Madari stirred, waking slowly. Warm bed. Sophia beside him, warm skin. Her bed, not his own, he realised as he opened his eyes and took in his surroundings. His mobile phone was ringing on the bedside table and the next trill from it cut through the mists of sleep and made him reach for it. Sophia stirred against him and muttered, half-awake.

Not wanting to disturb her, seeing from the clock that it was barely five, Madari slipped out of bed and out of the room, grabbing his robe on the way. He closed the door quietly behind him as he answered the call.

"Madari."

"It's me." Jahni's voice came on the line.

"What's the situation?" He pulled on his robe, already mentally going over the unit's current readiness. Who was on standby? Who would have to come in from home? Who was on leave? Any of their vehicles out of action right now?

"There's no emergency, I... sorry it's really early, I didn't think. I just thought you'd want to know right away."

"Know what?" Madari said.

Jahni's voice dropped slightly lower. "It was just on the radio. Haridi was found dead."

"What?" Madari checked himself as his own voice rose. He moved away from the bedroom door and into the living room. The rising sun slanted in through the gauzy, pale yellow drapes, bathing the room in a golden light. Giotto was curled into a ball asleep on a chair and didn't wake up when Madari came in and spoke. "What happened?"

"They didn't say on the radio, but I called a contact at the police department. He hanged himself."

"My god."

"I just thought you'd want to know. It seemed like the story affected you."

"Yes. Thank you, Kahil."

"You shouldn't let it bother you so much. You're not..."

"I know." He stopped Jahni, perhaps some paranoia there. These phones were not secure. "I'll see you in a couple of hours. Thanks for letting me know. Oh, did you have a nice time with Karen last night?"

Jahni chuckled. "She wore me out."

Well, if anyone was listening let them make of that what they will.

He hung up and, too awake to go back to bed, he instead went to the kitchen and started brewing coffee. The cat wandered in, finally disturbed by his movements, and Madari poured some milk into a saucer for it. In the quiet of the early morning the gurgling of the coffee machine and the cat lapping the milk were the only sounds.

Sophia found him still sitting at the kitchen table an hour later, gazing out of the open window, a now cold cup of coffee in his hands. When she came in, rumpled and sleepy, he felt bad for not at least taking her in a cup of coffee, or making her some breakfast. But it was still very early, a little after six.

"Oh, I thought you'd be gone," she said. "Did you get a call, or did I just dream it?"

He couldn't tell her. Yes, he'd got a call, but he couldn't tell her what it was about. Couldn't discuss that with her.

"I did get a call, just not something I had to go in for."

She rubbed his shoulders, pressed against his back for a moment, and kissed him on the cheek. "You should have come back to bed. I like waking up with you."

"I like that too." He turned, sliding his arm around her waist and caressing the curve of her hip, hand slipping over silk, the warm skin underneath so soft and smooth. His woman. What man wouldn't be happy with such a fine woman? So lovely and intelligent, such delightful company. She was all a man could – should – want.

And no matter how much he told himself that, he'd never really feel it in his heart. He cared for her, even loved her. But not enough.

"I'd better go," he said, standing up.

"Have you had breakfast? No," she said, looking at the tidy kitchen, "you haven't. Let me at least make you something before you go. You take a shower and get dressed and I'll make us some eggs."

"Thank you, my dear."

As he headed to the shower he couldn't help but think of Haridi's wife - widow. She would not be making breakfast for her husband this morning. Her house would be full of policemen at this moment.

As he stepped into the shower his thoughts strayed to Jahni and Karen again, imagining them having breakfast together. Of course, they had not. Jahni had gone on duty, so must have dropped Karen at her hotel and his assertion that she had worn him out applied only to dancing. He'd certainly never joke about it to Madari if he meant something else.

But imagining Jahni and Karen becoming more than friends seemed less like a fantasy this morning and more like an urgent solution to an immediate problem.

~~~

After rising earlier than he had planned, Madari sought coffee in the mess as soon as he arrived, even before he went to see Jahni in the office. He found Rahama in the mess, early for him, reading the morning papers.

"Ah, Faris, good morning. Join me, please."

Madari got his coffee and sat with Rahama, glancing at the papers. Only a couple of them, late editions of the city papers, carried the breaking story about Haridi.

"Bad business, this," Rahama said, surprising Madari as he indicated the front page of the Az-Ma'ir Sunrise, which had the story.

"Um, yes," Madari said, in a guarded tone.

"I'd met him, you know," Rahama said. "At receptions at the Mayor's office. A good man."

Madari almost choked on his coffee, but put it down carefully instead. Of all the things he'd heard Haridi called these last few weeks 'a good man' was a new one.

"A fool of course," Rahama went on, "to put himself in such danger. And because of that the city has lost a good servant." He clicked his tongue, shaking his head. "A fool."

Was that... a warning? But Rahama couldn't know about Madari's feelings for Jahni, could he? He might suspect. How many tiny ways had Madari and Jahni given themselves away? Looks and gestures that only someone who knew them well, and was an astute observer would spot. As Faraj had, and Noor had even so many years ago. Even before anything had actually happened between them.

There were those rumours of course, and while Rahama was far too intelligent to consider rumours as proof, he'd certainly consider their existence to be significant.

Yes, Madari thought. I was just given a warning. An interesting warning though. A warning not to be a fool.

"So, where is Lieutenant Bennett today," Rahama asked and Madari wanted to sigh with relief at the move to a more pleasant subject.

"Madame Giordano is taking her to the spa and out shopping."

"Ah, the ladies know how to indulge themselves while we men work," Rahama said, chuckling, perhaps at saying this while being engaged in the less than stern work of reading the newspapers over coffee. "I hope I'll have the chance to see her again before she leaves."

