by Suzi Weinert
“They’ll be amazed,” Alicia agreed. “Why are you wearing your garden gloves, Gran?”
“They protect my hands when I pick up trash to keep the woods clean—things like this.” She reached down for an empty plastic bottle and a piece of weathered newspaper in bushes edging the trail. “Anybody find special nature study items yet?”
“Here are some acorns attached to a branch with dried oak leaves,” Christine said.
Alicia added, “And here’s a cicada shell. Look how the claws hang on to my sweater.”
Not to be outdone, Milo picked up something from the ground, announcing, “I found a wock, a gway wock. With pride, he dropped it into his bucket.
“That’s the best gray rock I’ve seen,” Jennifer patted his head. They wandered beneath the sheltering trees for half an hour, collecting nature’s treasures.
“Okay, kids. Time to start back now to show Granddaddy your collections.” They exerted extra energy to hurry uphill on the last leg home. Pretending she could barely keep up, Jennifer reached the back gate last.
“Run on ahead to the house to show Grandaddy what you found while I pick up this last bit of litter. I’ll catch up in a minute,” she called.
At the edge of the woods near their back fence, she added an empty beer bottle and a dirty, leatherette, pocket-size case to her litter trashbag before hurrying home behind the others.
After the children’s nature show-and-tell for Jason, Jennifer said, “Grandaddy and I want to read the newspaper. Guess what: today’s a ‘Sponge Bob’ TV marathon. Isn’t that your favorite?”
Two said “yes” but not Christine. “Mommy said not to watch TV all the time we’re here.”
“She’s right and you haven’t. Would she really mind if you watch ‘Sponge Bob’ awhile?” Christine agreed and Jennifer settled the children on the den couch before selecting their channel.
After poring over the voluminous Sunday Washington Post and The Times, Jennifer emptied her litter collection bag, pulled out bottles and soda cans to recycle and trashed the rest. The leatherette case landed on top in the wastebasket and, judging it new enough to put in her Goodwill box, she put it aside to take to the garage later.
Just then, Alicia returned to the kitchen and tugged at Jennifer’s sleeve. “Gran, I remember something,” she said. “Watching ‘Sponge Bob’ reminded me because he has one in his show.”
“One what?”
“One elephant. In a garden by the front porch of the house where I bought my doll is the statue of an elephant about this high.” She touched her waist. “I remember giving my doll a ride on it while the rest of you shopped there. The lady giving the sale is the same one who traded the new doll for my old one last night.”
Jennifer hugged Alicia. “Thank you, Honey, for such an excellent memory.”
Pleased at Jennifer’s praise, Alicia skipped back to her place on the couch in the other room.
“All right, Jen, what are you up to now?” Jason asked, wary.
“I’m getting an idea.”
“That’s another danger phrase from you.” He sighed with resignation.
“Jay, I couldn’t find addresses for Hussein or Witherspoon in the phone book but, thanks to Alicia, I know how to find Zayneb’s house, where this Ahmed who owns the diamonds is staying. I knew the community, but it’s huge and without a street address I’d never remember the house.”
“Okay, and…?”
“And if we looked for the house in your car, nobody could recognize us since I shopped those sales in my car. The house where we bought the doll has an elephant in the front yard. We could wear sunglasses for disguise.” She snapped her fingers. “I even have a Halloween wig I could wear so nobody could recognize me. Therefore, safe.”
Jason moaned audibly, “Does this mean you want to borrow my car?”
“Actually, I thought maybe we could go together—a little Sunday adventure. Becca could watch the children. Aren’t we both trying to figure out this diamond situation?”
“Geez, Jen, I have a lot of computer work to do this afternoon with my company’s merger coming up.” He sighed and cocked an eyebrow. “Will the marriage suffer if I say no?”
Trying not to laugh, she pretended to examine her nails? “Are you willing to risk it?”
