I sat like that for about ten minutes, before I became aware of Sasha bustling over to my table. She was dressed in denim dungarees and a retro tie-dyed T-shirt, her curly blonde hair spilling over her shoulders. Sasha was always distinctive, however she dressed, but I sometimes got the feeling she did her best to stand out, as if she was daring the world to challenge her.
Hi, sorry I’m late, she signed, pulling up a chair and sitting down.
Aren’t you working today? I asked.
She shook her head. I took a day off. I wanted to try and get my head round what’s happened and work out how I can help Lukas.
How’s he doing? I asked her, getting straight to the point.
She shook her head and grimaced. I don’t know, I haven’t heard anything today. Have you?
No, I replied. If they’ve interviewed him at all, they’ve used a different interpreter. Singh had been clear yesterday that I couldn’t be involved with the case going forward, and I’d accepted that. I would have to make sure I stayed in touch with Singh, though, so they didn’t forget about me. I really valued my work with the police and I didn’t like the idea of being passed over in favour of someone else, but hopefully if they needed a BSL interpreter again in future I’d still be their first choice. I certainly hoped I’d be Singh’s first choice, anyway, and I resented the idea of another interpreter coming in and potentially taking over my territory.
Sasha frowned and tapped the table while she thought about Lukas and how to proceed. It’s a difficult situation, because I can’t insist on seeing him, unless I have evidence that his welfare is being compromised.
Well, if he’s not had access to anyone who can communicate with him, surely that’s compromising his welfare? Being isolated due to a language barrier is bad for his mental health.
You’re right, she replied with a firm nod. We’ll use that as a way in. Of course, that’s if he’ll agree to see me. Sasha’s face fell, and she looked genuinely upset that her client wouldn’t turn to her for support when he needed it. I’m not his lawyer; I don’t think I can just march in there and demand to see him.
What about with his history of mental illness? I offered. Surely that’s another angle you could use. It’s important that someone is monitoring his mental health, and ideally that should be someone who knows him and can communicate with him in his first language.
She beamed at me. I knew there was a reason I hired you.
We both laughed. This was Sasha’s usual response when I offered a useful suggestion. She hadn’t hired me personally – we both worked for the local authority – but she’d recommended I apply for the position when it became vacant, and I’m sure she influenced the interview panel. After all, I was her interpreter and we had to spend a lot of time together; it was only right that she got a say in who was hired.
Right, Sasha continued. Now you’ve had time to think about it overnight, do you think he did it?
I was a little surprised by the direct question, but I responded immediately.
I’m not certain about anything, but now I don’t think so. I didn’t mention to Sasha that I’d been concerned that Lukas had been trying to manipulate me; I didn’t see the point in possibly antagonising her, especially now I didn’t think it was likely.
I saw him that night, Sasha, I continued. I saw the fear and devastation when he realised Nadia was dead. There’s no way he’s that good an actor. I felt a little reluctant to tell her this, knowing she might try and use it to get me further involved than I would like, but I didn’t feel I could lie to her.
I know you say you don’t want to get involved, Sasha signed, her expression earnest, but I would still appreciate your advice. You’ve spent time with Lukas, and you know the detectives involved with this case.
After a moment of thought, I nodded slowly. Okay, I told her. But I’m going to be honest with you if I think something isn’t right, or you need to go to the police.
That’s all I can ask, she replied, sitting back and looking a little relieved. I have an idea of where to start looking, if we want to find out who really killed Nadia. Lukas was having some money problems. I don’t know the full extent, because there’s only so much we can get clients to discuss with us, but I know he borrowed some money, and that the person he borrowed it from wasn’t exactly legitimate.
I took a sip of my coffee, which had been growing cold as we talked. Are you suggesting this person might be responsible for Nadia’s death? Would Lukas really get involved with someone who was capable of something like that? I know he had his problems, but getting involved with organised crime seems a bit of a stretch.
She shrugged. I have no idea, but I do think it’s something we need to look into. I’ll see if I can get the name of the person he borrowed from. He told me the man was a friend, which is possible, but I do wonder if there’s more to it than that.
Okay, but what about the other possibility? I asked. To me it seems more likely that Lukas is trying to protect someone. If he was scared of the person who’d done it, wouldn’t he tell the police the truth and ask for their help?
Sasha looked at me like I’d just asked if she was the one who killed Nadia. Do you really think Lukas would trust the police to help him? His upbringing, the
