Dishonour (28 page)

‘How can such things take place in prison?’ asked Anwar.

‘Come on,’ Saira spoke in a hushed tone, ‘these things happen every day out here so why not in prison?’

Anwar nodded, the truth of it weighing visibly and heavily.

‘So what now?’ he asked.

‘He’s recovering well,’ said Lilly, ‘and the other boy will be charged with assault.’

Anwar blew through his nose.

‘OK then.’ Lilly paused. She had to ask about Malik but she needed the Khans to focus. Under normal circumstances she would have let them calm down for a day or so, but she didn’t have time. She sneaked a look at her watch and gulped. Minutes and hours were ticking away. Soon Malik would be released and any chance of linking him to Yasmeen’s murder would be lost. She nodded slightly to Taslima to steer the conversation away from Raffy.

‘Actually, I wanted to talk to you about something else as well,’ said Taslima.

Anwar and Saira looked up at her expectantly.

‘We’ve been trying to think of anyone who might want to hurt Yasmeen,’ she continued, ‘and someone’s name has come up.’

‘Who?’ Anwar and Saira spoke as one.

‘Abdul Malik.’

No one said a word.

‘The police think this man is involved in another honour attack,’ said Taslima.

Anwar covered his mouth. ‘Another girl has been murdered?’

‘Kidnapped,’ said Lilly. ‘They’re desperately trying to find her.’

‘I can’t believe it,’ Anwar muttered.

‘That’s why I want you all to think very, very carefully,’ said Lilly. ‘Whatever you can tell me about this man might not only help Raffy’s defence but also save another girl.’

‘Abdul Malik,’ Anwar rolled the words around his tongue. ‘Sorry, I’ve never heard the name.’

Lilly’s heart sank. ‘He delivers meat to the Paradise Halal Butchers.’

Anwar turned to his mother. ‘Do you know him, Ma?’

Mrs Khan didn’t respond.

‘We don’t use it,’ said Saira.

‘But he’s your uncle,’ said Lilly.

Saira gave a tight smile. ‘Uncle Mohamed is a very good man in lots of ways, but his meat is tough.’

Lilly almost laughed out loud. ‘Blood is thicker than water,’ her mother used to say, ‘but it isn’t cement.’

‘Malik’s very distinctive,’ said Lilly. ‘He must weigh seventeen stone, about six two.’

‘He has a beard.’ Taslima stroked her chin.

Lilly willed them to recognise the description. ‘In the last few days his nose has been broken. He has black eyes.’

‘Sorry,’ said Anwar, ‘no.’

Lilly and Taslima said their goodbyes and left the Khans.
They were no further forward in placing Malik at the scene.

Jack punched the kitchen wall. ‘Damn it.’

Lilly and Taslima jumped.

‘Sorry,’ Jack shook the pain from his fist. ‘I just can’t believe no one has even heard of this guy.’

‘Do we believe them?’ asked Taslima.

‘Good question.’ Jack sucked his knuckles. ‘The Hassan boys are hiding something. The younger one started puking when it got too close to home.’

‘The Khans seem to be telling the truth,’ said Lilly.

‘Though I thought Anwar was a bit quick to respond,’ said Taslima.

Lilly nodded. He had been quick to deny any knowledge of Malik and quicker still to blame Raffy for starting the fight in prison. Then there was Mrs Khan, utterly unengaged in her son’s fate.

‘I think there’s something they’re not telling us,’ she conceded.

‘If I had my way I’d nick the lot of them and shove them in a cell until they were ready to talk,’ said Jack.

‘Don’t let something as small as the Human Rights Act stop you,’ Lilly laughed.

Jack slapped his forehead with his hand. ‘Someone must know this man.’

‘The only person who’s been willing to mention him is the uncle,’ said Lilly.

‘Then let’s go back there,’ said Jack. ‘See if there’s anything else.’

Lilly and Taslima exchanged a look.

‘He’s going to be very unhappy,’ said Lilly.

Jack grabbed his coat. ‘I don’t care if he’s crying into his tea.’

‘No, no, no.’

The old guy stood in the doorway to his butcher’s shop, blocking Lilly and Taslima.

‘Please, Mohamed,’ said Lilly. ‘It’s important.’

He shook his head and turned the sign to closed.

‘It’s always important with you,’ he hissed. ‘Now go away.’

Jack couldn’t wait around any longer. His extension was seeping away. With the Khans and the Hassans refusing to play ball, this guy was the only connection Jack had. What was wrong with everyone? Did they like having Malik stomping around their neighbourhood telling them what they could or couldn’t do?

