Asylum City

by Liad Shoham

  Itai’s attempts at persuasion didn’t make the slightest impression, nor did flashing his attorney’s credentials and threatening to file a complaint against the guard. “No one gets in without ID. What part of that don’t you understand?” she asked hostilely.

  Defeated, Itai called Gabriel’s lawyer, Yossi Knoller, who refused to get involved. How did he know that she was his sister? Attorneys could get themselves in serious trouble by trying to sneak people into the detention center who weren’t supposed to be there, he said. He didn’t want any part of it. The case was enough of a headache already.

  It was only when they got back to Tel Aviv that Itai thought of Nachmias. She was the main reason Gabriel was in custody in the first place, but Itai couldn’t forget the sensitivity she’d displayed at Michal’s funeral. Even Gabriel said she was kind to him, at least compared to the other cops. Besides, he didn’t have a better idea.

  “It’s not right, not letting his sister in to see him,” Nachmias said when he told her the story. “Take her back there tomorrow. I’ll make sure there’s an entry permit waiting at the gate.”

  Itai expected Nachmias to take advantage of the opportunity to make some sarcastic remark about the Internet item, which quoted him accusing the police of being insensitive and incompetent. To his surprise, she didn’t mention it. He wondered whether she was showing restraint or simply didn’t attribute any importance to it.

  Alone in the OMA office that night, it suddenly occurred to him to ask her to accompany them. If Nachmias witnessed the meeting between Liddie and her brother, it might convince her that Gabriel wasn’t a murderer. What did he have to lose? And he had to admit that he didn’t want to be alone with Liddie. It was only too obvious that men frightened her, and he couldn’t blame her. He didn’t feel comfortable imposing his presence on her. But Dahlia couldn’t make it tomorrow, and he hadn’t been able to find another woman to take her place.

  Nachmias surprised him again by agreeing immediately. He was so encouraged by her response that he suggested they pick Liddie up together. They could meet at the shelter. It was such a sad place. It got to everyone. For his plan to work, he needed the detective to be sympathetic, to understand the circumstances.

  Itai started giving her directions to the shelter, but he soon realized that he was making a mess of it. “Forget it. I’ll pick you up at the police station,” he said, admitting defeat. Navigation wasn’t his strong suit.

  ITAI figured it was for the best. They’d be alone in the car on the way to the shelter, and that would give him another chance to explain to Nachmias why Gabriel couldn’t have killed Michal. Maybe he could finally convince her the cops were making a big mistake. But for some strange reason, when the time came he was flustered and seemed incapable of forming coherent sentences.

  When Nachmias climbed into the car, she appeared less like a cop and more like an ordinary woman his age. Actually, a very attractive woman his age.

  “I didn’t want the uniform to frighten her,” she explained when she saw him looking at her clothes.

  Itai nodded. He’d been so preoccupied trying to come up with a plan and making the arrangements that he’d forgotten something so basic. He was pleased that his instincts about Nachmias were right. She was a sensitive and perceptive woman.

  “I guess we have to thank your mother for the ride,” she said, breaking the silence in the car.

  “You’re a real Sherlock Holmes, Nachmias,” he said. Itai had intended it as a joke, but even he could hear the cynical tone in his voice. “How did you work that out? The color?”

  “Elementary, my dear Watson,” Nachmias answered, laughing. Itai was glad to see she hadn’t taken offense.

  “Actually, it’s not the color of the car that gave it away, but the color of the lipstick. It’s not your shade,” Nachmias said, pointing to the cosmetics scattered around the gearshift. “The driver’s license stuck on the sunshade was another clue.”

  Itai laughed sheepishly.

  “If we’re already talking about your mother, can you turn the radio to a station that plays something besides the news?”

  “To be honest, that’s me,” Itai admitted apologetically.

  “You’re a news freak?”

  “I think it’s called a masochist, no?”

  “Things aren’t always that bad,” Nachmias said.

  “In my business, they’re usually very bad,” Itai answered, his tone becoming serious.

