East of Hounslow. Khurrum Rahman

you keep your head down inside‚ you’ll be out in two.’

      ‘I can’t afford a top lawyer.’

      ‘Then you’ll be provided with one.’ ‘A crappy one‚ though.’

      Parker nodded. ‘Yes… A crappy one.’

      I couldn’t go to jail‚ there was not a chance in hell I would survive three months‚ let alone three years. Yeah‚ I can handle myself‚ but that’s because I pick my battles carefully. In there I wouldn’t have that luxury. I closed my eyes‚ but behind my eyelids my eyes were dancing with harrowing visions of getting daily beatings in the morning‚ getting my food thieved in the afternoon‚ and getting royally shafted in the evening.

      As though he’d read my mind‚ Parker said‚ ‘We can make all this go away.’

      ‘What are you proposing?’

      ‘A two-tier agreement.’

      I had a strong feeling I knew what one of those two was‚ and I had a fair idea what the other one could be. But I asked anyway.

      ‘What’s the first?’

      ‘Silas Drakos. He’s part of a large ongoing investigation‚ and with your help they can put him away for a very long time.’

      ‘He’s going to kill me‚’ I reasoned. Truth was‚ if I didn’t get my hands on 10K pretty fucking sharpish‚ he was going to kill me anyway.

      ‘He won’t know it’s you‚’ Parker said‚ not quite reassuring me. ‘Tomorrow you give a statement down at Hounslow police station. Tell them whatever you know about Drakos‚ and I have it on very good authority that he will be picked up that very same day.’

      No Silas‚ no debt‚ no threat hanging over me. But could I do it? Could I break the oldest rule of the streets? Could I grass?

      ‘I need to think about it.’

      ‘That’s fine. You have twenty-four hours‚ otherwise you will be arrested‚ and this time it will be for real.’

      I nodded wearily.

      ‘The second condition is that—’

      ‘I come work for you‚’ I said‚ interrupting him. ‘At MI5.’ I let out a small incredulous nasal laugh at the absurdity of it.

      ‘Yes‚ Jay.’

      ‘And you want me because I fit the profile‚ right? I could make a difference. Something along those lines?’

      I turned and faced him. He pursed his lips and I noticed his knee hammering. He knew what was coming.

      ‘Or is it because I’m a Muslim?’