by Farah Zaman
Adam nodded. “We saw it this afternoon when we followed Mr. Talish.”
“You followed Mr. Talish?” Layla asked with raised brows.
“Yes, we saw him hurrying outside, so we decided to go after him,” Zaid said.
“What was he doing at the pavilion?” Zahra asked.
“He was meeting a man in a white robe,” Adam said. “We tried to get closer to hear what they were saying but they nearly caught us when I stepped on a twig. We came back after that.”
“I wonder who the man was,” Heba said. “It’s strange.”
“It could be an innocent meeting of friends. Or a meeting between two accomplices,” Zaid said.
“I think they sound more like accomplices than friends,” Layla said. “Otherwise, they wouldn’t meet in such secrecy.”
“Yes, I think so too,” Adam said.
“Well, let’s go find Mahmood,” Zaid said.
“Come get us from the event room when you find him,” Zahra said. “We’ll play some games in the meantime.”
“We will,” Adam promised.
When the youths went outside, it was dark and quiet. Turning on their cell phones, they headed to the pavilion but found it empty.
“He’s not here.” Zaid stared at the shadows around them.
“Where could he be?” Adam said in exasperation.
“He’s probably somewhere inside and we missed him.”
“He’s sure leading us on a wild goose chase tonight,” Adam grumbled as they headed back on the path. Before they entered the door, he hesitated. “Do you think Mahmood might be by the lake?”
“I doubt it.”
“We might as well swing by while we’re out here.”
“What if we hear splashes and see glowing red eyes?”
“We run for our lives.”
“I think you just want to see if there’s any truth to the stories.”
Adam chuckled. “You know me too well.”
They set off towards the woods, the top of the trees seeming to touch the sky. When the youths came to the lake, a light breeze blew over the water, sending little ripples across the smooth surface. Adam shivered. What evil lay hidden beneath those depths, terrifying students in the past?
“Mahmood’s not here,” Zaid said. “You want to go on the jetty and look for those glowing eyes?”
“We’ll go to the boathouse and see if Mahmood is there.”
Climbing up the jetty, the youths peered in the boathouse, not really expecting Mahmood to be there. Turning from the door, they stood on the jetty, staring out at the water. It looked like a perfectly ordinary lake at night, with nothing strange going on.
“Well, let’s head back,” Zaid said.
As they were about to leave, Adam stood stock-still in surprise. “Look Zaid, there’s a light at the lake house.” He pointed to the spot.
“Maybe it’s the jinns the villagers were talking about.”
“I don’t think jinns need light to see. It must be a human.”
Zaid clutched Adam’s hand. “Look, one of the canoes is gone.”
Adam peered down. Sure enough, the dark green canoe was missing. “There’s a light across the lake, one of the canoes is missing and we can’t find Mahmood. Are you thinking the same thing I’m thinking?”
“Yes, but why in the world would he go there?”
“Maybe to get away from everyone?”
“That seems a bit drastic.”
“The light’s gone now. Maybe Mahmood’s coming back. Let’s wait for him.”
“We should sit in the boathouse.”
Entering the dark structure, the boys sat on the upturned canoes. Time dragged on as they waited. After fifteen minutes, Adam could stand it no longer. “Let’s go back. If it’s Mahmood at the lake house, he has to return sometime. We’ll talk to him when we see him.”
Zaid stood up and stretched before following Adam. Back at the orphanage, the games were still in progress. When the youths located the girls, Zahra asked, “Did you find Mahmood?”
“No, we didn’t,” Adam said. He told them about the missing canoe, the light across the lake and their suspicion that Mahmood had rowed over to the other side.
Heba frowned in worry. “I can’t imagine why he would go there at night. After we have snacks, could you please do me a favor and check to make sure he’s back in his room?”
“Sure,” Zaid replied. “If he’s there, Adam and I will have that talk with him.”
