I chuckled at how she made that sound, aware suddenly that the pain in my head seemed to be diminishing.
Thank God.I pressed my shoes against the carpeted floor beneath them.I was only dehydrated after all.
“I’m good at taking care of the details,” I offered diplomatically.“Particularly when those details involve my life.”
“You are granted your deal.”She reached into her pocket to reveal a folded A4 piece of paper.“The information is enclosed.”
Placing the paper down on the table, she slid it slowly in my direction.
“May I?”Gesturing to the paper still caught under her finger, I waited for her to release the details.
“Ja.”She removed her hand and reached for her own glass of water as I unfolded the paper and hurriedly devoured the contents.
“I presume it is all to your liking?”Her sardonic tone melded into the background as I processed the minutiae.
It seemed the ICC, of which the Swiss police were unusually acting on behalf of, was prepared to grant me full impunity if I complied with the terms set out in the other paperwork and answered all of their questions to Kaspar’s satisfaction.
“Will I be issued a European passport?”I peered up at Kaspar.“Given that my mother is French.”
“That is a matter for the European Union, and specifically the French government.”She placed her glass back on the table.“If you agree to the terms and we are satisfied you have met them, you will be eligible to claim asylum either here in Switzerland or another safe country.From there, you may go to France and request your passport.”
“Like Caroline?”Hope echoed in my voice.“Has she been offered asylum?”
“Ja.”She smiled.“Miss Craness has been offered the same.”
Gripping the edge of my chair, I steadied myself.If I could give the authorities everything they wanted and get the hell out of the Swiss police’s clutches, there was still a chance Caroline and I could be together.Compared to the despairing gloom that had nearly suffocated me earlier in the day, that hope was everything.
“Okay.”I dropped the paper onto the table before me.“Where do I sign?”
“Okay?”she parroted.“You agree to cooperate?”
“In return for impunity and the right to legally stay, then yes.I can’t return to Britain.It wouldn’t be safe for Caroline or me.”
“We understand.”She spread the paper out in front of me again. “Please provide your signature on the space indicated at the bottom of the page.
With one quick glance over the sheet for good measure, I signed my name where she’d indicated and the deal was done.
“Danke.”She motioned to the papers in front of me.“If you could make a start on delivering the specific information we require.I also have particular questions for you.”
Great.I resisted the urge to roll my eyes as I picked up the pen again.
“Any chance of a refill?”I nodded toward my glass.“Apparently, I was thirstier than I thought.”
“That can be arranged,” she replied.“Michel, would you mind bringing us a jug of water?”
The man sitting beside her scowled at the request, but he rose to his feet and headed for the door.Suppressing the impulse to smile at his reaction, my attention fell to the first of many questions on their list.
***
“SO, THIS ULTIMATE SOLUTION.”Kaspar’s brow creased as she stumbled over the term Ian had so loved to bandy around his top table meetings.“The president wants this to start when?”
“As soon as possible.”My tone was terse, conveying the deadly nature of the implication.“He wanted it actioned by the end of the year, but I managed to persuade him Project Rehome should take precedence.”I shrugged.“Now that I’m out of the picture, though, who knows what he’ll do?”
Kaspar’s eyes widened.“And remind us again about Rehome?”
We’d been discussing the finer details of Ian’s macabre plans ever since I’d finished answering the bulk of their queries by hand.My scrawled answers were currently being mulled over by Kaspar while she probed deeper.
“Rehome is designed to send women deemed to be worthy to appropriate homes throughout the country.”I’d told her as much at least twice already.“There, they are paired with men who will impregnate them.”
