Homegrown Hero Page 9

  19

  Imy

  I sat in my car with my phone in my hand and the message that I had once longed for stared back at me‚ every word piercing a hole in the life that I had carefully created.

  Package ready for collection

  65 Parkland Avenue‚ BB3 2RF

  I was expected to drop everything for the sake of revenge‚ for the sake of a war that I was no longer part of. I glanced up at Jack’s bedroom window‚ and recalled the excitement on his face when I arrived the night before‚ and the disappointment on Stephanie’s at my being late because I was busy living another life‚ another lie.

  I leaned my head back against the headrest of my seat‚ and then again‚ harder‚ hoping against hope that it would somehow knock me out of this nightmare. Determined to figure a way out‚ I started the car‚ slipped it into reverse and glanced in the rear-view mirror. Past my red stained eyes‚ a man was standing across the road. He was wearing a sky-blue shalwar‚ kameez and skullcap‚ and he seemed to be staring directly at me. I narrowed my eyes as he checked his watch before walking away. I had been trained to identify a threat – and this sure as hell looked like one. Something inside my head tripped‚ and I found myself a target to take out my frustration on. I flung open the door and stepped out of my car‚ forgetting that it was still in reverse. It jerked back before the engine cut out. The sound of the jolt made him turn his head back towards me just as I strode across the road. I don’t know what hell he saw in my face but his eyes widened and he picked up his pace before realising that wouldn’t cut it. He broke into a run.

  I hadn’t run in a while‚ my body not tuned as it had once been‚ and the action felt stompy. But very quickly I found my feet barely hitting the ground and my arms pumped hard as I quickly cut the distance between us by half. He scrambled out his car keys from his kameez pocket and screeched to a halt next to a Honda. The car beeped and its lights flashed‚ indicating that it was unlocked‚ and he opened the door and placed one leg in. I crouched low and picked up speed and slammed my shoulder into the car door trapping and instantly breaking his leg below his knee.

  His howl was harsh on my ears at that hour of the morning‚ I cut it short by clamping my hand over his mouth with my right and punched him on the side of the temple with my weaker left and bundled him across into the passenger seat as I got into the driver’s.

  My eyes furtive‚ first on the rear-view mirror and then quickly across both wing mirrors. Satisfied that nobody had seen or heard the commotion I turned my attention to him. He had a slight cut on his eyebrow from where my fist had connected‚ but more urgently his leg looked as though somebody had slammed a car door against it. He closed his eyes tightly and bit down on his open hand as he realised that a hint of bone was sticking out and his shalwar sopping in blood.

  For all I knew he could have been an innocent bystander‚ who’d been in the wrong place at the wrong time and ended up on the end of an attack that I hadn’t thought I was still capable of. I had become that person that they’d raised.

  An apology was on my lips‚ but the way he was dressed and the way he’d been watching me‚ I had a feeling he had something to do with the message I’d received.

  ‘What’s your name?’ I asked.

  ‘Yousuf Ejaz‚’ he said‚ removing his hand from his mouth and smiling through his pain. ‘Mashallah‚ Brother‚ it is good to see that you are still strong.’

  ‘Tell me who you are‚ who you work for?’

  ‘I have already told you who I am. As for my employer‚ He is the Almighty‚ the All-powerful.’

  ‘How long have you been following me?’ It was my third direct question. I had more lined up‚ but I could see that his skullcap was drenched with sweat‚ which was also pooling above his eyebrows. He was fighting to stay awake and I realised that he was going into shock. ‘Give me the car keys‚’ I held out my hand‚ ‘I’ll drive you to the hospital.’

  Instead of handing me the keys‚ Yousuf put a clammy hand in mine and squeezed it weakly. ‘I haven’t been following you. I have been keeping an eye on you since you were a young man. I have got to know you well‚ albeit from a distance‚ Brother. You have done a remarkable job‚ Imran‚ keeping your head under the radar‚ away from prying eyes. I am so… so…’ He closed his eyes. His body shook as it came to terms with the shock it had absorbed. He needed treatment immediately. I reached across and tried to pry out the car keys from his hand‚ but he held on tightly.

  ‘Go‚ Brother‚’ he said‚ fighting to keep his eyelids open. ‘You have been called upon. You should have left last night when the message arrived. Allah will forgive. Just go.’

  ‘I have to take you to the hospital.’

