by Allan, Dale
Luke returned to the library, but he didn’t know what to do next. He thought about calling Detective Romo, but he didn’t have enough reliable information to involve him at this point. He figured that the detective would think he was crazy to believe an old drunk guy who lived in the park. As he was dialing the number for Sal Bruno, he questioned if he should really make the call. But Sal answered on the first ring. “Father Luke, so nice to hear from you.” Before Luke could say a word, he continued. “I want to let you know that Anthony and Billy told the cops that you had nothing to do with the beating incident.”
Luke thanked him. “I called to ask for another favor.” He couldn’t believe what he was saying, as he spoke.
“Just name it.”
“I just need some information, but I also need your word that no one will get hurt.”
Sal thought about that for a few seconds. “I’ll do my best.”
Realizing that this was as much of a commitment as he was going to get, Luke continued. “I need information on a construction company that had a green crescent moon on the side of their trucks. They were doing business in the city in 2004.”
“OK, what’s the name and what do you need to know?”
“That’s my problem. I don’t know the name or who owned the company.”
“Is that all of the information you have? A green moon?”
“A green crescent moon, and unfortunately, yes, that’s all I have.”
“I’ll see what I can do, but you’re not giving me much to go on.”
Luke thanked him and closed the phone.
He was still sitting at Aaron’s desk when Deborah and Lori walked into the room with shopping bags. Deb spoke first. “We bought you a few things.” Luke wanted to protest but instead decided to appreciate their thoughtfulness. He smiled and said, “Can’t wait to see this.”
Lori laughed and asked, “Are you being sarcastic?”
“Who, me?”
Deb handed him the first box. Opening it, he saw a handsome light blue cashmere sweater. “It matches your eyes,” she said.
“Thank you very much, it’s beautiful.”
She continued handing him box after box. They had bought him new sweatpants and workout clothing, including a few pairs of running shoes. Luke was amazed at how easy it was for them to walk out the door and buy just about anything they wanted from any store without thinking twice. Putting things in perspective, he also thought about how Deborah treated the people who worked for her and what she was doing for John; she was an extremely generous person. He still felt guilty, but he decided that for every new item he kept, he would donate something that he already owned to the homeless shelter.
Then out of nowhere, Lori said, “Tell him what happened at the restaurant.”
Embarrassed, but smiling, Deb said, “No.”
Lori continued. “Luke, the waiter asked for Deborah’s phone number.”
Luke smiled and Deborah added, “I could have been his mother.”
Having fun now, Lori kept going. “He was tall, dark, and handsome—a hunk. Can you believe it?”
Luke blurted out, “I’m not surprised,” but then wished he hadn’t.
Obviously feeling awkward, Deborah quickly changed the subject. “Lori is going to join us for dinner.”
Luke politely excused himself and went to his room to pray. Lying on his bed, one thought kept crossing his mind: How was he going to feel when she did find someone?
DURING DINNER, DEB AND Lori were having a great time laughing with the children and each other. Of course, “Lukey” was the brunt of many of their jokes. Trying to be a good sport, he played along, but he was preoccupied thinking about Blade’s story and frustrated that he couldn’t verify it. After eating, Luke excused himself and went to his room to do something he had never done before.
Undressing, he cracked the bathroom window and waded into the whirlpool tub as it filled. Sitting back, he pressed the button, and water shot out of the jets with such force that initially it hurt his skin. After setting the water temperature on the controls, he settled in. Steam filled the room as his mind began to wander.
The more his body relaxed, the faster his mind raced. Other than meeting with Jami, what else was he going to do? Who else could he talk to? Was Blade telling the truth? Maybe he had concocted this story to get money. He wanted to go see his parents to assure himself that they were safe, now that they had moved back home. Wait, Mom’s closet—the old phone books. He remembered that his mother never discarded any of the old Yellow Pages. He and Aaron used to make fun of her because she had stacks of them. Maybe the construction company had an ad that showed the crescent symbol. Even if there was an ad printed in green, he would go and look at their trucks.
Before going to bed, Luke went to the family room and said goodnight to Deborah and Lori, who were still up, sipping wine and chatting. Knowing that his parents would be up early in the morning, he set his alarm clock for 5:00 a.m. so he could work out before visiting them.
The next morning, as he was pulling out of the gates, he noticed that Lori’s car was still in the driveway. Maybe she’d had too much to drink and didn’t want to drive home. Over the past several days, Luke hadn’t seen any reporters on the street. Maybe it was because the holidays were coming and they had other stories to cover, or maybe they finally realized that cars with tinted windows and security guards provided little opportunity for a big money shot.
It was still dark as Luke parked the car on the street in front of his parents’ house. As expected, the kitchen light was on. Not wanting to alarm them, he called their home number from his cell phone. Excited to see him, his mom rushed to open the front door.
