“Just look around and see if you can spot something. Don’t worry! I— ”
“Please… Bhai! There, over there, I can see Gmet Restaurant.” Lena sounded terrified and stuttered before she could finish. The call was disconnected.
“Lena, are you there? Lena! Hello! Hello! Lena!” Z shouted, grabbing everyone’s attention. He looked at his phone screen, which showed that the call had ended. He wanted to call back but couldn’t, as the number wasn’t on his screen.
His trainees and the other gym members gathered around to check if everything was OK. He told them not to worry and asked to be excused. He took his charger from the reception where his phone had been left charging and left the gym.
*******
“Here are the details. The number the call came from is in Lahore, Punjab, Pakistan. It’s a payphone, and that might be why the complete number — apart from the country code and the city code — didn’t show up when you received it. At times, international numbers from payphones don’t even show up and look like a private number calling.”
Johnson handed over some documents to Z. “Here are the details and location of the payphone Lena called you from. Everything has been closely checked and verified. At other times, it’s been reported that an international call was made, but the recipient’s screen flashed a local number. On answering, the recipient discovered the call was from abroad,” Z listened to Johnson while he looked at the documents.
“In your case, you were lucky to get the country code and the city code at least. Do you recall me telling you that I also had your phone on surveillance? And boy, did we track it! It confirms what Lena said over the phone and confirms that Lena is missing in Pakistan.”
“But how is it possible that Lena reached Pakistan when she went to Delhi in India?” Marshal asked in surprise.
“That’s possible. Human trafficking is one of the most well-organized crimes in the world. It operates just like any other business with a supply chain and SOPs that must be followed. It’s just destiny that she went to India and ended up in Pakistan. It could have happened the other way around as well, or she could have ended up in any other country. We can’t say why it was Pakistan,” Johnson said.
“That’s shocking,” Marshal concluded.
“Johnson, can you do something now?” Z immediately asked.
“I told you everything before. You must remember what I said before and the scenario I presented. It’s not a national issue, and it’s not directly or indirectly connected with America or an American. Because of my limitations, I can’t find Lena,” Johnson tried explaining politely.
“What about humanity?” Z followed up with.
“One doesn’t have to be emotional on-duty or off-duty. Others would see this as your private matter. You might have to handle it on your own.”
“I will… thanks for your help. If this is what destiny has in store for me, then let it be,” Z affirmed as he stood up, while Marshal did too.
“What do you mean?” Marshal asked.
“I’m going to Pakistan to find Lena. It’s my motherland, after all, and no one could better know about Pakistan than me. Above all, as Johnson said, it’s destiny that it’s Pakistan, and I’m the one chosen to help her.”
“Are you crazy? The competition’s coming up, and you’re planning to fly to Pakistan to find Lena?” Marshal sounded confused.
“Call it humanity or family. Nothing’s more important than either of these two. I couldn’t save my people in 9/11, couldn’t save my wife — couldn’t even save my daughter — because every time, it was already too late. This time, a chance has been given to me in time. I won’t complain, and I’ll get it right. Her screams echo in my ears. I don’t know where and how she is, but when she managed to call someone for help, she called me. How can I break her trust in her Bhai, in her Daddy Cool?” Z said, looking at Marshal. “If you’d been in my place, wouldn’t you do the same?”
Marshal nodded his head in agreement.
“Well, if that’s the case, you do have to prepare well because officially Lena didn’t fly to Pakistan, and you can’t show the incomplete number with the country code and the city code as proof of her presence there. You may have to prove that Lena’s in Pakistan, and that might be even more difficult than actually finding her,” Johnson said as he stood up.
“No country or law can do anything unless it has proof that what you’re saying is correct. The scenario I presented could be put to you time and again and may go against you. Above all, you can’t even disclose how you got the information you have because you can’t drag the SIA directly or indirectly into this matter,” Johnson advised and paused while he took a breath.
“As a former SIA Officer, you know all these things, however, and know you must prepare well. I’m just reminding you.” Johnson picked up his jacket from the couch in Z’s apartment.
“I’ll send over some more information and share other details that may be helpful as a strong foundation for presenting your case and getting to Lena. Unfortunately, whatever you do, you’ll have to do it on your own, because, as I’ve said, this has nothing to do with the US or a US citizen. Just remember that though I’m your friend, I have my limitations,” Johnson concluded, while he put on his jacket and touched Z’s shoulder.
*******
2 Months Earlier – March 2007 – Los Angeles, California, USA
“Thanks, Marshal, I’ll never forget this,” Z said as he stood holding his bag of hand luggage at the airport and took an envelope from Marshal with some cash in it.
“Don’t mention it, and don’t worry. You’ll compete next year for me and share the prize money — that’s how you can return the favor,” Marshal tried to stop Z feeling burdened by the money and the other arrangements he’d made so that he could travel to Pakistan.
“Will do. Insha’ALLAH! Life’s very capricious. Lena planned to attend the conference — but couldn’t. I planned to participate in the competition — but couldn’t,” Z said while putting Marshal’s envelope into his pocket.
