by Kishan Paul
“Sayeed killed Shariff’s mother,” Ally answered.
“Not surprising.”
She nodded. “He pushed her down the stairs. Shariff told his dad, but he didn’t believe him and sent him off to boarding school. He ended up losing everything and now he wants revenge.”
“By killing his entire family. I get that. But what’s your role in all this?”
She rubbed the pounding ache in her head. “I got the impression I’m the reason his dad’s coming to Karachi. He’s hoping if I’m alive that maybe Sayeed is too.”
“Considering the old man hasn’t left his men or compound in Afghanistan in over a decade, Shariff’s using his father’s hopes as a way to lure him here. A great opportunity to have everyone together and kill them all. Basically using you as bait.”
She didn’t respond. So much needed to be done before Rizwan arrived.
“But I’ve seen the way he looks at you,” Eddie continued. “It’s not only bait he wants to use you for.”
She stared at the mattress and didn’t deny the statement. Nor did she confess that her body was something she would offer to Shariff if necessary.
Eddie climbed off the bed. “I need to reach out to some friends and see if they can use the information you gave me to find Farah. In the meantime, you need to do me a couple favors.”
Ally looked up at him.
“Here.” He pulled out a padlock and key from his pocket and handed it to her. “Swap this one out for the one Wassim left for you. Seeing as how they have an extra key to theirs, it’s not going to do you any good. There are latches on both sides of the door. When you leave the room, put it on the outside. When you’re in the room, put it on the inside. Use it at all times and always keep the key on you. Understood?”
Ally laid the lock on the bed.
“Trust no one. Talk to no one. I’ll figure out the rest.”
She traced her finger over the cold metal shackle. “Get Farah and Amirah out of there. You don’t need to come back.”
“Alisha, look at me.” He stood by the open closet door and stared down at her. “I’ll be back by morning. Understood?”
She nodded.
He lowered himself to his knees and slid a thick chunk of the concrete floor to the side, revealing the bright light of the space below.
Her pulse heightened at the thought of being alone in the house without him.
He sat on the edge and hung his legs over it. “Stay away from Wassim. He wants you dead. You know the kid’s his, not Sayeed’s. But you killing his favorite guard was the exact opposite outcome of what he’d planned. Stick close to Shariff. Considering he’s using you to lure his old man out, he needs you to stay alive…until tomorrow anyway.”
A shudder ripped through her.
And then he was gone. The cement block made no sound as it returned to its spot. She walked over and eyed the floor before closing the closet.
Ally spent most of the night pacing her bedroom. Could Razaa have been involved in David and Amir’s deaths? The fourteen-year-old she remembered wasn’t a killer, but at the same time, life events changed people. He had gone through some intense trauma the past few years. Her chest tightened. Unnecessary trauma none of them should have ever had to endure. But a killer? He looked up to Amir, worshiped the man.
There had to be more to this story. If there wasn’t, then Eddie was right and he killed David. A shudder went through her. If Razaa was a killer, she’d deal with the consequences when the time came. With Eddie off to find his sister, she had other issues to address. Like how to keep Aadam safe.
She walked around the spot where the guard died and peeked out the patio curtains. Dawn streaked the black sky with orange and yellows. Most of the house still slept. The key word was most. One person would be awake. And it was time they had a chat.
CHAPTER TWENTY-FIVE
THE LIE
Dressed in loose jeans and a pale yellow tunic, Ally left the safety of her bedroom. She snuck down the quiet halls, her senses heightened for lurking danger. When she descended the stairs, she moved close to the banister and gripped the rail. Another woman had fallen down the very steps she currently took, and more than one of the home’s residents would love for Ally to have the same fate. At the bottom, she stared around the dark, empty living space and approached the hallway in the back of the room.
Rays of golden light poured out from an entrance at the far end of the corridor. Alyah typically arrived before the servants. If Ally was right, she would be in there preparing for the day. She sucked in a breath and walked toward the kitchen.
