A Bombing Enigma Read online

  “Yes. Why do you find that hard to believe?” Cynara felt irritated by his apparent callousness.

  “I did not mean to be offensive, but George Stewart was a tough businessman,” Peter remarked.

  “How a man is in his business dealings is different from how he is with his wife,” Janine said softly.

  “Yes of course!” Peter exclaimed readily.

  Cynara noticed the look he gave his wife. He did not seem to agree with Janine’s statement but appeared reluctant to ruffle feathers any further. It suddenly struck her that Janine could have been one of George’s conquests. She was beautiful and had worked with George before she met Peter. If they did have an affair, George would have been married at the time. That explained why they found it hard to understand Elizabeth’s sorrow. They did not know that Elizabeth was unaware of George’s unfaithfulness. Poor Elizabeth!

  After their short discussion about Elizabeth and George, they all consciously avoided the topic. Instead, they talked about world politics. It turned out to be an intellectually stimulating afternoon. Cynara enjoyed their heated dialogue. They were all quite opinionated about the issues in other countries. Each had their own perspective as to how their problems should be dealt with. All of them were well read and abreast with current affairs.

  “Do you think Janine could have had an affair with George, before Peter?” Cynara asked once they reached home and had changed into comfortable sweats.

  “Janine?” Charles did not look overtly surprised. He thought about it and then slowly nodded, “It is possible. She is certainly a looker. And George seems to have been a real predator.”

  “How did Elizabeth never suspect?” Cynara questioned. “Can one be so blind?”

  “Love is blind. Maybe George pretended to be so much in love with her that she could never imagine he would even look at anyone else,” Charles explained.

  “Yes but its hard to think in this day and age anyone can be that naïve,” Cynara mused.

  “Well you have to remember that George literally swept her of her feet and married her when she was quite young. She probably put all her faith in her fairy tale. He must have really played his adoring husband part well at home,” Charles said.

  “I have heard he revered her. Jane said the entire family believes they were both terribly in love. So George must have been superb at his act,” Cynara said.

  “A real conniving bastard!” Charles exclaimed.

  “Elizabeth is a beautiful woman, very refined. Why would anyone with such a wife even stray?” Cynara asked.

  “Maybe the thrill of the conquest. That is just my educated guess. He was a megalomaniac,” Charles said.

  “I guess that explains it,” Cynara agreed.

  They both went out for a much needed jog. Cynara watched a movie that was being shown on TV while Charles worked on his laptop. Neither had much appetite for dinner. Cynara cut them some fruits and Charles made them some coffee. Cynara went to wear her nightclothes after the movie completed. By the time she changed and washed up, she felt terribly sleepy. Charles was sitting and listening to the news on TV. She wished him goodnight. He was surprised to see how drowsy she was, as it was just 8 p.m. However, Cynara felt too tired and fell asleep in a few minutes.

  Cynara was woken up by a strange sound. She groggily tried to determine the source of the noise. Then she realized it was her cell phone reverberating on the nightstand. She had put it in vibrate mode when they had gone to the restaurant. Cynara reached over and picked it up. It was Bradley.

  “Hello,” she said still feeling a bit befuddled.

  “Did I wake you?” Bradley asked but continued without waiting for her reply, “I am very sorry but there has been another death.”

  Cynara’s heart contracted in fear. “Another death? Who is it?” she asked tremulously.

  “Fatima,” Bradley replied.

  Chapter 31

  “Fatima!” Cynara exclaimed in horror. “Oh my God.”

  “Very unfortunate,” Bradley said. “I hate being the bearer of such tragic news.”

  “What happened?” Cynara asked shakily.

  “She has been murdered. Her body was found by the police last night,” Bradley said.

  “Why? Who would do this?” Cynara asked incoherently. She just could not take it in. Her head felt very heavy and all jumbled up.

  “I do not know. My source spoke with me a few minutes ago. Fatima had apparently called for Mr. Daniels wanting to speak to him urgently yesterday evening. They had patched her through. She requested him to come to her apartment. Mr. Daniels and another agent had gone immediately. By the time they reached, she was dead,” Bradley said.

  “But how?” Cynara was not able to ask anything further. Her throat choked with emotion and she just could not get any words out.

  “Look this is a shock. It is better for me to come there rather than explain over the phone. Is that okay?” Bradley asked.

  “Yes,” Cynara managed to murmur. She sat there briefly after disconnecting the call. There was a strange trembling in her limbs. It was fear. Her teeth started to chatter. She stumbled out of bed and rushed into her brother’s room. Charles was still sleeping. It was not even 7 a.m. She shook him awake and gave him the news. He immediately realized her state of shock. Her body was shivering and her teeth continued to chatter uncontrollably. Charles engulfed her in a warm hug and told her to calm down. Cynara burst into tears and Charles let her cry it all out.

