Sunday had been good to me. Shit was coming together. Maybe it was the music‚ maybe it was the Raiders baseball cap and dark sunglasses I was goofing around in‚ but I was feeling great. Fuck‚ man! I was feeling… Gangsta!
I acknowledged Zafar through the window and started to mouth the lyrics at him‚ whilst bopping my head and gesticulating hand movements fit for a rap video.
‘Open the door?’ Zafar screamed up at me.
I wasn’t about to let anything spoil my mood. I bopped my way downstairs and opened the door with a flourish. Still with Raiders cap and dark shades in place‚ I said‚ ‘’Sup?’
He slipped past me‚ ignoring my proposed fist bump. I shut the door and followed him into the living room. He looked around for somewhere to sit and then decided to just stand in the middle of the living room and talk at a hundred miles per hour. I couldn’t understand a word he was saying‚ and the music wasn’t helping. I shut the living room door to drown it out.
‘Slow down‚’ I said. ‘Take a breath.’
‘God. This is such a bloody mess‚’ Zafar said‚ shrugging my hand off his shoulder. ‘You don’t know Ira like I do.’
‘Ira...’ I sighed. ‘Trust me. I’m getting to know her.’
‘You don’t know jack‚ Jay. Her whole life‚ ever since she set foot into this country‚ she’s been made to feel like shit. From school‚ to employment. The system has let her down consistently.’
‘I know that‚’ I said‚ gently. I removed my cap and sunglasses. Zafar had really killed the fucking mood.
‘You don’t know the half of it‚ man. She talks some dumb shit sometimes. Every time there’s an attack‚ she always‚ always‚ sympathises with the jihadists. Check it out‚ she once told me that she was thinking about leaving the country and becoming a jihadi bride!’
I looked him in the eye. ‘But she didn’t.’
‘No.’ Zafar slumped down on my armchair. ‘She didn’t.’
‘Can I get you a drink? Think I got some Ribena knocking about somewhere‚’ I said. He shook his head. I understood. You had to be in the right frame of mind to be sipping on Ribena.
‘You know it was me who encouraged her to come to the weekly sessions at Heston Hall‚’ he said. ‘I thought it was helping and it was! Then this whole thing with Naaim… She just had to get involved just like I bloody knew she would. And when the police couldn’t do anything‚ all those destructive thoughts and feelings came flooding back.’
‘Hang on‚’ I said. ‘I haven’t told you. They’ve been arrested. Daniel‚ he’s turning witness. Ira knows this. I told her this morning.’
‘No‚ Jay‚’ Zafar said.
‘What do you mean no?’
‘I called her. She told me that she rocked up at the cop shop! Told me that she watched all three of them as they were brought in for questioning. She was freakin’ out‚ Jay. Saying some stupid shit. I’m worried she’s about to do something –’
‘Alright‚ chill man‚’ I cut in. ‘I don’t know what her problem is‚ but it’s out of her hands. They’re getting dealt with. I told you‚ Daniel is giving –’
‘They walked‚ Jay.’ Zafar ran a hand through his hair. ‘Ira saw it. All three of them walked.’
*
Screeching round a corner‚ the loose buckle of the seatbelt knocked against my shoulder. The least of my problems was wearing a seatbelt; I was busy breaking all known traffic regulations. My Nova groaned as I pushed it to the limit.
‘Keep trying‚’ I said to Zafar.
‘She ain’t picking up.’
‘Have you got Naaim’s number?’
‘Switched off.’
‘Fuck!’
I turned the corner in third only to find a learner in front of me. I slowed a touch‚ dropped it into second and put my foot down. The little engine of my little car roared as I slipped past the learner.
‘Text her‚’ I said.
‘I have already. Twice.’
‘Again. Text her again!’
Zafar then kept insisting that we call the police. But the police called me instead. I put it on speaker.
‘Where are you?’ Idris yelled through the tinny speaker. I hesitated for a split second. ‘Jay! The fuck are you?’
Idris’ tone jolted me into telling him the truth. ‘On my way to Naaim’s.’
He muttered something unintelligible.
‘I think he’s about to do something stupid‚’ I said.
‘He’s already done something stupid. Stay away‚ Jay. His house is crawling with Counter Terrorism.’
