The Bones of Santorini by Joni Swift

Author:Joni Swift [Swift, Joni]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Published: 2023-02-16T00:00:00+00:00

Chapter Twenty Six

Edward scowled at Baba and the pair he’d brought to his doorstep. “I do not know who you have brought—”

Baba cut across him. “I was told I would find the officers here. I will be quick about this. This is Sada and her father, Bari. Asim could not have murdered anyone because he was with Sada that night.”

Officer Girard looked at Fortier then at the people before him. “You expect me to believe that it took her three days to come forward?”

Baba translated the question into Arabic. Sada sobbed, trying to speak, but her father shouted over her and pointed his finger repeatedly at Asim. The room shook from his bellowing, and all in attendance stood in stunned silence.

Asim stared straight into Bari’s eyes, as stoic as any marble statue Edward had ever seen. Baba finally shouted at the older man, and he stopped yelling mid-sentence.

Baba continued, “She was forbidden from seeing Asim and went against her father’s wishes.”

“Was she with him the whole night?” Girard asked.

“Yes, that night her father was out on an errand and did not return home until right before work began. She was with Asim the entire time.”

Edward turned to Asim. “Why did you not tell us this before?”

Asim closed his eyes and inhaled. As he looked upon her again, his eyes softened, and he seemed to struggle with the emotions of the moment. “Because I was afraid of her father’s wrath. Not toward me, but toward her. I had hoped there would be another way to prove my innocence so that I could work to gain his approval.”

Sada heard the softness of his words, and although she did not understand them, she understood the look in his eyes. She ran to him, and he caught her in his arms, grimacing as she crashed into his bruised ribs. Her father yelled again, and Baba argued with him. Bari stormed out, spitting on the ground outside the door. Sada’s face turned to marble as she witnessed her father’s rant, and when he left, she crumpled to the ground again. Asim knelt next to her, whispering in her ear.

Everyone in the room, besides Asim and Sada, looked at Baba. “Her father has disowned her. She belongs to Asim now, if he will have her. Otherwise, she is an orphan.”

Edward turned to the couple. “What are your plans?”

“I do not know, sir. But I know they include Sada.”

“Baba, is there a place she can stay for the night?”

Baba looked around at Edward’s well-appointed home.

Edward took his meaning. “A place other than here.”

“Arrangements can be made. I will take her with me. I know someone who will take her in for now.” Baba and Asim spoke together and then coaxed Sada to leave. Davis took one look at Asim’s haggard features and ordered him straight back to bed.

Edward turned to the officers. “Since Asim was otherwise occupied the night of the murder, you will have to look elsewhere for the killer.”

The officers looked at each other. “How

Download

Copyright Disclaimer:
This site does not store any files on its server. We only index and link to content provided by other sites. Please contact the content providers to delete copyright contents if any and email us, we'll remove relevant links or contents immediately.