  After all her tears and emotions were spent, Cynara finally quietened down. She took the tissues her brother offered her and blew her nose. Charles led her to the bathroom and told her to wash up and dress. Cynara donned a pair of jeans and a cotton blouse. She tied her hair back with a clip and washed away her tears.

  Charles was also changed by the time she came out of her room. He firmly asked her to set the table while he prepared them some breakfast. Cynara did not feel like eating anything but had a toast and a cup of tea at his insistence.

  Bradley arrived just as they finished eating. He did not comment on Cynara’s red nose and puffy eyes. “I again apologize for disturbing you early in the morning with such bad news,” he said.

  “It is bloody beastly. So many murders. What is going on?” Charles asked.

  “Yes too many murders,” Bradley agreed.

  “Do you know the details?” Charles asked.

  “According to my source, Fatima called the agency asking to speak to Daniels,” Bradley said.

  “How did she know who to call?” Cynara interrupted.

  “They must have left their number with her when they took her in for questioning,” Bradley replied.

  “What did she want?” Charles asked.

  “She did not reveal anything over the phone. All she said was that Abaan was indeed in the country and had sent her a message. He was going to pay her a visit. She wanted to discuss his message and asked them to come over. They agreed to go to her house straightaway. By the time they got there, she was already dead, shot execution style in the head,” Bradley said.

  “God!” Cynara’s hand flew to her mouth in shock.

  Charles looked at her in concern and asked, “How did Abaan send Fatima the message?”

  “She did not say nor did she specify what was in the message,” Bradley responded.

  “But the police had Fatima under surveillance. Did they not see who went to her apartment?” Cynara asked.

  “Unfortunately, they were no longer watching her,” Bradley responded.

  “Where was her husband at the time? Was he not home?” Charles asked.

  “No. He was working the night shift. The agents had to call and give him the dreadful news,” Bradley said.

  “How has he taken it?” Cynara asked in a quavering voice.

  “Badly. That is to be expected. I mean he has already lost a son, and now his wife as well,” Bradley said.

  “Poor, poor man,” Cynara said again close to tears.

  “I was beginning to doubt
that Abaan Khalid was behind all these crimes but this murder proves otherwise,” Bradley said.

  “How do you mean?” Charles asked.

  “Abaan contacted Fatima and she was killed before she could meet the agents,” Bradley paused.

  “What does that prove?” Charles asked looking a little confused.

  “Fatima had some important information regarding Abaan. She was stopped before she could disclose it,” Bradley said slowly as if weighing his words carefully.

  “You think she was murdered to prevent her from talking to the agents?” Charles asked.

  “Yes, seems to be the most logical conclusion,” Bradley said.

  “But why did the murderer not want her to talk?” Cynara asked at a loss. Her brain was just not functioning.

  “Well that is the crux of the matter really. Maybe Abaan is here and planning an attack. And her killer did not want this exposed,” Bradley explained.

  “You think Fatima would betray her own brother?” Charles asked.

  “I met her twice and she seemed like a pious Muslim woman who did not want any trouble in her life. She suffered a great loss back in Iraq and had come to England to get away from violence. I truly believe that she would not have cooperated with any terrorists,” Bradley said with a quiet assurance.

  “She wanted us to believe in Abaan. That is what she was so angry about. She felt we were blaming him unfairly,” Cynara said.

  “Yes, undoubtedly, she must have thought she is helping him by divulging this information to the authorities.” Bradley’s statement resounded true with all of them.

  “I did not meet her at all but trust you are good at reading people,” Charles nodded in agreement.

  “It is a necessary skill in my profession,” Bradley said simply. “Fatima was certain of Abaan’s innocence. But then he made contact with her and I assume she realized his involvement.”

  “Fatima meeting the agents would have foiled Abaan’s plans,” Charles concluded.

  “Who killed her?” Cynara asked.

  “A member of Abaan’s group, or maybe Abaan himself,” Bradley said.

  “Is this what the police and the investigators are also thinking?” Charles asked.

  “Yes, that is their hypothesis,” Bradley replied.

  “Jimmy’s one year death anniversary is coming up. It is also time for the annual horse races in York. There is a strong possibility that it is the event being targeted again,” Charles speculated.

  “We cannot rule it out. I am sure there is going to be very tight security. Hopefully it will foil all terror plans,” Bradley said.

  “Are the police releasing a press statement?” Charles asked.

  “The story is already running in the local news, a woman found dead in Leeds. Wisely, they are not releasing any information about terrorism or Abaan Khalid. It will only create panic, especially as they think a terrorist attack is imminent,” Bradley said.

  ‘You are also not reporting this story?” Charles asked.

  “Not yet. I will once we have all the correct details and know where to find the culprits. I do not believe in half-baked truths or in causing hysteria,” Bradley said logically.

