‘No man will put his boot on my neck,’ Khalid said in a low, threatening voice. ‘I promise you that.’

‘Perhaps we could all take a step back,’ Webster suggested. The situation was getting out of control faster than he’d thought it would. Part of him was glad to see that, but he knew he had at least to appear to keep control of things.

‘What your government did was mask its villainy and greed as patriotism,’ Khalid growled. ‘China’s economy has been steadily rising, and they’ve been able to match your dwindling American dollars for oil. My country, in fact all the Middle East, would be better served to sell oil to China and India than to the United States. Our profits will be greater and the risk will be less.’

‘Until the Chinese decide to annex the Middle East,’ Napier said evenly. ‘It’s been a habit with them for millennia, you know.’

‘Ah, Mr Napier, I was wondering when you would have something to say. To counter your supposition, the United States never managed to annex the Middle East, although they certainly succeeded in making their presence felt, so what makes you think the Chinese would be any more fortunate?’

‘Americans aren’t inclined to pursue war unilaterally -’ the prince snorted in derision – ‘with a very few exceptions,’ Napier continued smoothly. ‘And our recent experiences in that arena have confirmed our reluctance to do so as good policy.’

‘The Chinese can roll an army right into your country,’ Hamilton said. ‘Do you really think you’ve got soldiers and hardware that will stand up to them? Or even be willing to stand up to them?’

‘I would sooner choose to believe that than that the United States would stay to protect us. Your country doesn’t have a good record of defending other nations when the price gets too high.’ Khalid said. ‘And your people, your soldiers, wouldn’t be fighting for my people. They would be fighting for the oil.’

‘Common interests,’ Hamilton said. ‘That’s what makes brothers of people.’

Khalid lifted his eyebrows. ‘So now we’re brothers? Then I suppose it was your father and brother who were murdered also?’

Hamilton cursed beneath his breath.

‘Familial relationships notwithstanding,’ Webster said, ‘we do have common interests.’

‘We sell, you buy,’ Khalid said. ‘We could have that relationship with anyone. The United States, however, can’t. Your people depend on us for oil, but now we find ourselves surrounded by people who could depend on us for the same thing without having any of them meddle in our business and seek to impose restrictions on how we handle our relations with other nations in this area.’

‘We have domestic oil wells that can pony up and deliver more oil if we need to,’ Hamilton threatened.

‘So you say. Yet, when oil prices soared, your country paid and didn’t aggressively seek to increase domestic production.’ Khalid shook his head. ‘No, your government worries about the domestic supply of oil and they hoard what they possess like a fearful widow.’

Hamilton turned to Webster. ‘It ain’t worth it to talk to this joker.’

‘Your country,’ Khalid went on, ‘has made a habit of becoming friends with an oil-producing country, forcing economic treaties on them through bribery and coercion, rewarding the handful that hold the most power in that country while ignoring the struggling masses, then siphoning the oil away until there’s nothing left. When the oil is gone, so is the goodwill. My country is not some road kill waiting for carrion birds to pick her bones clean.’

‘Your Excellency,’ Webster said, ‘that’s not what we’re here to do.’

‘Nonsense,’ Khalid said. ‘That’s exactly what you’ve been doing for years. Let’s fantasize for a moment. Let’s say that China does indeed decide to take advantage of us and invade because we insist on trading with United States and our output cannot meet the demands of both countries. Let’s fantasize further and say that the United States even chooses to enter a land war against the Chinese.’ He turned his attention to Napier. ‘And let’s say Mr Napier’s corporation became successful in finding an alternative fuel energy source that is competitive in price – maybe even slightly higher than the cost of oil.’ The prince’s voice became even quieter but had a harder edge to it. ‘How long do you think it would take America to withdraw its armies?’

‘Those things you worry about are a long way off,’ Webster said. ‘It would take an enormous amount of time to turn a country like ours around from petroleum-based products to something else.’

‘Perhaps in your vision.’ Khalid looked out at the city again. ‘Not in mine. That future lies just round the corner. I have seen this future in my dreams. My father would never recognize that it exists.’

‘Maybe it would be better if we could talk again in a few days,’ Webster replied. ‘When your mind is more settled.’

Khalid faced him. ‘My mind is settled. I have not had myself crowned king today because I chose to wait for that honour until after my father’s and family’s murders are resolved. Then I will take my crown, and I will take my people. I will initiate a cleansing of my country. All those who live within our borders who do not live according to the rules of the Prophet will be driven out or killed. I will not be merciful or foolish as my father was. I know who my enemies are, and I will not suffer them to live in my kingdom.’

‘My God,’ Vicky whispered.

Webster noted the fear that had settled into his companions.

He rejoiced.

They would return to their hotel rooms and spread that fear to others among them who had money and investments in the Middle East. Panic would ensue. It wouldn’t just end with the collapse of confidence in the economic sectors in America and the Western world. It would also affect the military when the Pentagon realized how many of its soldiers and materials might be at risk. It looked like his timetable for the Middle East meltdown had just escalated.

‘How are you going to resolve your father’s murder?’ Webster asked.

‘I will find the Shia assassins responsible, and I will have them executed. I have military teams already closing in on the men behind that cowardly attack.’

Webster knew that was only because Colonel Anthony Eckart had left a false trail behind him leading to known Shia dissidents within Saudi Arabia. The frame would be believable. And in the end, who knew? Those Shia dissidents might even claim credit for killing the king and his family members.

Khalid focused on Webster. ‘There is another matter I would speak to you about. Perhaps you could help.’

‘Of course, if I can.’

Khalid nodded to one of his personal guards, who walked to another door and opened it. The guard led another man into the room. He was in his twenties. White gauze covered his left cheek and his right forearm. Scabs clung to recent lacerations all over his body. He walked with a limp.

‘Do you know this man?’ Khalid asked.

Webster made a show of looking at the man, but didn’t recognize him. ‘No. Am I supposed to?’

The man stood trembling, sucking in air and looking at the floor as if afraid to look anywhere else.

‘His name is Farok,’ Khalid said. ‘He came to me seeking asylum. He claims to have worked for your CIA.’

‘I wouldn’t know anything about that.’

Khalid smiled, but the expression was frosty and distant. ‘I suppose if it were true or false, you would deny it all the same.’

Webster didn’t bother to reply.

‘He insists that the CIA hired him and his friends to abduct a man from Ataturk International Airport only a few days ago. A man named Professor Thomas Lourds. Do you know that man?’

‘I know who he is, of course. That story of the attack on him has been in the news. The last I heard, Professor Lourds had been allowed to stay in Istanbul to pursue his studies.’

‘He has,’ Khalid commented. ‘This one managed to elude the police, but he brought back an interesting story. Would you like to hear it?’