“The plainclothes police force,” Cree said.

Salwa nodded.

“Why would a policeman need a degree?” Omar Yussef said.

Umm Rateb put her hand on Salwa’s wrist and took over. “To be promoted quickly, these policemen need to show that they have studied law or had some other higher education. It puts them on what you’d call the fast track to the highest posts. Of course, that means a better salary and more power.”

“So the university gives them the degree in exchange for payment?” Omar Yussef said.

“Yes, they have to show up to a couple of classes, but they don’t really study,” Umm Rateb said.

Salwa clicked her tongue and her tone edged into anger for the first time. “They couldn’t study if they tried. They aren’t qualified to be at the university. These men didn’t even graduate high school. They were on the streets making trouble when they should have been in class. But now the troublemakers are the law in Gaza and they want to receive something valuable without working for it.”

“What did Eyad do when he discovered this?” Omar Yussef said.

Salwa shook her head. “My husband is not a calm man. If he sees something he dislikes, he has to act against it. I always say to him, ‘Please, Eyad, slow down. Let us live in peace.’ But that isn’t what he wanted. Three weeks ago, he set an exam for his class at the university.”

“The exam that was confiscated this morning?” Omar Yussef said.

Salwa handed him the folder. “They didn’t get this copy of the exams. Eyad left it on his bedside table.”

Omar Yussef translated from the first page: “ Write an essay about corruption in the government.” He looked at Cree, whose face was measured and unreadable. Wallender bowed over his notebook.

Umm Rateb spoke up. “The head of the university, Professor Adnan Maki, was very angry. He called Abu Naji to his office and they did a great deal of shouting. When Abu Naji left, he forgot even to say goodbye to me at my desk outside Professor Maki’s office, though I am a good friend of his family. For the rest of the afternoon Professor Maki was extremely irritable.”