“Was the door locked?”
She nodded. “I always lock it.”
“Is there any other way in?”
She glanced anxiously toward the now closed window, and nodded. “The only other way someone could have got in is from the balcony. The doors were open to the night. I’m on the first story, but there are trees and climbers.” She glanced at the note she’d dropped on the table in front of her. “Whoever placed the note there, must have climbed in while I was talking to you.”
“Is the door locked now?”
She nodded again. “Both doors.”
“Right. So, what does the note say?’
He listened as she re-read the note twice. But he didn’t need to hear it a second time to understand what was in the mind of the man—for there could be no doubt that it was a man—who wrote it.
“So,” she said, after he was silent for a couple of seconds. “What do you think?”
“The same as you, I imagine. If the man who wrote that could enter your room, unseen, then you are in danger and you need to get out of there as soon as possible. Who have you told?”
“No one.” She blinked. “Only a few people would be able to enter my chamber. And those few people are the people closest to me. There is no one else I can trust.”
“You can trust me.” The words escaped his lips before he’d thought them through. But as he played them back in his mind while he registered the shock and relief which showed on her face, he knew he was correct. Shecouldtrust him. And he was probably the only one.
She nodded. “I know. I thought of you straight away. We may have had our differences, but I feel I can trust you—even, perhaps,becauseof our differences, I feel I can trust you. You are an outsider, with nothing to gain by hurting me.”
He winced at the thought of anyone wanting to hurt this woman who was more vulnerable than he’d ever imagined.
“So, I trust you,” she continued. “And that’s why I called you. Because I don’t know what to do. I’m at risk from the very people who are charged with protecting me. And I’m scared. Really scared,” she said in a husky undertone which tore at his heart. She didn’t need to have added those words because he could see it in her eyes.
“You’re probably only at risk from one of those people,” he reminded her gently. “But until you know which one, you’ll have to treat everyone with suspicion. And,” he said, leaning close, echoing her stance, trying to reassure her before he dropped the bombshell, “you’ll have to leave. You’re not safe there, Ela.”
She swallowed and then the unsureness dropped away and she sat back in her chair, her beautiful lips a straight line of intent. “You’re right. But how?”
“Silently, without anyone knowing.”
“In disguise?”
“Can you do that?”
She looked at him with a level and fiery gaze. He was relieved to see the stroppy Ela return.
“Of course. I’ve spent my life in the desert with my people, with only me and my horse. I know how to be ordinary, to fit in, believe it or not.”
He didn’t, but he had no choice but to give her the benefit of the doubt. “Good. How will you leave?”
She nodded toward the window. “The same way the message was left. Through the window. No one would imagine I’d do that. I can climb down the tree—as a child I always did.”
“Is that how you believe the intruder gained access?”
“No. It’s not strong enough. I believe he used a ladder. I could see the marks it made. I can use the same tree except I’ll drop down into the outer garden.”
“Good. Leave quickly, Elaheh. No delays.”
“But where shall I go?”
“To me. You’ll come to me. And I’ll keep you safe until we can work out who is trying to—” He hesitated, not wanting to say the word.
“Rape me,” she said coldly. “Rape is control and someone wants to do both to me. And I cannot protect myself physically. All I have to rely on is my mind and that won’t protect me from this threat. You’re right, I have to leave.”