by Jim Wilson
The fact that they both were fluent in English helped their educational progress. They had received a quality education in Iran, but drugs and equipment in America were both more plentiful and more sophisticated. Her father practiced medicine as a family doctor in Iran. He decided that he would stay in general practice and spent three hours a week assisting at a five doctor practice. They were given a small one room office to share. The second story room had two desks with computers and a window that offered a nice view of the campus below. It was a nice place to keep their books and to study.
Sarah discovered that she really loved to shop. She was no longer limited to the stupid dress laws of Iran. She had made several female friends at the hospital and she took their fashion advice very seriously. She would receive a weekly allowance from the government until she was qualified to practice medicine as a licensed doctor. Sarah had no bills and her rent, car, and other normal expenses were covered in addition to her allowance. She only needed money for food, gas and clothing. Her budget was simple. She would keep one allowance check then she would spend the next check on beautiful American clothing. She enjoyed her new life, and could not wait to tell Bill that the date of their wedding had been set.
The Cranes attended a Methodist church near their home. Sarah’s parents had both been raised as Christians, but were later forced to convert to Islam. With their new home in America, they decided abandon Islam and start going to church with the Cranes. Sarah and her brother had also decided to start considering themselves Christians, but were both happy to be able to sleep late on Sunday morning. She would wait for Bill to decide about religion and knew that he would have much deeper feelings about the subject. Her job was to support him any way that she could and she was building a plan for their lives. She felt enjoyable contentment thinking about making a home. This was a new beginning and she looked forward to everything. Thoughts of a new home, freedom, clothes, children, church, friends and her new practice flashed through her mind. It was a wonderful time in her life.
Bill had a very strange life and she had talked about it with the General. For the average woman he would be an impossible mate. His job was many times more dangerous than a policeman’s and policemen had a very high rate of marriage problems. She would rely on her own strength as an independent woman and would enjoy the companionship when he was home and her new freedom when he was gone. The General had told her that he owned nothing and she must add the value to his life. She would be the practical part of the marriage. He did get paid and his checks were deposited into an account that he had never used. The General told her that when they were married they would get regular pay checks. Some day when she could practice medicine, their combined incomes would be very substantial. She would get him very nice things to come home to. We will have a wonderful life.
The General had also warned her that Bill was in a very dangerous profession. The fact that he had qualifications that were like no one else on earth gave him a better chance to survive. The General told her to take good care of Bill and to enjoy the time they were together. Sarah understood happiness together in a medical way. Some patients with cancer were certainly going to die. Sometimes the cancer would go into remission and they would feel fine, but some patients would worry every second about when the symptoms would return. Some patients would just enjoy the time they felt well and would not worry about the future. It was not easy to change the mindset of the patients that worried about getting sick. As a doctor, it was important to take good care of her patients, but she must be happy with her life. She would be happy for the time she would have Bill.
*****
The Group, the DCIA, and many more including the President were watching the Kansas operation. Bill had penetrated the Topeka Peace Mosque and some felt that it was not worth his valuable time. The President had been given a report by the Secretary of Defense on the results of past actions of Bill and Sam. The SOD had used a term called Cheap War. The President had tried to build a fighting team of men like Bill and he had found nine Americans with special qualifications. He wanted the SOD to attack America’s enemies and make them pay a high price, but the fact was that Bill and Sam were unique. It soon became evident that these nine men would be more useful as leaders in the armed forces, and four of them became Seals. As special as the nine were, the SOD was not able to duplicate what Bill and Sam could do. In fact, three of the nine were lost on their first mission and the President wondered if there would ever be a replacement for Sam.
The director smiled and said out loud, “I have an idea!”
Ivan did not leave Topeka. He decided to stay near Bill’s operation. The FBI had no idea who Bill was. They only knew he was considered a temporarily assigned agent. They were told that he was a Naval Commander and a Seal. The military was not allowed to be used as part of law enforcement and the senior agent in Topeka was not happy. He was also wondering who Ivan was. The DFBI had cleared them both as FBI agents, but the senior agent worried that he would be the one who would go to jail over this. The local FBI did not really understand this case, but the director did. He knew that America was being attacked and this was a battle in a war. He was sure that it was much wider than Kansas and felt that the American response that began in Kansas would decide the battle. This new battle American on our soil could end in victory or defeat. It would be victory by prevention and reduction, and defeat by not stopping the coming carnage. There was a lot to learn from Bill’s understanding of combat. Seals knew that if you fought fair and followed the rules, the other side would claim victory. Bill could feel the threat, and that led him to the Topeka Peace Mosque.
*****
Malcolm was told by his secretary that someone from Africa wanted to see him. She apologized that the receptionist did not even know his name. He had no appointment. “She made me tell you he was here.”
“He is one of the richest men in the world. Go get him and tell the receptionist that she was right to call you.” Why would Henry take this risk to see me? It must be very bad news.
Malcolm saw Henry walking down the long hallway to his office and raced forward to greet him. The secretary turned to leave, but heard the African, “You must cut off the head of that blond American woman.” The secretary quickened her retreat.