~~~

"Here they are," Madari said, making Jahni look up from studying the menu, to see Sophia and Karen coming into the restaurant. A waiter led them to the table and the two men rose to greet them.

Sophia had outdone herself, Jahni thought, knowing she'd been out with Karen today, to buy something for tonight. Karen wore a fine linen Shalwar-Kameez in sky blue, trimmed with silver embroidery. Her hair fell loose around her face in soft waves, and her makeup, though still much lighter than Sophia's own polished and sophisticated look, was more obvious and brought out a glow in her. He'd thought her pretty before, but tonight he could use the word beautiful.

A feeling of being watched made him glance at Madari, who seemed to be studying his reaction to Karen rather closely. Did he think Jahni was looking at her too long, too blatantly? What did he feel if Jahni was? Disapproval? Jealousy?

Jahni lowered his eyes, only looking at the ladies again when they reached the table. But Karen did indeed take the eye. He wanted to remark on it, but felt sure that would incur disapproval. Would she find it strange that neither man said anything? Or did she realise that was the custom here? Fortunately Sophia came to the rescue, as they all sat studying their menus.

"Don't worry," she said, leaning close to Karen. "They're both absolutely overawed with wonder at how lovely you look, but their upbringing keeps them from saying so."

Karen chuckled. "That's good to know. I was starting to think, 'what am I, chopped liver?'"

"Karen always looks lovely," Madari said. "Don't you think so, Kahil?"

"What?" That was just strange. "Oh, yes, of course she does."

"Why, thank you, Kahil, and you're looking very lovely yourself tonight." She winked, he blushed and both Madari and Sophia chuckled. Jahni sighed with relief when the waiter arrived.

Though there wasn't enough food for Jahni's liking, still he enjoyed the evening, mostly because of Karen and Sophia's company. They seemed to have become fast friends already and they laughed and joked and teased the two men gently. The evening would have been complete, if Madari had been a little more himself.

It amazed Jahni that Sophia didn't notice it and become jealous, but Madari spent most of the night singing Karen's praises. Her wit and intelligence, even her looks, though he referred to those in a guarded way. Now Jahni was the one feeling jealous. Was Madari attracted to her? He claimed she was too young for him, but that didn't stop other men his age going after women her age. Had her made-over appearance tonight caused him to be unable to control his interest in her? She did look much more feminine. Her attractiveness came as much from her healthy, athletic look, Jahni personally thought, but couldn't deny that tonight's look was a pleasant variation.

He'd already considered asking her on a date alone before she left. But if Madari was interested in her, that what should Jahni do in that case? Would Madari be jealous of him? Oh that was insane. Which of them would Madari even be jealous of?

As the ladies went off to the bathroom together, Jahni sighed and passed a hand over his forehead, trying to unravel this knot.

"Are you all right?" Madari asked, a concerned look on his face, enough tenderness behind it to increase Jahni's confusion.

"Just getting a headache," Jahni said. "I didn't get enough sleep." He'd gone home at lunchtime after his early morning shift, but trying to sleep in the afternoon never worked out well.

"Let's get some air on the terrace for a moment. I want a cigar anyway."

They stepped outside into the cooling night air. This restaurant was on the upper floor of a tall building and the city's lights spread out beneath their feet as they strolled to the rail.

Madari offered a cigar to Jahni, who shook his head, not in the mood for one, but enjoying the scent of the smoke when Madari lit his own up. That scent always evoked Madari in his mind, whoever was doing the smoking.

"Kahil," Madari said, "I have something I want to talk to you about. You might think this a strange thing for me to say, and it's almost certainly not... proper."

Oh, god he was going to say something about his feelings for Karen. Jahni was glad the darkness hid the flush rising up his neck and face. A mix of anger, embarrassment and jealousy. Madari couldn't be foolish enough to think she'd be interested, could he? After all, the age gap... though she'd been interested in Face. Well the culture gap then. Too many misunderstandings likely.

"I think you should make some efforts to pursue a relationship with Karen."