Richly engraved mahogany doors, some closed and some open, lined either side. The savory scents of caramelized onions and garlic mixed with the nutty aroma of spices filled her nostrils, and the sound of vegetables chopping filled her ears. She slipped inside the open door to the kitchen.
Deep brown cabinets lined the walls above and below the white marble countertops. A table sat in the far corner. Dressed in a rose-colored salwar kameez, Alyah stood with her back to Ally, cutting vegetables. On the gas stove, a large pot sputtered with oil. Only after she scanned the room for others did Ally let out the breath she held; they were alone. She closed the door behind her and locked it. One chance was all she had. If she failed, the consequences would be deadly.
“You’re early. Peel and chop all those onions for me while I finish with the okra,” Alyah said as she worked.
From the dish drainer, Ally grabbed a cutting board and a knife. She took her supplies and the basket of onions and set up beside the woman.
Alyah paused mid-cut, staring at the onion in Ally’s hand before returning to her task. “I knew you understood Urdu.” Although her words were calm, the knife she used shook while she worked the blade over the green vegetables. “Why are you here? Why couldn’t you stay dead and let me live in peace?”
Ally worked on removing the waxy layers from the root and didn’t respond.
“When I saw you yesterday, I was thinking ‘Why is she back? She was never happy with us. She was finally free.’ Only one answer came to mind. Is money that important to you?”
Ally smiled in spite of herself. Although right about the first part, Alyah couldn’t be more wrong about the second. No amount of money would have brought her back.
“Wassim will gladly pay you whatever you want to make you disappear,” Alyah said as she worked on the okra.
The vapors of the onions burned Ally’s eyes. She rubbed the tears on her shoulder and continued to remove their skins. “Your husband tried to make me disappear last night. It didn’t work.”
“I don’t know what you’re talking about,” Alyah snapped.
All four of the roots peeled, Ally grabbed one and cut it into paper-thin slices. “Your husband sent his guard to kill me last night.”
Alyah’s knife slipped, almost cutting her own finger. “Do you really think I would believe you? Tariq was a good man. Loyal.”
“Loyal enough to kill for him.” She sniffled from the sharp burn of the vapors.
Alyah laid down her knife and turned to her. “What do you want?”
She shrugged and worked the blade through the membrane of the root. “Things I can no longer have.” Ally considered her words. “I had a husband who loved me very much. Sayeed took me away from him and forced me to live in hell with you. Those were the most miserable years of my life.”
“Would you like for me to cry for your pain?”
Ally laughed and reached for another onion. “No. I know your life has been miserable too. Which is why I am here to warn you.” From the corner of her eye, she noticed the way Alyah’s hands squeezed together. “Tomorrow, Rizwan is coming but not for the reasons he claims.”
Alyah grabbed the tray of cut okra and dropped the processed vegetables into the pot on the stove. Oil spurted and popped as soon as the pieces fell inside.
“He wants to find out if you and Wassim had a sexual relationship while his son was alive,” Ally paused, waitin
g to see the woman’s reaction.
Alyah’s hand stilled. “What did you tell him?”
Ally cleared her throat. “The truth,” she lied. “But it is not only my word. Do you remember the guard Sayeed assigned to watch over me?”
Her nervous laugh sent a wave of guilt through Ally. “Amir is dead,” Alyah hissed. The poor woman’s hands shook as she opened each tin and scooped spoonfuls of the seasonings into an empty bowl by the stove.
“As dead as I am.” Ally said in a soft voice. She wished her words were true for Farah and Amirah’s sake. “He saw what you two were doing. Took pictures in case he would ever need proof. You can ask him about it tomorrow when he arrives.” She watched the way her shoulders stiffened. “Once Amir, Rizwan, and the doctor arrive, they will want to talk to you both and run medical tests on the child to make sure he really is Sayeed’s.”
Alyah turned to her, her eyes bright red. “Why are you doing this?”
“Like you said,” she smiled. “Money.”
