Palmist. Books 1,2,3

– Yes. This is a complicated case. We need to figure out how to contact her father. He needs to be informed that she is all right.

– It is better not to do that.

– I know. But she’s so worried about her father. Maybe something really will happen to him.

– «Something will happen to him if he finds out she’s alive. He will go to the police and tell them everything.

– «Oh, so he doesn’t know she’s dead yet. So leave it as it is. In a month, everything will fall into place by itself.

– Do you think in a month?

– I think yes, and be sure to examine her legs. This is very necessary for the case.

– I wanted to see them myself; it just has not worked out yet.

– I hope you will do it tomorrow, we just have to wait for this Arthur to come out of his coma, and he will. People like him are tough nuts.

All this time, Ahmed continued to be depressed, and almost did not leave the house. His neighbors noticed this, and began to come to his house. After finding out the reason for his condition, they decided to look after him until his daughter was found. Sometimes Karima called him and asked about his condition. He replied that everything was fine, and did not want to burden anyone with worries.

On the day when Ahmed’s house was attacked, the neighbors heard gunshots – we thought it was some kind of robbers. Although what to steal from us, we are already poor. We wanted to call the police, but the police themselves arrived so quickly. How is it so to steal people in broad daylight? It remains to trust in God. Your daughter will be found. If she came back the first time, she will come back the second time. You will see.

– I do not know why, but I feel trouble.

– It is a parental instinct. You just think about it a lot. Let us go to the mosque with you and pray. I have not been there myself for a long time.

– That is a good idea.

– I will pick you up today. And we’ll go. The neighbor left. Ahmed revived thanks to the arrival of a neighbor. Communication and support of a friend that is what he lacked. It was so hard for him alone. His neighbor was about the same age as him. True, he lived with his wife. They rarely talked. But in a difficult moment, he came to support a neighbor, and Ahmed was glad to communicate.

Exactly a week has passed since the accident. Sultana was fine. Arthur’s condition stabilized, and as the investigator said, he was a tough nut to crack and opened his eyes. His eyes darted nervously from side to side; the nurse on duty quickly ran up to him and called the doctor. Arthur came to his senses, but he did not remember everything. From a strong blow to the head, there were blackouts in memory. He immediately remembered a lot, but not everything, and did not want to show it.

– You should not strain yourself so sharply. Arthur glared at the doctor. The doctor was afraid of this look and left the intensive care unit. Arthur was transferred to the ward and a new doctor took care of his health.

– «I need to recover as soon as possible.

– I understand you; it all depends on your body. If you were able to get out of the coma, then you will quickly get better. Arthur felt for a moment that he was full of strength, and was ready to return to his old life. But his strength quickly left him, and the headache made itself felt, and he went to bed.

His people were notified of his recovery, his loyal dogs rejoiced. Women murmured at the sky and poured curses on his head. Only Vina thanked God and prayed for his health.

Left alone in the ward, Arthur tried to remember the latest events. A car ride popped up in his memory, but he could not remember why and where he was being taken. Arthur went into his phone book and began to look at the latest calls, but did not dare to call. He wanted to remember everything by himself in the smallest details. His premonition told him that his affairs were bad, and it was so. His affairs were very bad. He called one of his loyal people. And his faithful dog Jamal came running to his call— – Tell me how I got here.

– It is all because of this girl. It was her you were taking to sell for one night. And this driver of yours seems to have betrayed you. He escaped. We cannot find him anywhere.

«I knew it. From overexertion, a vein swelled on his face, and he felt worse. He lay down. His health condition was actually severe. Arthur was sick and weak. There was a stubble on his face; Arthur had not shaved all these days. And the imprint of the disease added wrinkles. His appearance was not very good. His habit of combing his hair back with his left hand has remained unchanged, for all these days his hair has taken a funny shape and Arthur looked like a lion after a fight. – This girl is stealing my best people. My driver was one of the best, I trusted him, he went through so much with me, and was able to fall under her spell. When I get out of here, I will personally finish her off.

