East of Hounslow

by Khurrum Rahman

  I was still a little disturbed at how he’d acted during the aftermath of the attack on Sutton Mosque. It made me realise that I didn’t know him as well as I once had. His thirst for revenge had surprised me and‚ fuelled too easily by Khan‚ could have seen him hurt or worse.

  I watched him jump into his mum’s Paki-Mobile – a Honda – and start the engine. With fuck all else to do‚ an idea started to formulate. I thought it would be interesting to follow him in my car‚ see what he’s up to. Eventually I’d surprise him and then I would apologise for the way I’d treated him.

  Before I knew it I was running down the stairs. From the hallway table I scooped up my sunglasses and the keys to my Nova without breaking stride. I opened my front door and slowly peered my head out. He was still slowly reversing out of his drive like a pensioner. I waited for him to complete the manoeuvre. In truth‚ I could have had a cup of tea and a couple of samosas in that time. Finally‚ he was out. I unlocked my Nova and jumped in.

  I needed to manoeuvre out arse first‚ too‚ but I waited for another car to pass and sit between my Nova and his Honda. No cars seemed to be coming‚ and I worried I would lose him. But then a Ford Capri cruised past‚ and as soon as it did I dropped it into reverse and backed out onto the road‚ spinning the car like Steve McQueen.

  And then I stalled it!

  I stuck it in neutral‚ restarted it‚ threw it straight into second and I was away. I flicked the radio off as I wanted to concentrate on the target.

  I had a good view of the Honda from behind the Capri. I noticed its left indicator come on‚ even though there was no left turn for a good thirty metres. Parvez – ever the considerate driver. After what felt like an age‚ the Honda turned. Thankfully the Capri turned the same way and I followed suit. Straight into traffic! As I sat stationary‚ in what was turning out to be the world’s worst car chase‚ I started to feel a bit stupid. I didn’t quite know what I was trying to prove.

  Cars crawled slowly and eventually the Capri turned off and I was directly behind Parvez. He didn’t seem to notice. I followed him‚ now half-heartedly‚ and soon the traffic opened up and Parvez put his foot down and drove like a madman at twenty-five miles an hour! Mercifully the journey wasn’t long‚ and Parvez eventually pulled up outside a house in neighbouring Osterley. I parked a few cars back and watched him.

  He stepped out of his car and surreptitiously looked around‚ as if he was on a mission of his very own. He loitered for a minute and when he was content with whatever he was looking for‚ or hiding from‚ he crossed the road. He approached a detached house‚ the door opened and he entered. He didn’t even have to lift his hand to knock!

  Somebody was expecting him.

  I had nothing better to do that day so I decided to complete my mock mission. It kept me busy‚ and it had stopped me from thinking about Mum and Idris. And Dad. Also‚ I was quite curious to see what Parvez was up to. I switched my radio on and waited. It was tuned into the Asian station‚ Sunshine Radio. I didn’t change it‚ it was just nice to have some background noise.

  I didn’t have to wait long for action. A bus pulled up at the bus stop about fifty metres from where I was parked‚ and two Pakis stepped off and walked towards the house. They didn’t talk or even acknowledge each other‚ just walked side by side. Eyes furtive. As soon as they were at the door‚ it opened and they entered without breaking stride. Again‚ no knocking necessary.

  I took out my phone and opened up the notepad app. I made a note of the door number. Number 15. I made a note of the street name. Jersey Way. I made a note of the two guys that walked in after Parvez. Two Pakis‚ medium height. Dark hair.

  Parker or Lawrence still hadn’t contacted or instructed me. I was doing this all off my own bat‚ so when I did eventually start I would have had some surveillance experience. What started off as creeping behind Parvez out of curiosity‚ seemed to be taking a strange turn. Not quite bizarre‚ but definitely in the neighbourhood.

  What happened next?

  I fell in love. Right there and then.

  She wore a pair of blue faded skinny jeans‚ not tight‚ but tight enough. A white loose blouse‚ not low cut‚ but low enough. Her hair was open but as she walked she was in the process of effortlessly tying it into a ponytail‚ revealing more of her face. Oh‚ man! Her face. Her features were soft but her eyes determined. Her nose button-like and her lips parted and curled upwards as if she was aggrieved about something and about to let loose. A slow romantic Indian song started playing through my head and I immediately switched the radio off. As she neared number 15 she delved into her bag and pulled out a black shawl. With a flick of a slender wrist she unwrapped it with a flourish and covered her head. She didn’t stop at the door and I was certain that she was going to walk past it. But the door opened and she stepped right in.