‘Five minutes,’ Lilly begged.

‘Leave now,’ said Mohamed, ‘or I’m calling the police.’

Jack pushed forward and jammed his foot in the door. ‘Guess what, sunshine? I am the police.’

Mohamed checked Jack’s badge carefully, then let them in. The shop was in darkness, the fridges humming in the background.

‘Tell me about Abdul Malik,’ said Jack.

Mohamed threw up his arms. ‘I’ve told these two all I know. I hear things, whispers, nothing concrete.’

‘And what do these whispers say?’

Mohamed looked around him as if someone might be listening in the shadows. ‘That he’s involved in some things around here.’

‘Bad things?’

Mohamed nodded. ‘Family stuff, when girls disobey their parents.’

‘Honour attacks.’

Mohamed sighed.

‘A girl called Aasha Hassan has gone missing,’ said Jack. ‘Was Malik involved?’

A silhouette floated across the window as someone walked past the shop. Mohamed froze.

‘Was Malik involved?’ Jack repeated.

Mohamed craned his neck, watching as the figure outside moved away. ‘People think so.’

Jack’s head began to pound. ‘What the hell do you mean?’

‘People come in here to buy meat and they gossip.’ He waved at Lilly. ‘What you solicitors call hearsay.’

‘Then why don’t they come and tell us?’ Jack roared. ‘Don’t they care what happens to Aasha?’

Mohamed’s eyes darted from the door to Jack and back again.

‘A few think she got what she deserved,’ he said.

Jack exploded. ‘She’s fifteen, for fuck’s sake.’

Mohamed stared at Jack until Lilly stepped between them.

‘What about the others?’ Her tone was deliberate. ‘You said some people thought Aasha deserved it but what about the rest?’

Jack took a lungful of air and exhaled slowly. He knew Lilly was trying to defuse things, that he’d gone too far. But it was impossible not to.

‘Some people are saying that Malik and his cronies
are out of control,’ said Mohamed. ‘That none of us are safe.’

‘Tell me about these cronies,’ snapped Jack. ‘Who are they?’

Mohamed shook his head. ‘I don’t know.’

Jack felt rage taking over. He had to get out of there before he did something he’d regret. He stormed out of the shop, crashing the door behind him.

Moments later, Lilly and Taslima joined him.

‘Jesus Christ, Jack,’ said Lilly. ‘You’ve got to calm down.’

‘How can I,’ he roared, ‘when all I come up against is this wall of silence?’

‘The PTF are bullies,’ said Taslima. ‘Everyone is frightened.’

Jack stabbed his chest with his thumb. ‘I’ve lived in communities run by the paramilitary. Trust me, you can’t let these people dictate things. Someone has to take a stand.’

‘Not everyone is brave enough,’ said Taslima.

At that moment Lilly’s mobile rang.

‘Hello?’ She paused, listening, her face impassive.

‘Right,’ she said, ‘thanks.’

She snapped her phone shut.

‘Let’s thank our lucky stars that someone is brave enough to take a stand.’

‘No riddles, Lil. My brain is aching,’ said Jack.

Lilly smiled. ‘Mohamed has just given me the name of one of Malik’s little friends.’

‘You are joking.’

‘Nawed Jalil,’ said Lilly.

Jack pulled out Malik’s scribbled note and tapped it
triumphantly with his thumb. Nawed Jalil was on the list.

‘Come on, you beauty.’

Jack hadn’t wanted to stop for a coffee, but Lilly had insisted. It would take less than five minutes, and anyway, they needed to gather their thoughts and decide what to do.

They took seats at the sticky table in a café and Lilly stirred heaped teaspoons of sugar into her cup. Jack hovered outside, calling the station for Jalil’s address.

‘He’s not always this bonkers,’ Lilly assured Taslima.

Taslima gave a shy smile. ‘Passion is a good sign.’

Lilly smiled back but it felt tight on her face. She couldn’t help wondering who else Jack had been getting passionate about.

Jack pushed his mobile into his pocket and dived into the café. He remained standing and grabbed his coffee. He took a sip and wrinkled his nose.

‘Full fat?’

‘They were all out of soya,’ Lilly winked.

He snorted and drained his cup. ‘Right, I’m off.’

‘Hold on,’ Lilly held up her hand. ‘You can’t just pole up at his house.’

‘Why not?’

‘’Cos he’ll take one look at your ID and shut the door.’