– «She’s dead. She died in an accident.

– How? Have you personally seen her corpse?

But I know for sure that her body was taken to the morgue.

– «That doesn’t mean she’s dead. I will not believe it until I see the death certificate and her grave.

– This is also impossible. She was undocumented. So she was buried as a rootless one. Especially in the form in which she was taken away. No one thought of her, so she was just buried.

– Well, if so. But it seems to me that this girl was able to escape from the morgue. I can feel it. What about my fugitive?

– We are looking for him, but he disappeared without a trace. Thanks to the faithful servant, Arthur remembered a lot, but he completely forgot about the Wine, and where he brought it.

Vina was an Indonesian citizen. Where Arthur’s business flourished quite well. It was in this country that Arthur was the king of the criminal world, and no one cared about that. He was doing so well there. In addition to all this, he appeared there so rarely that no one knew him by sight. His well-tested people were behind all his affairs. The main direction of his business was the sale of girls, mainly dancers who were ordered from him, also for personal pleasures. He simply sold them to brothels, but he himself did not like to engage in brothels. He also engaged in the purchase and sale of cars, including stolen ones, and weapons. Despite all his dirty activities, Arthur has never been involved with drugs. Once he promised himself that he would never get involved with drugs, all this because he was afraid of them himself. He was afraid to get hooked on them, and thereby ruin his life, as well as his business ahead of time. It was enough for him that he was already making good money.

The next day, Amir came to Sultana in the hope that she would allow him to show his feet. And ask a few more questions. – Hello Sultan. Sultana looked at him affably. She liked him, but she was afraid to admit it to herself, she was also afraid to bring a person closer to her for fear of causing him trouble. The story with the guy who wanted to steal her passport ended badly. The fate of the driver who saved her was unknown to anyone. The guy who couldn’t kill her father died himself, and Sultana was just afraid to let anyone help her.

– What happened to you? You are sad.

– Nothing. I am just scared.

– Why? Sultana told Amir everything she knew about the people who tried to help her.

– «I’m afraid of causing you trouble.

– Don’t be afraid. Nothing will happen to me. Anyway, we have already met, and I have already helped you. So nothing can be fixed anymore. I have something very important to tell you.

– What? Amir told the Sultan about his origin and about the gift of palmistry that he inherited from his father.

– On the opening night of the restaurant, when I first saw you, I immediately realized that you were in danger. So I ordered a table for the next evening. But when my friend and I came, you were no longer there, there was another dancer.

– «Another dancer?» Sultana uttered these words with such indignation.

– Exactly. Another. So when I first saw you, I smelled death. And I was afraid for your life. I tried to find a connection with you from the restaurant staff, but I was refused. And no one could contact you. I realized that I had lost you. And that same night I saw you in the morgue. You see, death has bypassed you. You managed to escape.

– Yes, I succeeded. But for how long? Now a new victim has been brought in my place. And when she gets tired of her, they will get rid of her as well as of me.

– «Let me examine your legs.» I can see the future and we can change it. This will help us find answers to many problems. Sultana did not decisively take off her slippers and showed her feet to Amir.

– Amir touched her feet and flew far into the future, but he could not understand anything. Some episodes that had nothing to do with what was happening surfaced before his eyes. There were strange visions. His institute. His family. But nothing related to Arthur.

– That is weird.

– What happened? Sultana looked at Amir with such naive eyes. He could not say anything back to her.

– Nothing. We need to look again. If you don’t mind? Sultana did not decisively take off her slippers again. For the first time in all this time, Amiru faced such a difficulty as this. He could not reliably read the future, fragments and episodes surfaced before him. Reading Igor’s fate, Amir was able to see everything in detail. Up to the conclusion of the contract. But reading the fate of this girl, he saw himself, his institute, his family. – That is weird. What could it mean? Amir could not understand anything.

– «So what happened anyway?» Am I going to die?

– No.

– And what?

– I do not know myself. I guess I just lost my gift. With these words, Amir went outside. After standing on the threshold for a while, he returned to the ward. We will return to this issue later.

