Michael Walters - The Shadow Walker

“So you let him stay?”

“Of course. What else could we have done? I mean, as you can see, we’ve hardly any room here, so all we could do was offer him the sofa, but that was okay for a day or two. We brought him in-gave him a meal, shared a few glasses of vodka. He relaxed a bit after that, seemed more his old self. We talked a bit about the old days. He was happy enough talking about university, but I had the impression that he didn’t want to talk about what had happened after that.”

“And he didn’t give you any clues as to his business in town?”

“Not at all. I mean, he wasn’t obviously secretive about it. But it never came up, and, as I say, I didn’t want to inquire.”

“And how long did he stay?”

“Just two nights. We didn’t see much of him, to be honest. We saw him on Wednesday morning, as we went off to work. The baby goes to Odyal’s mother when she’s working. We gave him a key, and I had the impression he was out most of the day. We got back around six. He reappeared a bit later than that. We had another meal. He’d brought a bottle of vodka, so we had a bit more of that, and that was really it. He didn’t give us the impression he was going to be going the next day, but again he was around till we’d gone off to work. When we got back, he wasn’t here and the key had been left on the table there. We weren’t sure whether to expect him back, but he never reappeared. To be honest, we were slightly annoyed that he hadn’t bothered to come back to say goodbye. But, as I say, Badzar was always unpredictable.”

Nergui nodded. “And he gave you no clues about where he was going?”

Oyon frowned. “Nothing very clear. I had the impression that it was somewhere nearby.”

Nergui leaned forward. “Why do you say that?”

“I’m not sure.” Oyon looked across to his wife for assistance. “It was something about the way he talked on that second night. We’d had a few drinks. It was all a bit more relaxed than it had been, though Badzar still seemed pretty tense. He was saying something about his journey here. He hitched a lift with some truck driver part of the way. Had everything set up here but then-what were his words? — there had been developments. I think that was how he described it. So he couldn’t immediately move in where he’d planned. And he found himself on our doorstep-”

“That was it,” Odyal said. “It was the way he said it. Almost, well, insulting. The impression he gave was that it wasn’t so much that he’d been keen to see us after ten years, but that he didn’t know where else to go and we were the nearest people he knew. We’d drunk a bit so I didn’t really take it in, but I can remember feeling a bit irritated by the way he spoke.”

“I think he realized what he’d said,” Oyon said. “He’d drunk more than we had-was on the way to being drunk, really. He apologized a bit, said he’d not meant it to sound like that-that he’d actually come out of his way specially to see us. But I don’t think I really believed him.”

It was an interesting question, Nergui thought. Had Badzar started apologizing because he was concerned he’d insulted old friends, or was it because he was worried he’d given something away about his proposed whereabouts?

“Is there anything else you can think of?” Nergui said. “Anything else he might have said? Any other impressions you formed? Even the most fleeting thought or idea might be useful to us.”

“I don’t think so,” Oyon said. “As I say, he didn’t talk at all about why he was here or what his business was. It was obviously something that was… I don’t know, urgent, important to him. He seemed keyed up the whole time he was here. As if he was keen to be getting on with whatever it was he was having to delay.”

“Did he seem threatened?” Doripalam said. “I mean, was there any sense that he was being pursued or that someone was looking for him?”

Oyon looked blankly at Doripalam. “I don’t know. Is that why you’re looking for him?”

Nergui shook his head. “We’ve no reason to believe he’s in trouble. But we don’t know why he’s come to the city in this way. We don’t know what he might be involved with. We’re just trying to piece the picture together.”

Oyon and Odyal were looking at each other, both clearly wondering what it was they had become entangled with. “I don’t know,” Oyon said. “I mean, he looked tense, as I’ve said, and unwell. But I didn’t really get the impression that he was afraid. It was more that he was-I don’t know-involved in some task that was proving challenging or demanding, maybe more than he’d expected. I can’t put it any better than that.”

“You’ve been very helpful,” Nergui said. “I’m sorry if this has been an ordeal for you. And again I’m sorry for disturbing you at this time. We would not have done it if it hadn’t been important. I’m sure you understand that.”

“Of course, of course. I hope we’ve been of assistance.” Oyon might have appreciated the importance of their visit, but he was also clearly very keen to get them out of the apartment. It was evident that this was a visit that he wanted to put behind him.

“I’m sorry we’ve had to put you through this,” Cholon added. “And I’m sorry if Badzar has caused you any difficulties. It would be good to come back again in different circumstances.”

Oyon was ushering them gently but firmly toward the door. “It’s always good to see you, Cholon. I’m sorry we’ve been out of touch for so long. Please, you’re welcome here anytime.”

But, Nergui thought, there was little sincerity in his voice.

Outside, the snow was falling faster and thicker than ever. It was scarcely possible to see to the far side of the road, and there were already heavy drifts against the walls of the tenement block behind them. Nergui glanced at his watch. Three fifteen. He had left his phone switched on during the visit to the apartment in case the Minister should call back, but so far there had been no calls.

The three men bundled into the truck, and Doripalam started the engine and turned the car around. The wheels were gripping but only just. If the snow continued, they would need snow chains until the roads were cleared.

“Back to HQ?” Doripalam said.

Nergui hesitated for a moment, and then nodded. An idea was beginning to form in his mind, coalescing around Oyon’s final comments about Badzar’s possible whereabouts. Perhaps it was possible that Badzar was really close at hand. Nergui looked back down the snow-filled street, his mind racing.

“Yes. For the moment.”

Doripalam pulled back out into the road, and made his way cautiously back to HQ. At each corner, Nergui could feel the wheels sliding, as Doripalam battled to keep control. It was a night to be indoors. But Nergui had an increasing feeling that their activities were only just beginning.

As they turned slowly back into the HQ parking lot, Nergui’s cell rang. He thumbed the call button.

“Nergui. It’s me.” The Minister, of course.

“Minister. You called earlier, I think.”

“Where are you, Nergui?”

“Just arriving back at HQ. It’s early days, but we might have a lead.”

“Excellent.” The Minister sounded unexpectedly distracted, as if somehow his thoughts had already moved on from the murders. “Look, Nergui, I need to see you. Urgently.”

“Now, Minister? But-” But what? It was only at that moment that Nergui realized that, in some dark corner of his mind, he had already begun planning other activities for the rest of the night, that he was already beginning to pursue a half-formed idea.

“Now, Nergui. As soon as you can get here. I have some things I need to discuss.”