by Allan, Dale
Luke interrupted her story. “Did you think the man who proposed to you was going to try to hurt you?”
She didn’t answer the question but said, “His family was very powerful, and I disgraced them. Ablaa and I agreed that I should leave without anyone’s knowledge. So I did and have never returned until now.”
Concerned for her safety, Luke asked, “Why did you decide to come back?”
“I already told you. I’ll do anything to see that the people who killed my sister pay for what they’ve done.” She looked at him, and he saw tears in her eyes. “I’m here for the same reason you are. We’re not so different, Luke.”
He was upset that she might be putting herself in danger. “Does Layth know you’re coming?”
“Yes, I called and begged for his help. The private investigator who will be meeting us at the airport works exclusively for his father’s company. He has connections with government officials in Saudi Arabia.”
Not wanting to discuss her past anymore, Jami said, “We should get some rest. Once we get to Riyadh we’re going to have a full day ahead of us.”
She closed her eyes and Luke did the same, both with the hope that the nightmare would soon be over. But Luke wondered if it was just beginning.
WHEN THE PILOT ANNOUNCED that they would soon be landing, Luke opened his eyes and saw that Jami had moved from the aisle seat to the one near the window. He saw her staring at the ground below and wondered how she was feeling. Being a priest, he felt uneasy, knowing that Saudi Arabia was an oppressive country when it came to religious freedom. In Egypt, Christians were tolerated, even though they were a minority and were often persecuted. In Saudi Arabia, there were Christians, albeit most of them foreign workers, but they were forced to practice their faith in secret. Churches were outlawed, as were Bibles and all other religious items, including statues, necklaces, and anything else that indicated a faith other than Islam. The Saudi holy cities of Mecca, where Muhammad is buried under a green dome, and Medina, which contains the mosque of Muhammad, are forbidden to anyone except Muslims. Luke often wondered why the United States considered the Saudis such close allies when their government was as repressive as it was.
Moving back to the aisle seat, Jami turned to look at Luke but didn’t speak, prompting him to say, “It’s going to be all right, I promise. I’m not leaving your side.” A look of concern filled her expressive eyes. Luke gazed out the window and saw exactly what he had expected: sand. Saudi Arabia, the largest country in the Middle East, is 95 percent desert.
Before landing, Jami said, “We can’t be seen together. I’ll contact you. When you leave the plane, don’t look for me. Masud will be waiting for you at the baggage claim.” Before Luke could protest, she stood abruptly and quickly walked back to her original first-class seat.
Luke walked off the plane, and after a few questions at customs he headed toward the baggage claim. The airport was an architectural masterpiece, with fountains, columns, and soaring arched ceilings. As soon as he entered the baggage area, Luke saw a man with a dark complexion heading his way. The man smiled and unexpectedly shook Luke’s hand. “Nice to meet you, Mr. Miller. I’m Masud.”
Luke smiled back. Hearing the man’s perfect English, he asked, “Where are you from?”
He laughed. “I was born about ten miles from where we are standing, but I went to school in California.”
“What school?”
“Stanford.”
Luke knew that many foreign Muslims attended school in the United States. He had even read of a puzzling trend taking place where Muslim students had begun attending Christian universities. Some universities had installed footbaths so Muslim students could wash their feet before prayers instead of making do by using bathroom sinks.
“That’s a great school,” Luke responded.
“Yes, it is.”
Walking out of the airport and into the warm air, Masud stopped at the curb and looked in both directions. Within seconds, a black sedan arrived, and a young man jumped out to open the back door. Luke and Masud climbed in back, and they drove out of the airport. Not much was said during the half-hour ride to central Riyadh. When they finally turned into a parking lot, Luke looked up and saw the sign for the Four Seasons at Kingdom Centre.
Masud exited the car first and Luke followed. As they walked into the impressive building, Masud said, “Mr. Miller, you have an open-ended reservation here. Just let the desk clerk know when you will be leaving.”
He motioned to a group of chairs in the lobby. “Please, sit down.” Luke sat, and Masud pulled his chair close. “Do you know who Layth Abbar is?”
“Only that Jami knows him.”
“Jami?” Masud questioned. “Oh, you mean Jamilah.”
“Yes.”
“I work for the Abbar family. They are very powerful and have great influence in Saudi Arabia. Layth met with me personally to let me know that it was important that you receive all the information you need. It is his desire that you leave here satisfied, and it is imperative to me that he is satisfied.” Luke smiled and Masud continued, “Since yesterday, I’ve had a team of men investigating Fatih Abu and his family. We have much to discuss, but I think you should go to your room and rest while I meet with my men. I will be back to pick you up in three hours.”
Luke innocently asked, “What about Jami, I mean Jamilah? Will she be with you?”
Masud frowned. “Mr. Miller, there are vast differences between Saudi Arabia and the U.S. In this county, a single woman cannot be seen alone with a man in public unless they are married. Women who ignore this law are put on trial for prostitution and can be sentenced to death. I understand and appreciate your country and its traditions, but most people here do not. Women cannot drive and must adhere to a strict dress code that ensures their entire body is covered in public.” Trying to further educate Luke, he said strongly, “You should also know that alcohol is prohibited, and there are no theaters, bars, or nightclubs.” Looking directly at Luke, he added, “And absolutely no churches. If you go to a restaurant while you are here, make sure you sit in the single men’s section.”
