Free The Burning Gates by Parker Bilal Page A

benefits.
    ‘I just want us to be clear, that’s all.’
    ‘It’s clear. I’ll pay you for whatever you give me, and so far you’ve given me nothing.’
    ‘All right. All right. I’ll get something for you.’ Makana stared at him. Marwan cleared his throat. ‘There’s a club, a private place, in Maadi. Apparently he goes there.’
    Makana reached for his envelope and counted out a hundred dollars, then he changed his mind and added another hundred. ‘That’s just to be going on with.’
    ‘Sure, I understand.’ Marwan tucked the money away and handed over a slip of paper with directions. ‘You sure you’re okay about the reward? Money like that can change a man’s life.’
    ‘Be careful what you wish for.’ Makana somehow doubted Marwan would go through with it, but you could never tell. Greed was a powerful motive. ‘Just make sure you don’t move without telling me first.’
    ‘Don’t worry about it.’ Marwan grinned, back to his old self. ‘I’m trying to do you a favour. Anyone would think I was cutting out your liver.’ He turned and cheerfully kicked at a pink plastic bag lying at his feet. ‘You see what this country is coming to?’ A mountain of rubbish had collected along one side of the street. ‘You think it’s healthy to live like this, in a garbage dump?’ Makana watched him walk away, still grumbling.
     
    The conversation with Marwan put Makana off his lunch. Already he was getting a sense that this case could turn into something much more complex. That Samari had a price on his head was not going to make things easier, but Marwan wasn’t the only person who would start to see dollar signs when talk of a bounty came up. On the other hand, Makana had nothing against a man whose crimes were clearly documented being brought to justice. Let Marwan hand him in. Once Makana had delivered him to Kasabian what difference did it make?
    But there was something else bothering Makana. Why had Kasabian not been able to verify Samari’s presence in the country? With people like Qasim around, it should have been easy. Unless Qasim had his own reasons for protecting Samari. He was beginning to wonder if Kasabian had been entirely frank with him. He asked Sindbad to drive him back to Zamalek. He had decided to pay an unexpected call on Aram Kasabian. He leant on the bell, stepped back and looked up at the high trees and the grand villa. It hadn’t lost any of the charm it had possessed the previous evening. After a long delay the big white metal gate yawned open and the ageing gatekeeper let him in. His back was so stooped that as he followed him back up the path to the big villa Makana had to resist the temptation to reach out and stop the man falling flat on his face.
    Kasabian’s secretary was fretting at the top of the veranda steps. Jalal or ‘Jules’. In broad daylight he looked older than he had the previous evening. Perhaps it had been an exhausting night. He was a pale, slightly plump man with thinning hair and a nervous disposition that caused him to fidget all the time, rolling his thumbs and clasping his fingers.
    ‘You really ought to have called. As a rule Mr Kasabian doesn’t see anyone without an appointment.’
    ‘Well, I just happened to be close by, and there are a number of things that need clarifying.’
    ‘Mr Kasabian is a very busy man.’
    ‘I understand. It won’t take a moment.’
    Jules wrung his hands. ‘Well, I can’t promise anything.’ He disappeared inside and Makana leaned on the balustrade and contemplated the lush scenery. A man could get used to this kind of peace. Yet all things came at a price. He wondered what that might be in Kasabian’s case.
    ‘Mr Makana, I didn’t expect to see you so soon.’ Aram Kasabian was wrapped in a white bathrobe, as if he had just stepped from the shower. A hint of irritation in his voice.
    ‘I’m sorry to disturb you.’
    ‘Quite all right.’ Kasabian recovered his composure quickly. He gestured