  ‘No‚’ he said sharply. ‘Now!’

  *

  I’d called for an ambulance for Yousuf‚ using his phone‚ and left him in a semi-conscious state. Before I set off on my trip north I had to make a quick detour. I glanced at the clock on the dash and decided to pick up Shaz‚ as per routine. I needed him to keep an eye on things while I was away. If they’d been watching me‚ they may also be watching those close to me.

  I pulled up outside Shaz’s house and alerted him with a short sharp beep of the horn. The front door opened and he walked lazily down the path as he clumsily negotiated his arms into his blazer. The last thing I needed was for Shaz to be high.

  ‘You know‚ Gareth‚ yeah‚ from Cranford branch?’ he started as he always does without any greeting or preamble as he put his seatbelt on. ‘He called me this morning‚ like ten minutes ago‚ check this out‚ he’s taking a few days off and he wants me to cover his viewings. I was like‚ fuck that. Then he goes‚ no joke‚ yeah‚ that he’s calling from the fucking hospital‚ says he’s gone and tore a tendon in his shoulder.’

  I moved out and headed towards work. I let him chat away as my thoughts bumped into each other.

  ‘So I said‚ how’d you do that? And he tells me that –’ Shaz laughed. He had an infectious laugh‚ and if the situation wasn’t as it had been‚ I would have laughed along with him. ‘He tells me that‚ no word of a lie‚ that he was doing his weekly yoga class with his missus and they were in the‚ I don’t know‚ the fucking lotus position or something‚ and next thing you know‚ he’s rolling around on the floor holding his shoulder‚ screaming. What kind of man injures himself doing yoga? Shit! You’ve seen Gareth‚ right? Big cunt! Plays rugby. I was like‚ mate‚ word of advice‚ keep that shit to yourself.’

  ‘Shaz‚’ I asked. ‘Are you high?’

  ‘Mum dragged Dad to an early Tesco spree. I had the yard to myself‚ so I smoked a little something before breakfast.’ He looked me up and down. ‘Why aren’t you in your suit‚ Imy? Kumar’s going to have a fit if you turn up in jeans.’

  ‘I need a favour‚ Shaz.’

  ‘I’m all out of favours‚ mate.’ He winked at me. ‘Nah‚ go on‚ spit it out.’

  ‘In between viewings I need you to swing by Steph’s. She’s working from home today.’

  ‘Yeah‚ alright‚’ He said‚ then‚ ‘Why?’

  ‘There’s been a spate of break-ins recently. I thought I saw somebody hanging around Steph’s place. Probably nothing‚ but‚ you know.’’

  ‘You think he was casing the joint?’

  ‘Possibly.’

  ‘You want me to fuck him up?’

  ‘No‚ Shaz. Just call me.’

  ‘I’ll swing by around lunchtime. Do you reckon Steph will have made anything? I’m already hungry.’

  I parked the car a few metres before the office‚ out of sight. The last thing I needed was Kumar to question me. ‘Thanks‚ Shaz. As I said it’s probably nothing but just keep your eyes peeled.’

  ‘Yeah. Undercover‚ innit. Don’t worry‚ I got this‚’ he said confidently‚ as he opened the car door into a lamppost.

  20

  Jay

  By the time I’d dropped Idris off and got home‚ it was past one. It would have been s
ooner but I swear some fucker was trying to put the frighteners up me. Stuck to my bumper for a mile or so‚ xenon lights so bright I couldn’t see him through my rear-view. I took a detour via Osterley as I didn’t really want to lead them to my doorstep. The car overtook me at the lights‚ and I let him‚ tempted as I was to put my foot down and show him the difference between my Beemer and his Lexus. As it sped away‚ I made a mental note of the number plate but I swear it changed each time I ran it through my head. Probably some wet behind the ears teenager trying to impress his mates in his Mum’s car. Still‚ it had freaked me out.

  By the time I did hit my pillow‚ sleep had been replaced by adrenaline and I stayed awake with Naaim’s story still knocking around my head.

  My Batman alarm went off at half seven‚ but unlike the Caped Crusader I wasn’t feeling so heroic. After a night tossing and turning‚ I didn’t have it in me to go to work and sit at my desk and make soothing sounds over the phone to customers who couldn’t work out why they couldn’t print‚ scan or save. I called Carol‚ my team leader‚ and coughed and spluttered my way through an excuse. She didn’t buy it‚ but I couldn’t care less. She told me to get a Doctor’s note‚ and I said that I was losing phone signal and cut her off. She’d be fuming‚ but it was my last day before my trip to Qatar and by my return‚ she’d have softened.

