Chapter 172

OCTOBER 2014

The strange days persisted for a couple of weeks. I had the feeling that I was missing something or that I was forgetting something. At times it was as if, by disappearing, the constant threat of Haydar Al-Brahkhan’s existence had left a huge hole in my life, and there was nothing to plug it with to prevent it from dragging everything into its depths.

I was cleaning my study, back in the villa, when I stumbled upon the answer.

When I picked up Anya’s portrait to dust off the mantelpiece, I forgot that there used to be something hidden behind it and accidentally threw it onto the rug. The small dark red case opened when it hit the floor and its contents rolled under the sofa. With a grunt, I set the portrait on the shelf and reached under the couch to retrieve my wife’s wedding ring. Once I had it secured within my fist, I slowly sat down on the floor and leaned my back against the padded edge of the couch, staring at the small gold ring in my palm unce