He wasn’t used to having someone close to him like that.In the back of the car, Besmir moved the sleeping child’s arm away from him. He looked at her pale face as she slept, exhausted, her eyelids puffy from crying. The car was stifling, and a tiny strip of sweat gathered under her hairline. His fingers reached out and almost stroked her forehead, but he pulled back. She was nothing to him. Just a package to be delivered. He rolled down the window, but the air coming in was dry and sweltering, so he closed it again. He put his head back and closed his eyes. He would be glad when this was over.The worst moment had been the journey from Elira’s apartment in Algeciras. They had to leave at first light and the girl had started to scream as Besmir put her into the boot of the car. They had to be vigilant in case police were looking in every car for the missing girl. A private boat would take him to the Tangiers coast, but he would return by the ferry, using a fake German passport Leka had given him.Elira had insisted he take the puppy with them, despite Besmir’s protests that he’d have enough with the girl.
