Charles and I went out dipping today, but there wasn't much in any of the pockets we picked. We worked separately. I don't trust him, he doesn't trust me. We're not taking much money right now in anything we do and I know that now there are three of us, we have to spend more.

Charles and Daniel have known each other a long time. It stands to reason that if Daniel wants to cut costs, I'm for the high jump first.

Until now, we've always split everything 50/50. Since Charles arrived, we split things three ways, but I don't need money. All I really need is a place to sleep and something to eat.

I'm going to tell Daniel I don't want my share anymore. The money will last longer that way and then he won't have to ask me to leave. If I work for just bed and board, things will be fine. I know Daniel will agree. He wouldn't send me away if he didn't have to.

I told Estelle what I've decided and she hugged me and said, "Harry, love, if he were down to his last crust, he'd share it with you." Not if it came to a choice between me and Charles, he wouldn't.

I hate Charles Sinclair. He's so snooty and arrogant and he wears grey and he whines about a sprained wrist and I hate the way he drinks his tea and the way he talks to Daniel like they're best friends or something.

Why are we stuck with bloody Sinclair? Daniel said his father left him to be looked after by us. Well, I can see why. I'd do the same. He's not likely to be any use to us. I hope this is just temporary.

Estelle told me to be nice to Charles. She said he always seems lonely to her. I said maybe there's a good reason for that and she hugged me and said, "He'd never send you away, Harry."

Maybe not, but he likes Charles far too much. I want Charles out, before he ruins everything.

Tabib's okay.

Daniel wants me to stay in the hotel. He said he wants me out of harm's way while he deals with something. That means he's doing something dangerous and it's probably because of what happened with Tabib, which is my fault.

I'm not letting Daniel go into this alone. I'm going to watch him and follow him and if that French bugger tries to hurt him, he'll get a knife through his ribs.

There's always someone bigger, stronger or better armed to take whatever you have. Someone stabbed Tabib for his share of what we'd stolen. I need to get a gun so that I can protect my friends.

I ran after the one that did it, but he got away. Then I went back and saw that Tabib didn't look good. I went to get Daniel. He took charge right away and he told me to go back to the hotel with Dilara, his new bit of crumpet.

Dilara's nice. I wasn't sure about her at first, but she really does seem to like Daniel and she called the hospital for me to ask about Tabib.

I have a little thing going with two partners, Hasad and Tabib. Hasad acts like a very bad pickpocket, Tabib yells a warning and I lead the mark away to safety, warning him of "vultures everywhere" (Casablanca) whilst relieving him of his cash. So far, it's gathered a nice little harvest. The lads found the perfect place. Lots of stupid tourists, all daft enough to think that an English accent makes me one of them and so a friend. I'm going to give Daniel all my share. That should cheer him up.

They call me Aydin. They swear it means clever, but I'll check and if I find out it means something stupid, I'll bang their heads together.

I had thought Daniel was joking, but a man did offer to introduce me to his sister today. I just smiled and said I was unworthy to meet the lady.

There are a lot of pretty girls here. I really don't need to be led into a dark alley.

Yesterday was great. We went to Hagia Sophia and spent hours there. Daniel explained all about it. Sophia is wisdom, the wisdom of God. He said the early church was very fond of wisdom. It seemed funny to me, to speak about wisdom as if she were a woman, even with a woman's name, but I suppose it's no stranger than Daniel calling his car Amanda.

I sort of like it. Sophia sounds more friendly than any of the Trinity. Sophia sounds like someone who would give you a sticky bun and a cup of tea and just chat. When I said that to Daniel, he smiled. I'm glad he wasn't offended. It's weird, him being a thief and everything, but he is pretty religious.

I was wondering all the time why he took me there, to a place so important to him. Maybe he's trying to show me I'm important to him too. He talked about St Joseph and I wondered why, but Joseph looked after a kid who wasn't his too. It's almost like having a family, isn't it?

Something upset Daniel last night. He wasn't smiling and he didn't flirt with any of seven very pretty girls. He barely said a thing.

I think he's thinking about his dad. I think coming to Turkey has reminded him of a lot of things he'd forgotten. He and his father were pretty close.

He seemed better at breakfast. I wish I knew what to say to make him feel better, but I don't know what you're supposed to say at times like this. I'll just try to make sure he doesn't get lonely. I'll hang around a lot, in case he needs a friend.

Of course, if he gets really miserable, I could always steal something nice for him.

Whenever I go anywhere with Daniel, I'm so respected! Sometimes I feel like royalty. Old friends of his are great to me, because I'm his friend or nephew or partner in crime, so I must be like him. People who don't know him are persuaded by his manner to treat us both well. It's wonderful. Daniel and I don't live by what he calls "the petty rules of man". We don't bother with the rules of God much, either. Daniel always says he's sure they were meant more as guidelines and probably don't apply to us.

We have our own rules, though. There are times when Daniel will suddenly back off from a potential mark, because they're too vulnerable. He's a better man than some of those "honest" men out there.

Last night, Daniel went out alone and I followed, because I was worried that something was wrong. He told me he was thinking about his father. It's hard to imagine Daniel having a father or any family. He doesn't need people.
( Read more... )

We're staying in a very new hotel, the Yasmak Sultan. It's only been open a few years. That's not Daniel's usual style, but the place is amazing. It's all so big and classy and it wouldn't surprise me at all to find Sophia Loren leaning attractively against the bar.
( Read more... )