His mom kissed him on the cheek, and his dad shook his hand and embraced him. They walked into the kitchen and sat at the table that was at least as old as Luke. They talked for about half an hour before his mom pointed to the newspaper. His dad quickly flipped through several pages, then pointed at a picture with the heading: “Lieutenant Governor Simpson shares Thanksgiving with the Miller family and the homeless.” The picture taken by Simpson’s driver showed Luke and Deb standing next to Richard Simpson, with a clear image of Blade and his newly shaven face that displayed his jagged scar.
Luke took a few minutes to read the article. It was actually well written and flattering. It described Thanksgiving at the Millers’ in detail: everything from Deb and Luke serving the help to clothing the homeless men from the Common to Deb’s piano duet with John. The only issue Luke had with the article was that Lieutenant Governor “Dick” never even asked permission to publish the details of a very private day.
After eating breakfast, Luke asked his mom about the phone books. “What do you need them for?” she asked.
Not wanting to lie to her, he replied, “Just looking for a construction company that did some work in this area a few years ago.”
He was relieved when she didn’t ask any other questions but pointed to the closet. “You know where they are.” As expected, the books were stacked in the far corner in descending order by year. With his parents watching TV in the other room, Luke placed several books on the table and began his search.
He looked up every category that had anything to do with building, from commercial construction to new home builders to every other related category. He examined each page, starting with the 2004 book and continuing for several more years. Not finding any crescents or stars, he tore out a few ads that had green lettering or symbols. Realizing that it was almost ten o’clock and that he was scheduled to meet Jami, he put the pages in his pocket and said good-bye to his parents.
Jami smiled as she answered the door and invited Luke inside. He had decided that he would share Blade’s story with her because not only did he need her help but also he had no other leads. After some small talk, Jami asked him directly, “Did you have that abortion man beaten?”
Luke realized that she must have read the article in the newspaper. “No, I would never do something l
ike that. But I think I may have inadvertently caused it.” He went on to explain everything that happened with Sal. Jami seemed to understand, but he noticed a slight change in her demeanor.
“So you are investigating the bombing?”
Luke answered honestly. “I’ve been trying to re-create the last few weeks of my brother’s life.”
She looked up and said, “You didn’t answer my question.”
Flustered at her persistence, he replied, “Yes, I need to know why he was murdered.”
“And what have you found?”
“I think someone from the Muslim community is responsible.”
Before he could continue, she blurted out, “I should have expected that from you.” She stood and started speaking faster and louder. “Do you think my sister was involved?” Before he could respond, she said, “Think of how many people around the world have been killed in the name of Christianity before you indict Islam. How many of your priests have admitted to abusing children?” Now Luke was getting annoyed, but she wouldn’t give him a chance to respond. “My sister fought for peace and she died for peace. Don’t try to tell me that she was involved. Islam doesn’t condone violence!”
Luke lost his temper as he tried to explain. “I don’t believe that your sister had anything to do with the bombing. As a matter of fact, I know she’s innocent. And as far as Islam goes, you and your sister may not condone violence, but don’t tell me Islam doesn’t. Muslims danced in the streets after 9/11, and I’ve had a priest die in my arms in the name of Islam. There are big differences between Christianity and Islam. My God forgave the adulteress; your prophet had her stoned to death. When a Christian commits an act of violence, the pope condemns it; when it’s a Muslim, there is silence.” Upset at himself for losing control, Luke stood and walked out the door.
AS LUKE HASTILY OPENED his car door, he heard Jami calling his name. Looking up, he saw her running across the frozen ground in her socks. He closed the door and waited for her to approach. “Luke, I would like to apologize. I’m sorry; I should have let you finish. I thought you were saying that Ablaa had something to do with the bombing. Please forgive me.”
Luke regained control as he said, “I’m not upset with you as much as I’m embarrassed with my own behavior. I never should have said the things I said.”
Shivering, she replied, “Wait here, I need to get my coat.”
As she ran back to the apartment, Luke yelled, “Get some shoes also.”
A few minutes later she reappeared, wearing a coat, shoes, and a knitted wool hat. She looked at Luke and smiled. “Can we agree to forget the last ten minutes?”
“That sounds good to me.”
Jami motioned to the building and said, “Can we walk? Many of the people who live here are strict Muslims, so it’s probably better if they don’t see me with a man in the apartment.”
In an attempt to lighten the mood, Luke smiled and commented, “Nice hat.”
She laughed. “Are you making fun of me?”
He looked at her. “No, I’m being serious.”
It was hard to ignore just how beautiful she was. Her long thick hair, clear expressive eyes, and gorgeous smile made it hard for Luke to look away. Her feisty personality seemed unusual for someone who grew up in a country where women are suppressed as second-class citizens. As they walked, she said, “Please tell me what you know about the bombing.”
Luke relayed what he had heard from Blade without using his name. She processed the information quickly, asking, “Have you been able to verify any of this?”
“No. I thought you might be able to help.”
“Did you look up the dates for the baseball games he told you about?”
Luke laughed. “You’re kidding me, right?”
She looked at him sincerely. “Why is that funny?”
