Zulfikar saw David approach him across the hotel lobby.

"Was something wrong back there?" David asked.

Zulfikar looked up, gave David a smile he thought innocent. "No, just thought I saw someone."

"But you didn't?"

Zulfikar laughed. "I don't know."

David scowled, but left.

Zulfi got up and casually followed Sidi Radhakrishnan to the elevator; got in just as it was going up. He waited until Sidi exited the elevator, and almost until the doors closed, before following again. He stayed to the wall, stopping to pretend he opened one of the doors.

Jinnah's door was opened to Sidi. Zulfikar could not make out every word, gathered Sidi reported he had seen whose house Vivid Sadness visited.

When Sidi moved to his own room and shut the door, Zulfikar moved. He knocked quietly at Jinnah's door.

Ahmed Jinnah opened the door. Their eyes met, and though the smile faded from Ahmed's lips, he did not shut the door.

Zulfikar walked in. He looked about, saw the room didn't adjoin any others. "I suppose you sent him to see for whom they performed," he said, "And he told you who it was."

"It was the governor," Jinnah said quietly.

"Whoever it was, he gave flowers to them at the show where we met, Jinnah." Zulfikar looked right at the other man, into his brown eyes. "Do you suppose he noticed you on the dance floor from the table in the shadows, or was he too intent on watching the stage? You were quite close to Orchid for a while."

"What are you saying? So what if he saw me? Affan was at the same show, and he hired them to perform for him tonight. It seems the only candidate who can't possibly be caught in a scandal involving Vivid Sadness is Sialkot. But as Affan and I are both running, neither of us can tell on the other."

"But do you think he knows that you know about him?"

Jinnah shook his head. "It doesn't matter. I'm sure he didn't even notice me."

"Well, you'll see tomorrow, won't you?"

"Tomorrow will be a very interesting day," Jinnah said as he nodded.

"You owe me," Zulfikar said coolly. He caught Jinnah's gaze again and smiled.

Jinnah came towards him so quickly; Zulfikar panicked. He thought Jinnah might hurt him. But, he only put his hands to Zulfi's chest to push him toward the bed.

Zulfikar sat back on the edge of the bed and resolved himself with the fact Jinnah just might follow through this time.

Zulfi relaxed a little. He opened his own shirt as he looked up at Jinnah.

Jinnah went down on his knees and bowed his head.

"Hey!" Zulfikar said. He palmed a foil packet over to Jinnah.

For a moment Jinnah just stared, but then he showed he knew what to do.

-----

Secret: I'm not sure if Affan noticed Jinnah, either.