The youths joined in the games until it was time for refreshments. In the meal hall, they collected tea and sandwiches, and sat together with the girls to eat. Adam bit into his cheesy sandwich. He had not realized how hungry he was. All the energy he had expended during the games had caught up to him.
“Look, there’s Mahmood,” Zahra exclaimed, pointing across the room.
They looked up to see the boy leaving the refreshments table, plate and cup in hand. He darted quick, nervous glances at the other students from beneath his lashes, like a skittish animal, distrustful of strangers.
“Let’s call him over,” Heba said. “I’ll tell him we want to talk with him.”
Adam stood up and signaled to Mahmood, pointing to the empty chair besides Zaid. Mahmood shuffled over, his gait as awkward as a newborn colt. After he had sat down and eaten half of his sandwich and taken several sips of tea, Heba said, “Mahmood, could we talk to you in the atrium after we finish here?”
Mahmood looked from one of them to the other with bleary eyes before nodding. He had changed out of his uniform and it was strange to see him in jeans and a black T-shirt.
When they gathered in the atrium, Heba said, “Mahmood, we heard what happened today with Baby Lina. We know you didn’t put her in the cage. We’d like to help you, so the administration doesn’t punish you wrongfully. We’re going to ask you a few questions. You can answer by nodding or shaking your head, okay?”
Mahmood nodded.
“I’ll start,” Adam said. “We’re trying to figure out how Baby Lina got in the cage. Was she there when you found her?”
Mahmood nodded, pushing back a lock of dark hair from his forehead.
“Did you see who put her there?” Zahra asked.
Mahmood shook his head.
“Do you suspect anyone?” Layla said.
Mahmood’s mouth became tight and he looked away.
I bet he suspects the Troublesome Trio too.
“We’ll speak to Mr. Mazin tomorrow,” Zaid said. “We’ll tell him it wasn’t you.”
Mahmood nodded, his face full of gratitude.
Adam pulled the sketch from his pocket and held it out. “Mahmood, is this your sketch?”
Mahmood nodded, his mouth turning down at the corners.
“It’s Uncle Issa’s murder, isn’t it?” Heba asked.
Mahmood nodded.
“Did you see it happen?” Layla said.
Mahmood shook his head.
“Was it a dream?” Zahra asked.
Mahmood shook his head.
“You drew that scene from imagination?” Zaid said.
Mahmood hesitated for several seconds before he nodded.
“Mahmood, did you row over to the lake house earlier?” Adam asked.
Mahmood’s face froze. Then he shook his head, his eyes sliding away from theirs.
“You don’t have to be afraid to tell us if you went there.” Heba touched him gently on the arm. “We only want to help you. Are you in any trouble?”
Mahmood shook his head.
“If you need help, you can come to us, okay?” Adam said.
Mahmood nodded, the lines of his face relaxing.
“Go to bed now, Mahmood,” Heba said, her eyes still filled with worry.
After the boy hurried away, Zaid said, �
�He did go to the lake house, but he’s scared to admit it for some reason.”
“I think he knows something about the murder too but he’s reluctant to share it with us,” Adam said. “Maybe the two are connected.”
“What could it be?” Heba looked troubled. “I hope he’s not in any danger.”
“We have to win his trust before he tells us,” Zahra said. “It might take some time.”
Adam said, “Time is not on our side. If we want to solve the murder as soon as possible, we have to find out the truth.”
“How?” Layla asked.
“We’ll row over to the lake house tonight and take a look.”
Chapter Eight:
Discovery at Dawn
“Great.” Layla’s eyes shone. “I’d love to see what that ruined house looks like.”
Zahra rolled her eyes. “From a creepy vault to a ruined house. We do love to live on the edge.”
Layla grinned. “Does that mean you’re coming?”
Zahra shrugged. “A dark, ruined house can’t be any worse than a dark, creepy vault. Yes, I’ll come.”
“Do you want to come too, Heba?” Zaid asked.
