by Paolo Copparoni, translated into English by Ruth Stephens
Chapter 12 – The Plan
The next morning, Reya waits for her father to leave the house before getting busy…
First she packs some clothes, as well as her passport and whatever money she can find in the house, into a large backpack.
She doesn’t intend to come home again for a long time.
Maybe never!
Then she starts calling everyone she knows in the rebel movement…
She explains her problem: her boyfriend has been arrested, she’s searching for someone who can help him get out of prison, it’s urgent!
One of Reya’s rebel contacts was involved with the group that stole equipment from the company.
He knows who Marco is: Amir’s friend, the one who provided the keys that were used in the robbery.
“I know someone who might be able to help” he reassures Reya.
“I’ll contact him and give him your number, Reya. That’s all I can do. Good luck!”
That afternoon, Reya is at a friend’s house when her mobile phone rings. It’s a number she doesn’t recognise, so she answers immediately.
It’s Amir.
His voice is very worried.
He asks where Marco is, and why he has been arrested.
Amir is concerned that Marco will give the police his name.
If he does, Amir will be arrested too.
And then the police will easily identify more of the rebel activists…
The revolution is in danger!
Amir explains to Reya that he knows Marco. They are, or were, colleagues.
He has heard of Marco’s arrest and imprisonment.
He tells Reya that he’s very shocked.
And of course, because Marco is his friend, he wants to help get him out of prison.
But then, Amir says, Marco and Reya must leave Libya immediately, or they will not be safe.
“But how can you get Maro out of prison?” asks Reya.
“There are guards everywhere! It’s impossible…”
“The only way is to pay a guard,” replies Amir.
He already has a plan. There are guards at the prison who have relatives who support the rebels.
The rebels will put pressure on them to cooperate.
One of them will help Marco escape – for a price!
“Don’t worry” Amir tells Reya.
“I’ll organise everything. We’ll get Marco out of jail. I promise.
You’ll receive a message telling you when.
Be ready with a car!”
After the phone call, Reya goes back home immediately.
Her father goes to work each morning in a police car, with a driver. So his black Mercedes is parked outside the family home, as always.
She enters the house, finds the car keys, and steals the car.
Then, there is nothing to do but return to her friend’s house, where she will wait for an SMS from Amir…
More?
Chapter 1 | Chapter 2 | Chapter 3 | Chapter 4 | Chapter 5 | Chapter 6 | Chapter 7 | Chapter 8 | Chapter 9 | Chapter 10 | Chapter 11 | Chapter 12 | Chapter 13