“Yes, that’s right — at times, things don’t go as planned. By the way, I forgot to let you know. Johnson called earlier. I think you were praying and didn’t pick up his call, so he called me to say he was flying abroad for an operation soon — so his phone might be switched off,” Marshal reported.
“You’re right. My phone was on silent, and, since then, when I tried calling him, his phone’s been turned off,” Z confirmed.
Before they could talk any longer, Z heard the final announcement for his flight. It was time for him to leave. They hugged, and he boarded his flight to Lahore, Pakistan.
You’re gonna get what GOD has chosen for you!
You’re gonna have what GOD has ordered for you!
You’re gonna find what GOD has seen for you!
Only HE knows your pain, your fears.
Only HE stands by your side.
Get ready to fight!
Get ready to fight!
Get ready to fight!
If they stand behind you, protect them
If they stand next to you, respect them
If they stand against you, crush them.
Get ready to fight!
Get ready to fight!
You extend your imagination
You challenge your limitations
You overcome your tribulations.
Get ready to fight!
Get ready to fight!
Get ready to fight!
Let the madness to win, prevail
Let the stubbornness to persist, assail
Let the inner you face the devil in detail.
Get ready to fight!
Get ready to fight!
Get ready to fight!
You’re gonna get what GOD has chosen for you!
You’re gonna have what GOD has ordered for you!
You’re gonna find what GOD has spotted for you!
Only HE knows your pain, your fears.
Only HE stands b
y your side.
Get ready to fight!
Get ready to fight!
Get ready to fight!
CHAPTER 09
2 Months Earlier – March 2007 – Lahore, Punjab, Pakistan
On arrival at Allama Iqbal International Airport, Lahore, Pakistan, Z cleared customs, took a taxi, and read out the address he wanted to the taxi driver. The weather’s not much different from LA in March, he thought to himself, as he looked through the window, while the taxi drove through the streets of Lahore to finally stop in front of Faisal Town, Police Station.
In his blue jeans, black button-down shirt and brown jacket, Z entered the police station holding his bag, and said to a constable with a mustache, “Excuse me! I’d like to meet the officer in charge, please.”
Without saying a word, the man motioned Z toward another room, where he read “Joseph Best – Station House Officer (SHO), Faisal Town, Police Station.”
Z knocked on the door and entered. Inside he could see a well-built, six-feet tall man who was standing and reading a file. He was about forty with a dark complexion and thick black hair, and about to sit down at his desk, when Z entered.
“Hello, Sir!” Z said before he sat down on one of the chairs across the desk from the officer.
“Hello!”
“I’m Z. I mean to say, Zia.”
“Well, Mr. Zia, I’m Joseph Best, the best in the business. How may I help?” Joseph politely asked, noticing the bag Z placed on the floor beside his chair.
“Sir, I’ve come from the United States of America in search of a Russian girl, Lena Volikova. Here’s her picture. She’s missing, and I want to file a report.” Z took Lena’s picture out from the pocket of his shirt and handed it to Joseph Best.
“Do you mean to say, you know this girl, Lena Volikova is missing in Pakistan, and it’s unknown to us?” Joseph Best looked at Lena’s picture and placed it on the table with a smirk.
“Do you find this funny?” Z became indignant and made Joseph realize this was serious.
“Pardon me! I’m the SHO of Faisal Town, Police Station, which means that I know about whatever happens in this area. If someone from the US, or any other country, suddenly pops up and claims he’s come to file a report to find a missing foreign girl, anyone would think it’s a joke,” he said and chuckled.
“Do you mean that we’re not aware of what’s going on here in our town, and someone from abroad has to come here to inform us? If that happened in the US — how would the officials there take it?” Joseph Best was polite but logical.
He moved a glass of water from in front of him toward Z. “Don’t mind, but we’re the police, and we’re very aware of everything happening here. To our knowledge, no such thing has happened where a foreign girl— ”
“Russian girl, Lena Volikova,” Z interjected to clarify.
“OK, Russian girl, Lena Volikova. However, if you’ve gone to such great lengths to fly from the US to report this matter, then we won’t disappoint you, and we’ll totally cooperate in investigating it. For your reassurance, look at the medals and certificates behind me that I’ve won on merit because I’m the best,” Joseph said, indicating the wall behind him. “Rest assured, this matter will be taken care of, but we’ll require your cooperation as well.”
“Thanks! I’m here to cooperate with you. You can count on me for anything,” Z said.
“Well, Mr. Zia, I’d like you to share the details and answer a few questions for me.”
“Sure! Please go ahead.”
“Who’s Lena Volikova? Who are you? When did she come to Pakistan? How come you’re so sure she’s missing? Any proof, any evidence — anything and everything you can share and provide — will be helpful for us.” Joseph posed several questions all at once. He’d been shocked to hear what Z had said and was curious to know more.
“Well… Lena Volikova is a Russian girl, a student in the Faculty of Mathematics at MO National University. I’m Zia, but you can call me Z. I’m a Pakistani born American National. I work as a fitness trainer at a local gym in Los Angeles. Lena Volikova is… ” Z paused for a second and thought to himself, I’ll tell him the truth but only enough to make him take action, not enough to make him go into unnecessary details that would cause delay and raise eyebrows.