  “You’re right. As far as that goes, I imagine we have a lot in common.” Nachmias was interrupted by a text message. Itai glanced in her direction while she read it. She had a dimple in her cheek that he hadn’t noticed before.

  “Good news?” he asked when he saw her smile.

  “Yes, very good. Something I’ve been waiting to hear for a long time.”

  Chapter 66

  GABRIEL had vowed to be strong, not to break down. Itai had warned him that Liddie hadn’t recovered from the brutal treatment she’d been subjected to, but he hadn’t imagined it would be so hard to keep his vow. He barely recognized his sister. Her face was bruised and she was hunched over and walked with a limp. She seemed to have aged ten years since he’d last seen her. The most upsetting part was her constant coughing. She reminded him of those people in the refugee camp in Sudan, the ones everyone kept their distance from, the ones they knew would be dead soon.

  What happened to his little sister? What did they do to her? Gabriel’s heart was breaking.

  Their father called his baby girl “princess,” and the name stuck. After he was killed, she became Gabriel’s responsibility. With no one else to provide for the family, their mother had to work. She couldn’t look after little Liddie. Gabriel took her with him wherever he went. Even to school. He carried her on his back for miles, told her stories, sang to her. She was only two years old, but she was already learning to read and write. “Your princess is very clever,” the teacher, Mr. Jackson, used to say whenever he saw their mother, and she’d grin from ear to ear. Gabriel remembered his mother’s smile very well. He hardly ever saw it again after their father was gone.

  He loved his sister, and he was proud of how smart and beautiful she was. When his mother told him to leave and take Liddie with him, he raised no objections.

  Gabriel missed Liddie’s bubbling laughter. He’d been picturing the first moment of their reunion for a long time. She’d laugh, and he’d laugh along with her, and everything that had happened when they were apart would be forgotten.

  The broken woman in front of him bore little resemblance to the laughing girl he remembered. He should have fought harder for her in Sinai. He shouldn’t have been so weak. Maybe if he’d stood up to them, they would have left her alone. What would their mother say if she saw Liddie now? She’d say he hadn’t kept his promise, that he hadn’t protected his little sister.

  Despite his determination to stay strong, Gabriel couldn’t stop the tears that streamed from his eyes when he saw her. Without a word, he went and hugged her to him. His tears fell on her hair. Liddie sobbed in his arms. Gabriel could feel how thin and fragile she was. He wouldn’t normally embrace his sister, especially not when people were watching, but he didn’t care. He ignored Itai and the policewoman. He had to show Liddie that she could count on him from now on, that he would keep her safe and never leave her again.

  “Do you remember,” he whispered in her ear, “when the driver suddenly ordered us out of the truck on the way here?” Gabriel released his grip and looked into Liddie’s eyes. It was shortly after they crossed the border into Egypt. The man told them to get out, and when they hesitated, he forced them out of the truck and drove away. They were left standing in the middle of the desert without any food or water. Just the two of them. All alone.

  Liddie nodded through her tears.

  “Do you remember how we thought it was the end? That we’d never get out of there alive?” he went on.

  “You said we would be all right, that God would save us,” Lidd
ie whispered.

  “And He did, Liddie, He did. He answered our prayers.” Gabriel was glad to see that Liddie was responding, sharing the memory with him.

  “He’ll save us again,” he said, gazing into her wet eyes. “You’ll see. You have to be strong and God will save us.”

  “He told me,” Liddie replied, nodding her head toward Itai who was standing next to the policewoman, “that you killed somebody to rescue me.”

  Gabriel remained silent. He looked over at the two Israelis. The policewoman’s eyes were trained on him expectantly. He lowered his gaze.

  “You’re not a murderer, Gabriel,” Liddie said, grasping his hand. “You couldn’t hurt anyone. I don’t want you to say you killed somebody because of me.”

  “It’s okay, Liddie. Everything will be fine,” Gabriel said in an effort to comfort her.