Luke looked up and said, “Are you serious?”
“Yes, Mr. Miller, I am. This is not Cairo; it’s much stricter. Even the shopping malls contain separate floors that are restricted to women only.”
Luke tried to suppress a yawn, and Masud said, “Go, get some rest. I will come back soon.”
Masud followed Luke to the desk to check in and let him know that all of his expenses had been taken care of by Layth. They walked to the elevator together. After shaking his hand again, Masud said, “I will see you in a few hours.”
Luke entered his room and was astonished at its opulence. It was nicer than his bedroom at Aaron’s house, and it wasn’t just one room, it was an entire apartment. After exploring for a few minutes, he collapsed on the bed. Completely exhausted, he tried to rest, but Jami’s safety continued to preoccupy him. He wondered what she was doing right now. Was she with Layth, and if so, was she safe?
LUKE’S DEEP SLEEP WAS violently disturbed by a ringing phone. Not knowing where he was initially, his heart raced. On the fourth ring, he regained his bearings and answered, “Hello?”
“Mr. Miller, I’m in the lobby.”
Luke rushed into the bathroom to quickly freshen up and then hurried onto the elevator. When the door opened at the lobby level, Masud was standing directly in front of him. “Did you get some rest?”
“Yes, thank you.”
As they walked outside, Masud said, “I’m going to be driving this time, but you can sit in the back if you feel more comfortable.”
Luke declined and got into the passenger seat. They pulled out of the parking lot and onto the busy street. Luke asked, “Have you seen Jamilah?”
“No, I haven’t.”
“Do you know where she is?”
“I don’t, Mr. Miller.”
Getting frustrated, Luke said, “Please, call me Luke. And if you talk to La
yth, let him know that I’m not leaving until I know she’s safe.”
Masud pulled the car to the side of the road and turned to face him. “Luke, my job is to help you find Fatih Abu. I don’t know anything about Jamilah. I didn’t even know she existed until yesterday. But I do know that she is very important to Layth. Please know that I’m going to do whatever I can to help you, but I can’t assist you with Jamilah.”
“I apologize if I offended you, but you can understand that I’m concerned for her safety.”
“I understand. Let me tell you about Layth. He is the youngest of his three brothers and is one of the most gentle people I have ever met. He is very educated and has traveled the world. But the most important thing you need to know about him is that he has a kind heart. I cannot imagine him hurting anyone. When he told me about Jamilah, his eyes filled with tears. He said that she was the most beautiful woman he had ever seen.”
“Thank you for telling me that.”
When they pulled up to a small office building and parked, Luke asked, “Where are we going?”
“This is one of my offices. We are going to meet with three of my men so they can tell you what they have found.”
“Can they be trusted?” Luke asked.
Masud answered seriously, “Yes, with their lives.”
They gathered in a small room containing a conference table and several chairs, and each one of Masud’s team introduced themselves in English.
Masud pointed to a young, dark-haired man who appeared to be in his early twenties, who spoke slowly and with purpose: “I’ve talked to a few of his friends. All of them have told me the same thing, that he hasn’t been seen since yesterday.”
He pointed to the next man, who said, “I’ve had his father’s compound under surveillance for the past twenty-four hours.”
Luke interrupted. “His father’s compound?”
The young man looked confused. Masud said, “What’s wrong, Luke?”
“I thought his parents were killed in a plane crash.”
Masud looked around the table. “I can assure you that they are alive and well.”
Luke’s heart raced. Masud nodded, and the young man who had been talking continued, “His father hasn’t left the compound, but he is there. His mother walks a young girl to the local school in the morning and goes to get her in the afternoon. I think she’s Fatih’s wife.”
Luke bluntly asked, “How old is she?”
The young man hesitated and Masud said, “Answer the question.”
“Based on the school she is attending, I would guess that she is between eleven and twelve.”
Luke shook his head in disgust.
Masud pointed to the last man, who said, “I’ve also been trying to find Fatih.”
Masud glared at him. “Well, keep trying!”
Looking at Luke, Masud asked, “What would you like to do?”
“I want to talk to his mother.”
Masud agreed. “That is probably a good place to start. We can try to detain her when she returns to school this afternoon.”
Before dismissing his men, Masud said, “Let me know immediately if you find out anything else.”
Luke thanked each of them. Masud looked at his watch and said, “We have a few hours. Is there anything else you would like to see while you are here?”
Luke thought for a minute. “How about Chop Chop Square?”
Masud looked surprised. “You mean As-Sufaat square?”
Unsure, Luke replied, “The place where the beheadings take place.”
“Are you sure? You might see more than you wished for.”
“Yes, I’m sure.”
AFTER DRIVING FOR TWENTY minutes, Masud parked the car and said, “Follow me.” As they walked to As-Sufaat, Luke noticed that the perimeter was lined with palm trees and occupied benches. Once inside the square, he looked down and saw huge granite slabs intermingled with decorative tiles. The center of the busy square was crowded with people, including many families with laughing children, giving the whole scene a festive atmosphere. Surprised, Luke asked, “This is where the executions take place?”