– OK. I have one more question.

– Which one?

– I would like to go outside at least sometimes, to be on the hospital grounds for at least twenty minutes.

– «Do you even know what you’re saying?» You are practically dead. If they see you, then everyone will end, including this clinic that sheltered you. Amir did not notice how he raised his voice to Sultana and Sultana looked at him sadly. – I am sorry. He said softening up.

– Yes. You are right. I was just daydreaming.

– OK. Go for a walk. Let everyone see you.

– No one will see me. I will go out the back door; I will be wearing a medical mask and a hood. I will be like a medical worker.

– «You’ve already thought of everything. Well done. Who is helping you, your nurse, with whom you are friends? Do not forget that she can be dangerous, too. You had better trust me more than her. With these words, Amir, offended, silently left the ward. Sultana sat down on the edge of the bed in thought.

Amir walked in thought over the lines of Sultana’s fate that he had seen. «Whatever that means.» Either I have lost the gift, or her fate is closely intertwined with mine. But how? What if I tell my father about it? I will test my gift first. When he got home, he examined Lyosha’s legs. – Well, that is quite another thing.

– And what actually happened?

– Nothing. I just cannot see the fate of this girl.

– How’s that?

– I see our honey, my house, and some other pictures. And nothing related to Arthur. Strange. Lyosha laughed and patted Amir on the shoulder. – What does that mean?

– Nothing. You will find out soon enough. Amir thought about it, and when he came to himself, he said that Lyosha would have a second half this year. – You too.

– I have already appeared, do not forget that I am engaged and I have a wedding date. Lyosha was laughing convulsively. Amir believed that it was from overwork in the classroom.

The next day, Amir met with the investigator and told him everything that he could not see the fate of the girl, and considered it right to seek advice from his father. – I will send him a photo or video of her legs, and he will help us.

– If you think so, then apply. I am interested in the driver who drove them. He is gone. If we could find him, this person would help us a lot. Perhaps he knows where and why they were going. In addition, everything points to the fact that it was he who changed the bodies, and he disappeared without a trace. Maybe this guy is just hiding from Arthur.

– Yes, it is possible.

– And the most important news is that Arthur has come to his senses. From now on, we will be watching him tirelessly. Behind his every move. To speed up his capture, we just need our own person, and it would be best if it were a woman. We need a decoy duck, and this duck needs to be found in the shortest possible time.

– «You’re right. That would solve all the problems. Can I use a ready-made duck?

– Who is she?

– This is the dancer who came to Sultana’s place. If she is initiated into the case and provides substantial evidence, then she will be on our side and will help us with the investigation.

– «You’re right. I will take care of it. The investigator left, Amir remained in his thoughts, he mentally built up his conversation with his father, asking him for help and explaining the reason. If his relationship with his father would be the same as Sultana’s. It would have been much easier for him. But everything turned out the way it is, and he decided to call.

Amir’s father was waiting for this call. He foresaw this storm, and it came. – Father, how can it be that I cannot read fate, but only see its episodes?

– And this episode is you? After a long pause, Amir squeezed out,

– There are in some places.

– I understand what you want to tell me. Send me a photo of this girl’s legs as soon as possible. Amir was surprised by such a peaceful conversation with his father, and quickly left for the clinic. Because of these events, Amir missed classes too often, which began to negatively affect his studies. Sultana and the investigator occupied all his free and not free time. Amir just became obsessed, and it seemed that he was personally involved in this case. Amir managed to take a picture of the girl’s legs, despite long persuasions, and he sent the photo to his father.

Rashid was waiting for this photo. After Amir’s departure, he was not at ease. It was as if he had been waiting for this conversation. Rashid himself could not understand how two completely different girls could occupy such a significant place in his son’s life. Looking at Sultana’s legs, he lost his peace finally. Not seeing his son’s legs, he saw that his life was in great danger. And not even just in danger, but could lose it at any moment. Rashid locked himself in his office and did not come out for dinner. His wife knocked on the door.

