by Farah Zaman
Lines appeared on Mr. Mazin’s forehead. “Who do you think is responsible?”
“Haysam, Luay and Fadi,” Adam said. “They were the only ones here that night.”
“They were not alone,” Mr. Mazin said. “Mr. Rakin was with them.”
“Yes, but he wouldn’t have been watching them every minute,” Zaid said. “It would have been easy for them to sneak away and hide the stuff. Muk-Muk shouldn’t be sent to the zoo for something he didn’t do.”
Mr. Mazin expelled a breath. “We’ll look into your story and make a decision at our meeting on Friday night.”
“Thank you, sir,” Zaid said.
After they left, Adam said, “We’ve got to tell Mahmood and the girls what we heard about the lake house. Then you and I have to row over and warn Danyal. There’s no time to lose. He’s got to leave the lake house tonight.”
They met with Mahmood and the girls in the pavilion. Zaid told them first about his and Adam’s meeting with Mr. Mazin and the outcome.
Heba said, “I’m sure they’ll change their minds about sending Muk-Muk to the zoo when they realize he couldn’t have put the stuff in the drawers.”
Mahmood made a hopeful sound.
“And now, we’ve got some rather bad news to share,” Adam said. He told them what he and Zaid had overheard about the lake house.
“Oh no,” Zahra said. “Where will Danyal go now?”
“He will have to stay with us at Villa Wadha,” Layla said. “There’s nowhere else for him to go.”
“There’s my house too,” Heba said. “He could stay there if he doesn’t mind that Uncle Issa was murdered there.”
“We’ll tell him and let him make his choice,” Adam said.
Mahmood grunted in approval.
“If he wants to stay at my house, tell him he can use the spare bedroom,” Heba said. “The largest one was Uncle Issa’s and the one with the green walls is mine. There’s still a lot of canned food in the cupboards he can use. The thermostat to turn on the air is in the hallway behind the kitchen. Here’s the key to the front door.” She held out a key chain. Zaid took it from her and put it in his pocket.
“Before Zaid and I row over to the lake house, does anyone have anything to report?” Adam asked.
“Yes,” Zahra said. “Layla and I were passing by the staff lounge before lunch when we heard Ms. Rima and Mr. Rakin arguing. She said in an annoyed voice, ‘Why are you asking me the same thing over and over again? My answer is not going to change. When are you going to accept that?’”
Layla said, “Then Mr. Rakin says, ‘I just want you to tell me the truth.’”
Zahra said, “Ms. Rima spits out, ‘Don’t say another word. This is the end of our conversation.’ She barged out of the room, her mouth tight and her face red.”
“The two of them have some kind of love-hate relationship going on,” Adam said. “So far, we’re doing good with getting the clues in. Let’s continue to watch and listen.”
After they dispersed from the pavilion, the youths headed to the lake. It looked peaceful and calm in the hot sun. They rowed over in the red canoe and soon disembarked on the other side. When they came to the house, they knocked on the front door and called Danyal’s name. Looking surprised, he opened the door and led them into the living room.
“What brings you here?” he asked. His eyes were sleepy and his hair tousled, as if he had been taking a nap.
The youths told him.
When they were done, Danyal looked dazed. “I didn’t expect this.”
“You have two options,” Adam said. “You could come stay with us at Villa Wadha or you could stay at Heba’s house if you don’t mind that her uncle was murdered there.”
Adam was not surprised when Danyal said, “I’ll stay at Heba’s house. I really don’t want to involve your family in my mess. Tell Heba I don’t mind that her uncle was murdered there. I have more cause to fear the living than the dead,” he added in a bitter voice.
“Good, that’s settled then,” Zaid said. “Adam and I will come tonight to help you move your things.”
“I’ll pack everything up,” Danyal said. “Thanks for letting me know. You’ve saved me from being discovered.”
“Until tonight, then,” Adam said.
He and Zaid made quick work of rowing back. When they neared the jetty, they saw two figures in uniform strolling on the shore.
“Oh no, it’s Ms. Mahveen and Mr. Talish,” Zaid said in dismay. “They must have seen us coming from the lake house.”