The poor woman closed her lids and turned back to stir the pot on the stove.
Guilt sat heavy on her chest, but if it kept Aadam alive, the lies and the pain would be worth it. Ally walked to her side, grabbed the bowl of spices, and poured them into the vessel Alyah stirred. “But I have no ill will toward you and don’t want to see you or your child harmed in the process. Which is why I am warning you, Shariff plans to kill you, Wassim, and your son if the medical reports find the child is not Sayeed’s. And we all know what the answer will be.”
The vegetables turned a golden yellow as soon as the seasonings mixed with them. Alyah dropped the wooden spoon into the pot and busied herself with cleaning the countertops.
“I tried to talk him out of it. Asked him to kick you out, but he says his brother would want vengeance.” Ally turned the fire to low and put the lid on the pot. “He asked me not to tell you. It was supposed to be a surprise. If I were you, I would take my son and leave before the morning. If you feel Wassim is a good husband, take him with you. If not, leave him behind and know he will be dealt with.”
Someone knocked from the other side of the locked kitchen door.
“If you’re lying? What then?” Alyah whispered.
She dug her fingers into her palms at the question. “If I’m lying then you will come back and Wassim will kill me. But if I’m telling the truth, you might be a homeless widow, but you and your son will still be alive.” Ally cleared her throat. “If you decide to tell Shariff that I shared this secret with you, you will have to deal with his questions sooner than later. Oh, and if you and Wassim try to kill me in the meantime, it will only prove your guilt.” Before Alyah could respond, Ally unlocked the door. The seeds had been planted. She hoped they’d take root soon.
One of the servants stood in the hallway. She wore the brightest orange top Ally had ever seen. Ally smiled at her and left the kitchen.
CHAPTER TWENTY-SIX
THE RING
Aside from the brief run-in with Alyah, everyone avoided Ally. While they didn’t overtly stare, their eyes burned into her back when she walked by. Considering they believed her to be a killer, she wasn’t surprised. When the jumpiness became too much, she escaped to the one place she felt safest—the bedroom.
She stood in the far corner of her quarters, the key to the secured padlock in her jean pocket, and scanned the space for the hundredth time. Both the door and the patio were sealed. Aside from the possibility of someone climbing into her third floor balcony and breaking through the glass, there was no way anyone could get inside, unless it was Eddie.
Once she deemed it safe, she allowed herself to think about her conversation in the kitchen. Hopefully, Alyah not only believed her but would take her child and run. Telling her the truth would not have worked. Alyah would have laughed in her face and called her a liar. Instead, not only had she used what the woman already believed, that Ally was greedy and selfish, but she also gave her an escape from Wassim if she needed one.
When exhaustion overwhelmed her and her legs buckled, she leaned her back against the wall and slid to the ground. She ran her hand over the still crumpled blanket on the floor beside her. After wrapping it around her, she stared at the closet door behind which Eddie had disappeared. Before she could delve deeper into thoughts of the next day, sleep overtook her.
A cool breeze tickled her skin when it moved past. It permeated through the sheer fabric of her crimson sari, waving it like a flag behind her as she walked. The night sky sparkled with stars, illuminating not only the earth around her but also bouncing off the gems stitched into the silk of her garment. The pebbled ground cut into her bare feet with every step, but it didn't deter her. Her attention was fixed on one thing—the building a few yards away.
Ivory stairs led up to the entrance. A pair of giant arched doors sat in the center of the structure, framed on either side by thick pillars. She didn’t care it was closed, nor did she care about what the building contained. It was the person standing in front of the doors she focused on. He stood with his back to her, facing the entrance. His black suit fit his tall, lean body perfectly. She grabbed handfuls of her skirt and lifted it as her walk transformed into a sprint.
