Blood of the Innocents (15 page)

‘Thank you,’ Mariner said to the doctor. ‘I appreciate your sharing this with me. I understand what a difficult decision it has been.’

When Nadine was calm again, Dr Shah walked him out. ‘I may never know if I’ve done the right thing, but that’s something I’ll have to live with.’

‘I feel sure that you have,’ said Mariner. ‘If it helps us to find Yasmin. . .’

‘When I saw the news of her disappearance I recognised her, of course, but the talk has been of racially motivated abduction, and I thought you would naturally find out about any boyfriend through Yasmin’s friends. Nadine didn’t even tell me about her mistake because she was afraid she would lose her job.’

‘And will she?’

‘I think everyone should be allowed to get things wrong at least once, don’t you?’

Given the number of times he’d fouled up over the years, Mariner felt he was hardly in a position to argue.

 

Back at Granville Lane, Mariner was keen to have Millie’s take on this news, and asked the key question: ‘How do you think Akram would have reacted to this?’

‘He’d have gone ballistic,’ she said, bluntly.

‘Hm, that’s what I thought.’

‘Several things would have upset him: the fact that Yasmin was in a relationship—’

‘The receptionist didn’t tell him that. He might have accepted her explanation that Yasmin was taking the pill for other reasons.’

‘But he’d be annoyed that Yasmin had gone behind his or his wife’s back to arrange contraception and that the surgery had complied.’

‘So as Nadine said, his anger could have been directed at the doctor’s practice?’

‘He didn’t get back to Dr Shah to complain though, did he? I think he’d have been far more upset about the fact that Yasmin might be seeing someone. If he didn’t buy Nadine’s explanation for the pill then there’s probably little worse that Yasmin can have done to anger him. He’s already told us how “innocent” she is and now he’s suddenly being told he might be wrong about that. There’s a lot of pressure on girls in our communities to keep themselves pure for their future husbands, and we know that arranged marriage is one aspect of Muslim life that the Akrams subscribe to. If it became public knowledge that Yasmin was sleeping around it would make it harder for her parents to find her a husband of any standing. And that would be important to a family like the Akrams. They value their reputation in the community and made a good match for their older daughter. They’d want the same for Yasmin. Previous relationships would limit the possibilities. She would be soiled goods.’

‘And this is more information they’ve chosen not to share with us.’

‘This would be quite a blow to the family pride and reputation. They wouldn’t be keen to share it with anyone. It wouldn’t be great publicity for their school either, to have their own daughter flouting fundamental Islamic beliefs. Part of the reason many parents choose Islamic schools is to protect their children from exactly this kind of thing: the corruption of the outside world.’

‘Hasan Sheron wasn’t so very far off the mark after all. How strongly do you think Akram would react to this knowledge?’

‘Well, we already know that Mohammed Akram doesn’t take things lying down,’ said Millie. ‘That would be especially true where his daughter’s concerned. And we know that he has a short temper.’

‘So now, suddenly, we’re presented with a fat, juicy motive. No wonder he’s been trying to divert our attention elsewhere. Do you think this would give Akram enough reason to harm Yasmin?’

‘You’ve heard of so-called honour killings?’ Millie asked.

‘Like Abdullah Yones?’

‘He stabbed his sixteen-year-old daughter eleven times in a frenzied attack because she had started to wear make-up and had a boyfriend and others in the community began referring to her as a prostitute. He saw her behaviour as an affront to his honour.’

‘But Yones was Kurdish, wasn’t he?’

‘There are plenty of examples of similar situations across other cultures. In Pakistan, Samia Sarwar was shot dead with a gun disguised as her mother’s walking stick, right in front of her lawyer. Islam doesn’t condone such violence, but like any religion, honour can be used as a justification.’

‘You think Mohammed Akram is capable of that?’

‘I’m saying it happens, that’s all. Perhaps Akram wouldn’t need to go that far.’

‘What do you mean?’ Mariner asked.

