The Secret

Steven wandered off in search of Andrews, thinking that an American accent shouldn’t be too hard to pick up in present company. He found it coming from a man in his thirties who was talking to Aline. Steven thought that he not only sounded American, he looked it too, the clean-cut product of an Ivy League university. He smiled at Aline and she ushered him into the conversation. ‘Have you met Bill Andrews, Steven?’

‘I was actually hoping we might have a word,’ Steven confessed, shaking hands with Andrews as Aline excused herself. ‘Dr Mazarek tells me you were with Simone when the accident happened. It must have been awful.’

‘God, it’s a moment I’ll never forget. Hell, I’d just made some stupid joke and I could hear Simone laughing. She must have been looking up at the time and I guess she couldn’t have realised how close to the parapet she was. She...’ Andrews paused as if to compose himself, ‘I guess she just toppled over. God, if only I could wind the clock back. The Pakistani doctor who was with us — Dr Khan, I think his name was — and I rushed down the stairs but there was nothing to be done. Simone was dead.’

‘What a nightmare for all concerned.’

‘I know it’s an awful cliché but Simone was... simply the best.’

Steven nodded. ‘I wonder, is Dr Khan here today?’

Andrews looked apologetic. ‘No, he had to return to Pakistan right after the Prague meeting. Time off is a bit of a luxury for these guys.’

‘Of course.’

Someone entering the room caught Andrews’ eye and he put his hand on Steven’s shoulder and said, ‘If you’ll excuse me, doctor. There’s someone I must speak to while I have the chance...’

Seeing that he was adrift and on his own again, Aline joined Steven a few minutes later and he thanked her for getting rid of Edelman earlier. ‘It was a bit of luck you knowing him.’

‘I don’t,’ said Aline. ‘I’d seen him at meetings, of course, but I’d never actually met him before.’

Steven gave her an admiring glance.

‘The poor man was terribly embarrassed at having “forgotten” me. Did you find out what you wanted to know from Schultz?’

Steven shrugged. ‘I don’t think there was much to find out. I think I’d been reading too much into Simone’s letter. Schultz knew that Simone was planning to rock the boat by openly criticising another aid agency and I suspect he and his colleagues were probably a bit heavy-handed in denying her the opportunity.’

‘WHO doesn’t care for internecine strife.’

‘Just out of interest, what was the name of the agency that was pi — annoying Simone so much?’

Aline smiled. ‘The organisation that was pissing her off was Children First.’

Steven was embarrassed at his slip. ‘You speak English very well.’

‘My mother’s English,’ said Aline. ‘Children First is funded by Americans although they tend to disguise that as much as possible by using Pakistani associates. Americans are none too popular in the region where we work.’

Steven nodded. ‘I never realised getting aid to the needy was so difficult. It sounds like you have to tiptoe through a minefield of political sensibilities.’

‘That’s about right,’ agreed Aline with a smile.

‘So, when d’you go back to the minefield?’

‘The day after tomorrow. I’ll be taking over Simone’s role as team leader and a new volunteer medic will join me at the end of next week, but before I go I want to speak to my bosses. I’m not sure if Simone managed to make her concerns known to them. I think I should do it for her just in case.’

‘Good for you. You know, I can empathise with the woman at the service who said that Simone made her feel inadequate. I think you folk all make me feel that way.’

‘Nonsense, it’s just a job we choose to do,’ said Aline. ‘How about you? Are you flying home tonight?’

‘Tomorrow.’

‘In that case... maybe we could share a meal this evening if you don’t have any other plans?’

‘No I don’t’ Steven confessed. ‘That would be nice.’ He had picked up on a hesitation in Aline’s voice, thinking that she might be about to add something but nothing came of it. ‘I think I saw everyone I wanted to see this afternoon with perhaps the exception of Dr Ranjit Khan, but Bill Andrews was present at the scene and he seemed a reliable witness. Maybe I should have spent more time commiserating with Simone’s parents, but having everyone together in the same room was just too good a chance to miss when it came to asking questions.’

‘I’m sure Simone would have understood that you were doing it for her. She was lucky to have such a loyal friend. What now? Investigation over?’

‘I think so. I feel a bit happier in my own mind.’ Once again he got the impression that Aline wanted to say something and this time she did.

‘Steven... Perhaps I haven’t been completely frank with you about all Simone’s concerns. She actually telephoned me from Prague...’

She paused, and Steven urged, ‘Go on.’

‘No, this is not the time or place. It can wait till later.’