“I will take that into consideration Henry.” Then they embraced, and Malcolm led Henry into his office and they shut the door. Henry was very worried about the death of the ayatollah. He did not say it to Malcolm, but it was no loss to the world. He was worried about the attack in Kansas causing the retaliation against the ayatollah as promised by the Americans.
“They were able to kill him in the most secure area of Tehran. If they can do that, we are not safe for one second. I am not the person that wanted this American jihad started. It was all the ayatollah’s idea.”
Henry spoke first, confessing his desire to live. “I have changed slowly over time and I am not sure that I am even a believer anymore. Life for me is wonderful. I am helping orphans. I have a new Gulfstream G5 and I can do anything I want. I am considering starting a few more families. I did not want to kill Americans. I like America and all the things they make. I just wanted to find a way to stay a business man. That is what I do well and I beg you Malcolm, stop this madness we call jihad!”
Malcolm was now in two worlds. He completely understood Henry’s fear. He could address the fear in terms of Allah rewarding him more if he could overcome his fear, but he decided that he would confess his concerns to Henry before trying to bring him back to Islam. “I am finding the business man’s life very fulfilling. I have learned so much from the opportunity that you have given me. Look at this office. We just struck oil in Texas. I also love the Falcon. I have all this and I must be grateful to Allah. We only have these things because they tools for jihad.”
I must convince Malcolm that he is right or I will die in this office. “Malcolm you are correct. I had a flash of fear. I must be stronger, and pray for more courage. You have done what I
have told you to do and we are going to be successful. I feel Allah taking my fear. I am now okay.”
With that presentation by Henry, Malcolm seemed to forget his rant. “Malcolm, show me what you are planning.” Malcolm then outlined his entire plan and named the cities and how they were using the nitrates and diesel fuel that Henry had thought of in the first place. He blamed his key man, Bryan, for the two Kansas bombs, but took some of the blame for not being more specific about what the test should be. The good news was that they had learned a lot from the tests.
“The law seems to be unable to connect us to the blasts. We are ready for jihad. Just look at this computer. I am entering the phone numbers of each of the bomb-laden vehicles. When they have been driven to their targets and parked, the computer will call these numbers.” He waved a print out of the phone numbers. ”They will detonate.”
“When can we do this?”
“That is why it is good you have come. You told me that I can have the great home in Libya. I have promised my army they can live in the village of Muzuk. The jihad is much larger than we first considered and I must have a way to get about two hundred to Muzuk. I need you to help me arrange their transport. We will have a wonderful life. Africa is where we need to be because America offers us nothing but pain.”
Henry looked around his office. He is offered nothing but pain. He is a fool. I picked a fool. I am going to find a way to stop this. I am no longer a fool. “I will arrange the transport, but for so many I will need at least three days. See if you can get them to a single location. If we used a Boeing 747 we could take almost four hundred on a single plane trip. I must get Libya to agree to let us fly to Muzuk. You can use the Falcon.”
“We must take all of these men. Any that are promised a new home and are left behind and caught will inform the Americans that we are in Libya.”
“It will take me three days to make the arrangements. Let us have dinner tomorrow night.”
Malcolm nodded, “Can we meet here at 7pm?”
They embraced and Henry headed for his car and driver. His mind was racing trying to find some solution other than going to the CIA. He would get to his plane and think there. He arrived at the hanger and boarded the G5. He went to his large leather seat and opened his mind to any idea of how to stop this madness. Then he remembered the American ambassador to Chad and the people that had come to the great home. If I can talk to them they may understand that I am stopping this and I may not be blamed.
Henry dialed information and got the phone number of the embassy in Chad. He called the embassy and received a recording that the hours of operation were between 9am to 4pm local time. I must call after 3am Tampa time. He had a plan and called to his guard. “Get my car. I need to get to my hotel!” I must get some sleep. My mind is very tired.
Minutes later, his car and driver arrived and he was taken to the finest hotel in Tampa. The hotel staff was waiting for him. The manager had been told that he was an important man and he was booked into the Presidents Suite. His luggage was unpacked and a fine bottle of red wine was waiting to be poured by his butler. Henry sat on the balcony overlooking a great body of water and asked himself. Why is life so hard? Henry rang for his butler, “Wake me at 3am.”
When the darkest days are gone
The light is sure to see
Paying dearly for the one
Both good and evil be
Chapter 24
Bill arrived at the Peace Mosque and the brothers that drove him from the prison walked with him into the office area. The prison cleric was at a desk located at the back of the room. The cleric stood and shook Bill’s hand. “I am a follower of an Iranian Ayatollah. He personally appointed me to this position. Not long ago, it is likely that the American CIA murdered this great ayatollah in his sleep.” Then he opened a Qur’an that was written in Arabic. “I am from Northern Africa. Can you read Arabic?”
“No I am from Florida.” Bill was fluent in Arabic, but thought that “no” was a better answer.