“Yes. Come this way, I’ll show you.”
Luke was flabbergasted. These people where acting like nothing bad ever happened here. Walking toward the middle, Masud pointed to a large drain. Luke commented, “What’s that?”
“It’s for the blood.”
Masud explained that decapitation was reserved for crimes such as murder, adultery, drug trafficking, and renouncing Islam. Mere thieves would only have their hands or feet amputated.
Horrified, Luke asked, “When do these atrocities take place?”
Thinking that Luke was truly interested, Masud continued. “Here’s what happens on an execution day. A van surrounded by police cars arrives unannounced. The criminal, shrouded in white linen, is drugged so that he can’t fight back. He is forced to kneel, and the executioner takes his place. To use your baseball pastime as a metaphor, the executioner takes one check swing with our traditional curved sword, which the condemned man feels as the cold steel touches his neck. Then the slaughterer pulls back and, as you would say in the States, swings for the fences. The head rolls away from the body, which stays upright for a few seconds with blood spurting before falling to the ground. Local merchants often bet on which way the body will fall. You would be surprised at how much blood there is. That’s why the drain is required. The executioner wipes his sword, and the body and head are thrown into the van. Minutes later, after the granite is washed down, it is as if nothing ever happened.”
Luke looked at him with revulsion and asked, “Does compassion have any meaning in this country?”
Stone-faced, Masud looked at him. “Compassion is considered a weakness. If you want, I’m sure that I can find out if there’s going to be a beheading tomorrow.”
“That won’t be necessary.”
As they walked, Luke became more convinced that anyone raised in this environment had no choice but to place little value on life. In a perverse way, he could now understand how Fatih and his father were capable of plotting the intricacies of a long-term plan that involved killing Vincent’s parents, taking over a construction company, and planting a bomb in Boston. He was staggered to realize that Fatih had the ability to unfeelingly murder his adoptive parents, who had cared for him as a natural son.
He wondered if two religious cultures that were so dramatically different could coexist in America. How could Christians who believed in religious freedom and forgiveness coexist with Muslims who beheaded nonbelievers and used torture for minor infractions of religious laws?
They stopped to eat lunch, but Luke was in no mood for food. Looking at his watch, Masud finally said, “We’d better get going.”
During the drive toward Fatih’s parents’ compound, Masud conferred with his men by phone. As they got close, he parked on a street a few blocks away. When Luke prepared to exit the car, Masud said, “I will be going with you.”
Confused, Luke asked, “Why?”
“For two reasons: in case Kamilah speaks only Arabic or in case she won’t cooperate.” Before Luke could protest, he continued, “We will talk to her before she gets to the school and meets Fatih’s wife.”
They stood on the side of the desolate street, near a narrow alley. Masud’s cell phone rang, and he said to Luke, “She’s on her way.”
Luke’s heart pounded as they waited. Seeing Kamilah in the distance, Masud said, “There she is. I’ll make the initial contact. Don’t say or do anything until I tell you.” Luke was apprehensive about what was going to happen, but it was too late.
When she was just a few feet away, Masud stepped into her path and she stopped. He moved closer and said something in Arabic. She didn’t respond. He pulled a badge out of his pocket and grabbed her by the arm. She tried to fight by pulling away, but his grip was too tight. He dragged her into the narrow alley where Luke was standing.
As she saw Luke, he could tell by her eyes t
hat she recognized him. Masud was yelling at her in Arabic, but she still wasn’t responding. Unexpectedly, he reached up, grasped her around the neck, and slammed her into the concrete wall. She groaned, and Luke immediately intervened. “Let her go now!” he yelled as he grabbed Masud’s arm with brute force. When Luke wrenched Masud’s hand away, she fell to the ground, weeping.
Luke helped her to her feet and said strongly, “You need to talk to me. I know what your son did.” He was horrified when she opened her mouth and grunted. At that moment, he realized that her tongue was cut out. In shock, he buried his face in his hands. Then instinctively, he reached out to hold her in his arms. Quickly realizing that he shouldn’t be touching her, he abruptly stepped back. Unfazed, Masud stepped in and handed her a pen and a piece of paper that he took from his pocket. Again, he began yelling in Arabic. She took the paper and started writing. When she showed the paper to Masud, Luke asked, “What does it say?”
Masud said, “She didn’t know what they were planning. When she found out what they were going to do, she threatened to go to the authorities, so they cut out her tongue.”
Luke cringed and asked softly, “Where is Fatih now?”
She stared at him but didn’t write anything. Luke stared back, unsure of what to do. Unexpectedly, Masud grabbed her by the throat again, this time putting his gun to her head. Before Luke could react, he screamed, “Answer the question.”
She nodded and Masud released her. She began writing, this time in English. “He’s not here.”
Frustrated, Masud pulled back the trigger and aimed. Luke grabbed him by the arm. Seeing this, she began writing as she stared at Luke. “He left for the U.S. this morning.”
Suspiciously, Luke asked, “Why is he going back now, after all these years?”