  “I don’t want you to do it, Gabriel. I don’t want you to die in prison because of me. Tell them the truth and they’ll let you go,” Liddie begged.

  He knew he ought to tell her that he killed Michal. That way, she could go on with her life without feeling guilty. But even though he knew it was the right thing to do, he couldn’t say the words.

  “There are bad people in the world, Liddie,” he whispered in her ear so Itai and the policewoman couldn’t hear.

  “Don’t be afraid, Gabriel.” Liddie’s voice was steadier. “There are good people, too, and they’re looking out for me. If we have to, we can run away again, like last time. Just you and me.”

  Gabriel didn’t respond.

  “Do you remember, when we were in the desert I thought no one was going to pick us up and we’d die there like animals. And then a truck stopped?”

  He nodded.

  “He took us to Cairo. And he didn’t even ask for money, remember?” Liddie went on.

  Gabriel smiled at his sister. Ali was one of the few good people they met on the way.

  “It happened just like you said, Gabriel. Exactly like you said.” Liddie stroked his face gently. “I need you. I can’t make it on my own. I’m frightened all the time. I’m scared they’re going to come for me again one day.” Liddie lowered her eyes.

  Once more Gabriel’s eyes welled up with tears. If he told the truth, he’d be putting his sister in danger. Arami had warned him not to break their agreement. The man who gave him the money was very powerful, he said. If Gabriel didn’t do what he promised, Liddie would pay the price. Arami, too.

  “We can’t give in to them,” Liddie said, raising her eyes to her brother. For a moment it seemed as if she were the older one. “Tell these people that you didn’t do it. Please, Gabriel, you can trust them. They’ll protect us.”

  He couldn’t take back his confession now, could he? But Liddie might not survive on her own while he was wasting away in prison. He would be sacrificing himself for nothing. He didn’t know what to do.

  Chapter 67

  YARIV took the stairs two at a time. He was so worked up, he couldn’t wait for the elevator. Suddenly, all the pieces had fallen into place. He raced out of the building, hardly noticing the rain that was coming down heavily.

  Borochov’s parting words had made his blood run cold. They left no doubt that Borochov knew everything. He may not have come right out with it, but his meaning was crystal clear. He knew Yariv went to see Michal that night. And he seemed to think he killed her. Or maybe he knew it for a fact.

  Yariv wanted payback. “Is he in?” he barked at the secretary.

  She gave him a puzzled look, not responding. He was panting and drenched from the rain.

  “Is he in?” he repeated testily.

  The secretary nodded.

  He ran past her, not stopping when she called after him to wait.

  “You fucking bastard, you sold me out!” he yelled as he burst into the office and slammed the door behind him.

  Alarmed, Kobi jumped up.

  “What? What are you talking about? What happened?” he stammered, watching Yariv hurtle himself across the room toward him.

  “I’m never going to forget this. You ruined me, you ruined my life,” Yariv hollered, lunging at Kobi.

  Losing his footing, Kobi fell back onto his chair. Yariv stood over him, his fists clenched. The only way Borochov could have found out was if Kobi told him. There was no other way for him to know. Yariv had Googled him as soon as he left his office and was astounded to learn that the chubby attorney in the fancy suit and silk tie, the man who looked like everybody’s favorite uncle, was the “chief gangland mediator,” closely associated with the heads of several crime families. Kobi was a defense attorney. He represented criminals for a living. You didn’t have to be a genius to put two and two together.

  “Have you lost your mind? What’re you doing? Look at yourself! What’s wrong with you, man?” Kobi said, trying to get up. Yariv pushed him back down.

  “Should I call the police, Kobi?” he heard the secretary ask from the doorway.

  “No, there’s no need,” Kobi replied, standing up. “Let’s just all take a deep breath.”

  Yariv took a few steps back. The secretary’s question had unnerved him. He was so full of rage that he hadn’t given a thought to the potential consequences of his attack on Kobi.

  “Sit down, Yariv. Tell me what happened.” Kobi was taking charge now. “Close the door on your way out,” he instructed his secretary.

