A Prayer for the Devil (37 page)

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 that 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?”

She wrote, filling the page, “TO KILL YOU.”

KAMILAH QUICKLY SCRIBBLED, “I
have to go. School will wonder why I’m late. If I ever say anything about what happened in Boston, they will cut off my hands. I’ve suffered enough.”

Luke looked at her and quietly asked, “Were the Russos’ deaths an accident?”

She looked down at the ground. Luke had his answer.

Shaken, Luke watched passively as Masud took out his gun again and placed it against Kamilah’s head. He yelled in Arabic for a few minutes before finally releasing her. She quickly ran away, looking back at Luke one last time.

Walking back to the car, Luke demanded, “Was that really necessary? And what did you say to her before you let her go?”

“I swore that if she ever told anyone about what just happened, I would have her entire family killed. I know where her sister and brother live. I also promised her that I would kill Fatih’s wife and her entire family. And lastly, I threatened that I would cut off her niece’s fingers until she bled to death.”

Luke looked at him in horror. This prompted Masud to say, “I did it for your benefit.”

Luke doubted that it was for his benefit alone. Masud clearly enjoyed playing the torturer.

Before they got into the car, Masud said, “I wouldn’t suggest talking to Fatih’s father, but if you want me to arrange it, I will.”

Luke ignored him and said, “I’m changing plans and leaving for Boston now. I want to see Jamilah before I leave.” Masud nodded and picked up his phone.

They stopped at the hotel to check out and rebook Luke’s flight, then Masud drove Luke to the airport. When they pulled up to the terminal, Luke asked, “When am I going to see Jami?”

Masud looked in his rearview mirror. “Any second now.”

Looking back, Luke saw a black limo approach. Masud got out and talked to the driver for a few minutes. Returning, he told Luke, “She’s waiting in the car.”

Luke hurried out. The limo driver opened the back door, and Luke climbed in. Jami looked at him and said, “Luke, I will miss you.”

“You’re not coming back with me, are you?”

She shook her head. “No, it was part of my agreement with Layth. I promised to marry him.”

Luke’s eyes filled with tears. “Why are you doing this?”

He could see that she was overcome with emotion. “Because Ablaa would have done it for me.” Then she asked, “Why are you doing this? You’re putting yourself in great danger.”

Overcome with sadness, he replied, “Because Aaron would have done it for me.”

She removed her head scarf and smiled through her tears. “You see, Luke, we are not that much different after all.” Seeing that her driver was preoccupied outside the car, talking with Masud, Luke reached over and hugged her. She returned his embrace.

Before he could leave, Jami said, “Make sure he pays. I will make sure his father pays, even if I have to hire someone myself. Layth will help.”

Luke said despairingly, “I can’t believe I’ll never see you again.”

She forced a smile. “Maybe once Layth understands how stubborn and hotheaded I am, he will divorce me. As Luke began to open the car door, she said seriously, “I’m sure we will meet again.”

When Luke turned away to head toward the terminal building, the limo driver approached him and introduced himself. “Mr. Miller, I’m Layth Abbar. It’s an honor to meet you.” Surprised, Luke held out his hand, but Layth bowed. Luke did the same. “I want you to know that if you need anything else, please let me know,” Layth said.

Luke stared at him. “Be good to Jami.”

Layth smiled. “She already has me driving her around in a limo.” Luke smiled back. Becoming serious, Layth continued, “I have loved her since the first time I saw her.”

Looking into his eyes, Luke believed him.