“All right, I know blackmail when I hear it.” But he only faked annoyance. Although swept into this potential danger by default, as usual, he recognized that he needed to know as much as possible to protect his family.
59
Sunday, 7:37 AM
Ahmed’s subconscious sifted through his many problems as he slept. He awoke with two clear plans: one for disposing of Mahmud’s body and the other for recovering the diamonds.
This Jennifer Shannon woman had the gems or knew who did. The sleeper cell would get to her, use torture as leverage to get her cooperation, or threats to kill a loved one, or both, until she produced the treasure. They could burst into her house or follow her when she left and abduct her elsewhere. To avoid a witness to inform police, they’d kill her, making that appear a random incident.
He mentally rehearsed his story of Mahmud’s sudden “trip” as he went downstairs for breakfast, where a double surprise awaited him. The lovely Khadija stood at the foot of the stairs, melting his heart with her pleasant smile and friendly disposition.
“You have a guest this morning,” she said. ”My mother isn’t well today, so I answered the doorbell. He’s waiting for you in my father’s study.”
“Thank you, Khadija. Will you join me at breakfast later?”
“I…I don’t think my father will allow that. But if not, maybe we can talk together later today.”
She led him to the study door. “Here he is,” she said to the guest and backed away as they closed the door. The men exchanged God’s blessing. “You may remember I am Abdul who hosted our cell meeting on Friday. Perhaps Mahmud would like to sit with us while I speak with you?”
Ahmed cleared his throat. “An excellent idea, but Mahmud is not here. He returned yesterday afternoon to his home country for a family emergency. He may be gone for an extended time, so we must proceed without him.”
Abdul hid his shock well, but Ahmed saw it and continued quickly. “This timing is unfortunate, as we are down from eleven to nine men without Ali and Mahmud. But we will manage. I will stay in this house to protect his family in his absence. I will, however, need a new driver since my presence here is undocumented and I cannot risk a police stop.”
“May I have that honor, Ahmed?”
“Thank you, Abdul, but the honor is mine if you will accept the job. Have you had breakfast? No? Then why don’t we go to the dining room to eat while we talk?”
“A fine idea and thank you for the invitation.”
They seated themselves in the dining room. Ahmed called, “Heba, we would like breakfast now.”
She appeared instantly, more subdued than ever, wearing her usual long sleeves, long skirt and hijab. She poured coffee and placed fruit, bread and jelly on the table.
After she returned to the kitchen, Ahmed spoke. “Thank you for dealing with Ali.”
“Allah solved that problem for us with an explosion leaving them all dead. I did nothing but report this to you,” he admitted modestly.
“But you were prepared to solve it yourself otherwise.”
“Of course,” Abdul confirmed. “And now may I speak in confidence about quite another matter?”
“Speak then, for no ears will hear but mine.”
60
Saturday, 7:46 AM
When Ahmed confirmed they spoke privately, Abdul relaxed. “At our cell meeting you told us American Jews killed your parents. Then the Great Leader arranged your rescue, educated you and selected you to lead this project?” Ahmed nodded. “You said you were five then?” He nodded again.
“You said two men came to take you to the madrassa.”
“Yes.”
“And were you the only child of your parents?”
; “No, they also killed my infant sister. My twin sister visited another village that day. My mother’s dying words begged me to take care of her, but at school, my rescuers would not tell me my origins and punished my questioning. So I gave up. Without knowing the name of my village—or even my country—I’ll never find her.
“And at the meeting two days ago did I see above your shirt a red birthmark on your neck? Is it a stain that runs across your shoulder?”
Ahmed sat up straight. “Yes, but how could you know this?”
“And did you tell those men your Baba said Allah marked you with this stain to show your special importance to Him?”
“Yes!”
“And those two men who rescued you, was one older and one younger?”
Speechless with surprise at these intimate revelations from a stranger, Ahmed nodded.
“Then I was that younger man, fifteen years old at the time and in training to rescue boys like you. I can’t remember them all, but you were my first so I remember you well.”