‘Well, on that Tuesday afternoon Akram travelled up to the school in Bradford. He’s got contacts up there. Maybe it would be enough to get Yasmin away for a time. It may even be that he’s planning to spirit her away abroad into an arranged marriage before her reputation becomes public knowledge. Remember, it was the school who reported Yasmin missing, and when we first went to talk to the Akrams he seemed almost irritated with his wife that the alarm had been raised. He said, “You should have waited?” We took it as being a control thing, but perhaps he had planned to let Mum in on it.’

‘So why doesn’t he just come clean about it now? Christ, he knows what we’re putting into this investigation.’

‘Because the timing’s wrong. If it hasn’t been followed through he can’t afford to yet. And he wouldn’t tell his wife because she might give the game away or she may not approve of or support such actions. By reporting Yasmin missing and involving us straight away, Shanila could have provided her husband with the perfect smoke screen, but one he’d have to keep in place until the job is done.’

‘If Akram knows that Yasmin is safe, he’s a hell of an actor. Remember the appeal? Where does all that angst come from?’

‘It has different roots. In any other circumstances Akram is a law-abiding man. What he’s doing is the best thing for his daughter and family, and he wouldn’t hesitate to bend the rules, but he’d also know that at the very least, it’s a gross act of deception. He wouldn’t be comfortable with that.’

‘But family come first.’ Mariner couldn’t deny that there was a certain logic to what Millie was saying. ‘So Dad plays along with the general view that Yasmin has gone missing until she is married off and it’s too late to do anything about it. Forcing Yasmin into a marriage against her will is hardly likely to be what she wants.’

Millie agreed. ‘And it’s a major human rights issue. There are all kinds of pressure groups who’d have a field day if he was exposed. None of which would enhance Akram’s image as a liberal, Westernised Muslim.’

‘The other alternative is that Akram genuinely doesn’t know where Yasmin is because she has run away. From what we’re finding out about her, Yasmin doesn’t sound like the kind of girl who’s going to sit around and let herself be coerced into a marriage she doesn’t want, however necessary her parents might think it is.’

‘Either way we need to get Akram’s side of the story on this,’ said Millie.

‘One thing we haven’t found out yet.’

‘What?’

‘If Yasmin is on the pill because she’s in a relationship - who the hell is it with? Someone’s keeping a low profile.’

‘The relationship was obviously a secret one. Probably the boyfriend knows the way Akram would react too.’

Mariner was put straight through to Mohammed Akram. ‘You have some news, Inspector?’ His hope was palpable. If he was covering up he was doing a brilliant acting job.

‘No, I’m sorry, Mr Akram. But I do need to speak to you again. I wondered if I could meet you at your home. You may prefer to speak to us without your wife.’

‘Why would I want to do that?’

‘I’d like to talk to you about an incident that occurred at your doctor’s surgery last week.’

Silence, then: ‘I see. I’ll meet you at the house.’

 

Akram’s Mercedes was already parked on the looped tarmac drive when Mariner pulled in behind it. He was surprised when the door was answered by a pretty young woman in purple and black salwaar kameez. ‘I’m Amira,’ she said. ‘Yasmin’s older sister. I flew in this morning to give some support to my parents until Yasmin is found.’ So the tired eyes in such a young face could have been jet-lag or worry. If this was some kind of scam, Mariner doubted that Amira was in on it. ‘My father is in the garden. I’ll take you to him.’

Mohammed Akram was sitting on a wooden bench in a shaded patch at the bottom of an expanse of lawn that was crowded on all sides with bulging shrubs. He was tie-less and the sleeves of his dress shirt were rolled up. A variety of garden chairs was scattered around him and Mariner took his chance on a flimsy, white plastic affair. Amira did the same.

Mariner glanced up at the elder daughter. ‘Mr Akram, what we have to talk about may be a little sensitive—’ he began, but Akram stopped him.

‘I want Amira to hear it. At some time I have to tell my wife, so I would like Amira to know.’ He seemed fidgety and unrelaxed, but then he already knew that this was going to be a difficult conversation.

‘All right then. As I indicated on the phone, I have some questions regarding your visit to Dr Shah’s surgery. I understand that you had an appointment there last Friday?’

Akram’s eyes narrowed. ‘How did you find out about this?’

