Khala adjusted her mother’s oxygen, then rushed to hug Hena, crushing her against her soft frame.
“Beta, are you all right?” Her voice was thick with fear and relief.
“Wh-what are you doing here?” Hena stammered.
“You think I dragged myself out here alone?” Her mother tried to scoff, but her words came out breathless. “I’m spent. It’s your turn now.”
Hena stared numbly at Haris’s body. She would need time to unpack. To process.
But right now, there was work to do.
She took the gun from her mother and dropped it next to Haris’s still frame. Khala grabbed the matches from the cupboard.
They sprayed lighter fluid over every surface of the cabin.
“I guess if this had to happen somewhere, this is as good a place as one could ask for,” said Khala.
“The Everglades are a perfect place for murder,” her mother said. “And this place does feel particularly fitting.”
“Youcamehere to kill him?” Hena’s eyebrows shot up.
“There was only one way this could end.” Her mother’s eyes met hers. “I brought my own gun, but using his is easier. Less messy.”
“For the record, I suggested we call the police,” Khala interjected. “This could have gone horribly wrong.”
“He was never going to suspect an old woman could be the end of him,” her mother retorted. “I was counting on that. I blame myself for not realizing who he was earlier.”
“You knew he worked for Abu?”
“Your father brought him around the house once or twice after a late night out. He took quite the shine to Haris, but the boy was always so quiet. Scared within an inch of his life. I imagined his family pushed him into it—his father lost his job and things were tight. And, well, once someone accepted work with your father, they did not get to decide when it ended.”
“He was so young, wasn’t he?” Khala asked.
“It’s why I gave him grace,” Ammi said. “From everything I’d heard, he put that time of his life behind him. Law school. A partnership. I was clearly very wrong.”
“How did you know to come here?” Hena asked her.
“When Reza told us you’d left with him, Nasir revealed everything to us. Once he mentioned a remote cabin, I knew where he’d taken you.”
“Reza.” A lump formed in Hena’s throat. “Haris got a text that said he’d been neutralized. Does that mean he’s—”
“Reza’s all right,” Ammi interjected. “A bit worse for the wear, but he’ll make it.”
Hena exhaled. He was okay. At least there was that.
“I could have taken care of Haris myself,” Hena said. “You didn’t have to get your hands dirty for me.”
“My hands are plenty dirty as is. Besides, what will they do if they pin it on me?” Her mother let out a chuckle. “I already have a death sentence, don’t I?”
My hands are plenty dirty as is.
Lighter fluid dripped from the canister. Hena looked at her mother. She needed to know. A confirmation of what she’d suspected all her life. She debated how to ask, knowing there would be no coming back from it. But it was time.
“You’ve done this before,” she said.
Her mother nodded calmly. “I have.”
“Wedid,” Khala added.