  No knocking required!

  I made a note.

  29

  I stayed put in my car. I was curious to know what was going on behind that door. I was slouched low in my seat and I still had my shades on even though the sun had deserted me. I would cast quick glances at the door and the windows for any further activity. There was some twitching coming from the upstairs window‚ but it was impossible to establish who the twitcher was. Nobody else had entered the house. It was just the four of them‚ plus whoever had been in there before. I waited as long as I could until I lost interest. I’d run out of things to keep my attention. I didn’t even have sugary treats or coffee to keep me alert. I added another note on my phone for future reference. Bring coffee and donuts. It was time to go. That was enough surveillance experience for one day‚ and I had no idea when Parvez would come out. I would catch up and apologise to him another time. I straightened up in my seat and removed my shades. I started my car and indicated my intention to pull out.

  Then the door to number 15 opened.

  I quickly killed the indicator‚ slouched back down in my seat and hurriedly slipped my sunglasses back on.

  Pakis 1 and 2 walked out. From their purposeful strides‚ they seemed… not angry‚ but riled up. Their short walk back to the bus stop was determined. A minute or so later‚ Parvez and The Girl walked out of the house. Once again‚ I couldn’t quite see who was behind the door as it swiftly shut.

  They both crossed the road‚ bearing the same purposeful look as the bus-stop Pakis. Determined. Riled up. It was the exact look that I had first seen on Parvez during the Elmsleigh Car Park dust-up. I remembered how easily he had been led by Khan‚ so whatever was taking place behind the doors of Number 15 concerned me; somebody as naïve as Parvez could easily be led into something far worse.

  They stood outside Parvez’s Mum’s Honda and talked. I obviously couldn’t hear a word‚ but I could tell that Parvez was a little nervous – it wasn’t often that he was in the company of a beautiful woman. She removed the shawl from her head and placed it back in her bag. She undid her ponytail and‚ like a shampoo commercial‚ her hair came tumbling down. I could see Parvez looking around everywhere but at her. I laughed out loud to myself. Man‚ Parvez is such a chump. He had a stunning girl in front of him and he was trying so hard not to look at her. If I was stood out there in front of her I would have‚ by now‚ had her digits or been rejected.

  She was gesticulating with her hand‚ as if trying to communicate directions. He looked towards where she was pointing and frowned. He pointed in the opposite direction. It looked‚ judging by the body language‚ that she was asking him for a ride and trying to explain where she wanted to go‚ whereas Parvez appeared to be telling this incredibly beautiful girl that he was going the opposite way. I shook my head in disappointment. I threw caution to the wind and decided to abort the mission. There was nothing else left to gain from it‚ I had what I needed. And besides‚ there was this heavenly creature that I had to be near.

  I checked myself out in the rear view mirror‚ stepped out of the car and casually walked the short distance towards them. Parvez did a double
take when he saw me approach and I saw him mouth something unintelligible.

  ‘Parvez‚ mate!’ I said. ‘Fancy seeing you here.’

  He looked nervous. ‘Jay… What are you doing here?’ He frowned.

  ‘Now is that any way to greet an old friend?’ I was purposely ignoring the girl because I had read somewhere that beautiful women respond to being ignored.

  Parvez composed himself and shook my hand. ‘Sorry‚ I was just surprised at seeing you here‚ that’s all… Aslamalykum‚ how are you?’

  ‘I’m alright‚ I was just driving by when I realised I needed some cigarettes‚ and I knew there had to be a Patel’s around here somewhere.’ I risked a quick glance at the girl to see if she liked my Patel reference. She wasn’t even looking in my direction. I thought I was the one ignoring her. It was time to take it up a notch. I cleared my throat.

  ‘So‚’ I said. ‘Are you going to introduce us?’

  ‘This is Sister Amirah.’

  ‘I didn’t know you had a sister‚ Parvez.’ I said‚ nudging him. They didn’t laugh at that. My material was weak that day.