“Nothing we can do about it now. Hopefully, they’ll think we just wanted to see it.”
“I wonder if Mr. Talish came out to smoke his hookah.”
“I don’t think Ms. Mahveen is the type to tolerate hookah smoking to her face. It looks like they came out for some bonding.”
“Why did they have to choose today of all days?”
“Murphy’s Law, I guess. Whatever can go wrong, will go wrong.”
The teachers watched from the pebbly shore as the youths pulled into the jetty. When Adam and Zaid passed by them, Mr. Talish said, “I see you boys went for a row. Did you go over to the lake house?”
“Yes, we wanted to see what it was like,” Zaid said.
Ms. Mahveen chuckled. “You boys are brave. The villagers said jinns have taken over the place.”
“So we heard,” Adam said. “Luckily, we didn’t see any.”
Ms. Mahveen gave a tinkling little laugh this time. “If they were there, you can be sure they saw you.”
“Oh come now, Mahveen,” Mr. Talish chided his wife. “Don’t give credence to such colorful tales. I think the villagers come up with them to make their lives more interesting.”
“Some of the stories may be true,” Zaid said. “Jinns are real, after all.”
“Oh, quite, quite.” Mr. Talish caressed his stubby beard. “But when it comes to jinns, people are prone to exaggeration. I can’t tell you the number of preposterous stories I’ve heard. Take this lake, for instance. It’s supposed to be jinn infested. And yet, you’ve rowed safely to the lake house and back without being bothered. What does that tell you?”
“Maybe some of the stories weren’t true?” Adam said.
“Exactly,” Mr. Talish said. “Most of the supernatural tripe you hear is fabricated.”
Ms. Mahveen pouted. “Don’t be a spoilsport, Talish. I love to hear about supernatural tripe as you call it. I’m sure the boys do too. Don’t take away our fun with your skepticism.”
“I won’t say a word more.” Mr. Talish hooked his arm into his wife’s. “We’ll see you boys later.” He and Ms. Mahveen resumed their stroll.
In the woods, Adam said, “Let’s hide and wait for them to come back. I want to hear what they’re saying.”
Zaid looked up at the green canopies. “How about we climb a tree?”
“I’m game if you are.”
Adam had not climbed a tree in ages. It was like riding a bicycle. You never forget. They were concealed in a leafy tree by the time the teachers came walking on the path.
“Patience,” Mr. Talish murmured as they passed by. “There’s no other choice.”
“Yes, but Yusra is…,” Ms. Mahveen’s plaintive voice receded as the couple went out of earshot.
“Too bad we didn’t hear anything meaningful,” Zaid said.
“Yeah,” Adam agreed. “We already know Ms. Mahveen and Ms. Yusra hate each other’s guts.”
The full moon cast a silvery glow over the water as Adam and Zaid rowed to the lake house that night. The canoe glided smoothly over the surface until they reached the other shore. Danyal was waiting for them, his meager possessions bundled into several shopping bags. Adam could not help feeling a pang of pity that a young man who had been born with a silver spoon in his mouth was reduced to living like a vagrant.
Danyal took a last look around the house before they left. “It may have been rough living but I enjoyed being here. I found the peace that was denied to me in my own home.”
From the lake house, they set off for Heba’s place. Moonlight lit the path and the trees stirred and whispered as if sharing secrets with one another.
Danyal was delighted when they entered Heba’s house. “It’s lovely here. I can’t believe how lucky I am.”
“Let me turn on the air,” Zaid said, heading for the thermostat.
Danyal sighed. “I had almost forgotten what central air is like.”
“How did you manage at the lake house without it?” Adam asked.
“I took lots of baths and used a small battery powered fan when it got really bad.”
After Danyal settled in, the youths took their leave.
“We’ll come back tomorrow night to check on you,” Adam said.
“We’ll ring the doorbell three times, so you’ll know it’s us,” Zaid said.
Danyal hugged them both. “Thank you so much. I don’t know what I’d have done without you.”
