‘I won’t, as long as you ensure my money,’ Prison Officer Seb DeLeon replied.
Chapter 1 4
Haji, Soapy’s grandfather, real name Fraz Wahlah, was an esteemed member of his community. He remembered as a child the end of British Colonial rule in India and the mass migrations of Muslims to West Pakistan from India, and the Hindus moving in the other direction. Fourteen million had made the trek after five hundred thousand had died in the earlier genocide. He had been ten at the time. Now, in his late seventies, he was reaching the end of a devout life. A short, slightly bent-over man as a result of arthritis that had affected him in recent years, he still maintained a surprising vitality. He saw the Islamic State as the solution for his country of adoption. The Master wanted to know about Shafi, where he was and who his appeal lawyers were. He would find out for him.
It was as he walked down a side street off Edgware Road that Shafi was accosted by an elderly man, who had singled him out amongst the crowds.
‘Shafi, it is good to see you!’
‘I am sorry. I do not know you,’ Shafi replied.
‘Everyone calls me Haji.’
‘Then I will also. Anyone who has made the pilgrimage to Mecca has my total respect.’
It had been several weeks, and no unusual contacts or behaviour on Shafi’s part had deemed it safe for Haji to approach. Shafi, for his part, had been maintaining a low profile. He was now a government employee, with a regular salary, and he knew that DCI Cook and DI Pickles could have him back inside within minutes if he did not keep on the straight and narrow. Besides, being on the right side of the law suited him.
‘I know you were in prison,’ Haji said.
‘Please keep your voice down. I prefer that my past is not revealed.’
‘I apologise.’
‘You’ve not explained how you know I was in prison.’ Shafi realised that Haji was somehow related to the Master. It was the meeting that DCI Cook and DI Pickles had been hoping for.
‘You needed someone on the outside to help with your business empire inside.’
‘You are associated with the voice on the phone?’ Shafi asked.
‘Yes, but I am not that voice.’
‘You have the voice of an elderly man,’ said Shafi. ‘The voice on the phone is a younger person. I hope you are not offended by my reference to your age?’
‘My age is a matter of respect in our religion. I am neither offended nor saddened that I have reached an age where the years are not many before I am in heaven with my beloved wife.’
‘The voice, have you met him?’ Shafi asked.
‘We are good friends. We regularly pray together.’
‘He appears to be a clever man.’
‘He is brilliant,’ Haji said. ‘It is he who will ensure the future for our people.’
‘I would like to meet him. I need employment and my skills are known to him.’
‘Your release, is it unconditional?’
‘No, I need to report on a regular basis, but the majority of my time is free. I would need to be careful, but I’m not about to go and work behind the counter in a shop.’
‘Why did they let you out?’
‘The police officers were drunk.’
‘Which police officers?’
‘The ones who said I killed the gypsy.’
‘And were they?’
‘Yes,’ said Shafi. ‘But by the time they arrived at the police station, with me in handcuffs, they had sobered up with a few cups of coffee and some strong mints to conceal the smell of alcohol.’
‘They weren’t questioned at the police station as to their condition?’ Haji queried.
‘Why would they have been?’
‘They were charging you with murder. It wasn’t a parking offence.’
‘A Pakistani drug dealer who had just knifed a gypsy. Do you think they were looking too closely?’
‘Shafi, you are right. They were too prejudiced to care for either you or the gypsy.’
‘That’s how it was.’
‘So, why did they come forward and admit to being drunk?’
‘I’ve no idea. Maybe they found religion. What do I care? It’s not my concern. I just need to earn some money.’
‘You are right, what does it matter?’ Haji said, although it was clear that the reason was important. He would need to find out.
***
The meeting between Clifford Bell and Anne Argento had been tough. Neither had a great deal of tolerance for the other politically and, apart from a party conference while in opposition, when she had inadvertently ended up in his bed, there had been little sign of affection or friendship since.
Rohan Jones knew of the liaison, but they did not know that he had been watching the signals between the two on that evening. He was not the senior adviser to the Prime Minister without reason. It paid to know what was going on, who was sleeping with whom, and who could be leveraged, coerced when the time came. Their romantic interlude was political dynamite. He kept it in strictest confidence, but if either Clifford Bell or Anne Argento did not follow his advice, or acted in a manner contrary to the wellbeing of the party, the country, or, more importantly, the benefit of Rohan Jones, then he would use his trump card.
‘Anne, my dear Anne,’ the Prime Minister said.
‘Prime Minister, I’m here for the benefit of the party, not a social get together.’ She was playing tough. She had him over a barrel; she was not going to start their new association by acting as his lackey.
‘The party, of course.’
‘Good, then let’s get down to business,’ she said. ‘You’re in trouble, and you need me as your deputy.’
‘I resent the aspersion that I’m in trouble.’
‘Prime Minister, Anne,’ Rohan interjected. ‘I’m afraid we’re letting past animosities interfere in what should be a congenial and professional discussion.’
‘You’re right,’ Anne conceded.
‘Rohan, as usual, you’re the voice of reason and good sense,’ the Prime Minister said.
