Shadow of Doubt

Chapter 21

SA'AD's POV

Baffah Sadiq was annoyingly calm for somebody who just found out that I was a traitor, unless if he knew ALL ALONG because he was even sending tight smiles my way at the airport. Surely there was a change in his demeanour but we left the airport with little to no words from him. Was it possible that Hafsah didn't reach him? No, because I heard him talking to her aunt and he told her that Hafsah was only heartbroken so he definitely knew. Why wasn't he having me arrested? Also why did he just give me a chance to talk?

"Why did you kill my parents?" I went straight to the point because I didn't have time to beat around the bush anymore. I expected him to be surprised but he wasn't. He just laughed bitterly as he sat down on his chair and pressed some buttons on his automated drawer and I watched as it opened.

"I've been waiting for you to ask this question for a long while, Sa'ad." He said as he grabbed a folder and slapped it on the desk, I looked between him and the folder without moving an inch. This wasn't the answer to my question.

"I want an answer then you can go ahead and have me arrested. I don't care, all I want to know is why." I said to him without flinching. "And why didn't you let me die with them?"

"You're not daft, Sa'ad." He shook his head. "I didn't save your life and watched you grow up just so I could have you arrested at this critical point."

"What do you mean 'watch me grow up'?" I was now livid. This man was trying my patience, now that I knew I had nothing to lose I was trying so hard to stay calm.

"Come on." He scoffed. "Do you want to call Labaran? And ask him about the mysterious stranger that advised him to send his kids to Al Ansar College? Including you? Or do you want to speak with the Head of Criminology Department from your university who advised you to go for your masters degree immediately after your first degree?"

Okay, at this point I was convinced that this man had a hand in almost every step I took in this life. His next words confirmed it to me.

"Or was the last minute call to attend the training for your current job was all luck? You got in three days after everyone had settled."

This was all blackmail. "That was all you trying to ease your guilt for killing my parents, nobody asked you to interfere in our lives. I didn't need your help."

"Yes Sa'ad, you didn't." He said with a smile. "I wasn't helping and I wasn't trying to ease any guilt, I was simply doing what I'd have done for any child of a person I hold dear." This time around, I just kept quiet because I was tired of listening to him beat around the bush. I was tired of seeing his little smiles because all they did was remind me of Hafsah. She had his smile. "I didn't have your parents killed, Sa'ad.  I was simply carried to the wrong place at the wrong time. But seeing as you're standing here alive, I'd say I was at the right place."

"I'll rephrase my question." I said with a nod of my head. "Who had them killed?"

"The head of the biggest insurance company in the company at the time, Sulaiman Modi."

"Where's he now?" I asked with no emotions.

"He's dead." He answered simply. "You're not the only one harbouring the pain of what Modi caused, he's the reason why Iram's mum has an impaired memory and is in that wheelchair."

It was at this point that I realised everything was far and beyond that murder scene, this whole thing was bigger than me and my obsession with finding justice. I took two steps towards the desk where he kept the folder and I used a finger to lift the cover. The first thing there was a picture of my father and Baffah Sadiq wearing suits in front of what appeared to be a courthouse. I didn't know when my eyes filled with tears but I refused to let them drop. The burning ache in my heart was enough for me.