The tangerine taxi jockey was faring quite well despite the dead day in Aden. An hour or so earlier he'd dropped off a mysterious couple onto Sira Island and had been rewarded with an outrageous tip, in American dollars no less. And now he was being hailed by a prosperous-looking Westerner. The cabby's wife had begged him to stay home today. Ah, she will be pleased and proud when her brave and resourceful husband returns on this evening, he told himself .

Aaron Abel was leaning over the sink in his bathroom inspecting his face in the mirror. He wouldn't be going into the Yemen Observer offices today. And not because his face had been messed up. Even though he was a dedicated journalist, it would be foolhardy, and senseless, to attempt the journey. Yesterday, only three other employees besides him had ventured in to work. The streets of Aden had become too dangerous. Protesters, the army, the police, extremists, private militias... it was becoming a free-for-all melee of a settling of scores: personal, tribal, political, criminal and whatever.

In the early A.M. Aaron had become a third-party victim of a settling of scores. He had foolishly answered a knock at his door. The instant he had cracked it open, two brutes had forced their way in. They wanted to know the whereabouts of Ava Blair.

Aaron gingerly padded his fingers round the mouse under his left eye. "Ooh," he moaned. The mouse had come courtesy a swift right hook delivered by the larger brute, the one with the ugliest beard. Because instead of answering the question, Aaron had asked, "Why are you looking for Ava Blair?" He received the right hook in answer; it prompted a different response from Aaron, "I swear in the name of Allah, I do not know where Ava Blair is." And at the time that had been the truth.

Over the next few minutes Aaron had received a cut lip and a bloody nose. In return, the brutes had discovered: Ava Blair was not responsible for Zalmay's death; Badaki was the murderer; and his headquarters were housed in a renovated office on the Old Harbor waterfront.

The two fellows had eventually identified themselves as Zalmay's brothers. They'd journeyed from a remote northern governorate seeking revenge for his death.

Aaron Abel was not in the habit of blabbing information to strangers. But in this case he undoubtedly judged it prudent; he was protecting the innocent and condemning the guilty –not to mention preserving some of his facial features. He had to believe, in a way, justice was being served.

On departing, the men had warned Aaron not to alert the police or Badaki. He'd assured them he had no intention of doing either.

Now, he tested his swollen nose between thumb and finger. Not broken. It would recover its fine lines. He attempted a weak smile out of the good side of his mouth.

The smile vanished at the sound of a knock at his door. The expression on the face looking back at him from the mirror asked, Oh, Allah, now what?

This time Aaron did not open the door. Instead, he quietly braced a chair under the door knob and then stood to the side while he inquired, in Arabic, "Who is there?"

Aaron was surprised when the answer came in English.

"Mr. Abel? Is that you? It's Adam East."

"Oh, Mr. East? And may I inquire, are you coming as friend or foe on this occasion?"

"I mean you no harm. I'm looking for Ava. I promise, no rough stuff. Is she here?"

Aaron removed the chair and opened the door. "Come in, Adam. Ava is not here. But I have something for you."

"Holy shit, man. What happened to you? Jesus," Adam said.

"No, He had no part in it. I had visitors... Zalmay's brothers. They too were in search of Ava."

"What? You didn't tell them anything, did you?"

"Adam, I did not know anything about Ava. I had not heard from her since... well, you know." Aaron slid a glance towards his door.

"Right, okay. And, uh, sorry about that night."

"That water has flowed under the bridge, Adam. In any event, I admire a man who is unafraid to exhibit passion." Aaron offered the crooked smile he'd practiced in the mirror.

"Sure. Um, thanks." Adam abruptly changed the topic, "Zalmay's brothers, huh? Hmm, what'd they look like?"

"Large hairy brutes, hawkish features. They come from one of the northern governorates. Extremely impolite fellows."

