He clasped the man’s hand – warm, so warm, even in spite of the fainting spell he’d just recovered from – and let him go again, the very model of restraint. He had to chuckle at the correction, which was true enough... but it was all the same to him. They were similar enough in look that to Ishmael the lines of being felt unnaturally blurred. Next time Tariq might as well find him. (Ishmael could certainly find this Zahir again if he wanted to.)
“Yes, I suppose so,” Ishmael agreed, because he could see poor Tariq was still processing the shock of all this. “I won’t detain you all night. But this time –” he added conspiratorially, sauntering from one side of the room to the other – “you won’t mind if I use the door?”
He didn’t wait for an answer, just swung the door to the dressing room open breezily. The theatre should be quiet enough by now – and now that he knew what he was working with, if necessary Ishmael would not be above a little acting of his own.
“Yes, I suppose so,” Ishmael agreed, because he could see poor Tariq was still processing the shock of all this. “I won’t detain you all night. But this time –” he added conspiratorially, sauntering from one side of the room to the other – “you won’t mind if I use the door?”
He didn’t wait for an answer, just swung the door to the dressing room open breezily. The theatre should be quiet enough by now – and now that he knew what he was working with, if necessary Ishmael would not be above a little acting of his own.
