Page 129 of Tell No One
“He wants to be with me. We’ve been to Canada before. We liked it there.”
“You can’t go to the same place,” Delaney said. “You’d risk being recognised.”
“It was west Canada,” Ahsan said.
“Then settle in the east,” Henry said. “Stay in the house in Scotland until we contact you. We’ll arrange a secure means of communication. Tell Delaney your address and no one else for the time being. Buy new phones. Be careful how you use them. No talking to old friends. They’ve gone. You can’t even say goodbye. Don’t use your email. No presence anywhere that can be avoided. Is your London house in your name?”
“No. Rafiq’s, but it’s a complicated arrangement.”
“We’ll help you sell it,” Henry said. “Leave no ties to the UK when you move to Canada.”
Delaney wondered if that was a possibility for him and Tag. But no country would want Tag with his criminal record. They had to find a way around that.I could get him a new passport.But he was assuming too much. Tag didn’t know the truth about everything yet.
The helicopter landed at Edinburgh airport. They left the pilot sorting out the refuelling and the three of them went into the reception. Rafiq flung himself into Ahsan’s arms. A lump formed in Delaney’s throat.I want this. But I don’t deserve it.
“Find out about Tag,” Delaney asked Henry.
He stood with his fists clenched as Henry made the call.Please, please, please.
Finally, Henry put away his phone. “Out of danger.”
Delaney nodded. He couldn’t trust himself to do more.
After Rafiq had finished hugging Ahsan, though he’d not let go of him, he shook Henry’s hand and then Delaney’s.
“How can I ever thank you,” Rafiq said. “Anything I can do, I will.”
“Be happy and live to a ripe old age,” Henry said. “I’m going to go and get myself a drink while Delaney outlines what you need to do to stay under the radar.”
Delaney sat in a quiet corner and went over what was proposed. The two men held hands tightly while he was speaking.
“Should we change our appearance?” Ahsan asked when he’d done.
“I’d lose the beard,” he said to Rafiq. “Maybe one of you dye your hair. Plastic surgery is an option but you’d have to find a surgeon who could be trusted and I’m not sure it would be worth it. You’ll have Canadian passports and new names. I doubt either of your families will be able to find you. Even if they discover you’re in Canada, it’s a huge country. I know you’ll have enough money not to need to work, but I’d suggest you get some sort of job. Start a small business. A bookshop. A café. You’ll blend in better and the Canadians will approve. You’ll be safe. You won’t need to keep looking over your shoulder.”
“So what now?” Ahsan asked.
“Use only this phone to contact me. My number is in there. Buy burner phones and get rid of them every so often. Be alert for anything out of the ordinary. Pack bags with essentials and have them ready if you need to run. I know it seems extreme but I also understand the importance of family honour in your culture.”
“What about the diamonds?” Ahsan asked. “They are our insurance. My brother will know if I try to sell them. Then he’ll know I’m not dead.”
“He’s going to be arrested and charged with conspiracy to commit murder. It can carry a life sentence here. Even if some deal is done, and he returns to Saudi, he’ll be held in custody for a while. We can arrange for the diamonds to be sold. Where’s the certification?”
“Behind the boiler in our house,” Ahsan said. “Rafiq, give him a key.”
Rafiq pulled one off his key ring. “The code is 9603.”
“We’ll have all your belongings packed up and moved to a holding facility. Once you have an address in Canada, we’ll arrange shipping. When you have your new identities, you’ll need bank accounts and ways to spread your money around.”
“I can do all that,” Ahsan said.
“Now you have to trust me to not run off with the gems.” Delaney smiled.
“I told him he could have them if he brought you back safe,” Rafiq blurted.
“I don’t need your diamonds,” Delaney said.
Ahsan chuckled. “You are not like other men. And neither is Tag.”