The youths set off for home at a slow jog. Past the cemetery and lake they ran, slowing down only in the sidra grove. When they were almost clear of it, Zaid stumbled and pitched headlong to the ground with a startled cry.
“Zaid!” Adam stooped next to his friend. “Are you okay?”
“My left foot went into a hole and I lost my balance.”
“Let me help you up.”
Zaid yelped in pain when he stood up.
“What’s wrong?” Adam said.
“I think I’ve sprained my ankle.”
Chapter Twenty:
Desperate Run
“Oh no,” Adam said. “Are you able to walk?”
Zaid walked a few steps and groaned. “I can, but it’s painful.”
“Let me help you.” Adam moved to his friend’s left. “Sling your arm around my shoulder and I’ll grab you around the waist. If you need to stop, let me know.”
Slowly, they made their way to Villa Wadha. Unable to hold back the pain, Zaid let out a few whimpers along the way. When they entered the dark and quiet house, Adam blew out a breath of relief. He lived in fear that his parents might catch them coming in one night. Then the fat would truly be in the fire.
Zaid found a clever way to climb the stairs without putting pressure on his injured foot. He sat on the first stair and levered himself up one stair at a time. Adam followed behind him, ready to intervene if necessary. When they reached upstairs, Zaid collapsed on the bed, his mouth tight and a sheen of sweat on his face.
“Let’s take a look at that foot.” Adam stooped next to him.
Zaid pulled off his socks. His ankle was red and swollen.
Adam looked at it in concern. “It looks painful. I’ll get you some Tylenol and some ice for the swelling.”
When he returned, he applied the ice to Zaid’s foot and made him swallow a tablet.
“I hope it will be better in the morning.” Zaid lay back against the pillows, his face pinched with pain.
“If not, there’s a doctor in the house. I’ll let Dad take a look at it.”
Zaid’s foot was puffier and redder in the morning.
“It looks terrible,” Zahra said with worried eyes.
“Yes, it’s still hurting a lot,” Zaid said, his face pale and his eyes bleary.
“You’d better get Dad to look at it before they leave for the orphanage,” Layla said to Adam.
Adam hurried downstairs and found his parents in the nick of time. When he told them that Zaid had fallen in the sidra grove and sprained his foot the day before, looks of anxiety came over their faces. They hurried up to Zaid’s room, Adam behind them.
Dr. Horani examined the swollen foot with expert fingers. “It’s a sprain, alright. I’ll put an ankle brace on it. You’ll have to stay off your feet for a few days and elevate that foot as much as possible. I’m afraid no more trips to the orphanage for the rest of the week. There’s a pair of crutches in the clinic you can use. Adam can pick them up later.”
Zaid looked miserable at this prognosis.
After Dr. Horani applied the ankle brace, Mrs. Horani said to Zaid, “If you get tired of lying in the bed, you can go across to the sitting room. We’ll leave some Tylenol in case you need it for the pain.”
“Don’t worry, Auntie Nahla,” Zahra said, as protective as a mother hen. “I’ll make sure he does as he’s told.”
Smiling, Dr. and Mrs. Horani left.
“I’ll go nuts cooped up alone in the house,” Zaid grumbled.
“I’ll stay with you,” Zahra said. “Adam and Layla can manage things at the orphanage. I don’t want you falling on your face when no one’s around.”
Zaid mustered up a strained smile at his sister’s joke.
When Adam and Layla went over to the orphanage later, Adam was sent to help in housekeeping again. The supervisor told him, “We’re down another staff member today. I need you to sweep the administration’s offices and empty their wastepaper baskets. Think you can handle it by yourself?”
“Sure.” Adam tried to hide his delight. “It’s no big deal.”
“Very good. I’ll come by soon to see how you’re doing.”
Armed with broom, dustpan, waste paper bags and the familiar bunch of keys, Adam headed to the offices. It was the perfect opportunity to search the ones they had not yet searched. He regretted that Zaid was not with him. Two pairs of hands and eyes would have been much better. Oh well, he would just have to do the best he can on his own. He did not expect any of the teachers to show up when they were in the middle of teaching classes, but he would have to be on the alert for the supervisor who could pop by at any moment. Talk about pressure.