‘Anne, Clifford – if I may be so bold as to use Christian names,’ said Rohan. ‘This country faces possibly its greatest challenge since the Second World War.’
‘It’s greater than that. This time, we could be conquered,’ Anne said.
‘Do you really believe it’s as serious as that?’ the Prime Minister asked.
‘I do.’
‘I see that the fundamental differences as to the seriousness of the situation are still unclear,’ the Prime Minister said.
‘I don’t see that they’re unclear,’ Anne Argento replied. ‘You, as the Prime Minister, want discussion, negotiation and consensus. You want the Muslim communities to deal with the terrorists.’
‘I see it as the solution.’
‘You are wrong. It just won’t work. You need to fight fire with fire. Those who commit these acts are barbarians.’
‘Barbarians, Savages who are deluded in their methods, but they are a minority of the people of their faith.’ The Prime Minister continued to defend his stance.
‘And you somehow think the people of their faith, the peaceful majority, will deal with the situation?’
‘I do,’ the Prime Minister replied.
‘Fine. Assuming it works, how long do you think this will take?’
‘What will take?’ the Prime Minister missed the inference of her question.
‘Please, don’t be condescending,’ replied Anne. ‘How long before the bombings, the deaths of innocent people, will cease?’
‘Anne, I find your manner and your style both disrespectful and offensive.’
‘Anne, Clifford,’ Rohan Jones intervened into what was rapidly becoming a brawl of two politically savvy individuals. ‘You two must unite if we are to remain in power. It will make little difference as to who is right or wrong if you are both sitting on the Opposition benches.’
‘I’ll concede that we need to unite, and I’ll become your deputy.’ Anne Argent
o, the current Secretary of State for the Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, future Deputy Prime Minister, was not pleased with her decision. However, snapping at the Prime Minister’s heels from the cabinet room was preferable to be being confined to the backbenches without portfolio.
‘I’ll accept Anne as my deputy, but it comes with conditions.’ Clifford Bell had not finished.
‘What conditions?’ said Anne. ‘Am I meant to support your stance of how to control the situation?’
‘I expect that in public and in Parliament.’
‘And here within the party room and at Number Ten, do you expect my unequivocal support?’ she asked.
‘Will I be able to stop you criticising when we’re in private or the cabinet room?’
‘No, I see it as my democratic right as a registered voter and your loyal deputy to bear pressure on you at every opportunity.’
‘Don’t give me the registered voter nonsense,’ said the Prime Minister angrily. ‘You’re after my job. Any attempt to undermine me within the party, or any criticism in public, and I’ll have you sitting so far up the back of the House that anyone trying to find you will need a pair of binoculars.’
‘I will not openly criticise you in public,’ she said. ‘However, I will say if asked, that within the party, there is always vigorous debate, which is not only healthy but democratic.’
‘Then that is the best I can expect. It will be an interesting few months while we learn to adjust to each other.’
‘Prime Minister, I don’t think we will ever adjust to each other. There’s hardly likely to be a time when we will be that united that we will be seen as bosom buddies.’
Rohan Jones could only look out of the window and smile. They had been bosom buddies once. He had listened through the closed door of the hotel room at the party conference years before. Bosoms had been very much on the agenda.
***
Ayub Askar was an unpleasant little man, barely nineteen. His birth in a refugee camp in Kenya, his migration to England at the age of one, and the opportunity of a good education in a country that had given him sanctuary should have made him grateful. His parents were and, whereas they had not reclaimed the wealth that Somalia, their homeland, had given them, they were comfortable.
‘Ayub, we are concerned. You do not thank this country as we do,’ his father said.
‘Wasn’t it the imperialist British who ruled our country?’ Ayub said.
‘You cannot let history dictate your life,’ his father replied.
‘What you say is not what I hear at the Mosque.’
‘We respect the Mullah as we do Islam, but we are your parents. It is for a child to heed the words of his parents.’
‘I want to see an Islamic State,’ Ayub stated bluntly.
‘Where, do you mean in Somalia?’
‘No, here in England.’
‘But why? These people do not judge us. We have the freedom to worship who we like, to dress as we wish. They have made us citizens of their country, and treated us as equals.’
‘They are promiscuous, they drink alcohol, and they don’t respect Allah.’ Ayub mouthed the words of his Mullah.
‘Allah and their God is the same God. We are all children of Abraham.’
‘That is not what the Mullah says,’ Ayub replied.
‘Then he is wrong.’
‘You are criticising the Mullah?’ Ayub showed disrespect to his father by raising his voice.
‘I do not believe he would say such a thing. He is a moderate, forgiving man.’
‘The Mullah you talk of has gone,’ Ayub said more calmly than his previous outburst.
‘Then I am sorry. He was a good man.’
‘That may be, but so are you, Father, and I can no longer agree with you.’
‘Then, my son, I have failed in my duties as a father.’
‘You have not failed. You belong to a different generation. I am a new generation that wants revenge. These people will come to embrace Islam the way that I have.’
‘And if they don’t?’
‘Then they will perish.’
