Free THE BROTHERHOOD by Steve Jovanoski Page B

the airport sign and then the large hangers of the Tullamarine airport. He knew of a lookout at the back of the hangers where he used to take his lovers in his younger years. Many romantic conquests had ended up with a trip to the airport to watch the planes land. Although he didn’t want to sully the spot by bringing Rami here, it was a good place for a private conversation and the open spaces allowed him to see approaching would-be assailants. A handful of cars sprawled along the narrow road but the couples inside were too involved with each other to notice any newcomers. Aazim found a spot away from prying eyes, parked the car and switched off the engine.
    Reaching across Rami, he grabbed the plastic bag from the glove compartment and took out the stun gun and the gaffer tape. Rami observed the gadget with a silent curiosity. Leaning towards him, Aazim zapped the gun just centimetres away from Rami’s chubby legs and a violent electrical flash buzzed in the air.
    ‘Hey, what are you doing?’ Rami yelped and turned to open the door.
    Aazim beat him to it and pressed the central locking on his side.
    ‘Don’t move or I’ll send fifty thousand volts through your fat arse,’ he warned.
    ‘Let me out of here!’ Rami screamed.
    ‘You’re not going anywhere until I’m done with you,’ Aazim said through clenched teeth. ‘I thought you were my friend, Rami. All those long talks we had about us being like brothers. What was that about?’
    ‘I’m still your friend. I meant all those things,’ Rami squeaked.
    ‘Shut up! I don’t know what’s going on here but you’re going to tell me everything I need to know. Do you work for Sam? What were you doing in my apartment? And who were those men you brought with you?’
    ‘I don’t know what you’re talking about, brother …’ Rami said weakly.
    Another zap came from the gun, this time skimming the surface of his leg and giving him a slight shock. Rami gave a high-pitched squeal and his leg jerked. It felt numb and he rubbed it until feeling returned.
    ‘Don’t lie to me! I know you’re in on it,’ Aazim shouted. ‘If I don’t get what I want I’ll zap you with a full blast, tape you up and dump you in a ditch. You’ll make a big fat cookie for a hungry rat.’ He was playing the role convincingly, and he had his friend sobbing.
    Rami was in no state to fight. He was not the fittest person and the thought of rats gnawing at his body terrified him. Aazim knew that if he zapped Rami he wouldn’t need restraining because the voltage delivered to the body from a stun gun was so high that the blood-sugar level drops in an instant and is converted into lactic acid, leaving the victim unable to produce energy and too weak to move.
    ‘Okay, okay, what do you want to know?’
    ‘I told you what I want. Now start talking. What were you doing in my apartment?’
    ‘Look, Az, you are right to be angry with me but you don’t know how important that data is.’
    ‘Is it important enough to strangle an old woman to death?’
    ‘I had nothing to do with that, I swear. She came in and took us by surprise. Sam’s men grabbed her and I thought they would tie her up in your bedroom. By the time I found out what had happened it was too late.’ Rami’s eyes pleaded with him. ‘You have to believe me, Az. I’m not a killer.’
    ‘Keep going.’
    ‘I don’t work with Sam in the way you think. I met him at the mosque. We both belong to a group called The Brotherhood for Justice. It’s an organisation of Muslim brothers from all professions. We donate money, legal advice and other type of help to Muslims all over the world. Our members are politicians, doctors, lawyers, managers and IT guys like you and me.’
    ‘And how did you end up mixed up in it?’
    ‘You know how I like spending my holidays in Egypt. Well, a couple of years ago in Cairo my cousin introduced me to a religious teacher. He spoke of many good things The Brothers do. I was inspired and wanted