‘Counter Terrorism?’ Zafar whipped his head towards me.
‘Who’re you with‚ Jay?’ Idris asked.
‘Zafar‚’ I said. I heard Idris sigh. It pissed me off. I knew what he was thinking.
‘Take me off speaker!’ Idris snapped.
I mouthed sorry at Zafar‚ and put the phone to my ear.
‘Has Naaim been arrested?’ I asked.
‘He’s not there. But the search is on. Jay‚ trust me‚ stay away from him. Naaim Sarkar is now officially a wanted man.’
‘He hasn’t done anything‚’ I said weakly‚ knowing what the police would have discovered.
‘His neighbours reported a strong smell coming from the house‚ a couple of uniforms went to check it out. It was quickly established that he was storing some sort of highly corrosive substance. Then it all kicked off. His home was raided. They found signs of sulphuric acid in his bath tub‚ along with aluminium foil and drain cleaner.’
‘Fuck! Fuck!’ I turned down Naaim’s road and was stopped immediately by two policemen. They signalled for me to turn the fuck around. Past them I could see Naaim’s house‚ cordoned off with yellow tape and crawling with police. Some in white hazmat suits. I looked across at Zafar‚ he was craning his neck‚ looking up at the police helicopter in the sky. His face a picture of disbelief. ‘Fuck!’
‘Fuck is about right‚ Jay‚’ Idris said. ‘In his bedroom‚ they found an empty box of masonry nails and discarded plastic bottles.’
I didn’t want to ask Idris. I didn’t want to hear the words. But he said it anyway.
‘Jay… It looks a lot like Naaim is planning an acid bomb attack.’
72
Imy
The front door to Shaz’s house had been left wide open. Pathaan would have wanted me to enter freely.
‘Shaz. It’s Imy.’ I stepped into the hallway. ‘Shaz?’
I quickly checked the living room and kitchen and then ran up the stairs. I twisted the handle to his bedroom door. It was locked. ‘Shaz. It’s me.’
‘Imy?’ Shaz’s muffled voice came back at me.
‘Yes.’ To say I was relieved to hear his voice would be something of an understatement. ‘Are you okay?’
‘He said he’s going to kill me.’
I rested my forehead against the door and closed my eyes. ‘I won’t let that happen.’
A sniffle. A cough to cover it. And in a broken voice. ‘Just go‚ Imy.’
‘Open the door please‚’ I said. ‘I want to see you.’
‘I don’t want to see you!’ Shaz cried. ‘You fucking hurt me‚ man.’ With all that had happened with Pathaan‚ he was still upset about me hurting him.
I took a step back and looked at the poster on his bedroom door. A skull smoking a huge joint‚ emblazoned on a large green marijuana leaf. Pathaan would have seen it. I recalled the phone call. Shaz’s voice‚ but not his words.
I am a Kafir and I have brought disgrace to my Deen. When I die‚ I will burn in hellfire for all eternity.
My temper rocketed. I counted ten in my head‚ and tried to breathe through my anger. I could only manage seven before I kicked the door and the delicate lock gave way and the door flung open. I didn’t enter his room.
Shaz was sitting calmly on the edge of his bed. He had a woolly hat tight over his head‚ finishing just below his brow. At first glance‚ it didn’t look like he’d just had an
encounter with Pathaan‚ but I knew there was more to it than first glances.
His eyes flitted to the grey tracksuit bottoms sitting on top of the wash basket. They were stained wet. I clamped my teeth hard at the thought of how frightened he would have been in Pathaan’s presence.
‘Can I come in?’
Shaz nodded tiredly. I entered the room and sat next to him on the bed. The faint smell of urine mixed in with the strong smell of Lynx body spray. We sat in silence‚ only the sound of his jerky breathing for company. I wanted to put my arm around him. Both my arms around him. Hold him tightly and lie to him that everything was going to be alright.
‘Where are your parents?’ I asked.
‘Coventry.’
‘When are they back?’
Shaz dropped his head in his hands and rocked back and forth.
‘Shaz. Tell me when are they back.’
‘Wednesday evening‚’ he said through his hands. ‘He’s gonna fucking kill me‚ Imy!’