“Please continue. I’m listening. Please share as much information as you can because the more you share, the more it will help our investigation.”
“She’s a friend, more like a family member. She called me last week from this number,” Z took a chit of paper from his jacket pocket and showed Joseph the number of the payphone, before continuing. “She sounded terrified and told me she needed help, but before she could finish, the call was disconnected.”
“Did you try to call this number back? Did she call you on your cell phone or landline? If it was your cell phone, have you got it with you?” Joseph asked as he looked at the chit of paper.
“Yes, she did call me on my cell phone, and I do have it with me, but I get so many calls from my trainees at the gym that the call history may not show her call any longer… it was a week ago.
“To answer your other question: I did call back and found out it was a payphone. Luckily, the number showed up when she called, unlike what usually happens for a call from a payphone, otherwise I wouldn’t have it,” Z took a sip of water from the glass Joseph had moved toward him a few minutes earlier. Thanks, Johnson, for getting me this number.
“Lucky indeed! Anything else she said over the phone? How did you find out that this is the area where Lena Volikova made the call?”
“Well, it was a very short call, and she spoke very fast, and when I asked her, she told she was somewhere in Lahore near a Gmet Restaurant. When I researched over the internet, I found there’s only one Gmet Restaurant in Pakistan, and it’s in Faisal Town, Lahore. Connecting the dots, it was apparent that this is where she called from,” Z said, as he cleared his throat and thought, Credit to you Johnson for all your assistance, but I can’t let them doubt where I got this info from. The objective is to get them to work, to help me find Lena.
“Mr. Zia, or Z — whatever — you’ll be pleased to know that I can determine which payphone she must have called from, not only from the number you’ve provided but also from the fact that she mentioned the Gmet Restaurant. There’s a payphone right next to that restaurant,” Joseph said, before having another thought. “By the way, when did Lena Volikova visit Pakistan? You must have her passport details?”
“First things first: I don’t have her passport details, and I don’t even know when exactly she came to Pakistan, because she was supposed to visit Delhi in India to attend an international mathematics conference. Here are the details of the conference, and here are the details of her flight that she booked from Moscow in Russia to Delhi in India via Dubai,” Z said, taking some documents from his bag.
“Indeed, it was an enormous shock for me to get her call from Pakistan, but on the other hand, that’s what makes me believe this is a missing person case,” Z looked at the clock which showed 5:40 pm as he handed Joseph the documents about Lena’s conference and flight.
“It’s a shock for me as well that Lena Volikova, who was supposed to visit India, called you from Pakistan. That makes it more complex. Anyways, I’ve got the details you’ve provided. Unfortunately, I can’t file a case right now, as we don’t have any conclusive evidence to prove what you’ve said, but I’ll look into this matter personally and give you a response.” Joseph wrote a few things on some paper.
“Please write down your details too, so if we have an update, we can share it with you. And if you want to add something to what you’ve told me, please write it down as well. It seems you’ve come straight from the airport,” Joseph said, looking at Z’s bag one more time, as he handed him paper and pen.
“You’re right. Please write down your number for me too. As soon as I get to a hotel and have a local number, I’ll let you know it,” Z said, while he thought, I won’t give o
ut my international roaming number, and then wrote down other details about Lena.
“By the way, I forgot to show you this document. It’s been submitted to my local Police Station and Embassy in the US. It states that I’ll be traveling to Pakistan and visiting Faisal Town in Lahore together with other details. If something happens or if there is any deviation in my travel plans, they can check on me. I guess that’s sensible, so proof of my visit to Pakistan wouldn’t have to be asked for, and no scenarios or suppositions could be made,” Z said, as he handed over a copy of the document to Joseph.
“You play safe,” Joseph observed, as he looked at it. “Well, Mr. Z, it’s been nice meeting with you, and please don’t worry, because you have the best on the job,” Joseph said, as he stood up to indicate that their discussion was over and put out his hand to shake Z’s hand.
“Thanks! Well, you’ve got to play safe when you’re playing with the best. I’ll be waiting,” Z replied, shook hands, and left the Police Station.
*******
Standing outside the payphone between the Gmet Restaurant and Gmet Bakers facing the main road, Z tried to visualize Lena making the call and speaking to him that day. Darkness was falling as he stood there thinking about it, but he wanted to make sense of the images flashing through his mind. He was so lost in thought that he didn’t notice a woman came to stand next to him, her face covered with a veil. After a moment, though, he became aware of her presence, and they made eye contact.
“Is there something I can help you with?” the woman asked politely.
“Pardon!” Z looked at her trying to figure out where she’d come from.
“Well, I was standing on the other side of the road and noticed you’ve been looking at me constantly for the last five to ten minutes. I thought maybe I knew you or you knew me. I finally decided to come over and check if there’s something I can help you with,” she explained. She was wearing traditional Pakistani woman’s clothing, a shalwar kameez, and had her face covered with a veil so Z could only see her eyes.
“Oh, sorry! Now I get it. I must have been lost in thought and didn’t realize where I was looking. Maybe that’s what made you feel I was looking at you. Sorry about that,” Z said, realizing how it must have been.
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