A Time Honoured Killing by Samesh Ramjattan

Author:Samesh Ramjattan [Ramjattan, Samesh]
Language: eng
Format: epub
ISBN: 9781644678145
Publisher: Epiphany Books
Published: 2019-05-11T22:00:00+00:00

10

The doorway to the gym was unassuming, and Nick could have easily missed it. The entrance consisted of an aluminium glass door that had streaks of dirt from the street. Nick pushed the decrepit door, which screeched open, grinding as it scored the green vinyl floor. He stepped through slowly and released the door. It slammed with a loud wallop drowning out the roar of the high street car and bus traffic. A long gloomy staircase led upward from the doorway. Nick summed up his courage and took a deep breath as he ascended the staircase unsure of what awaited him at the end of it. He had not checked in his position or logged the phone call like he should have. He did not know what to make of the phone call from Ashraf or the apparent information that he had for him.

Had something changed between them? Was Ashraf prepared to forget the past and make amends? Had Adilaah’s death made him realise certain truths?

These questions permeated Nick’s thoughts as he ascended the flight of stairs, eventually reaching the top and arriving into a large roof space that was dominated by a large boxing ring in the middle. Nick carefully paced his way through the myriad of red and blue floor mats, squat benches and weights, along a path that led toward the centre ring. Nick watched as one of the fighters, a young Afro-Caribbean man rhythmically pounded on a Speed bag and seemed to jab harder as he studied Nick. Not far away another trainee fighter thumped at a heavy hanging punching bag, each strike delivered with a ferociousness that stemmed from a pent-up rage.

Nick could feel the entire building super-charged with a fury-laden venom, coupled with a dry and dank combination of sweat and bleach. He felt the distinctive preponderance of distrust and disharmony which left him unsettled, almost as if they could smell he was a detective and made that him immediately unwelcome. Ashraf had seen him as he first entered but shifted his attention back toward the two sparring fighters, circling each other in the ring. Nick walked up to Ashraf with determination, eager to get this encounter over and done with.

Ashraf extended his hand as Nick approached. Nick stared at it, as the gesture took him by surprise. He reluctantly shook it sensing Ashraf was just as nervous as he was, as their sweaty palms locked together. Nick’s keen eye noticed a sparkling gold Moon and Star emblem on a chain around Ashraf’s wrist.

“Thanks for coming,” Ashraf said cordially as he retracted his hand.

“No problem,” Nick replied as he sensed a friendlier tone in Ashraf’s voice that belonged to the friend he once knew. “So, you train fighters here?”

“Yes. My cousin’s training for the Welter-weight title,” Ashraf answered.

“Any good?” Nick ventured.

“See for you yourself. He’s the one in blue.” Ashraf said and pointed at the more dominated fighter in the ring. Nick then turned his attention to the boxer decked in blue shorts and gloves.

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