I kneeled down in front of him and tried to peel his fingers away from his face‚ but he held tight.
‘Listen carefully‚’ I said. ‘Pack a bag‚ call a cab and check yourself into a hotel. Nothing local. Do you understand?’ He remained hidden behind his hands. I grabbed his wrist and forced it away from his face. ‘Tell me you understand.’
‘Fuck off‚’ he spat and wrenched his hand away from my grip. With a trembling hand he wiped away the tears. Anger momentarily taking over from fear. ‘Who are you that I should listen to you? Seriously‚ who the fuck are you?’
‘I’m your friend‚’ I said‚ truthfully.
Shaz snorted. ‘This is all your fault. He said he’s gonna cut my throat and make my mum watch as punishment for raising a bad Muslim.’
‘I won’t let that happen‚ Shaz.’
A small drop of blood trickled from under his woolly hat and pooled around his eyelid. Shaz stood up and walked to the mirror. Through the reflection he fixed me with a gaze and removed his woolly hat.
Carved on his forehead was the word:
KAFIR.
73
Derelict Building Site, South London
Ira and Naaim were parked across the road a short distance from the old construction site. From their vantage point they could see past the rusty metal gate. The white Range Rover was parked beside the Portakabin.
They had been here and scoped the location on three separate occasions. They had established that it was the headquarters for a brutal right wing fascist group – The Second Defence. Ira determined that they were just as worthy of punishment as Daniel‚ Simon and Anthony.
It had been planned weeks ago. A St George’s party to remember. Jay had almost ballsed the whole thing up. But‚ true to form‚ Daniel‚ that weasel‚ had buttoned up. He‚ along with his friends‚ along with the rest of the racist group‚ were going to pay a heavy price.
‘I’m not afraid to die‚’ Naaim said.
‘No one’s dying‚ yeah‚’ Ira said.
‘I want to be with Layla again.’
Ira flashed two passports at Naaim. ‘You’re going to be stuck with me for a while yet.’
Naaim leaned his head back against the headrest. ‘I don’t want to go Syria.’
‘You rather go jail‚ Naaim?’ Ira said.
Naaim said nothing.
Ira silenced her phone. She didn’t bother checking the several text alerts or missed calls‚ but she had a good idea that it was Jay poking his nose where it didn’t belong.
‘A friend of mine will put us up for a bit‚ till the dust settles‚’ Ira said. ‘Trust me‚ yeah‚ we’ll be treated like royalty. After that‚ new names‚ new passports and… Get down!’
They both slid down in their seats as two cars pulled into the old construction site.
‘The party will be starting soon‚’ Ira smiled.
74
Jay
The next stop was obvious. I drove as fast as I could to Golf Link Estates‚ Southall. But I had to slow down often as police cars were still screaming past us in the opposite direction towards Hounslow.
Ira lived on the sixteenth floor of a tower block. The lifts were characteristically out of order. We pegged it up the stairwell‚ adrenaline keeping exhaustion at bay. I thumped on Ira’s door‚ changing fists for relief. Zafar was on his knees screaming Ira’s name through the letterbox. A neighbour popped her head around her door. Through her inebriated state‚ she mumbled that Ira hadn’t been home in weeks. We walked heavily down the sixteen floors‚ defeated‚ the exertion of the climb catching up with us. We approached my car in silence. I could sense Zafar glancing at me for answers.
‘Now what?’ he asked‚ as he sat in the passenger seat.
I started the car‚ but kept it in neutral. I opened up my messaging app. The ‘Kaleidoscope’ group that I had created had not lived up to expectations. It was designed to bring us closer together‚ somewhere we could take the piss and make plans and send silly GIFs. But apart from the opening conversation‚ there was only radio silence. I started typing. Zafar followed suit.
Ira! 19.09
Answer your damn phone. 19.09
Tahir
Salaam Brother. 19.09
Have you heard from Ira? 19.10
Tahir
Not today. Why? 19.10
Naaim? 19.10
Tahir
No. What’s going on? 19.11
Fuck! 19.11
Sorry… 19.11
I have to get hold of them. 19.11
Zafar
Tahir. Can you keep trying Ira? 19.11
Ira. Call me!!! 19.11
Please. 19.11
Tahir
Zafar. What’s happened???? 19.12
Zafar
I’m with Jay. Police are crawling all over Naaim’s house. 19.12
We have to find them. 19.12
They found traces of sulphuric acid in his bath tub!!! 19.12
Think he’s making an explosive 19.12
Tahir
La ilaha illallah Muhammadur Rasulullah. 19.13
Tahir has left the group.