‘We have been in touch with Dr Shah.’ No need to tell him who initiated the contact.

‘She had no right—’

‘Mr Akram, how we came by this information at this stage is irrelevant. We would have got to it eventually through routine checks on Yasmin’s medical history. For Dr Shah it was a difficult decision to make. Like the rest of us, she is worried about Yasmin’s whereabouts, but she only found out today what had happened. Would you like to tell me now, in your own words, what occurred, and then after that, you may want to explain why you kept this from me.’

Akram looked suddenly exhausted. ‘That one’s easy,’ he said. ‘I didn’t tell you because this is our family business. I’m not proud of how I reacted - over-reacted - at the surgery and it really has nothing to do with Yasmin’s disappearance. We had discussed the situation and resolved it.’

Just like that, thought Mariner. ‘I’d still like you to tell me.’

Akram sighed. ‘It’s only what I expect you already know. On Friday afternoon I went to Dr Shah’s surgery to collect my repeat prescription. I was making a further appointment when I noticed an envelope with Yasmin’s name on it. I asked if it was for my daughter. I had no idea that it contained a prescription. Girls, women, they have regular health checks and I thought that perhaps it was some kind of reminder. The receptionist asked my address and Yasmin’s date of birth. When the details corresponded with those on the prescription she let me have it.’

‘And you opened the envelope.’

To his credit, Akram didn’t looked pleased with himself, but then he’d had ample time to concoct this little charade. ‘There was nothing on the envelope to say that it was confidential and I thought if it was an appointment, Shanila and I would need to think about how we would get Yasmin to it.’

‘And when you saw that it was a prescription?’

‘I was surprised. I wasn’t aware that there was anything wrong with Yasmin or that she had been to see the doctor. Normally, Shanila would tell me about anything like that.’

‘Did you know what the prescription was for?’

‘Not right away. I went back into the surgery and asked the receptionist. She said she thought it was for a type of contraceptive pill.’

‘And you were surprised?’

‘Inspector, I was everything you would expect me to be: shocked, horrified, angry and disappointed. Do you have children, Inspector? A daughter?’

‘No.’

‘I couldn’t understand why Yasmin would need this and I was angry with our GP for having written such a prescription without telling me or my wife. She’s just a child.’

‘You were certain your wife didn’t know?’

‘Shanila and I don’t have secrets, especially about our children.’

Yet Shanila allowed Yasmin to go to her friend’s against your wishes, thought Mariner. He tried to catch Amira’s eye but she was gazing intently towards the house, her face troubled. Instead he said, ‘Doctors have certain rules of confidentiality they must—’

Again the anger flared up. ‘Yasmin is only seventeen. She doesn’t mix with boys. What would she want with the contraceptive pill? What sort of country is this where professionals can make decisions about a child’s life without the knowledge of her parents?’

‘So you were angry, Mr Akram.’

‘At first, yes.’

‘Who were you angry with?’

‘The receptionist, the doctor, for writing this prescription without my knowledge and, I felt sure, without my wife’s knowledge too.’

‘And Yasmin?’

‘Yes.’

‘You said you were angry “at first”?’

‘The girl told me that the pills could have been prescribed to control Yasmin’s menstrual cycle, that it could be perfectly innocent.’

‘And did you believe that?’

‘When I took some time to consider it, thought rationally about the facts, it seemed the only logical explanation.’

‘So you accepted it.’

‘It was obviously something I needed to discuss with Yasmin.’

‘And when did you do that?’

‘I went to meet her from school. I thought we would be able to talk about it in the car on the way home.’

‘And did you?’

‘When I arrived outside the school Yasmin came out with her friends: Suzanne and some other girls. She wasn’t pleased to see me. She didn’t want a lift, she wanted to walk with her friends. Yasmin doesn’t like to show how much she cares about her family in front of her friends. I told her I wanted to talk to her about something, but she said we had the whole weekend. Suzanne said something to her.’

‘Did you speak to Suzanne?’

‘She is an interfering b—’ He stopped himself. ‘She had probably put Yasmin up to it.’

‘What made you think that?’

‘The girl has a reputation.’

‘For what?’