Divorce Turkish Style by Esmahan Aykol

hit her head. Did you know her?”
    â€œI’d spoken to her a few times, but I wouldn’t say I knew her.”
    â€œIf you’d known her, you’d have liked her a lot. Who’d want to kill a person like that?”
    â€œDid you know the police have taken her husband in for questioning?”
    â€œIs Cem Bey under suspicion?” she said, covering her mouth as if it was a shameful question to ask.
    â€œIn the case of a suspicious death, the first task is to determine who might benefit from that death. Spouses come into that category.”
    â€œBut it’s impossible. Cem Bey wouldn’t hurt a fly. He’s such a polite person. A real gentleman. And anyway, how would Cem Bey benefit from Sani Hanım’s death? They were about to get divorced.”
    â€œWell, I’m sure you know that some people are awarded alimony or compensation after a divorce. The civil law’s been changed, so that any assets acquired during a marriage are shared between the couple. Cem Bey probably acquired a substantial amount of wealth during their marriage. In fact, more money than you and I will ever see in a lifetime.”
    â€œShall I tell you something?” asked Sevim, looking very serious.
    â€œGo ahead,” I said, matching her seriousness.
    â€œCem Bey would never kill anyone, even if billions were at stake. As I said, he’s a real gentleman. And so courteous. He really loved Sani Hanım. It’s just not possible.”
    Sevim was making me feel almost ashamed for having even entertained such a thought.
    â€œI only mentioned it as a possibility. It’s not even certain that Sani Hanım was killed.”
    â€œA possibility all the same,” said Sevim, rolling her eyes. “But why were the police like that yesterday? I phoned them to report a burglary, and the murder squad turned up. What was the name of your policeman friend?”
    â€œBatuhan.”
    â€œYes, Batuhan. I suppose you’re old friends. I sensed a closeness between you. I have powerful intuition, being a Pisces. Are you interested in astrology?”
    â€œNot really, but I know my star sign.”
    â€œDon’t tell me. Let me guess,” said Sevim eagerly. Then, pointing her forefinger at me as she thought for a moment and said, “You’re Aquarius.”
    â€œNot bad at all. My rising star is Aquarius, but I’m actually Scorpio.”
    â€œSani Hanım was Scorpio too,” she said, withdrawing her finger as if I was going to bite it. “But Aquarius balances youout because its rising star is Scorpio. It’s a very dangerous sign. Scorpios end up in trouble, as you know.”
    Since I didn’t know what to say, I broke a piece off the orange cookie and put it into my mouth.
    â€œIf Sani Hanım was killed, then of course you’ll have to investigate her private life,” said Sevim.
    â€œWhat private life?”
    â€œYou know, her private life. Lovers and so on.”
    Lover s ? I hadn’t managed to even find one so far. Did Sani have a collection of lovers?
    â€œKati, it couldn’t be anyone other than a lover,” Sevim blurted out.
    I choked on the cookie I was chewing, and started coughing.
    â€œWhich lover?” I asked, when I was able to speak again.
    â€œYour face is all red,” she said, looking pleased.
    â€œIt’s just from choking. You didn’t tell me who her lover was.”
    â€œSani Hanım’s lover? Well, you didn’t hear this from me, but there was someone else in her life.”
    â€œDo you know who it was?”
    â€œSinan. He’s the vocalist in a group called Sniff.”
    It was the first time I’d heard of this group, or Sinan, which of course said nothing about the fame or quality of him or his group. But what would I know, since I listened to nothing but classical music?
    â€œWhat kind of music do they play?”
    â€œRock music. My sister goes to all their