“No, I’ll pass. I’m in charge of the sleeping quarters in the girls’ lounge, so I can’t disappear. The canoe only holds four, so I’ll be the odd one out, anyway. What time do you plan to leave?”
“I think we should get some sleep first and go in the early hours,” Zahra said. “I feel kind of sleepy right now.”
“Alright, we’ll get a few hours of shuteye and leave at three,” Adam said.
“We’ll meet you at the back door,” Layla said. “If there are any changes in plans, text us.”
“See you all tomorrow,” Heba said. “And be careful.”
“We will,” Adam said, his mother’s warning ringing in his ears. His parents would freak out if they knew what the teenagers were planning to do.
Adam and Zaid used the bathroom before heading to the makeshift beds in the boys’ lounge. Zaid set his alarm on vibrate and Adam put his phone to charge. Adam would have loved to change out of his jeans and T-shirt and into the pajamas he had bought. However, there was no point in getting too comfortable when they had to get up again in a few short hours. With a sigh of relief, he found a cozy spot and closed his eyes.
All too soon, Zaid was nudging him awake. Adam sat up groggily and rubbed his eyes. It felt like he was getting up for the Tahajjud prayer his dad sometimes woke him for before dawn. Creeping out of the lounge of sleeping students, the boys headed to the back of the orphanage. A light had been left on in the main corridor, helping them to see their way.
The girls were waiting by the back door, wearing the tunics and jeans they had worn earlier. After the stuffiness inside, it felt good to be outside. Adam filled his lungs with deep breaths of the bracing night air. His pulse thrummed in anticipation and his senses felt as sharp as a sword as they got ready to embark into the unknown.
“We’ll use the flashlights only when necessary,” he said. “If anyone is at the lake house, they’ll see our light just as we saw the light there last night.”
The wooded area was a dark smudge as they set off on the path. When they came to the lake, Zahra peered around and said, “It looks kind of creepy at night, doesn’t it?
“Let’s take a minute and recite Ayatul Kursi and the Quls for protection,” Zaid said.
After they were done, they climbed onto the jetty and boarded the same dark-green canoe Adam and Zaid suspected Mahmood of using.
“Adam and I will take the first stint of rowing,” Layla said. “Zaid and Zahra, you can take your turn coming back.”
“It’s okay,” Adam said. “Zaid and I can do it both ways. We’ve got to build those muscles.”
“Heba didn’t mention about canoes being pulled under the water, did she?” Zahra’s voice was a bit shaky.
“Relax, Zah,” Zaid said. “Mahmood rowed over and didn’t have a problem. We’re going to be fine, insha Allah.”
“If you see any red eyes or hands coming out of the water, let us know,” Layla said mischievously. “We’ll give them a good whack with the oars.”
Zahra giggled nervously.
They took off from the jetty, the sound of the swishing oars breaking the stillness around them. The decaying flora in the murky water gave off a funky smell as if something had died in the depths. Adam wrinkled his nose and stared at the sky. It had a violet hue with just a smattering of stars. The canoe glided smoothly over the slight swells, seeming to keep pace with the feathery clouds floating above.
Once they were out in the open lake, they realized the distance to the other side had been deceptive. It was further away than it seemed.
“I can’t imagine Mahmood rowing by himself all the way over there,” Layla said. “He must be stronger than he looks.”
“Yeah, rowing is hard work,” Adam said, feeling the burn in his arms as water churned over his oars.
Closer and closer they came to the other side until a jetty loomed before them. Two canoes were moored there, one of them aqua and the other sage.
“We should pull up along the shore,” Zaid said. “It’s best we don’t leave our canoe in plain sight.”
They pulled up to an area obscured by trees. Adam and Zaid rolled up their jeans, stepped out of the canoe and dragged it onto the shore. After the girls climbed out, they set off through the grove.
“We need a weapon just in case we run into anything or anyone unfriendly,” Layla said. “A thick stick will do the trick.”
