Sofia wandered around the apartment, taking her time getting ready for work, but before she left she called Taban to ask about Farahnaz’s little brother and offering to ask Dr Daniel to contact his friend about the other missing boys. Taban’s response had surprised her.
‘There are powerful people behind this, Sofia. Leave it alone.’
‘You mean you don’t want to try to find them?’
‘I mean I need to rethink strategy.’
Out in the courtyard, Behnaz told Sofia that Dr Daniel had arrived the night before wanting to see her but she had told him Dr Sofia needed to rest.
A sombre pall hung over the square that morning. Two policemen were stationed outside Behnaz’s gate along with Rashid, while another two were stationed across the square. Police tape still cordoned off Babur’s chaikhana, which for the first time anyone could remember hadn’t opened. She noticed someone had cleaned away Jabril’s blood from the cobblestones, but the chalk outline of the body of the shooter and his blood were still there. No one called out greetings or stopped to have a chat as Sofia crossed the square with Rashid and the policemen.
‘They’re going to shoot you too, aren’t they?’ said Iman, bursting into tears when Sofia walked into reception. Walking around the desk to kneel down beside her, Sofia took the young woman’s hands in hers. ‘No one’s going to shoot me. Do you hear?’ She spoke with a calmness she did not feel. Iman nodded. Sofia then talked to her about Jabril’s condition and the hope that he would regain consciousness soon.
It had been a busy morning, with a number of the women spending an especially long time wanting to talk about Jabril’s shooting, something she didn’t want to talk about. When her last patient left before lunch Sofia emerged into reception to find Clementine waiting for her.
‘Can I have a word?’ Clementine asked, rising from the chair she was sitting on.
‘Sure,’ was all Sofia said, but as she turned to go back into her surgery she looked over at Iman, who simply raised her eyebrows as if to say, ‘Don’t ask me.’
‘Is this about the midwives?’ Sofia asked, taking her seat behind the desk.
‘No, it’s about Daniel.’
‘Is something wrong with Daniel?’
‘He hasn’t told you, has he?’ Clementine put her tote back on the ground beside the chair before crossing her long legs. She was in control, the gestures said. She was the one with all the information.
‘I’ve no idea what you’re talking about, Clementine.’
‘I know he cares about you so you should talk with him.’
‘As I said, I’ve no idea what you’re talking about, but if Daniel hasn’t told me something, I can only assume he doesn’t want me to know.’ She didn’t have time for whatever it was Clementine was talking about. She wished the woman would go.
‘That’s probably true, but Daniel doesn’t always know what’s best for him.’
Sofia bristled. What sort of friend told a stranger that a grown man didn’t always know what was best for him? She didn’t like Clementine, no point in pretending otherwise. She wondered whether she should put an end to the discussion there and then.
‘Daniel was lost in so many ways for such a long time, but the other morning at breakfast, when he was talking about you, he was happier than I’d seen him in years, and then I watched you two together in Kandahar. There’s something there that I’ve not seen in him for a very long time. He won’t be willing to tell you. He won’t ever bring it up, but if you care about him you need to know.’
‘You’re here asking me to ask Daniel about something even you say he doesn’t want to talk about because he was happy to see me the other morning and you think there’s something between us?’ She was pretty sure what Clementine was about to tell her was gossip. She had no intention of making it easy for her.
‘Can you at least think about it?’
Sofia lost her patience. ‘I have no idea what you’re talking about. Why don’t you just stop talking in riddles? Do you even know what happened here in the square yesterday, Clementine?’
‘No.’ She looked genuinely surprised.
‘One of my best friends was shot here and he’s on life support. So your riddles I do not need.’
‘I’m so sorry. I did hear of a shooting, but I had no idea it was here or he was your friend. Look,’ she said, sounding uncomfortable now and apologetic, ‘my timing isn’t very good, to say the least, but I’m here now and … Well, if I don’t say it now I might never say it. It’s for Daniel, you see.’
Sofia sat back in her chair, examining Clementine. ‘Can you not see how confusing this is?’ Sofia said. ‘What makes you think he even wants to talk with me? In fact, didn’t you just say he wouldn’t want to talk to me?’
Clementine ignored her questions. ‘I’ve loved Daniel for as long as I can remember and I believe I know him probably better than anyone. Oh, don’t look at me like that,’ she said to Sofia. ‘I’m sure you’ve guessed.’
‘I’m just a little surprised you’d say it to me.’
‘Why wouldn’t I? I’ve nothing to hide and I’ve got nothing to lose. He’ll never love me because of what happened, but he needs to open up to someone about it. I know he’s never talked to