David turned, watching her, a smile on his face. He leaned against a marble column, arms crossed, while she climbed the steps. Once on the same level as him, she stopped. Out of breath, she let go of her skirt and stared. Each lock of his brown hair sat in place, his eyes clear and reflecting the moon’s light; his smile tugged at the ache within her that she knew would never end. She took a cautious step toward him, fearing he’d move away, and when he didn’t, she took another and another until their bodies were a hair’s breadth apart. Afraid to touch, Ally tried to memorize every part of his face, the woody smell of his cologne, the way his breath hit her cheek.
The soft tunes of a ballad she hadn’t heard in a long time filled the silent space. “Dance with me?” she whispered.
A knowing look flashed across his face. “One day.”
She watched his beautiful his lips move as he spoke.
“Why not now?”
His laugh was a cool wave flowing through her; a wave she prayed wouldn’t stop. “It’s not time yet, baby.”
She stared into his eyes, her heart thudding against her chest, trying to find the words to convince him otherwise.
As if reading her mind, he nodded. “You have a lot more left to do.”
Ally blinked back her emotion and shook her head. “I can’t. Not without you.”
David backed away. “You’ve got this. And I’m here. I’m always here.”
Ally reached out to him, only to grab air. “Don’t go.”
He moved farther from her. “Go back, Ally. Do what needs to be done, for them, for you, for me.”
The doors behind him opened, and when she tried to grasp his hand, he moved yards away inside. The room was a long hall. Arched walls painted orange grew longer and deeper the more she rushed toward him.
“Don’t chase me. When it’s time, you won’t have to run.” His words echoed through the building.
She stood frozen, watching her soul fade away. “Touch me,” she whispered.
“Ally.” The pity in his voice pierced her, and she fell to her knees.
“Just one time. I need to feel you.” She stretched out her arm, but he retreated out of her grasp. It was as if everything inside her ripped out of her at once. “Please.”
David made no attempt to reach for her. He continued to shrink into the dark hall of the building behind him until only a tiny shadow of him remained.
“Give me something,” she sobbed. The world faded into the blackest of nights, but she didn’t care. Ally stayed on her knees, her hand outstretched, her body aching for him. She tried to call out to him, but she couldn’t speak much less breathe, her lungs like heavy steel. Gasping for air, she watched helplessly as the building and David shrunk in the distance.
Warm skin pressed against her palm, sendin
g a surge of heat through her. Strong fingers twined with hers, filling the cavity where her soul once resided. She tightened her grip on him. His firm touch calmed her, evaporating her pain, the terror. She didn’t move, for fear he’d pull his hand away. Ally stayed there. In the dark. With David. Praying he’d never let go.
“Breathe,” the voice urged.
She did as instructed but the tears refused to stop. Although she ached for him to hold her, to promise he’d never leave again, she knew she asked for the impossible. This was a dream. A beautiful aspiration from which she never wanted to wake. She pressed his hand against her cheek, savoring David: his strength, his love, all of it, allowing him to fill her lungs, her veins, nourish her body. For the first time in over four months, she wasn’t drowning alone in her darkness.
In the distance, something hard slammed against a wall. A voice she didn’t like called out to her. She shook her head, knowing her time with him was about to end. When his hand pulled away, she didn’t stop him. The knocking grew louder until she could no longer ignore it. Ally opened her eyes and blinked as she adjusted to the afternoon sun streaming into her room.
“Sara Bhaabi, open the door,” Shariff yelled from the hall.
She stared at her palm, which still held the warmth of David’s touch and pressed it against her cheek.
“Sara Bhaabi, are you there?”
When she rose to her feet, something fell from her lap and jingled against the marble floor by her foot. She bent down and picked up the silver ring. Its heavy metal band was cold against her skin. The piece was one she had never seen before. She glanced over at the closed closet door. Eddie?
The ring consisted of three thin, corded ropes stacked together. A small diamond square sat on either side of the band. She pressed the pad of her finger against one of the diamonds and sucked in a breath when it started to slide.
The knocking grew incessant. “Bhaabi, the guard is with me, and if you do not open the door now, I will have him break it down.”