“I’ve found one,” Zaid said, stooping on the ground and picking up a fallen limb.
“Yeah, like a stick will protect us from a jinn,” Zahra muttered.
“If they didn’t bother Mahmood, they won’t bother us,” Adam said. “I think it’s humans we have to watch out for.”
They cleared the trees and the dark outline of the house appeared, its stone façade glinting dully with the shine of several windows. Adam’s heart sped up.
What would they find in there?
“I think we should look through the windows first,” he said. “If all seems clear, we can go in.”
There were no signs of movement when they peered through the glass panes. The front door was locked but the window next to it was open.
“Hold it up so I can climb in and open the door,” Adam said.
As they held it in place, he clambered over the sill and lowered himself to the floor. A heavy silence hung over the shadowy interior. What a perfect setting for a horror movie. Smiling at his imagination, Adam moved across the wooden floor to let Zaid and the girls in.
“Don’t turn the flashlights on until we know the house is empty,” he whispered.
Adam led the way into what he assumed was the living room. As they moved further, he stumbled over a low-lying obstruction. He pitched to the floor with a loud thud. They froze, expecting to hear feet running towards them. They relaxed when all remained quiet.
“Adam, are you okay?” Layla asked.
“Yes,” he replied as Zaid helped him up. “I fell over a stool on the floor. I guess we can see what the rest of the house looks like. No one seems to be here.”
The girls turned on their flashlights and they all gazed around. The house was larger on the inside than it had looked from the outside. This was no poky cabin in the woods. Skirting the footstool Adam had fallen over, they moved past three blotchy gray sofas and a beat-up coffee table. A moldy odor lingered in the air, the smell intensified by the heat trapped inside. Mixed in with the mustiness, was a familiar aroma.
Zahra sniffed. “It smells like curry in here.”
“Yeah, the curried lamb we had for dinner yesterday,” Layla said.
“Maybe this is Mahmood’s secret getaway and he brought his food to eat here,” Zaid said.
“Why in
the world would he do something like that?” Adam said. “If he wanted to eat by himself, all he had to do was take his food to his room. He doesn’t have a roommate.”
Passing a dining area with a rickety table and two chairs, they walked through an arched doorway into a horizontal hallway with several doors. Directly ahead of them was a kitchen with scarred white cupboards and tiled countertops.
“These doors must lead to the bedrooms.” Layla peered on both sides of the hallway.
“We’ll take a look at the kitchen first and then check out the bedrooms,” Adam said.
In the kitchen, Zahra’s flashlight pinpointed a foil tray on the counter. They stared at it in surprise. It held two apples, an orange and a banana.
Next to it, Zahra uncovered a bowl of pastries. “These look like the pastries we had for mid-afternoon snacks.”
“Mahmood must be hanging out here a lot, from the looks of it,” Zaid said.
They stiffened as a floorboard creaked in the living room.
“Oh my God, someone’s here,” Layla said, her eyes wide.
Holding his weapon aloft, Zaid rushed out of the kitchen, the others behind him. In the living room, a shadow moved to the front door and bolted out. They dashed after the dark shape, the lights from their cell phones wobbling crazily. Adam knew that once their quarry got to the trees and disappeared into the darkness, they would never find out who it was.
Gritting his teeth, he forged ahead, his sprinting practice standing him in good stead now. Closing the gap between him and the fleeing figure, Adam flung himself forward with a flying tackle and they both tumbled to the ground. Their panting breaths filled the air as they struggled together.
Zaid and the girls rushed up. Layla aimed her flashlight at their captive, and they all gasped in shock. They were staring at the face of a young man who looked remarkably like Adam.
“Oh my God, it’s Danyal Hazni,” Zahra breathed out.
At her voice, the young man stopped struggling and stared up at them. “Who are you and what are you doing here?”
“We came from the orphanage,” Adam said, helping the youth to his feet. “What are you doing here? You’re supposed to be kidnapped or dead.”