“If you could read Arabic you would see many references to jihad in the Qur’an. Here it says jihad against non-believers.” He then flipped to several areas of the Qur’an and pointed out scriptures supporting jihad. He moved so fast the Bill was not able to read any of them. “America has murdered my ayatollah and this mosque is called the Peace Mosque. The ayatollah had called for a year of peace, but they killed him.”
“What can I, Mohammad Johnson, do to help with the jihad?”
The cleric opened a drawer in his desk that contained an automatic pistol. He held the pistol in his hand, but it was not visible to Bill. If Mohammad answers wrong I will kill him. “I need you to kill unbelievers.”
Bill did not hesitate and answered, ”I do not want to kill Muslims, but other than that, anyone else is fine as long as it is okay in the Qur’an.”
“In about three days you will drive an ambulance to a specific location and leave. Later it will explode with massive force and many unbelievers will die.”
“Will it be just me driving one ambulance?”
“There will be several ambulances and fire trucks all loaded with high explosives and several brave men. A few want to deliver the vehicle to the location of detonation and stay with the vehicle. They will defend their vehicle and awaken in paradise.”
“Right now I feel like I want to leave, but I may decide to go to paradise. I kind of like the idea of defending the ambulance.”
The cleric shut the drawer to his desk and said, “Tonight I will take you to the farm where the tools of change and destruction are located. Follow me, I will show you to your room. We will meet again for dinner and I will then drive you to the farm.”
Bill nodded yes and thought. I am in the belly of the beast.
*****
The butler called Henry at exactly 3am local time. Henry went to his cell phone and redialed the number to the embassy. This time the call was answered by the switch board. “I am calling from America and I need to talk to the ambassador. It is a matter of life or death.”
“One moment please.”
It was a long two-minute wait before the ambassador’s secretary answered, “The ambassador’s office, can I be of assistance to you?”
“No, I need the ambassador. This is very important.”
After several minutes the ambassador answered, “This is Ambassador Thompson how I can help you?”
Henry introduced himself and reminded him of the dinner at the great home in Libya. They exchanged a few pleasantries and Henry got to the point, “I worked for the ayatollah. I managed his funds and invested for him, but he is now dead. I have discovered that he set up a plot to blow up several American cities. I am now in Tampa, Florida and I flew here to talk his American manager out of doing this terrible thing. We have only two or three days to stop this awful event.”
The ambassador asked where he was and Henry told him. He was told to stay on the line. The ambassador called the Secretary of State’s emergency desk on another line. Henry had just surrendered to America. The ambassador returned to the line. “Henry, this is a very brave thing you are doing. I believe that if you are telling the truth about this warning you will be lifted from our terrorist list. I actually talked to the Director of the CIA. He is sending a team of men who are in Tampa to your hotel room. Stay in your room and do not allow anyone into your room that does not say they are from Mac Dill Air Force Base. They will be there in about three hours. We will keep you safe from retaliation for this action.”
I can keep myself safe except from America. He called his butler and told him that some men were coming to visit him shortly. Henry would try to get a little more sleep while he waited. He did not inform the butler to limit his visitors to men from Mac Dill.
Malcolm was very disappointed in Henry’s change of position on jihad. He was sad to take action against a man that had been responsible for his conversion to Islamic jihad. Allah would have mercy on such a fine man, but he must die to get mercy. Malcolm s
ent three trusted men from the mosque to kill him. The men started their search for Henry at his hanger and his G5 was quickly spotted. The hanger door was open and an armed guard was seated by the door. Malcolm’s men were well dressed and did not look like a threat. One of the men approached the guard as to shake hands. A second man pointed a silenced pistol at the guards head and fired three times. The three men then entered the hanger.
Henry’s pilot was standing near the plane and walked to meet the three men. After a few steps the pilot saw the guard’s body on the ground near the hanger door. A man asked the pilot, “Where is Henry?”
The pilot instantly knew that he was in trouble. They were not men that had long conversations and knew that they were going to kill him no matter what his answer was. He was a brave man and decided that he would not die a coward. “I don’t know.” One of the men raised a pistol and the pilot made a feeble attempt to grab it. Two of the men held him as the third man hit the pilot across the side of his face several times with the pistol. The steward watched helplessly as the men then used knives to slowly murder the pilot, but the pilot remained silent through it all.
The men then approached the steward and he revealed Henry’s hotel to the questioners. His death was quicker than the pilot’s. One of them called the hotel and asked for Henry’s room number and was transferred to his butler. He told the butler they needed to visit Henry. The butler thought they were the men that Henry had told him about and gave the caller his room number and said they were expected. Thirty minutes later they arrived at the hotel and Security required that the butler escort the men to Henry’s room. The butler greeted them and again said that they were expected. All of them went to Henry’s suite and the butler unlocked the door and told them to wait for him to wake Henry. The butler walked into the suite and the visitors follow him despite the butler’s objections. One of the men removed a two foot machete from a case he was carrying and with a single swing he cleanly cut off the butler’s head. Henry was sleeping and with single stroke his head was also removed and placed into a plastic bag. The men then returned to Malcolm’s office and showed the head to him for identification. “That is Henry. This jihad will not be stopped.”