  “How will the agents catch the terrorists?” Cynara asked.

  “They have their ways. It is just a matter of time. Especially now that they are positive Abaan is in England,” Bradley said.

  “If he is here then there must be a record of his passport passing through the British immigration services?” Cynara asked.

  “They have not been able to find it yet. He could be travelling under a false name,” Bradley said.

  “That might be very difficult to track,” Charles said.

  “I think the authorities will use facial recognition software and other such methods,” Bradley said.

  Cynara’s cell phone rang startling all three of them. She quickly picked it up. “Who is it?” Charles asked.

  “Elizabeth,” Cynara replied as she connected the call.

  “Hi Cynara, sorry to disturb you on Sunday.” Elizabeth sounded very distraught.

  “It is no problem. What is wrong?” Cynara’s uneasiness returned.

  “Mr. Daniels and Mr. Watson were just here. They told me that Fatima is dead, Abaan’s sister who visited you last week. And they found a photograph of mine in her apartment all ripped up,” Elizabeth said very agitatedly.

  Chapter 32

  “What?” Cynara almost choked.

  “Yes. They came to ask me about the photo, when and where it was taken,” Elizabeth said distressfully. She sounded wretched. “Can you please come over?”

  “Yes of course. Charles and Bradley are here as well. Shall we all come?” Cynara quickly asked.

  “Bradley? The reporter? I do not want this in the papers,” she said wildly.

  “Do not worry. He is very discreet,” Cynara hung up. She did not need to say anything to the other two. The conversation had been loud enough for them to hear clearly. The morning was turning out to be relentless. Why was Elizabeth’s photograph in Fatima’s apartment, and that too all cut up? What did it mean? That Abaan wanted her dead. She momentarily passed a hand tiredly over her eyes.

  As they walked over to the manor, Bradley reminded them, “Please, do not admit that you were already aware of the murder.”

  Mr. Drake opened the door and they walked into the study. Elizabeth was sitting at the desk looking forlorn. Cynara introduced Bradley Robinson and asked about the agents’ visit. Elizabeth repeated what they already knew from Bradley, the agents arrived at Fatima’s residence only to find her body. A thorough search of the premises yielded a ripped photograph in the trash can. After they pieced and taped it together, they realized it was Elizabeth. They had come here to find out the details regarding the picture.

  “George took that photo a few months before his death. We had gone for a picnic with the family to the moors. It was a beautiful day,” Elizabeth said wistfully.

  “Did he get it printed?” Charles asked.

  “Yes it came out lovely. George kept it in his office in a frame. That is where I had last seen it,” Elizabeth said.

  “What did Daniels say?” Bradley asked.

  “Both he and Mr. Watson were baffled as to how it found its way from George’s office to Fatima’s flat,” Elizabeth said. “They asked me if I could have confused it with another picture. But I told them I am confident it used to be on George’s desk at work.”

  “That is certainly a mystery,” Bradley agreed meditatively. “Did they come to any conclusions?”

  “No. They left after that,” Elizabeth replied.

  “Did you have your husband’s office packed up after his death?” Bradley asked suddenly.

  “Yes, everything was put in boxes and I had them sent up to the attic to sort out later,” Elizabeth replied. “I still have not had a chance to go through them.”

  “So your photograph should still be there in one of the boxes,” Bradley said thoughtfully.

  “How will it be there when Mr. Daniels found it all ripped up at Fatima’s?” Charles asked puzzled.

  “Yes but can we confirm that?” Bradley asked.

  “Confirm it? How?” Elizabeth asked helplessly.

  “By checking those boxes,” Bradley suggested.

  “Is that necessary? I mean the photo used to be there in Mr. Stewart’s office. Then it was found at Fatima’s. Therefore, in all probability it was taken from the office before Mr. Stewart’s death. How can it possibly be in the attic?” Cynara asked sharply. She felt it would be quite grim for Elizabeth to go through her husband’s effects.

  “Yes the chances of finding it here are slim, but we must verify it,” Bradley insisted. “Please Mrs. Stewart.”

  Elizabeth paled at his persistence but Bradley stood resolute. She finally agreed, “I will ask the staff to bring the boxes down and we can open them here.”

  Elizabeth called Mr. Drake and instructed him to fetch the cartons. Bradley thanked her and both he
and Charles went with Mr. Drake to assist. Elizabeth and Cynara waited quietly in the study. Elizabeth looked tired and stressed. Cynara felt the same and did not know how to cheer her up. The three of them made three trips and brought down all the nine cardboard boxes. They opened each one individually and went through the contents. Cynara found a framed photo of Elizabeth in the fifth box.

  “It is the same photograph,” Elizabeth gasped in shock. “But if it is still here then how did the agents find it?”