  She looked up and I put my hand out. She reluctantly placed hers in mine. It was the softest hand in the world. Probably.

  ‘It’s a pleasure to meet you‚ Amirah‚’ I said‚ with my best‚ all-conquering smile. All toothy and wide.

  Amirah just nodded at me with bored eyes and released her hand from mine.

  ‘What you guys up to?’ I asked.

  ‘Not giving me a ride home is what we are up to!’ she said‚ breaking her silence. Her voice was just as I had imagined it to be. Pissed off!

  Parvez looked down at his Crocs.

  ‘Where do you want to go?’ I asked. ‘I can—’

  ‘No!’

  ‘No‚ what?’

  ‘No‚ I don’t want you to give me a ride home. I’ll walk‚’ Amirah said huffily and before I could respond she turned on the heel of her sneakers and walked away.

  What’s that line from that movie? I hate to see her go‚ but I love to watch her leave. Parvez nudged me out of my trance.

  ‘What the hell is wrong with you‚ man?’ I asked. ‘You should have given her a ride home.’

  ‘You wouldn’t understand.’

  ‘Try me.’

  ‘There’s no way I could do that. Can you imagine if one of the elders saw us? It’ll get back to my mum and she’ll be on the phone to her mum arranging wedding dates.’

  ‘Wedding dates?’ I said‚ my eyebrows taking flight.

  ‘You know what I mean.’

  ‘You’re serious? This isn’t the dark ages anymore‚ Parvez. Dinosaurs have stopped roaming the Earth. I’d be more concerned about being spotted driving around in a Honda.’

  He looked at me to display just how serious he was. I decided that it was time to change the subject. I leaned against the Honda and asked him nonchalantly‚ ‘So‚ what are you up to?’

  I saw his head start to turn towards the house but he thought better of it and turned back towards me.

  ‘Nothing. You know… Nothing.’

  ‘It’s just when I was parking my car I saw you leave that house‚’ I said‚ inclining my head towards number 15.

  ‘Jay‚ do I have to tell you everything I’m doing? And besides‚ I thought you were busy. You didn’t have time for me earlier. What was it that you said? Something about a list and me not being on it!’ he said‚ expertly changing the subject back to me. His face dropped a little and I remembered that I owed him an apology.

  ‘Yeah‚ Parvez. I’m sorry‚ truly. I shouldn’t have spoken to you like that. I fucked up‚ man.’

  ‘Can you not swear around me? I’ve just done Wudu. Now I’m going to have to do it again.’

  ‘Sorry.’

  ‘My ears are not a toilet.’

  ‘Sorry‚’ I said‚ laughing‚ which in turn made him smile.

  We stood around for a moment getting the awkwardness of the apology out of the way.

  ‘Did you go to the police?’

  How could he know that?

  ‘What? What do you mean?’

  ‘The burglary at your house.’

  ‘Nah‚ that weren’t no burglary. It was just a… mishap. Thanks for tidying up though. But‚ for future reference‚ don’t tidy up after an actual burglary.’

  Parvez thought about that for a second. ‘Because it’s a crime scene.’

  ‘That’s right‚ Parvez. Because it’s a crime scene‚’ I said‚ looking up at Number 15. The curtains in the upstairs window were in full twitch. ‘I think one of your mates is watching us.’

  ‘I should go. I shouldn’t be standing around here.’

  ‘Why?’

  ‘Just…’ he said as he opened his car door.

  ‘Yeah‚ alright… So what is it then‚ some sort of Islamic Studies?’ I asked‚ refusing to take the hint.

  ‘Um‚ yes. Kind of. Look‚ Brother‚ I really must go.’ He got into his car‚ started the engine and drove off.

  As I watched him go‚ I knew that something was amiss.

  Because Parvez did not put his seatbelt on!

  30

  I drove home in something of a daze. Questions led to more questions and raced through my mind. Parvez‚ Number 15‚ and Amirah took up the bulk of my thoughts‚ so I wasn’t paying much attention to the road or my surroundings. A motorbike zoomed rudely past my driver’s side‚ breaking my broken musings. It slowed down a touch in front of me‚ and came to a stop at the traffic lights. I stopped behind him and I had an inkling of who it could be from his wide back and his tall frame. I could see him looking back at me through the side mirror on the bike. I stared back and he lifted the visor to reveal his face.

