Page 96 of High Treason
“Maybe both.”
“What does this mean for Yasmine?” she said.
“She’ll return to her studies and life in Riyadh. Luckily few know about her and Malik, and the prince will make sure the story isn’t retold.”
“Glad to hear it. Fatima and I are having our first self-defense class this afternoon.” She remembered. “Unless she’s needed here.”
“All depends on her mother’s resolve.”
“Why isn’t her husband here? Does it have anything to do with not being the favored wife?” Monica said.
“She and her husband haven’t gotten along for years. Probably happier apart, and she’s well taken care of in Saudi. Her life centers around her children and grandchildren.”
“A curious culture. Actually it’s much like couples who are married in name only.”
He rubbed the back of his neck. “In Princess Gharam’s situation, I’m not sure what road I’d take with terminal cancer. I wouldn’t want others to see me struggle.”
“Sounds like you’ve thought about it.”
“You and I have seen far too many suffering people.”
“The difference is I have hope for heaven.”
“You’ve told me.”
“I can share more when you’re ready.”
“I’m looking.” He held up his hand. “End of discussion.”
Their phones alerted them to an incoming text. Monica read the DNA report gathered on the roof of Paramount High School when Zain was killed. “I loathe the wordinconclusive,” she said.
“Nothing we can do about it.”
She scrolled through her phone for anything she might have missed.
“What’s your next assignment?” Kord said.
“Back to the coffeehouse until further orders.” The reminder of seeing Lori earlier brought a surge of remorse. Monica couldn’t blame her friend for eliminating her job, and it might be easier in the long term when she’d need to move on to another assignment. But Monica treasured her friendship with Lori and hated to see it end badly. “My cover might have been blown.”
“How?”
“Saw my friend and boss in the gift shop with Ali. She heard enough to guess I could be connected to the royal family.”
“She’s visiting here?”
“Yes. I’m debating whether to let it ride or text her.”
“Would she tell anyone?”
Monica blew out her angst. “She’s close to her mom and sister. Guess that answers it. I’d better take care of this now.” Reaching for her shoulder bag, she pulled out her personal cell and texted Lori.R u ok?She could be too upset to respond.
“Is this the first time she’s suspected anything?”
Monica told him about the man who’d asked for her at the coffee shop. “Lori said he was dark-skinned and had an accent.”
His eyes flared. “When were you going to tell me this?”
“I’m sorry. I agreed to the trust thing and didn’t follow through. So I’d planned to go over it with you after I viewed the camera footage from the coffee shop.”
