The Vane-Martin Conundrum by Phillip Strang

Author:Phillip Strang [Strang, Phillip]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Phillip Strang
Published: 2015-06-18T23:00:00+00:00

Chapter 16

Haji, Soapy’s grandfather, real name Fraz Wahlah, was an esteemed member of his community. He remembered as a child the end of British Colonial rule in India and the mass migrations of Muslims to West Pakistan from India, and the Hindus moving in the other direction. Fourteen million had made the trek after five hundred thousand had died in the earlier genocide. He had been ten at the time. Now, in his late seventies, he was reaching the end of a devout life. A short, slightly bent-over man as a result of arthritis that had affected him in recent years, he still maintained a surprising vitality. He saw the Islamic State as the solution for his country of adoption. The Master wanted to know about Shafi, where he was and who his appeal lawyers were. He would find out for him.

It was as he walked down a side street off Edgware Road that Shafi was accosted by an elderly man, who had singled him out amongst the crowds.

‘Shafi, it is good to see you!’

‘I am sorry. I do not know you,’ Shafi replied.

‘Everyone calls me Haji.’

‘Then I will also. Anyone who has made the pilgrimage to Mecca has my total respect.’

It had been several weeks, and no unusual contacts or behaviour on Shafi’s part had deemed it safe for Haji to approach. Shafi, for his part, had been maintaining a low profile. He was now a government employee, with a regular salary, and he knew that DCI Cook and DI Pickles could have him back inside within minutes if he did not keep on the straight and narrow. Besides, being on the right side of the law suited him.

‘I know you were in prison,’ Haji said.

‘Please keep your voice down. I prefer that my past is not revealed.’

‘I apologise.’

‘You’ve not explained how you know I was in prison.’ Shafi realised that Haji was somehow related to the Master. It was the meeting that DCI Cook and DI Pickles had been hoping for.

‘You needed someone on the outside to help with your business empire inside.’

‘You are associated with the voice on the phone?’ Shafi asked.

‘Yes, but I am not that voice.’

‘You have the voice of an elderly man,’ said Shafi. ‘The voice on the phone is a younger person. I hope you are not offended by my reference to your age?’

‘My age is a matter of respect in our religion. I am neither offended nor saddened that I have reached an age where the years are not many before I am in heaven with my beloved wife.’

‘The voice, have you met him?’ Shafi asked.

‘We are good friends. We regularly pray together.’

‘He appears to be a clever man.’

‘He is brilliant,’ Haji said. ‘It is he who will ensure the future for our people.’

‘I would like to meet him. I need employment and my skills are known to him.’

‘Your release, is it unconditional?’

‘No, I need to report on a regular basis, but the majority of my time is free. I would need to be careful, but I’m not about to go and work behind the counter in a shop.

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