We both stared at our screens and then at each other. The man had kids‚ a wife‚ and a job. He was most at home running the Community Centre‚ strong-willed enough to think that dialogue could and would solve all‚ but also aware enough to recognise a lost cause. I didn’t blame Tahir for bailing.
‘Now what?’ Zafar asked again‚ as though I was running the fucking show. I had to get shot of him. He may have a few fancy letters behind his name from a top university‚ but he wasn’t the quickest on his feet. ‘Who are you calling?’
‘Long shot‚’ I replied. Phone to my ear‚ I stepped out of the car.
75
Derelict Building Site, South London
There wasn’t much room at the construction site to accommodate all the cars. Anthony had been tasked with moving the two JCB excavators to behind the function hall. It didn’t matter that he didn’t have a driver’s licence. It didn’t matter that he was two double shots down on Cîroc Vodka. He took on the task with glee.
Daniel’s job was to direct the cars into the site and make sure that they were parked tightly. He was surprised to see old bangers mixed in with luxury cars mixed in with SUVs with baby seats in the back. Daniel struggled as the drivers grew frustrated with him. A line of cars impatiently waited on the main road trying to get in. Amidst car horns and profanities‚ Daniel glanced at Simon who was stood shoulder to shoulder with Rose‚ confidently greeting the guests and directing them into the function hall. He was fast becoming one of them.
‘Jesus‚ boy‚’ Kramer laughed‚ slapping Daniel on the back. ‘And I thought you were the bright one.’
‘Yeah… Sorry.’ Daniel’s phone vibrated as he guided in another car‚ perilously close to getting its wing mirror knocked off.
‘Go get yourself a drink‚ boy. You’re verging on useless here.’ Kramer winked at Daniel and took over. ‘Go on. Fuck off
!’
Daniel looked around. He didn’t want to be near Simon whilst he was with Rose. He didn’t want to mingle with the guests‚ who were stood around in small pockets outside the hall. Like the cars‚ the guests varied in appearance. Well-groomed professionals in smart suits shared drinks and dialogue with skinheads in short bomber jackets and big metal toe-capped boots – an image that he’d once tried so hard to portray.
Daniel walked around the back of the hall‚ looking for Anthony. The JCBs had been clumsily parked‚ but Anthony wasn’t to be seen. Daniel didn’t want to head back just yet‚ so he sat himself in one of the diggers and took out his phone. He had a missed call from a number that looked vaguely familiar. Daniel stared at it‚ trying to figure out who it could be‚ when it rang again in his hand.
Daniel accepted the call without thought and then felt anxious‚ pulling it back away from his ear. He stared as a distant voice emanated from the speaker.
‘Daniel... Daniel!’ The voice said. ‘Fuck’s sake. Daniel!’
Daniel blinked at it a few times‚ and then‚ making sure nobody was in earshot‚ he put the phone to his ear.
‘Yeah?’
‘Daniel. Where are you?’
‘Jay?’
‘Yeah‚ Jay! I need to know where you are.’
‘I’m sorry‚’ Daniel said‚ and then in one breath blurted out ‘I messed up‚ they sent a lawyer‚ he told me to keep my mouth shut‚ they threatened me‚ said they would hurt my dad.’
‘Alright. Okay. Shut up for a second. Tell me where you are.’
‘I don’t know‚’ Daniel said. ‘At a St George’s Day party‚ with my friends.’
‘Friends? Anthony and Simon?’
‘Yeah‚’ Daniel said as he heard Jay hiss fuck under his breath. ‘What‚ what is it?’
‘I need a location‚ Daniel.’
‘It’s at an old construction site. Croydon‚ I think. I saw signs for Croydon.’
‘Shit! That’s miles away! You need to get away from there‚ right now!’
‘I can’t.’
‘Tell everyone they have to leave‚ right fucking now!’
Homegrown Hero Page 30