– What happened to you?

– What makes you think that something happened to me? In his entire life, Rashid has never closed himself in his office, and even more so for a long time.

Nina talked to him through the door and did not try to get inside. She hoped that her husband would come out to talk and want to see her. But he didn’t let her in and didn’t come out for dinner. She understood that something was wrong, and it had to do with their son. What Rashid saw simply horrified him, and only when he lay down to sleep he uttered the words, «oh, if I could only see his legs, everything could be changed. At these words, Nina got out of bed and handed her father a picture of Amir’s legs. – Where did you get this?

– I made it while he was sleeping. It was summer.

– What a good fellow you are. Rashid perked up and went to his office. He sat there all night. There were two photographs in front of him, and he examined them carefully.

Amir was waiting for a call from his father, but nothing had been received for two days. – There is something wrong here. What are the lines of this girl’s fate hiding? Sultana herself considered Amir’s words reasonable, and did not neglect the luck that favored her so much, and decided to refuse the walk offered to her by the nurse. Instead, she decided to just sit in her room on the windowsill. Her room was on the second floor of the building, and she could clearly see the whole street. She liked to sit with her forehead against the window. This mostly happened in the afternoon. When there was nothing to do in the clinic, patients could walk on the territory, or just sit on a bench, Sultana just watched their walk from the window. These cute and harmless windowsill seats did not go unnoticed. One day a car drove up to the clinic and opening the window, one person just took a picture and drove on.

While all these events were developing, the investigator was trying to convey to the ears of the Guilt that Arthur is a dangerous criminal. He showed her photos of the murdered girls. He showed her statements about missing girls, and according to the descriptions, these girls worked for him. But Vina didn’t want to believe it. She just could not believe that this was the man she loved so much. This information was a fatal blow for this girl, deciding to make sure of it herself, continuing to be faithful to Arthur, and between those and useful. – You understand that you are one of these girls, and you will suffer the same fate as the others. A beautiful girl performed here before you. And her body is not known to rest where. After these words, the Guilt seemed to recoil. She really could not imagine herself in Sultana’s place. For some reason, Vina considered herself better, and for some reason she thought that, she was closer to Arthur than Sultana herself was. But it turned out that besides her, Arthur had an excess of women that he got rid of. The investigator’s words were to some extent conveyed to her ears and Vina simply did not want to believe in them.

The investigator’s visit was brought to Arthur’s ears. «Damn it, is it really the end for me. These damned girls will ruin me. And it all started with this Sultana. She is the one who messed up my business. Arthur tore and raged. He had almost regained consciousness, although there were not big gaps in memory, and sometimes his head was spinning. But the most important news he received was a photo with Sultana, who was sitting on the windowsill. – That is her. He roared, and slammed his fist into the wall. A nurse came in and made a remark.

– Be quiet. There is already a lot of noise from you. Arthur wanted to make a reservation, but decided not to draw attention to himself and apologized.

«I’ll kill her.» And all those who helped her. You found the runaway.

– No. He covered his tracks.

«So much the better for him. As soon as this fugitive shows up, it will be the last day of his life. Arthur could no longer stay in the hospital and decided to continue treatment on his own. He was discharged from the hospital and completely immersed in his affairs, and he had many things to do. The very first thing he did was to keep an eye on Sultana’s chambers. Every step she took was reported to Arthur, everyone who came and went to her, everyone with whom she had contact, were calculated. – What kind of guy is this who is constantly hanging around her.

– One of them is an investigator, and I don’t know the second one, I know for sure that he is from Laos and studies at med.

– So find out what he has not mediocre attitude to her. End what else he does besides her and his honey.

– It will be done.

Guilt was waiting in the wings, and that hour has come. Arthur came to her. For the first time he looked at the girl not as a commodity, and she seemed beautiful to him. Vina had shoulder-length hair, but that did not interfere with her beauty.

– How are you doing? The wine was delivered to Moscow in a completely different way from Sultana and this served as further developments. Arthur had obligations to her family, and this burdened him and forced him to maintain a relationship with this girl.

