Napoleon turned away as soon as his partner faded from view. Manuel Kadiri, dressed in his western-style white suit and fedora was not difficult to spot amongst the traditional garb of the other passersby so he was able to lay back, staying out of sight as he continued to follow the man.
He grabbed his beige burnoose, lifting it from his shoulders, flapping it to disburse some of the heat radiating from his body that had built up beneath it from the strength of the midday sun, wondering how the women who wandered past covered from head to toe in their black burqas withstood the temperature.
Napoleon continued to follow his prey as the man moved onward, weaving in and out among the throngs of people, goats, and camels that filled the narrow streets. If it hadn't been for the choice of the man's manner of dress, he quite possibly could have lost him in the throngs of people that still moved like a sea of bodies despite the raging afternoon sun.
Soon it would be time for the faithful to be called to prayer, and adhan would be called by the muezzin from the lone Koutoubia minaret that was the spiritual guardian of Marrakesh. Everything would come to a stop as the faithful would spread their prayer rugs, bowing down to face Mecca.
He could easily lose Kadiri then as out of respect and safety Solo would have to halt his movement. Not that a Muslim would harm him, it was those non-believers observing him such as Thrush that he had to be concerned about. If he continued to walk during prayer; he would stick out like a sore thumb...as he had corrected Illya of the same saying and if Thrush was on the look out, they'd spot him instantly.
Kadiri diverted from the street heading into a small white-washed shop, appearing to be some sort of herbal apothecary. Solo positioned himself just outside the ornately tiled arched doorway waiting for the man to exit; drawing his silenced Walther, burying it in the folds of his robe. Then he addressed the man, speaking softly when he reappeared a few minutes later.
"Dr. Kadiri?" Napoleon smiled.
He offered a quizzical look at first to the man that spoke to him. "Yes I am he, do I know you?"
"Solo, Napoleon Solo."
Kadiri's face blanched, reacting to the name instantly,
"No problems Doctor please." Napoleon said as he pointed his gun at the man. "Do you have the diamonds on you?"
"No, no I don't...how did you find out about them and me?"
"Please Doctor, don't be so naive, U.N.C.L.E. has it's ways. Where are the diamonds then?"
"It's too late Solo, they will be in the hands of Central very shortly and then you will be unable to stop us. We will finally take over the world and put it to proper order...no more chaos. Just one central ruling government, called Thrush!" His face became red as he raised his voice spouting his diatribe to Solo, then suddenly Kadiri staggered backwards, his face becoming ashen as he grabbed his own chest. He seemed to be struggling to catch his breath. It was then he started to fall.
Napoleon lurched forward catching Kadiri before he hit the ground, cradling him in his arms. He shoved his weapon back into it's holster, checking the man's throat for a pulse.
"Damn," Solo muttered as he lowered the body down, quickly checking the man's pockets for the diamonds but finding nothing. He became aware that people were beginning to gather around trying to find out what had happened. Voices began nervously murmuring their questions aloud.
"What did you do to him?"someone shouted.
Solo knew it was time for him to make a hasty retreat, especially before a Gendarme arrived.
"Is there a physician nearby, I think it's his heart?" Solo called out, rising from the dead man as someone stepped forward to offer assistance.
Napoleon melted away into the crowd, heading to catch up with his partner in hopes that he had better luck.
After wandering the crowded streets assaulted by the sounds and smells of cooking and merchants selling their wares; he at last found the green-canopied residence, but saw no sign of his partner outside. He tried contacting Illya via communicator but received no response and that made him nervous.
Solo had no choice but to head inside, and was surprised to find the door unlocked, proceeding with his gun drawn as he searched the ornately tiled and curtained residence. The lab was found in the back, with two Thrush guards sealing a large device into a wooden shipping crate; his presence took them by complete surprise as he darting them instantly.
It was when he found Illya's weapon and communicator on top of one of the lab tables, that he knew for certain that his Russian friend was in some sort of trouble.
Searching quickly for the diamonds; he found nothing, then he examined what he surmised was the diamond making machine, attaching several charges to it, piling up what beakers of chemicals that he found around it's base. Then he grabbed a pole lamp, sweeping it across the work stations, smashing the rest of the equipment standing there.
Napoleon grabbed the bodies of the two guards, dragging them one by one out into the hall, then stood in the doorway, pulling the stem out of his watch, then plunging it back, setting off the explosives. It all went up in a nice controlled blast, making him think that it was one his partner would have been proud of.
Stepping back out to the street; he felt satisfied that everything that needed be destroyed had been taken care of. Now it was time to find his missing partner and the diamonds. He thought about contacting Waverly, but decided to put that off for the moment. Finding Illya was his priority, and the diamonds though important seemed almost secondary. In his mind, finding Kuryakin was now his mission.
He pulled out his cigarette case from his breast pocket, opening and adjusting the setting on the dial until the device began to emit a faint pulse. That was a good sign, it meant the tracking disc hidden in Illya's clothes was active. But it had a limited range so he needed to start moving before he lost the signal entirely.
It was too faint for the Russian to have gone back to the hotel which wasn't that far off and it seemed to show movement towards the southeast. That could be taking him towards the desert and Algeria. Napoleon knew he'd need transportation and supplies for that sort of trek, so he headed back to the hotel to retrieve their jeep that had stronger tracking equipment installed in it.
Solo climbed in after loading a pack with food, extra water and a small tent, then started the engine, shifting it into gear as he pulled away slowly having to navigate carefully along the crowded streets as he made his way out of the city.