‘I’ll just nick him,’ said Jack.

Lilly rolled her eyes. ‘You have no evidence whatsoever to arrest him on.’

‘I’ll worry about that later.’

‘Jack,’ Lilly put her hand on his, ‘stop for a second.
You don’t have time to get this man to the station, get him booked in and everything else. By the time you get round to interviewing him, Malik’s extension will have run out.’

Jack’s shoulders slumped. ‘So what do you suggest?’

‘I don’t know,’ Lilly admitted. ‘If we watch him he might lead us to Aasha.’

‘We could spend the rest of the day following him to McDonald’s and back,’ said Jack. ‘I’d rather take my chances going round there myself.’

‘I don’t think that would be wise.’ Taslima spoke in a small voice. ‘If he’s involved in these crimes he’s hardly likely to help you with your enquiries, and even if he’s not, we’ve seen how this community react to the police.’

‘Well, I have to do something,’ said Jack. ‘At least this way we won’t be any worse off than we are now.’

Taslima moved her cup forward in a slow, deliberate motion. ‘Sorry, but I think it will be worse. If your extension expires while you’re chasing Jalil then Malik will be released and I don’t think that bodes well for Aasha.’

Jack opened his mouth, then closed it. They all knew Taslima was right.

‘This is impossible,’ said Jack.

‘I could speak to him,’ said Taslima.

Lilly and Jack exchanged looks.

‘How would that help?’ asked Jack.

‘We’ve already established that you can’t do it,’ she said, ‘and if Raffique Khan’s pregnant lawyer turns up making waves the result will be much the same.’

Lilly and Jack waited.

‘But I’m an insider,’ said Taslima.

‘But what would you say?’ asked Lilly.

‘That I’ve been sent by the Hassan brothers to get Aasha out of the country.’

‘Isn’t that a bit far-fetched?’ asked Jack.

Taslima raised her eyebrows. ‘Do you know how many Asian girls are whisked away each year? I’ll say the family know she’s caused nothing but trouble and want to put this all behind them by marrying her off in Pakistan.’

‘What if he checks up?’ asked Lilly. ‘Calls the Hassans?’

‘I’ll say the police are round there now, speaking to them, and that it’s urgent we get Aasha out.’

Lilly played it over in her mind. The plan was hardly flawless, but perhaps it could work. With time running out perhaps they should try.

‘I say we give it a go,’ she said.

Jack sighed and ran his hands through his hair. ‘I say we don’t have a choice.’

As the threesome went along the street past his car, Cormack slid down in his seat and hid his face in the shadows. He’d been following the woman all day but she’d been haring around from one place to the next. Cormack was knackered just keeping up.

When the man had turned up, Cormack had nearly given up. He was plod. No doubt about it. And Cormack had no intention of getting into a Q & A with a copper. What he needed to do had to be far from prying eyes.

After a while, though, it became obvious that the man wasn’t paying attention to anything around him. He was as stressed out as a punter before a race. So Cormack kept up the tail but at a safe distance. Besides, the Pakis
had promised him a pony when he got this part of the job done. God knows what all this was about, but it must be serious for them to be flashing cash like that around.

When all three got in the same car, Cormack decided to call it a day. He let them pull away and reached for a fag. The one good thing about days like today was he’d barely even thought about smoking. Maybe that was the trick. Keep himself busy.

He puffed contentedly and put his key in the ignition. He’d catch up with the woman soon enough.

April 2009

Allah is Our Lord

Mohammed is Our Leader

The Koran is Our Constitution

Jihad is Our Way

Martyrdom is Our Desire

I smile at the words that I diligently typed out, printed and stuck on the wall beside my bed. When I wake in the morning they are the first thing I see. They never cease to surprise me with their exquisite clarity. They are a gift from Allah, as is the person who gave them to me.

I reach for my laptop, eager to get back to www.mujahidtoday.

I discovered it in the course of my posting work and it soon became clear to me that many of the forum members were not teenagers swapping gossip.

Regulars, like Light of Jeddah and Peacekeeper, left forthright and often stinging messages on any political
subject. They were bold in support of the
Ummah
and always bumped any threads I began. A week ago I got into a long debate with Kalid42 about the co-existence of religions.

Re: The One True Religion…by Khalid42 at 9.25 on 2.4.09

I believe that we can live side by side with our non-Muslim brothers and sisters. The prophet (pbuh) didn’t instruct us to live apart. I choose to integrate and love all my brothers and sisters.