– I am fine. I do not need anything. How is your health? Have you been gone that long? At these words, the girl’s eyes filled with sadness, but Arthur pretended not to notice it.

– You might think that they missed me here. These words touched the girl to the quick, but she did not show it. Arthur was always rude, and he never hid it. Vina wanted to say the words, but put them aside for later, and fell silent.

– The police came to you. What did she want? Vina turned cold with fear and was caught off guard. She had no idea that she was being followed.

– Yes. She came. They were wondering if I knew anything about the accident. About those who were sitting in the car.

– You know, you had better tell the truth, because I will find out anyway. Then look, decide for yourself. With these words, Arthur left, and the Guilt remained with the unspoken words. Arthur’s behavior and words made her reconsider all the events that were happening. She was not having as much fun now, either, as in the days when she had just arrived in Moscow.

Arthur, on the contrary, seeing the love in the girl’s eyes, surprisingly softened. After the events that happened to him, he reconsidered his life and realized that no one really needed him. No one loved him, and he had so few loyal people left. He did not know what love was because he had lost his mother once. Now he saw exactly the same light in the eyes of this lovely girl. He was never met like this by any of his captives; he always saw anger, hatred, and rage. Curses were hurled at him. This girl greeted him as a dear guest, and thanked him for the way he treated her. Arthur was pleased with this, and he decided to take a closer look at this girl.

A few days later, Arthur was informed that Amir has the gift of palmistry and is able to predict the future well. They told him everything, how he knows how to set up business, personal life, etc— – This is great news! Arthur thanked his man, and paid him a good amount of money. If this Amir is such a valuable find, then let him serve us as a farewell. I’ll make him work for me. And the connecting link will be Sultana. This news enlivened Arthur so much, he stood and smiled, leaning his hand on the table, his eyes shone with joy, and with his left hand, he combed his hair back and stroked them. His devoted dog was no less joyful, Jamal was glad that he could please his master and bring him so much joy. —This palmist needs to be caught immediately and brought to me. His faithful dog ran off to run an errand, and Arthur continued to stroke his hair and smile happily.

CHAPTER 7

As mentioned earlier, Arthur was being watched relentlessly. But he didn’t move much. He spent most of his time in the restaurant, and sometimes spent the night in his office. All events that happened shocked him, and this villain decided to be extremely careful and talked to few people.

Jamal ran away in search of Amir, at the same time Rashid flew out of Pakse to save his son. He was in a hurry to prevent what was brewing, and was afraid not to have time. Amir was in class, and did not suspect the danger that awaits him. Classes ended late in the evening, and he and his friend left the institute. They went to the metro station and entered the passage. The man sitting in the car watched the friends leave, and the car drove away. The car was driving fast to his house, at the same time Rashid was driving a taxi to his son’s house. Amir, unaware of anything, drove three metro stops and was in no hurry to return home. They went to the store with Lyosha, and after buying food, they slowly and cheerfully walked home. Friends were laughing all the way, and did not notice how a black tinted foreign car was chasing them. Turning the corner of the house, they went on, the car stopped. Two people grabbed Amir, gagged him, and quickly loaded him into the car. All this took about twenty seconds. Lyosha did not have time to do anything, the car quickly left. Lyosha immediately understood what was going on, but was in no hurry to call the police. He was standing with bags of groceries and thinking whom to call, Igor or the investigator. At that time, a taxi pulled up to the house and Rashid got out of the car. Lyosha was so surprised.

– You are late. He was kidnapped. Rashid calmly closed the taxi door, and calmly approached Lyosha.

– It is not for long. He will have to let him go. Lyosha looked at this man in amazement. He was amazed not by what he heard, but by what he saw. In front of him was a copy of Amir, only twenty years older. It was such a similarity in everything, appearance, manners, gestures, grandeur, and calmness. He was amazed and followed Amir’s father as a faithful servant. Although Lesha had the keys to the apartment, Rashid led him. – How are you doing here?