human
Thought you were going to sleep till tomorrow, Scotty said.
gpt
Rick, this is Inspector Ismail ben Adhem of the Cairo Police.
human
I'm glad you're here, the boy said frankly.
gpt
Between Youssef and Kemel Moustafa, we're sort of in a jam.
human
Well see if we can get you out of it. Suppose you call me Ben, just to make things easy. Now, Scotty has given me a detailed report of your activities up to the time you left the project yesterday. Suppose we pick up from there?
gpt
Okay. Can I order breakfast first?
human
Of course. Forgive my impatience. We can talk at leisure over coffee.
gpt
We came back to the hotel. Hassan opened the car, and the cat was gone. Of course I had no idea what had happened to it. Moustafa turned black with rage. He said I had a clear choice of getting the cat back and turning it over to him, or having something unpleasant happen. He'll be back at seven. He wasn't joking.
human
No, Ben agreed.
gpt
I know this man, and he does not joke. What then?
human
I sent Hassan home to get some rest, and I came up to the room and called the project. Scotty answered. He told me Felix was safe, so I knew he had the cat, and he told me the police had been called in. I just fell into bed and went to sleep. That's it.
gpt
It's enough, the inspector said.
human
Of course neither of you had any way of knowing what was going on. You had merely undertaken to do a favor for an acquaintance. I just wish some kind wind had whispered to you the idea of reporting to us after that first day in El Mouski.
gpt
I guess we were wrong, Rick admitted.
human
At first it didn't seem like a matter for the police. Later, we just didn't think of it.
gpt
I understand. But it doesn't pay to be too independent in a strange land, I assure you. Ask Steve Ames.
human
How do you know Steve?
gpt
He and I went through the FBI Academy together. We keep in touch. Also, the International Police Organization, which is called Interpol, keeps us up to date on developments. I know that your scientific group works closely with Steve.
human
I guess we should have reported to you, he said.
gpt
We just didn't know.
human
No matter. It will all work out, anyway. In fact, your delay in contacting us may even make things simpler.
gpt
How?
human
We will see. This cat of yours has many interesting possibilities.
gpt
Do you know why the cat is important?
human
I have an idea. But please do not press me for details. It is better for everything to go on normally while I do a little useful work. So, I suggest you two continue on as before, with only one difference. You will use a different taxi to travel back and forth to Sahara Wells.
gpt
But Hassan is our dragoman, Rick protested.
human
What's more, he's a friend. We can't switch now, after we engaged him for the duration of our stay.
gpt
Your loyalty to Hassan does you credit. But don't worry. He will be taken care of. You and I will trade transportation. I will use Hassan, and you will use my taxi.
human
I don't get it,
gpt
It's simple. Both of you are able to testify to criminal actions on the part of Youssef. Also, if this works out as I hope, you will have testimony to give on the actions of Kemel Moustafa. Now, if you knew there was evidence against you, and you were completely ruthless, what would you do?
human
Remove the evidence,
gpt
Exactly. So, Hassan stays with me, and your taxi driver will be one of my best officers. He will stay with you at all times. While you are in the hotel, another of my men will be your hall porter.
human
Do you really think we're in any danger?
gpt
Don't ever doubt it, Scotty. Be on guard at all times.
human
It's because the cat is very important, Rick stated.
gpt
And the cat is important because of something inside of it. You know what that something is.
human
An excellent deduction, Ben agreed with a grin.
gpt
All but the last statement. I do not know what it is. I merely suspect. My evidence is circumstantial. I'll tell you this much, though. I know a great deal about certain interests of the Moustafa brothers, and I was informed by Interpol that there is an interesting gentleman of great wealth in San Francisco who talks too much.
human
That's not very informative,
gpt
I'm sure it isn't. But I'll make you a promise. Before you leave Egypt, we will perform a small operation on the cat and remove its appendix--or whatever else it may have inside.
human
We'll hold you to that,