Do you think there is any point in you looking for Savoi in Guinée?”
“No. I have a hunch, and I’m sure I’m right, the man is in Dakar.”
“Perhaps you’re right….” Somehow, Talya knew Savoi was in Dakar. But why?
Then another of her problems emerged from Talya’s muddled thoughts. “Hassan, I am sorry to impose on your time, but I was wondering if you have been in contact with any of the landowners and …”
“Yes,” he cut-in, “I have obtained a list from Kane’s office and I have discovered…”
“What?” Talya raised an eyebrow. All I need is to learn that the Pope owns one of the properties!
Hassan, observing her bewildered face, was smiling from ear to ear now. She wasn’t.
“Well … shall we say it shall remain in the family?”
Talya was baffled. Don’t tell me… “Please don’t say that one of the proprietors is your uncle.”
Hassan broke into roaring laughter. Talya stared. She couldn’t believe it.
“No, not really my uncle, but my adoptive father,” he said between chuckles. Talya still stared. Didn’t I say that you could find a parent just by crossing the street?
“You mean of all the millions of people in this country, one of the proprietors, which have been dealing with Savoi, is your father?” She sounded as incredulous as she was.
“Yes. Now do you see why, I have to find the man? If for no other reasons than the fact that he has taken my father for a ride.”
“This is getting worse by the minute. I don’t know what to say.” Talya was truly out of excuses. They had engaged the services of a criminal, and now she had Hassan’s, and related families, hurting or possibly bent on revenge against Carmine. This was getting ridiculous, ludicrous even.
“But don’t worry,” Hassan said, seeing the consternation she felt painted across Talya’s face, “I will see to it that Carmine is not made to pay for this affront. My father is a gentle man and we will go and visit him as soon as the Kankoon application has been filed. I’m sure he will be a good emissary and pass the word to the other eleven proprietors that Carmine will make good their losses in due time…”
“Make good their losses?” Talya interrupted, aghast. “What does that mean? We have not signed on the dotted line—Savoi has, of his own accord, not with our authorization—” She was jumping the gun, as usual.
“Hold on, Talya….” Hassan was still smiling. She stared, again. “I know that you have contemplated some form of reimbursement in kind—I think is what you’ve said—so that’s what I meant by making good their losses. You’ve also mentioned that since Savoi was your agent, the responsibility befell you to see what kind of settlement could be reached with each of the proprietors. Isn’t that correct?”
“Yes, that’s what I said, as long as the settlement in question is reasonable…”
“I understand that, and believe me when I say, my father does too. He will pass the word around once he has met you and will play the role of mediator if you like.”
That sounds much better. Simmer down Talya—the man is here to help.
“That would be very helpful indeed, thank you. I’m sorry, Hassan, but I am not in the habit of reimbursing a criminal’s debts for one thing, and I often jump to conclusions when I shouldn’t.”
“Yes, I noticed that, yet I think it’s refreshing to face someone who is not afraid of the truth.” Was that a compliment? Shut up Talya!
She smiled in reply and then she saw Hassan gather his belongings, car keys and briefcase; that was her cue. It was time for them to leave.
Hassan said, “I will contact you as soon as I am free from this pre-trial and we can go over the application, and if need be, we can use my office.”
“Thank you. Yes, that will be helpful. Let me know.”
They left the restaurant saying their good-byes to Ishmael and walked through the lobby toward the front door.
Hassan turned to face her before stepping outside, and said, “Take care of yourself, I’ll be back soon. In the meantime do me a favour, keep away from anyone who could hurt you.”
“What does that mean? I won’t stay cloistered here just because Savoi is on the loose.”
“I’ll explain later, but for now just do as I ask, okay?”
“I’ll try. But I can’t promise anything.”
“All right. Just be careful, that’s all I ask…” And without another word, Hassan walked out, leaving Talya standing at the door not knowing what to make of this latest warning.

Hassan crossed the parking lot to his car. He was mindful of his last comment to Talya. Somehow, he had this ever-increasing need to protect her. He couldn’t really tell her how he felt about her. He didn’t know himself what those feelings were, not yet anyway. He knew one thing for sure, he didn’t want to see her being hurt by the likes of Savoi nor did he want her