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I frown ‘Didn’t your father install one of the best security systeuards day and night How did you dodge the guards? And wouldn’t the ca out in your father’s car?’

She explains exactly how Baba, Kiri and Vasluv did it

To be honest, I’irl who never said boo to anyone in her life, but I still have to quiz her about the‘What will you tell the police tomorrow?’

‘I’ll tell them Papa went to bed after dinner and that was the last I saw of hi’

‘You’re sure you’re not on any of the video?’

‘One hundred percent’

I look closely at her then at the dead man on the plastic tarp Can she really pull this off? ‘What if there are cameras in the streets that have recorded your journey here?’

‘I went to the garage and changed the plates earlier this evening’

‘What about the phone calls you’ve been ht?’

‘Pay as you goin other peoples’ bins’

I nod with approval

‘Don’t worry, Noah I have planned this very carefully’

‘I canattempt This way it won’t look like such an inside job’

‘No,’ she says, and her voice is very sure and calm ‘I don’t want anyone else to take the blautless to pull the trigger, and that you were the one who had to do it I don’t want you to go to a different place than o there too, ice cream or no ice cream’

‘Fine Shall we get the ball rolling?’

She fishes her mobile from her pocket and hits a button ‘It’s done,’ she says into it Then she closes it and looks at me ‘I’ve so many questions for you, but they can wait However, there is so very important I have to say to you now’ She stops to clear her throat

‘Go on,’ I encourage

‘If soht and for some reason I don’t make it, I want you to know that I love you, Noah I love you more than life itself’

I hold her beautiful face betweenyou to any minicab driver I’ll call Sam and ask him to meet us somewhere He will drive you to the end of your road and wait until he has seen you climb the ladder’

A single tear flows fro happens to me and I don’t make it, I want you to know that I love you, Tasha I love you like I’ve never loved anyone in irl’

Thirty-nine

Tasha Evanoff

Anak

I put the rope ladder away and go into the kitchen Baba is sitting in front of her customary pot of tea Her face is pale and sadder than I have ever seen it