Adam’s heart knocked against his ribs when he opened the first office on the right. It was Mr. Talish’s and it was opposite Mr. Mazin’s. He searched the desk and file cabinet before he crossed over to the bookshelf. It held books on math and social studies, the subjects Mr. Talish taught. There were also several horror novels. Stephen King, Dean Koontz and other names Adam did not recognize. For a man skeptical of the supernatural, the books were a surprise. Maybe Mr. Talish’s interest in the macabre had led him to murder Mr. Issa and steal The Hour of the Oryx? Adam knew he clutched at straws, but weird things like that did happen.
Ms. Mahveen’s office was right next to her husband’s. She taught computer studies and geography. The majority of her books were on those subjects. On top of her file cabinet were several plants, all looking green and well fed. In her desk was an abundance of keys. They spilled out from cups and other containers. According to Zahra, there were more keys in Ms. Mahveen and Mr. Talish’s chamber upstairs. What an odd hobby.
Mr. Rakin’s office was next. He liked poetry, according to his collection of books. No surprise there since he taught English and Literature. Perhaps he had stolen The Hour of the Oryx because he thought it was a valuable collection of poetry? It was a stretch but it could still be true. In the wastepaper basket were three balled up sheets of paper among pencil shavings. Adam smoothed out one of them. It was Mr. Rakin’s poor attempt at poetry.
How sweet is her smile so bright and sublime, even as her cruel words wound this confounded heart of mine.
Adam snickered. “Confounded heart of mine? This is definitely one for the garbage can, old man. I think your iambic pentameter may be a bit off, but I could be wrong. If you’re trying to woo Ms. Rima, you’ve got to do better than that.”
Unfolding the second crumpled sheet of paper, Adam’s eyes widened. Why would Mr. Rakin have this? It could not be a coincidence. Brain buzzing, he dropped it back into the basket and picked up the last one. More cringe-worthy poetry.
Ms. Rima’s and Ms. Yusra’s offices were the last ones on that side. Since they had al
ready been searched, Adam finished his chores there and moved across the corridor to Ms. Tubaa’s office. It was tucked in between Mr. Mazin’s office and the conference room.
The crabby assistant director struck him as someone who would make a good murderess. He could just see her wielding a knife and sticking it into Mr. Issa without compunction. What he could not picture was the tubby Ms. Tubaa hopping over the windowsill. Unless she had an accomplice.
Footsteps came down the hall. Adam grabbed the broom. He was busily sweeping when the supervisor poked his head in at the door. “Everything going well?”
“Oh yes, I’m making good progress,” Adam replied cheerily.
To his annoyance, the man emptied the wastepaper basket while Adam finished the sweeping. With nothing else to do in the room, Adam had no choice but to lock the door. The supervisor left after Adam opened Mr. Mazin’s office. Since Zaid had already searched it, Adam planned to finish the chores quickly and return to Ms. Tubaa’s office. His luck ran out when Mr. Mazin showed up.
“I didn’t know we’d hired a new cleaner,” the director deadpanned.
“Just making myself useful, sir.”
“Young men like you give me hope for the future.”
You’ll change your mind if you knew I was hiding under your bed on Saturday night.
“Thank you, sir.” Adam could feel his face turning red. Finished with the sweeping, he emptied the wastepaper basket before hastening out. The things I do in the line of duty.
At lunch, Adam and Layla told Heba and Mahmood of Zaid’s injury.
“Oh no, that’s too bad,” Heba said. “I’d like to come visit him during rest time, if I may.”
Mahmood grunted in sympathy and pointed to himself too.
“I’m sure Zaid will be delighted to have you both visit,” Layla said.
“Okay, I’ll let Ms. Tubaa know,” Heba said.
“Mahmood, you can bring Muk-Muk too,” Adam said. “It will be a nice outing for him.”
Mahmood nodded. His face still wore a long look. Anxiety about Muk-Muk’s fate was taking its toll on him.