Ahmed jumped to his feet. “Do you speak the truth, Abdul?”
“As my witness is Allah, peace unto His name.”
“Then you know my country? My village?”
“Yes.” He named them for Ahmed. “Your village was too small for many maps but places with as few as 200-500 inhabitants worked well for our tactics.”
“Praise Allah, I prayed for this knowledge. Thanks to you, I feel rooted to the earth at last.”
“You have a special hate for the Americans and the Jews, as you explained at the meeting.”
“Yes, revenge for their murder of my parents.”
“Your hate for them is worthy, but you know only what you were told. There’s more to the story.”
“What do you mean?”
“At that time, our new cause hungered for recruits. Our Great Leader’s unique multi-purpose plan designed future world domination earlier than any other sects imagined. We needed many soldiers for our army of action. Our Great Leader, whose forward-looking brilliance constantly amazed us, conceived another clever plan. In each village lived many people supporting our cause but a few troublemakers who did not. He said culling out the opposition meant everyone left agreed with us. We’d eliminate the opposition and harvest their children to train as soldiers for our new army.”
“But how does that apply to me?”
“Your parents objected to our ideas. They spread dissent against Islamic radicalism to all villagers who listened. Eliminating them sent a powerful message to other villagers—join us or die. So our Great Leader sent men to dispose of your parents who we knew had three children, a boy, a girl and an infant. When we came for you, your sister had disappeared. This was no loss to us, for we trained only boys.”
“But the American Jews…
Abdul grinned, pleased to impart important news. “We told that story to all the boys we harvested to focus their hatred on our enemy and secure their loyalty to our cause. Not knowing their villages of origin, they could never return to learn otherwise. So we rescued you twice: first, by saving you from your parents’ blasphemous rantings and second, by providing you education and training to fight for Allah’s grand purpose. Fortune smiled two times on you, Ahmed.”
Ahmed stared at Abdul, dumbstruck. This man’s words changed all he thought he knew about his early life. He believed what the school told him but saw now that all of it was false.
Was anything he believed true? All his information came from other people. He had accepted this until Khadija urged him to question authority and think for himself.
His mother’s voice pushed forward in his consciousness: “Avenge our undeserved deaths.” Yet rather than avenging his parents, he’d furthered their murderers’ goals with every breath he drew.
Ahmed stood with effort, holding the edge of the table for support. “Thank you, Abdul for…for telling the true story and…for your rescue.” But deep in his mind the recipients of vengeance for his parents’ murders now wore new faces: Abdul and the Great Leader for whom Ahmed saw he’d become a terrorist errand boy. “Please allow me a moment to absorb this information.”
His mind raced. He couldn’t show any behavior changes or the cell would eliminate him. He must appear as dedicated as ever while evolving into a different person. He sat down again, wiping his hand across his brow. “This is a remarkable story, Abdul. I did not realize the depth of our Great Leader’s planning. I am more dedicated than ever since you told me this today.”
“And I am twice honored by Allah, blessings upon Him, first to play even a small role in guiding that five year old on a path to his position of such leadership and, second, to fight by his side to strike mortal blows against the great Satan’s side.”
“Please pick me up here at 8:30 for our meeting at 9:00 with the entire cell again tomorrow at your place of business. I will reveal more information about our plot against America, for the time comes very soon now. I will phone the others to attend.”
• • •
Heba leaned against the kitchen wall beside the closed door. Once again, she heard everything said in the adjacent dining room.
61
Sunday, 8:03 AM
“Do we smell bacon?” Hannah asked as she and Adam strolled into the kitchen fully dressed. “Morning, Mom…Dad.”
Jason waved a slice of toast in the air as Jennifer said, “Good morning to you. Yes, it is bacon—the special applewood smoked brand Dad likes.” She pointed along the counter to fruit and Krispy Kreme donuts, “And here’s more you might add to it.”
“You look dressed and ready to roll,” Jason observed.