‘Are you condoning the terrorists’ attacks in the country?’ his father asked.
‘Condone? Why shouldn’t I? They are not terrorists. They are freedom fighters for Islam. I honour them.’
‘I am saddened that you align to a cause that I can only see as savage.’
‘I will remain your son, but I will no longer cherish your beliefs as my own. I must follow my faith and assist the Islamic State as I see fit.’
‘Are you involved?’ his father asked.
‘I am involved.’
‘In what capacity?’
‘I am to become a fighter,’ Ayub proudly proclaimed.
‘Then you are willing to die for your belief?’
‘Willing? I eagerly await my opportunity.’
Ali Askar’s worst fears had been realised. He was fervent in his devotion to Islam. Pragmatic enough to know that other religions existed and should be respected. It was defined in the Koran. Besides, the religion of the Muslims, the Christians, and the Jews was in dedication to the same God. He believed it was through tolerance and harmony that all people could exist.
Ali Askar’s homeland in Somalia was in chaos, ruled by warlords and pirates and brigands, yet England was safe and secure and accommodating. Somalia was Muslim, England was predominantly Christian, but he was clear in which one he preferred. His son, Ayub, had not been to Somalia. He did not understand the reality. It was important that he went as soon as possible.
‘Ayub,’ his father Ali said later that day. ‘I ask one favour of you. If you do this, then I will respect your desire for an Islamic State.’
‘Yes, Father,’ Ayub replied.
‘I want you to go and visit your uncle in Mogadishu, and see what our homeland has become.’
‘Father, if that is your wish, then I will comply. And on my return, you will accept my support for an Islamic State.’
‘That is what I agree to,’ Ali Askar said with a heavy heart. He realised that the possibility of a change in his son’s views was remote. However remote, it was for him to try.
Ayub was delighted. His father had given him the means to serve the Islamic State better. He was as yet unskilled in the use of weaponry. He knew of a training camp in Somalia and, apart from a few days with his uncle, that was where he was going.
It was a Sunday when he left England, a Monday when he arrived at his uncle’s compound, a Thursday when he travelled the eighty kilometres to the training camp and a Friday when he first fired an AK-47. He was delighted, and he thanked his father profusely for the opportunity. It was thanks given in mind, not verbally.
***
‘Haji, what can I do for you?’ Prison Officer Seb DeLeon asked when they met at a small café not far from Canary Wharf. ‘Shafi’s no longer there. I still don’t know who my contact is in Belmarsh.’
‘We have someone else.’
‘Good, I’m anxious to leave and take over my father’s restaurant,’ Seb DeLeon replied.
‘Hopefully, Allah will ensure that your wishes are fulfilled.’
‘What do you want me to take in for you?’
‘Some letters, some phones, nothing else.’
‘How about the security checks at the entrance?’
‘Zohaib is your new contact. He’ll deal with that.’
‘No drugs inside phones, I hope?’
‘I only give the packages, what’s inside is not my concern,’ Haji said.
‘There are drugs. Shafi told me when I was trying to negotiate a better rate.’
‘It is a weakness of people that I do not understand.’
‘Then why do you do this?’
‘For the same reason as you do, for money.’
‘I’m curious as to how Shafi managed to get out so quickly,’ Haji asked.
‘You want the truth?’ the prison guard replied.
‘Yes, of course.’
‘His
appeal lawyers weren’t lawyers at all.’
‘What do you mean?’ Haji expressed surprise. ‘Who were they?’
‘They were government employees. I had to sign them in. I saw their identities.’
‘Do you have names?’
‘If it gets out that I told you, I could be in serious trouble.’
‘You’d be in trouble if they caught you smuggling and they haven’t so far.’
‘Why do you want to know?’
‘Just an old man’s curiosity, I suppose?’ Haji maintained his pose of an innocent old man.
‘Frederick Vane and Andrew Martin, that’s who they were.’
‘Do you have any idea who they worked for?’
‘Their IDs said the Office of National Statistics.’
‘Statistics? What’s that got to do with an appeal?’
‘I’ve no idea, but that’s what their identity cards said.’
‘Curious, I don’t know what to make of it.’ Haji realised that he had some information which would be of interest to the Master.
‘They certainly got Shafi out really quick,’ Seb DeLeon conjectured.
‘It makes you wonder whether the police officers, who claimed to be drunk when he pushed in the knife, were actually drunk.’
‘Shafi told you that story as well? When did you see him?’
‘Not long ago. He was looking for a job.’
‘Are you going to give him one?’
‘I don’t see why not; he was competent inside. He could be useful outside as well.’
‘Do what you like, just ensure my money keeps coming.’
‘Don’t worry, we’ll look after you.’ Haji knew that the prison officer’s usefulness was drawing to a close.
They parted amicably. Haji had some information for the Master, while Seb DeLeon was confident in the belief that, in a few months, the restaurant would be his. He was conditioned to his criminal activities – petty, he saw it – and so far, there had been no issues, and no searches at the gate.
Murder Without Reason (DCI Cook Thriller Series Book 5) Page 16