  Yeah‚ Parker.

  He flicked the visor back down and the lights flicked to amber and he was gone. I guessed he wanted me to follow.

  My heart picked up speed as my Nova did. I followed Parker around the houses‚ down back roads which I recognised‚ and then out through to roads which I did not. We ended up on a dual carriageway taking us well out of Hounslow and towards Hammersmith.

  We pulled up outside a set of crappy garages‚ not dissimilar to those you see in crappy housing estates. He got off the bike and walked towards one of the garages‚ gesturing that I should follow. My imagination was running wild as to what might be behind the door of such a non-descript garage. I pictured state-of-the-art technology‚ huge screens mounted on the walls with visuals of every CCTV camera in London. Or maybe at the press of a cleverly concealed button we would be transported to an underground command centre. Maybe I was getting carried away‚ but it did feel electric to not know where my new life could take me.

  Until I got in.

  It was as crap on the inside as it was from the outside. A hastily built makeshift kitchen‚ with a long wooden worktop on either side‚ a dirty white Butler sink and electrical points which would have failed every safety test. The cupboards above had doors hanging precariously from their hinges. The walls were peeling paint and were covered in hastily ripped pictures of Page 3 girls. Most bizarrely‚ there was a female mannequin‚ without a stich of clothing‚ provocatively bent over a table in the middle of the room‚ staring blankly at me.

  The whole set up was quite far removed from my perception of all things MI5.

  Parker mumbled his dissatisfaction and removed the mannequin from the table‚ replacing it with two chairs. I brushed down the seat of the chair with my sleeve and sat down. Parker shifted through some boxes and pulled out a dirty-looking kettle. He turned the tap on and it spluttered noisily before exploding to life.

  Eventually‚ he placed what looked like a cup of tea in front of me and sat down opposite me as I took in my surroundings.

  ‘What is this place?’

  ‘This…’ he said. ‘I don’t know what this is. It’s just somewhere out of the way. It serves a purpose.’ I wrinkled my nose. ‘How did it go today?’ he asked.

  ‘Yeah‚ w
ent well‚ I think. I gave a statement about… You know?’

  ‘I do.’

  ‘Has he‚’ I whispered unnecessarily. ‘Been arrested?’

  He nodded.

  ‘Has he?’ I screeched.

  ‘About an hour after you gave the statement‚ the police assembled and scrambled a ten-man team to his location. Approximately an hour after that‚ Silas Drakos was sitting in a cell waiting for counsel. The last word was that he was to be moved to another location and charged officially… He won’t be going anywhere for a long time.’

  ‘Did they search his house?’

  ‘Yes‚ they found what they were hoping for… And more.’

  ‘The lock-up?’

  ‘That’s right. The lock-up. It was being used to house some very serious weaponry. I haven’t got all the details but I believe it was vast. All in all‚ there were over a hundred pieces… But as I said‚ I don’t have all the details.’

  I let out a barely audible whistle.

  ‘It’s all down to you‚ son. You did well.’ He said it like he meant it.

  Pride swelled in me. I felt like a huge burden had been lifted off my shoulders and I felt like I was walking on air.

  ‘Now‚ we have to forget about that. It’s a victory‚ but it’s not our victory‚’ he said. ‘It was and remains a Met operation; our involvement is no longer required. We walk away‚ clean‚ and move on to our own agenda.’

  ‘Which is what‚ exactly?’

  He sighed. I could sense him weighing up the words in his head.

  ‘Right. First of all‚ welcome on board‚’ he said. I nodded and thanked him. ‘Now‚ your role is very simple. It’s not designed to stretch you. I largely want you to be yourself. So I don’t want to give you any training‚ because it would only serve to change your mindset and muddy the waters. Which we don’t want.’

  ‘That makes sense‚ I guess.’ I was gutted. I’d been looking forward to being a fully trained badass MI5 agent. ‘Then what?’ I asked.

  ‘I know you have ties with Sutton Mosque‚ and you are a well-known and liked member of the Muslim community within Hounslow. Currently‚ you only attend the mosque once a week‚ on a Friday. But it is very normal for someone of your age to start to attend more often‚ especially as you are at a crossroads in your life.’