“Busy day ahead for us at the farm,” Hannah said as they filled their plates. “We’re heading home soon to accomplish what we can.”
“Thanks again for rushing over here last night. Funny how it worked out; we baby-sat the Grands and you police-sat us.” They laughed at this twist.
Adam spoke with concern. “When we leave, so will the police cruiser out front. Even if it discouraged somebody last night, you’re on your own today. Please be careful. Hannah will give me no peace if she thinks you’re in danger. Your decisions in the next few days could affect your safety. Make good ones.”
“We certainly don’t want trouble,” Jason agreed. “Once we figure this out we can better reduce risks. You might be a key player here, Adam, telling us if-and-when police learn more clues.”
They finished breakfast and exchanged good-bye hugs. Jennifer walked them to the car and waved as they drove away. Back inside, she resumed reading the Sunday Washington Post as she waited for Becca to appear.
“Maybe we could just take the Grands with us,” she suggested to Jason.
“Where?”
“On the elephant hunt.”
“Oh, that. I thought you planned to press Becca into nannying. Did I get that right?”
“What if she sleeps ‘til noon? I’m getting antsy already. Why don’t we take the kids on a Sunday ride? Alicia might even recognize the house after remembering the elephant.”
“Are you serious about this?”
“Afraid so.”
“Can we rip them away from ‘Sponge Bob’ without consequences?”
“Why don’t I watch with them until this episode ends and then introduce the ride? I’ll take along car-bingo cards to prevent boredom.”
“Do we still have those from when our kids were little?”
“No, I found six yesterday at a garage sale.”
“Jen, Jen. Is there nothing you can’t find at one of those sales?”
“Not love, but I already found that somewhere else.” She planted a kiss on his forehead and joined the children.
Fifteen minutes later when she appeared with the children at the kitchen door, he lay down the newspaper and said with false enthusiasm. “Okay, gang, let’s go for a drive.”
Jennifer directed Jason to the community sale neighborhood, where they cruised the streets looking for the statue in each yard. They
were about to give up when Jennifer cried, “Jay, is that it? Do you see an elephant?”
He looked where she pointed. “Yes, I do.” The Grands looked up from their bingo cards.
“My card has stop signs and houses and trees and other things to cover if I see them—but no elephants,” said Christine. The other Grands murmured agreement.
Jennifer couldn’t hide her excitement as they drove past the house. “That’s it! Now we know where we bought the…er, doll.” She wouldn’t mention diamonds in front of the children.
“Now we know,” he agreed. “But aren’t we interested in a house next door?
She thought about this as he drove several streets away and pulled the car to the curb.
“What next?” she wondered aloud.
“Good question!”
“I know, let’s drive by slowly going the other way and I’ll snap pictures of all three houses.”
“What will that accomplish besides giving us more risky exposure?” Jason asked.
“We’ll have physical proof to flesh out our story when we tell the police.”
“Is telling them the next step?”
“In a way, we already have, unofficially, by letting Adam know. Should we make what we know official? I’m not sure, Jay, what do you think?”
“I think one step at a time.
“But a photo becomes another fact in proving our case, wouldn’t you agree?”
“Proving our case? What case? If the place means trouble, it’s something we don’t need.”
“I guess you’re right, but then what makes me think we need this picture?”
“Because you’re totally crazed?”
They both laughed, but she noticed he laughed longer...
“If I don’t get the pictures now, I’ll just come back to do it tomorrow.”
“I was afraid of that. Okay, let’s get it over with.” He changed the subject. “Look, kids, there’s a dog by a mailbox. Are either of those on your bingo cards?”
The Grands concentrated. “Yes, I have a dog. Thanks, Gwandaddy,” said Milo, shutting the window over that picture on his card.
“And I have a mailbox,” Alicia added. “Good job, Granddaddy.”
Jennifer put her hand on Jason’s knee. “And I have a sweetheart husband willing to play Batman while Robin uses the camera.”