  I stayed in bed for the best part of the morning and watched TV with one eye on my phone‚ checking news sources for any updates on my father. There was nothing new. I thought briefly about reaching out to Naaim‚ but I didn’t have his number‚ and I didn’t know his surname so I couldn’t Google him or check out his Facebook profile. Anyway‚ maybe he didn’t need reaching out to‚ not from me anyway. Seriously‚ when did I become such a fucking saint? Helping people whose surnames I don’t even know! Whoever heard of such a thing? Besides‚ the last time I acted all saintly I’d got in well over my head and had to watch those I cared about suffer. Had to watch them die.

  Let him be‚ I concluded. I got my own problems‚ sunshine. On top of everything else‚ Staples’ words were still knocking around somewhere in my head. I shook my head clear of it‚ filed it away in a section of my brain entitled Oh fuck! and decided to make the most of my impromptu day off.

  Tomorrow was my surprise visit to Mum in Qatar‚ and I still had a few things to do. Buying her a gift was one of them‚ but that could wait. First I planned to have a dirty‚ greasy‚ comforting lunch. It couldn’t be local‚ though – I couldn’t risk being seen by somebody from the office during work hours. So I decided Slough was the safest destination. Nobody goes to Slough; it makes Hounslow look like Venice.

  I rolled out of bed and started my day. I wanted to avoid anything that involved effort so I skipped showering and‚ between you and me‚ I skipped washing my face and brushing my teeth too. It’s not like I was due to meet anybody.

  Bright eyed I wasn’t‚ and bushy tailed could fuck off too.

  *

  Ah yes‚ Slough. The black sheep of Berkshire. I inhaled and smelt my surroundings. It seemed like I wasn’t the only one who’d left the house without cleansing. Slough wasn’t as multicultural as Hounslow – yeah‚ there was the odd black and white and yellow‚ but they were drowning in a sea of brown. As such‚ it was a place where I could easily get lost and‚ at that particular moment‚ as I glanced‚ not for the first time‚ over my shoulder‚ getting lost was exactly what I was looking to do. Because if I wasn’t mistaken‚ I was being followed. First that Lexus had attached itself to me the night before‚ and now this fucking clown. My training in Islamabad hadn’t taught me much – I’d been too preoccupied sending cryptic messages home to MI5 – but it had taught me that there are some nasty fuckers in the world‚ so you want to keep your eyes open. The guy behind me was wearing a deerstalker hat pulled down low over his eyebrows and a scarf pulled up high over his mouth with a dark overcoat over a dark suit. His outfit of choice was not one normally associated with the shoppers around these ways. Too smart‚ too suave. He was a fair way behind me but he moved quickly. Nothing suspicious there‚ he wouldn’t be the first to be in a hurry to leave Slough. But in that small gap between his scarf and hat‚ his gaze seemed steady on me.

  In my mind I flicked through those who had a bone to pick with me. There were many‚ but my first thought was Silas. In between doing push-ups and getting royally shafted in prison‚ he could have orchestrated a hit on me.

  My heart raced‚ but I didn’t. I continued to stroll. If I could just get round the corner at Sam’s 99p Store ahead of this guy‚ then I would have the thirty-metre run towards the side exit of Queensmere Shopping Centre‚ and onto the parade‚ where I could easily lose him. As I turned the corner I side glanced back towards him; he was a lot fucking closer than he had been a moment ago. Once out of sight I broke into a run and cleared the thirty metres at speed‚ flew through the glass doors and out onto the parade. I looked back through the doors. Deerstalker wasn’t anywhere to be seen.

  Half an hour later‚ I was busy devouring a beef and melted cheese sub in The Meat Spot‚ Slough’s greasiest joint‚ when I clocked Deerstalker through the front window. He was stood outside‚ stamping his feet to keep away the cold‚ and was holding his phone to his ear. This time I didn’t give in to fear‚ instead letting logic take over. Maybe he was hungry‚ too. Maybe behind the stylish coat and the sharp suit there lived a meat-craving slob.

