| Santa Claus was dead and Rick knew who had killed him, but he 
      needed proof. 
 The sun was shining brightly as Rick walked down the steps 
      of the plane. He smiled at the pretty young flight attendant and asked 
      for her phone number. She smiled back and refused. Rick was 
      in Tripoli. It was December 18th, one week before Christmas.
 
 He was walking through customs with a bottle of Jack Daniels and 
      600 Malboro under his arm when he saw The Fat Man who was wearing a 
      white suit, white tie with a white shirt and a white hat. He looked dirty 
      in spite of the clothes.
 
 The Fat Man was famous in Tripoli. He was known as Mr. Ten Percent, 
      and he could get anything illegal-for the right price; guns, drugs, girls, 
      Eminem CD’s.
 
 ‘Rick’, said The Fat Man, ‘It’s been a long time. Welcome back to 
      Tripoli.’
 
 ‘Hi Fats’, said Rick, ‘What are you doing here, are 
      you waiting for a suitcase of Cocaine?’
 
 ‘He He He, Rick, always joking. I see you haven’t lost your sense 
      of humour. Come with me my friend, my car is outside and there’s someone 
      who wants to meet you.
 
 Rick wasn’t stupid. The Fat Man knew all the criminals, thieves, 
      prostitutes and politicians in Tripoli. He got into The Fat Man’s 
      Ford Fiesta. It smelled/smelt of beer and cigarette smoke. Arabic 
      music was playing on the radio as they left the airport.
 
 ‘So where are we going Fats?’ asked Rick, ‘We’ve been driving for 
      nearly an hour.’
 The Fat Man didn’t answer. They had left the city and were 
      driving through Libya’s brown countryside.
 
 The Ford Fiesta stopped outside a cave. Two men were standing 
      outside, smoking. They were holding Kalachnikov semi-automatic 
      rifles. Rick smelled danger and lit a cigarette.
 
 The cave was comfortable inside. There were Persian rugs on 
      the floor, electric lamps from Bloomingdale’s, sofas from Harrods and a 
      selection of paintings from the ‘El Corte Ingles’ Christmas Collection.
 
 Suddenly Rick saw a tall man walking towards him from the back of 
      the cave. He had a long beard and a white cloth on his head. The 
      Fat Man stepped forward.
 
 ‘Rick, may I introduce the world’s most wanted man, Mysummer-bin-London
 |