Free The Ghost Runner by Parker Bilal Page A

this kind of work.’
    ‘Women?’ He was surprised at the vehemence in her. ‘Why is it always assumed that this is a matter which concerns women alone? Don’t you think men need to take some responsibility?’
    Makana stopped in his tracks. ‘I’ve never really thought about it.’
    ‘Well, at least you are honest about it.’ She turned to walk on and then stopped. ‘I’m sorry,’ she sighed. ‘I have difficulty separating my emotions from my work. Most of the time it isn’t a problem. I mean,’ she laughed, ‘I’m not like this every day.’
    ‘You see a lot of cases like this?’
    ‘Like this? No. This was special.’ The breeze from the river stirred the palms overhead.
    ‘Special in what way?’
    ‘I’m not sure how to explain it.’ She avoided his gaze, turning towards the river. ‘When you have been involved in this kind of work for as long as I have you get a sense for cases.’ She gave a laugh, self-conscious this time. ‘I don’t know why I am telling you all this. I barely know you.’
    ‘Sometimes that makes it easier to talk.’ They strolled on for a time. ‘How would you describe Karima’s state of mind?’
    ‘If you’re asking whether she killed herself, the answer is no.’
    ‘What makes you so sure?’
    ‘She wasn’t the type. I mean she was angry, not depressed.’
    ‘What was she angry about?’
    ‘I don’t know.’ Zahra shook her head helplessly. ‘All too often what is called suicide is simply a polite excuse for not wanting to face the truth.’
    ‘What truth are we talking about?’
    ‘That family honour is more important sometimes than the life of a loved one.’
    ‘Who would kill Karima for family honour?’
    ‘Somebody who believes his honour has been offended.’
    ‘Musab?’
    Zahra picked at a thread on her sleeve. ‘All I know is that I don’t believe this was suicide and I’d like to know who killed her and why.’
    Musab had been out of the country for the last seven years. Why would he decide it was time to avenge the family honour?
    ‘You don’t have much faith in the justice system?’
    ‘I would be a fool if I did.’
    ‘Ragab hired me because he believes Karima did not take her own life. If I find evidence of a cover-up then the police will have to open an investigation.’
    She looked him in the eye. ‘Maybe you’d like to believe that, or maybe that’s what Mr Ragab would like you to believe.’
    ‘Now, wait a second.’
    ‘No, I’ve done enough waiting.’ She was furious, not so much against him as what he stood for. And what was that exactly? The legal system? The police? The male of the species in general?
    ‘I’ve seen plenty of cases where nothing was ever done,’ Zahra continued. ‘A father smashes his daughter’s head in with a stone because she was seen speaking to a boy. A brother drowns his sister in a canal because he suspects her of talking to the wrong person. Why do you think it goes on and on? Because nobody ever has the courage to stand up and change it.’
    Her words hinted at a hidden menace that lurked beneath the familiar and the mundane.
    ‘All over this city there are families so poor they only have one room. Maybe they have to share the same bed. If a father gets his daughter pregnant, is it so surprising? What is surprising is the degree to which society will go to deny it ever happened. Most people would rather not know. Far easier to simply kill the girl.’
    ‘The police let it go.’
    ‘Even if they didn’t, the judges are always men. They understand the temptation the perpetrator was facing.’ She got to her feet and Makana followed suit. The promenade along the riverbank was deserted now but for a couple holding hands.
    ‘Ragab doesn’t strike me as the type.’
    ‘They never do. They all seem like nice, decent people.’ Zahra came to a halt. ‘Thank you for this, for listening. Most of the time I manage fine, but once in a while I lose my balance.’
    ‘You don’t have to