Adam snapped his fingers. He said, "Fuck me! You know what?" He pointed a finger at Aaron. "I know those guys. Frick and Frack. They were hangin' around the Gold Mohur parking lot when I met up with Guma. Everybody waiting to catch Ava alone and isolated. And I think they were playing dominoes right here, across the street, when I showed up on my bike. I kicked fifty shades of shit outta one of them down by the waterfront. Those two raw-boned yahoos have been doggin' Ava; probably Guma first off. Frig! I shoulda been paying closer attention."

"Hmm, yes, if I understand correctly, that does explain a good many things," Aaron commented.

"Uh-huh. And guess what? No more than ninety minutes ago I saw them sneak out of Badaki's building ... right after they'd lopped off his head."

"Oh, no. Badaki has been murdered? May Allah forgive me," Aaron Abel said. "I must assume some responsibility for his death, Adam. I told... Frick and Frack, where Badaki could be found."

"Well played, Aaron!" Adam slapped him on the back. "Hmm, I suppose we should call Guma, tell him about Badaki... you know, like the first chance we get, before Frick and Frack have had time to skedaddle back into the desert." He gave Aaron a conspiratorial wink and then he switched gears, "Anyway, did you say you had something for me?"

"Ah, yes, I do. It seems Ava has used her cell-phone to leave a text message on my telephone. It is for you. Do not worry, it is not an emergency."

"A text message?"

"Yes. I received it about an hour ago; I was out. It translated to an automated voice message."

The cyber voice said, "Adam East please meet me at the Sira Fortress as soon as you are able love Ava Blair."

Adam absently replaced the receiver. He had a puzzled look on his face.

Aaron said, "What is it, Adam? You do know where the Sira Fortress is located."

"Huh? Oh yeah, sure. Vendetta is lying in the shadow of the mountain. But there's something screwy goin' on here." Adam peered blankly into a corner of Aaron's living room.

"What is it?" Aaron asked.

"I dunno exactly. One thing for sure: I don't know what's up with the 'love' stuff. That doesn't sound like something Ava would say."

"Really, Adam? Precisely what is your relationship with Ava? If I may be so bold in asking."

Adam pondered that one for a second or two before redirecting his attention toward Aaron with a measured turn of his head. He felt a hash of anger and jealousy begin to cook in his chest but he managed to maintain his cool. He said, "The truth? I'm not sure. It's kinda' mixed up, confusing... If you know what I mean. Why? Do you have a personal interest?"

"Mmm, perhaps. These matters are mixed up, confusing. But, if I believed there was a possibility; if I received some kind of... sign."

"Yeah, well, don't hold your breath on that one, buddy."

"Certainly. I am never in a hurry where matters of the heart are concerned, Adam." Aaron offered a grin but quickly put a finger to his cut lip. "Ooh, that is painful." Then he asked, "Adam, shall I accompany you to the Fortress?"

"No thanks, it's probably better I go myself."

"Are you going to call Ava first?"

"Call Ava?" Adam knitted his brow. "Hey wait a minute. That's another screwy part. Ava's BlackBerry was stolen. There's no way she got it back this morning. Unless..."

"Unless what?"

"That sonofabitch."

"Adam, what?"

"That message wasn't from Ava. It's from Ali Khan. It's a fucking trap!"

"But, Adam. How would Ali Khan know to leave a message with me?"

"Hmm, you're right," Adam said... then, after two seconds' thought, "Jesus H. Christ! He must have Ava! He must've gotten it out of her that I'd eventually show up at your place." Adam checked his watch. "I gotta get to the Inner Harbor, get my bike. I hope it's still there. Then I'm gonna geld that cocksucker, Ali."

Aaron said, "I passed that way yesterday. I saw an old bike at the pier. Is that it? It looked untouched. Most of the conflict took place in Old Town."

"Excellent," Adam said as he charged out the door, ignoring the stiffness in his leg. On the way down the first flight of stairs he hollered back, "Aaron, will ya gimme a shot at Ali before you call Guma?"

"Yes, Adam. Do not worry about that. Be careful!"