“Jami, there is no bigger rivalry in professional sports than the Yankees and Red Sox. I played baseball in high school, and for much of my life I dreamed of playing in Boston. I didn’t have to look up the dates; they are etched in my memory forever. Baseball is a religion in Boston.”
She smiled and asked, “How can I help?”
“Can you ask some of the people you trust at the mosque about the construction company?” Then he had another idea. “Maybe we can find mosques that were built around 2004 and see who did the construction. There have to be records for building permits.”
She looked at him and said, “I’ll do anything to find the people who killed my sister.”
Then she stopped walking, turned to face Luke, and asked, “How did you decide that my sister was innocent?”
“When I started thinking about everything that happened, nothing made sense. She wouldn’t have been on that stage if the bombs were planted years ago. And then I read a note that my brother wrote about Ablaa.”
“What did it say?”
He smiled at her. “It said that she was the kindest and most loving person he’d ever met and that she was an inspiration to him.”
She grabbed his arm. “Luke, she really was a very special person. As you can see, I have a temper. Ablaa was always calm, always peaceful and kind. I never saw her raise her voice in anger.”
“I wish I could have met her.”
Smiling, she replied, “Me too.”
As they passed a small coffee shop, Luke asked, “How about I buy us a couple of cups of coffee to go?”
She agreed, and he entered the shop for a few minutes. When he came out, he handed a cup to Jami and said, “I think one of the workers in there recognized me.”
“I’m not surprised. You’re in the newspaper almost every day.”
Luke grew serious. “Jami, you need to be very careful. It’s more important that you’re safe than it is to get information. Only talk to people that you would trust with your life. Whoever killed Ablaa and Aaron would kill us in a heartbeat if they knew what we are doing.”
“Don’t worry, I’m going to pretend that a friend is looking for a building company and wants a recommendation. Then I will ask if there are any local companies that employ Muslims. I don’t think my friends will suspect anything.”
“OK, just be cautious. I’ll research the mosques that were built around 2004, and I may even go visit a few to see what I can find out. Maybe someone will talk to me.”
“Why don’t you call me in the morning and we will compare notes?”
Being cautious, Luke replied, “Let’s not talk about this on the phone. How about we meet in front of the coffee shop tomorrow morning at ten?”
She agreed. They said good-bye, and Luke headed for his car.
LUKE TOOK OUT HIS cell phone and made a call before starting the car. John answered, “Good morning.”
Relieved, Luke asked, “How did you make out last night?”
“Great. I stayed in the office, and got up early to start work. I’ve already fixed the sink in the doctor’s office, and now I’m organizing Aaron’s office. Someone named Jim Hathaway called. Says he’s going to meet me here this afternoon.”
“He’s a really nice guy. I’m sure you’ll like him.”
In a soft voice John said, “I can’t thank you enough for everything you’ve done.”
“I’m happy to help.”
Luke told John that he was heading back to the house to work and asked him if he would join them for dinner later. John accepted.
Luke then received a call that was disappointing; Sal couldn’t find anyone who knew anything about a construction company with crescent symbols on their trucks. He promised to keep looking, but Luke could tell by the sound of his voice that he had already given up. Maybe he had asked Sal for too many favors.
Once home, he went into the library and logged on to the computer. Bringing up an Internet search engine, he typed in the words “mosques built in Boston 2004.” When the results filled the screen, he found a newspaper article describing the construction of a new mosque in Roxbury. Searching the prior and subsequent years, he found four th
at met his criteria.
He ran out to the car, entered the first address into the navigation system, and immediately headed to Roxbury. Pulling up in front of the mosque, he was amazed at the enormity of the structure. Aware of the fact that Muslims prayed five times throughout the day, he approached the building cautiously, not wanting to disturb anyone.
Luke opened the massive door to peer inside. Seeing and hearing no one, he stepped in. As he looked around he was awed by the architecture. Arched columns led the way to the prayer area, which rivaled that of any Roman cathedral.
Based on his research, Luke knew that this particular mosque also contained a religious school for children and a community room. He walked down a long hallway that led away from the prayer area in hopes of finding someone to talk to. Seeing a young boy walking toward him, he asked, “Can you please tell me where the imam is?” The child smiled and pointed to a doorway just a few steps away.
Luke gently knocked, and a second later the door opened. A peaceful-looking man appeared, dressed in loose-fitting white clothing and a turban. Luke asked, “Are you the imam?”
He shook his head affirmatively, but he warily asked, “Yes, how can I help you?”
Not wanting to reveal his identity, Luke didn’t introduce himself but said, “I have a question for you.” Again the man smiled, but he didn’t speak, so Luke continued. “Can you tell me the name of the construction company that built this beautiful mosque?”
Staring at him, the imam said, “Why?”
Why? Luke thought to himself. Not knowing what to say, he replied, “I’m doing research on mosques that have been built in the area and wanted to talk to the companies who constructed them.”
The man said softly, “There were many people involved in the construction. We don’t share that information. Please look elsewhere. Now if you will excuse me, our afternoon prayers are about to start.”