It was a good thing the terrace had a sturdy hand rail, or Jahni might have fallen over it as he shot up straight from leaning on it, to stare at Madari.

"What?"

"She'll be gone in a few days, so I know there isn't really a lot of time."

"Are you telling me to... seduce Karen?"

"Of course not!" Madari scowled, looking outraged. "But I think you could at least start things off. Let her know you're interested, want to keep in touch, visit perhaps."

"You mean you're not..." No, don't go there.

"Not what?"

"Nothing, never mind. What makes you think I am interested in her?"

"You should be."

"I should be?

What the hell did that mean? Anger started to rise in him now. Had Madari decided he had some kind of moral superiority, because he had a woman and Jahni didn't? Did he think that made him less of a deviant? Perhaps Jahni should tell him a few home truths.

"Do you think I'm not interested in women?" He said it in a low voice, though there was nobody else on the terrace. Still they could hardly shout about it. "Do you think I live the life of a monk? Is that what you think?"

The look that crossed Madari's face was almost enough to defuse Jahni's anger, almost, but not quite. Staring, shocked at the idea that Jahni had secrets from him, about something so important. But the anger didn't go, because he was angry with himself too. Did he think it something to boast about, picking up foreign women for casual sex? It would disgust Madari, and it disgusted Jahni too, before the frustration grew too much. The women didn't disgust him. They just meant nothing. They produced no reaction when he thought of them later.

Perhaps Madari had a point then. Perhaps Karen was someone he should pursue. He could have a real relationship with her, get some of the emotional as well as physical satisfaction Madari got with Sophia.

"Karen is ideal for you," Madari said, not pursuing the subject of Jahni's sex life. "You like her. She's attractive."

"She's Australian."

"You have something against Australians?"

"Only the fact they live several thousand miles away."

Madari waved a hand, as if this presented a minor problem. "You have the telephone and visits. And who knows what the future holds? There are ways to get around any problem."

"Next you'll be suggesting I marry her."

"There's no reason you shouldn't." Madari turned to look out over the city, apparently unable to look Jahni in the face after that remark.

"There's no... I can think of one reason." A reason standing in front of him right now, talking more rubbish than Jahni heard him spout in some time. Madari glanced back at him.

"No, that's a reason you should marry her. I think we're both still struggling with the new... boundaries we've put on..." He glanced around. "Ourselves. Sophia helps me stay strong. Karen could help you do the same."

Jahni gazed out over the city, wondering if Madari had fallen and hit his head today, or if someone had slipped something hallucinogenic into that cigar. This was madness, wasn't it? Telling the man you loved to go and marry a woman that he didn't actually love.

Was there method in it though? Was there any sense to it at all? It would do for him what Sophia did for Madari - socially that is - shield him from gossip. And if Karen didn't even live here then he'd have a wife as a shield, without actually having to change his lifestyle in any way. With regular visits the sex would probably be as frequent as he was getting now anyway.

People would have to stop gossiping if he and Madari both had women. If they both had... wives! Is that what this was about? He took Madari's arm to make him turn.

"Are you going to marry Sophia? Is that what this is about? You want me to have a wife too, so I won't be jealous of you?"

"No, of course not! Kahil, believe me, I have no intention of marrying Sophia."

"And does she have any intention of marrying you? Because if she does, I know where the smart money would go."

Madari scowled at that. "Sophia is not that kind of woman. And no, she is not interested in marrying me. We've discussed this. I told you, both of us want to continue as before. Kahil, honestly, I'm thinking about you here. Karen would be a fine wife. And I've seen her with children, she'd be a good mother."

Jahni's headache started to come back. He's got me married and with children now. He rubbed his forehead.

"Faris, this is all moving a little too fast for me."

Madari smiled, sympathetically. "I'm sorry. That's my fault. I'm getting carried away. Yes, I'm running ahead of myself. I just think this is something you should think about. I don't expect you to propose to her before she leaves, just... open negotiations."

"This is all because of the Haridi thing, isn't it? That really upset you. Faris, you're not... him. Neither am I."

"We're both in danger. Perhaps not as much as him, but something could happen at any time. We need to work out a way to keep out of danger."

"We've both learned a lot about self-control these last few years."

"Relying on only one weapon in a battle is not a good strategy."

"This is a battle?" Jahni said it with a smile, not sure what to make of that idea.

"I battle every day," Madari said. And Jahni knew he did the same himself. He was still in danger, despite those new rules. If Karen really could help him be strong, wouldn't he be a fool not to consider that strategy?

"I'll think about it." He glanced back at the doors into the restaurant. "We'd better go back and join the ladies."

In a year, could he say "our ladies"? Or even "our wives"? Madari claimed he and Sophia weren't interested in marriage, but what if this fantasy scenario of Madari's played out, and Jahni and Karen married? How long afterwards before Madari and Sophia did the same?