Hello Ester (Noon, Day 9)

Mehmed Esad has not given up, and nor will he. Of course, I am not surprised, as no CUP man, regardless of whether he is an old hand or a rookie, gives up easily. When I went down for lunch, Ömer came running up to me to give me the news that Mehmed Esad had come while I had been ensconced in my room. He had made his way to the elevator without even bothering to ask anybody but was stopped by Ömer, who spotted him and told him I was not in my room and that I would not be back until the evening. Actually, I had not instructed him to say anything of the sort but it was hard not to admire his initiative.

‘I don't think you would have liked it, sir’, Ömer said when he saw me at lunch. ‘I can't say I've taken much of a shine to that gentleman myself. He strikes me as, how should I say it, a little arrogant. A rather conceited fellow, if you ask me. When he realised he would not be allowed upstairs, he left you a note. But he also said, ‘I've left him this note but I'm telling you too. Make sure he knows. I shall be waiting for Şehsuvar Bey this evening.’ Yes, sir, those were his exact words. It's not my place to say but it would perhaps be wise if one were to keep one's distance from this gentleman.’

Indeed it wasn't his place to say so but I did not want to hurt his feelings so I thanked him, took the envelope he was holding out for me and sent him on his way. This is what the note inside said:

So we had now moved on from insistence to veiled threats. What could these incidents and events involving me possibly be? Cezmi's murder? Of course not.