As he pulled the phone out, he lifted the sole of his shoe where several numbers were scribbled. He quickly began loading them into the phone. Even without being told, it was clear they were recharge codes. He entered them and immediately dialed a number.
No answer.
Desperately, he muttered, “Pick up… pick up… come on…”
Then suddenly, the line connected.
They exchanged a few hushed words...nothing even I could make out clearly. But then I heard him say:
“Don’t fail me, please… You’ll hear from me, but don’t call me. I’ll contact you whenever I can. No one should know we’re in contact. I have to hang up now… Just follow what I told you…”
Hearing the sound of his guard approaching, he swiftly ended the call, removed the SIM card, and shoved it back into the shoe’s hidden compartment. T