  I couldn’t make out his features as the day was bright‚ and the cold sun was hampering my view‚ but there was no question: he had his intentions set on me. The fear crept back in‚ but unlike last time when I scarpered‚ I kept it in check.

  I took a noisy sip of my Pepsi‚ giving the impression of a man without a care in the world‚ as I worked out my next move. I got up calmly‚ thanked the grumpy-looking waiter‚ who looked like he wasn’t used to gratitude‚ and made my way into the bathroom. There was a single pane window above the middle urinal. I looked down at my new hi-tops and grimaced as I placed one foot on the lip of the urinal‚ trying and failing to avoid the pooling yellow liquid. I hoisted myself up using the rusty copper pipe‚ and climbed up onto the window ledge. I palmed the window open and dropped out‚ landing flush in my Nike Air Jordan’s. I took a second to gather my bearings‚ then ran along the back of the shops‚ past the rubbish skips and the employees out back having a smoke. I took the first gap that appeared between the shops and peeked my head around onto the High Street. From a distance I looked back towards The Meat Spot.

  He was still there. I watched as he pressed his face up against the shop window and‚ realising he couldn’t see me‚ stormed in. Once he was safely inside‚ I stepped out from between the shops and headed back towards Queensmere Shopping Centre‚ aiming to get to the car park‚ into my car‚ and the hell outta Slough.

  As I approached the entrance to Queensmere‚ I turned back and risked another glance towards The Meat Spot. Almost immediately‚ Deerstalker came bursting out‚ no doubt pissed that I had given him the slip. I entered the shopping centre at a run – the car park payment machine was at the far end‚ but I reached there in good time. There was just one person in front of me‚ but she was old and the technology was beating her. I stood impatiently behind her hopping from one foot to the other.

  Come on‚ lady. Work it out!

  She pressed the assistant button on the pay-machine and it beeped seven times before a lazy voice answered‚ and they got into a back and forth that I really did not have time for.

  To my left there was a Debenhams department store. Four floors to get lost in. I shuffled towards it and stopped outside‚ using the shop display as a reflection to spot Deerstalker. It’s not as easy as they make out in the movies; I couldn’t see a thing past my own reflection and the mannequin holding a quite fetching leather man-bag.

  I hustled inside the store and then scaled the escalators two steps at a time to the men’s section on the third floor. My plan was simple. Deerstalker had seen what I
was wearing; I had to change my appearance. Time was of the essence and I didn’t have the luxury of browsing. I moved stealthily and purposefully towards the jacket section‚ and hooked a dark parka coat off the hanger and slipped it on without breaking stride. I did it so smoothly that I felt an old rush returning‚ something that been missing from my life. Next I moved to the accessories section and picked up and put on the first hat and scarf that I could lay my hands on.

  At the cash desk‚ I insisted that the lady‚ much to her annoyance‚ scan my items whilst I was still wearing them. I couldn’t risk dropping the disguise.

  ‘Excuse me‚ sir.’ Behind me was a security guard‚ hand on my shoulder‚ hot breath in my ear. ‘Do you mind coming with me?’

  ‘What for?’ I said‚ holding up my Visa in his face. ‘I’m just about to pay.’

  ‘I’m afraid you’re going to have to come with me‚’ he said.

  I took in his name badge – Greg – there was a complaint in here somewhere – and stepped out of the queue. Greg‚ the in-shop cop‚ ushered me across the shop floor. He led me to the back of the store and into a pokey video surveillance room. A second bored-looking security guard‚ open crisp packet in hand‚ swivelled around in his chair.

  ‘Alright‚ Greg?’ He checked me out. ‘Is that him?’ he asked.

  ‘This is him‚’ Greg said. ‘You got any crisps left in there‚ Jim? I missed lunch.’

  ‘He don’t look like much to me‚’ Jim said‚ emptying the packet directly into his mouth. ‘Don’t see the big deal.’

  I tried to figure out why I had been hauled in. Was it because I was being difficult with the shop assistant? Doubt it. Could it be that I was running around the shop floor picking out random items and wearing them around the store like a mentalist? Nah‚ there’s no law against that. Or could it be that they didn’t like the colour of my skin? A thought which‚ at one point in my life‚ would never have entered my mind. But I had seen things that had changed my way of thinking. It didn’t matter‚ anyway‚ because as long as they had me in this room I would be safely away from the smartly-dressed assassin.