His father was the best among bad men. After spending years trying to reach up to the pedestal on which he’d placed Elyas, Ahad had come to the conclusion that it was pointless. Besides, his father did have his flaws, he’d discovered, chief among them his inability to resolve conflict. And so, sitting in that freezing cold cell in a police station, waiting for what was to come, he blamed his mother and his father too.

He heard the cold sound of metal turning in the lock and the heavy door swung slowly open, screeching along the stone floor. A policeman stood on the other side, his smile wide, like a clown in a uniform. ‘Well, sir,’ he said, ‘it’s time for you to leave our premises.’

Ahad stood up as the officer stepped forward, expecting something terrible.

‘Would you like a Hobnob?’ the policeman asked, offering him the packet he held in his hand. Ahad looked visibly confused, unsure of what he was being asked. ‘You know, in case you’re peckish?’ the policeman said.

Ahad looked at the biscuits and the years dropped from his shoulders. ‘I’m OK, but thank you,’ he said.

‘No worries, I just thought you might be hungry,’ said the officer. He led Ahad out of the cell and down a corridor. ‘You should’ve said you were Jia Khan’s son. If I’d have known… We didn’t treat you too shabbily, did we?’ Ahad didn’t answer.

Jia was in the reception area signing some paperwork.

‘Shall we go?’ she said.

‘Where’s my dad?’ he asked.

‘He doesn’t know about this. Probably thinks you’re tucked up in bed. You want me to tell him?’

‘Not really,’ Ahad replied.

‘He’ll know something happened when he sees you, though. I’m going to send him a message, to let him know you’re with me,’ she said.

‘I’ll handle it,’ he protested. She ignored him, typing a quick text and hitting send before Ahad could stop her. ‘How’d you know I was here?’

Jia picked up her bag. ‘Does it matter?’

He didn’t answer. Jia noticed his eyes were red and he’d been crying. ‘Are you OK?’ she asked. Her words angered him. He hadn’t wanted her to see him like this; he didn’t want her to know how much he cared, how much he resented the power she held over him. They walked out in silence, Ahad a few steps ahead.