  The secretary left, but Yariv was too wound up to sit down. The two men stood facing each other. Yariv’s heart was pounding. He was dripping wet.

  “You blabbed about my being in Michal’s apartment,” he shot at Kobi, feeling the fury rising again.

  “What do you mean? No way.” Kobi sounded simultaneously bewildered and offended.

  Yariv was about to lunge at him a second time. The man didn’t even have the guts to admit it. He was lying to his face, and here he’d thought he was his friend. But before he could raise a hand, Kobi moved aside, causing Yariv to lose his balance.

  “Don’t lie to me. I know,” he said, struggling to right himself. The humiliation of almost falling flat on his face fed the flame of his rage.

  “You don’t know anything, because I didn’t say anything to anyone. Instead of screaming like a banshee, why don’t you calm down and tell me what happened,” Kobi said, moving farther away.

  “Don’t play games with me and don’t tell me to calm down. I know what you did. I had a visit today from your friend, Shuki Borochov.” Yariv virtually spit the name out.

  “Borochov? Shuki Borochov was in your office?” Kobi asked. Despite his agitation, Yariv didn’t miss the expression of incredulity on Kobi’s face.

  The door opened and the secretary peered in again.

  “Is everything all right?” she asked.

  “Yes, everything’s fine, isn’t it Yariv?” Yariv nodded. The last thing he wanted was to get the cops involved. “Thank you, Ora.”

  The secretary left, and Kobi poured water from the pitcher behind him into two plastic cups. “In the movies, this would be scotch, right?” he said, attempting to lighten the atmosphere. Yariv gave him an icy look. He wasn’t in the mood to kid around.

  “Come on, sit down and tell me the whole story,” Kobi said cajolingly, holding out a cup to Yariv. “Please sit down, Yariv. If you calm down, maybe I can help.”

  Reluctantly, Yariv took a seat and began telling Kobi about Borochov’s visit. He still didn’t know if Kobi was lying or not, but he told him anyway. He was desperately in need of someone to talk to.

  Kobi sat opposite him in silence. His silence was ominous.

  “I have to agree with you. They know you went to her house and they know exactly what happened there,” he said finally. Those were the very words Yariv didn’t want to hear. Deep down, he’d been hoping that Kobi would offer a different explanation for Borochov’s surprise visit, something that would convince him he was wrong.

  “Who’s ‘they’?” he asked in a trembling voice.

  “Who knows? Bo
rochov has ties to all the crime bosses: Assulin, Faro, the Debachs, Rosenfeld, all of them,” Kobi answered quietly.

  “How do they know?”

  Kobi shrugged his shoulders. Seeing the skeptical look on Yariv’s face, he said, “It wasn’t me. If you don’t believe me, you can believe this: I’m way below Borochov on the food chain. Even if I wanted to talk to him, I doubt he’d give me the time of day. I do business with sardines, not sharks.”

  “What do they want?” Yariv envisioned a huge shark bearing down on him with its terrifying teeth exposed.

  “You. That’s how they operate. That’s how they get people to work for them. They find a sore spot and apply pressure.”

  “Why? What can I do for them?” Yariv asked. A shiver went down his spine.

  “I guess they need an attorney,” Kobi replied, stating the obvious.

  In a strange way, Yariv found the explanation comforting.

  “Look, maybe it’s not so bad,” Kobi said after a pause. “I ran into Yossi Knoller in the courthouse again. You remember him, he’s representing the migrant they’re holding for Michal’s murder. He told me they’re about to sign the plea bargain.”

  “How does that help me with the bad guys?”

  “It might help,” Kobi said pensively. “As soon as they close the deal, Borochov and whoever he’s working for won’t have anything to hold over you. Once the African is convicted they lose their power, and with the guy copping a plea, there’s every reason to believe that’s what’s going to happen.”

  “So what are you saying? What am I supposed to do now?” Yariv was having trouble following Kobi’s line of thinking. He couldn’t get the picture of the shark out of his head.