“Goodbye.” He didn’t put the receiver down but pretended to continue with the conversation, looking straight at Karima.

“You must contact me in any way. By telephone perhaps.”

She turned her eyes; she must have gotten the message.

“I want to know several things,” he continued. “I am sure that you are aware of my situation; we must talk, and don’t forget that my money is running out.”

She gave him a warning glance. “I’m fully aware of your problems,” he added quietly, “but I’m sure you’ll find a way.” He walked back to his seat in the lounge, feeling slightly relieved although still very worried. Karima got up, followed by her mother. He felt that he was seeing her for the last time. The crime was meaningless without her. He waited, hoping for that phone call. No call. A terrible silence was left in her wake. The lounge was empty except for him. He noticed Sawi looking at him, so he nodded to him, smiling.

The man asked, “Why are you here all alone?”

“It’s my cold. I’ve taken a couple of aspirins. I’ll go out if I feel better.” He moved to the chair that had been occupied by Karima and sat down. “The telephone has driven me to utter despair.”

“Well, I’m sure there must be a good reason for his not calling.”

Saber looked at Sawi and said with some sympathy, “You’ve been going through very hard times.”

The old man’s face contorted with pain and sorrow. “May you never go through what I’m going through.”

“It must have been a terrible sight. I’ve never seen a dead body before. Even my mother, I closed my eyes.”

“Yes, but murder, that’s something else.”

“Yes, that’s true. Murder, blood, savagery.”

“Unbelievable savagery. No punishment is sufficient.”

“I’ve often asked myself, what would drive a person to murder?”

“Yes, I wonder.”

“And the murderer. What kind of person can he be?”

“I saw a murderer once, an errand boy. I had always thought he was so kind and gentle.”

“Incredible.”

“Yes, but what can we do?”

“How true. What can we do? We’ll soon hear that he’s been arrested.”

The old man looked sadly at him. “He already has been arrested.”

“Who?”

“The killer.”

“The killer! But we didn’t hear anything about it.”

The old man nodded.

“Who is it?” asked Saber almost in a whisper.

“Aly Seriakous.”

“That…that idiot.”

“Just like the errand boy.”

“Is that why I didn’t see him around yesterday evening or today?”

“May God have mercy on us all.”

“Has the wife been informed?”

“Naturally.”

“Man is truly an enigma.”

“They found the money on him.”

“It could have been his money.”

“He confessed to the theft.”

“And to the murder?”

“I don’t know.”

“But you just said that they’ve arrested the murderer.”

“That’s what Karima said.”