Princess Play by Barbara Ismail Read Free Book Online

‘Would you like me to get some iced coffee?’ he asked, starting to walk back to the same sleeping man they’d spoken to earlier. ‘Be right back.’
    He sauntered back in a few moments, while Rubiah was still mopping her face. ‘Did you get this over there?’ she indicated the kedai runcit and its sleeping proprietor.
    He laughed. ‘I know, it doesn’t look like he does anything, but here you are!’ He handed each of them a plastic bag with iced milky coffee, keeping one for himself, and lighting up a cigarette. Maryam promptly passed out her own.
    â€˜Thank you,’ she said in heartfelt gratitude for something cold. ‘How do you work out there?’
    â€˜It’s hot,’ he nodded. ‘What can you do? It’s a job.’ He looked at them expectantly.
    She introduced them both. ‘I’m Mak Cik Maryam, and this is Mak Cik Rubiah. We’re investigating a murder, helping the police.’
    â€˜ Mak Cik Jamillah?’
    â€˜Yes, that’s it.’
    â€˜Very sad.’
    â€˜Do you know the family well?’
    He shrugged noncommittally. ‘Any of them?’ Maryam prodded.
    â€˜I know Zaiton; of course, I do,’ Rahim admitted. He began to blush to the tips of his ears; it looked almost painful. ‘But if what you’re saying is that something … happened, it didn’t. Nothing. I mean, of course, her mother would want someone with more money than I have …’
    Maryam looked keenly at him. ‘Her mother?’
    â€˜Well,’ he floundered, ‘yes, Mak Cik Jamillah, she would want a wealthier man … But there’s nothing to discuss here …’
    â€˜And her father?’
    He was silent.
    â€˜ Pak Cik Aziz?’ she reminded him.
    â€˜I know him better, of course. He owned part of the boat I worked on. I like him.’
    â€˜But he wasn’t looking for a richer man?’
    â€˜I don’t know.’
    â€˜ Pak Cik Murad’s son?’
    He choked. ‘He wouldn’t want him,’ he blurted out. ‘He didn’t like the family much.’
    â€˜But Mak Cik Jamillah did,’ she prodded.
    â€˜I don’t know.’ He looked at her. ‘I didn’t mean anyone in particular.’
    â€˜Do you think,’ she said kindly, ‘that Pak Cik Aziz may have agreed to your marriage?’
    He mumbled something to his feet, as he stared at them.
    â€˜And he still could,’ she added softly. ‘I mean, it still could happen, right?’ He was silent.
    â€˜Come now,’ Maryam said, encouraging him. ‘We’re done now. It wasn’t so bad, was it?’
    His look said it might have been. He stood up to return to work.
    â€˜Thank you very much,’ Maryam really meant it. She liked him; he looked like a good boy. He smiled sadly and walked back into the sun, the waves of heat rising around him.
    *  *  *
    â€˜I liked the boy,’ Maryam declared to Rubiah on the porch after dinner. ‘I don’t want it to be him. But it could be a motive. After all, now, with Jamillah gone, Aziz might well agree to a marriage for Zaiton. In the light of day like this, it may sound silly, but we both know that falling in love … well, it could do it.’
    â€˜He seems like such a nice boy!’ Rubiah remonstrated. ‘I just don’t see it.’
    â€˜Was he at the ceremony?’ Maryam mused. ‘Zaiton would know.’
    â€˜Aliza!’ she called, and her daughter materialized surprisingly quickly; listening from behind the door, Maryam suspected.
    â€˜Do you still want to help?’ Aliza nodded eagerly. ‘Go ask Zaiton if Rahim was at the main puteri .’ Aliza nodded and started across the kampong . ‘Wait!’ Maryam called. ‘Have you heard anything?’
    â€˜Heard what?’
    â€˜Any gossip about Zaiton. Any of the girls talking?’
    Aliza wiggled uncomfortably.