That wasn the last straw. John’s constant reminders of her promise and her limitations had to stop. This man was her employee, not her boss! Yes, she was in love with him, but he was interfering with her mission. She’d tried to walk away from John, but he wouldn’t let her go. She thought she’d fired him, but he didn’t seem to notice. He held her to her promise, even as he held her heart.
When she’d introduced John to her team, he practically took command. Anke’s usually razor honed instincts and rock like dedication to a mission had been immediately overwhelmed. Did the man have the same effect on all women? Of course not, it was something else. Maybe it was the natural leadership he seemed to exude, or the thoughtful way he made his case for waiting to take Baha. Whatever it was, she’d never seen her team take to an outsider so quickly.
Then there’d been the fruitless and frustrating surveillance of the wrong suspects in the wrong vehicles. Nat Baha slipped away, as though he’d planned it that way. So close, now he was gone again.
This had been without any question the most extraordinary day of her life. Her joys, sorrows, frustrations, fears and anxiety all culminating in a moment as she sat in the passenger seat of John’s truck, late at night. He’d introduced her to the man of her dreams. Not himself, but the man who had been born of a virgin, suffered as an innocent, died a martyr and rose from the dead in glory. Jesus, the Christ. John Wesley Tucker had introduced her to the messiah! She knew her life would never be the same.
How had all this happened? She’d come to Texas to find and kill an international terrorist. It was the kind of mission at which she and her team had become proficient. From the moment she met John Wesley Tucker, the wheels had come off. She wasn’t in control, she was in trouble. Even as Hafsah recognized this fact, she also realized how delightfully happy she was!
Slowly, Hafsah drifted off to sleep with a smile in her face and the most warm and peaceful feeling she’d ever known.
40
Christine and Tony met us at church the next morning.
Hafsah immediately spotted the sparkling diamond on Christine’s finger.
“Oh, Christine that is a beautiful engagement ring!”
“It should be, it cost an arm and a leg.” Tony said.
Christine gave him a gentle swat.
“…Her price is far above rubies” I quoted from Proverbs 31.
“Indeed it is.” Tony said.
Christine shot him a dirty look.
“What? I’m just agreeing with J.W.” Tony said. “I’ve never known a more virtuous woman.”
“Quit, while you’re ahead.” I advised him.
Tony changed the subject.
“Hafsah, I’m delighted to see you here. I don’t mean to be rude, but last night you were wearing traditional Muslim clothing. Today, you look like the cover of Vogue magazine. Both are beautiful, but why so different?”
Hafsah smiled and said, “That was very tactful, Lieutenant Escalante.”
“You haven’t answered the question, and please call me Tony.”
“Thank you, I will, Tony.”
Tony looked at me.
“Is she always this evasive, J.W.?”
“Do you ever stop being a detective, Lieutenant Escalante?”
“It’s a woman’s right to wear whatever she wants.” Christine cut in. “At least here in America, it is.”
Tony looked confused.
Hafsah came to his rescue.
“Last night I was meeting some Muslim men. It was important they think of me as a traditional Muslim woman. Today I am a Christian. Do you understand, Tony?”
Tony was attempting to decipher what she was implying.
“Sure, I guess. When in Rome…”
“No, Tony. That’s only part of what she’s saying. Hafsah was raised as a Muslim. Since you saw her last night, there is a difference. Hafsah really has become a Christian.” I said.
“Oh, that’s wonderful news. We’re sisters in Christ, Hafsah!” Christine exclaimed.
The two women hugged for a moment.
For a change, Tony was speechless.
After church we all went to lunch together at Liang’s, our favorite Chinese restaurant.
I raised my water glass in a toast.
“I’m sorry we weren’t able to join you last night, but I want to take this opportunity to toast the newly engaged.”
The others raised their glasses.
“Tony, Christine, may God richly bless you in your marriage. May He draw you ever closer to Him and to each other.”
“Hear, hear.” Was the general response, as we clinked glasses all round.
Hafsah looked a little bemused.
”Is something wrong?” I asked her.
“Is it not considered bad luck to toast with water?” She asked.
“Yes, it is in some circles. When I was in the Navy, it was considered bad luck. I suppose somebody somewhere really believes if you step on a crack; it will cause the fracture of your mother’s vertebrae. Or a broken mirror will bring seven years of bad luck. What is luck? I don’t believe in luck, or silly superstitions. I believe God loves me and has good plans for my life. My concern needs to be following where He leads and obeying His word. If I’m doing that, I can break seven mirrors and walk on cracks all day long.”
“Amen to that!” Tony said. “The toast is intended to bring people together in agreement on a special occasion. It shouldn’t matter what the beverage is.”
“We do it because we’re celebrating a shared value.”
“…Even though we’re living in a country that’s allowed the culture to dictate people’s attitudes and values. What was once normal is now strange. What was weird is now normal. It’s upside down and backwards.” Christine added.
Hafsah nodded, and said, “I have seen what you are speaking of in many places throughout the world. Islam is a partial exception. Islam dictates what people’s attitudes and values are to be, through the laws of sharia. In some countries this is strictly enforced, in others there is more tolerance of local cultural norms, is this not true of Christianity, as well.”
“I understand what you’re saying, but there is a difference. Where Islam dictates culture, Christianity informs culture. Where Islam enforces sharia, Christianity enforces nothing, allowing people to make their own choices, forgiving those who offend.” Tony replied.
“Is there not much animosity between Christians, homosexuals, and people who have other alternative lifestyles? I have seen and heard reporting of how Christians are intolerant of many people in this culture.” Hafsah said.
“Christians are supposed to recognize and address the sin in their own lives before they speak about anyone else’s sin. Christians are just as guilty of sin as anyone else. The difference is Christians are striving to put an end to their own sinful habits. Christians are portrayed as being intolerant of other people’s personal choices and private behavior. Christians tend to be intolerant of what they see as ever-increasing moral decay. There’s conflict, because some of the most sinful behaviors in this culture are flaunted and glorified. Christians would never celebrate their own shameful sin and flaunt it publicly. We can’t celebrate our shame.
Until very recently that was a shared value in our culture. Christians are opposed to public policy and open displays of behavior that’s contrary to the teachings of the scriptures. This is viewed as being intolerant of the people themselves. Saying anything in opposition to this celebration of sin and moral decay of the culture is considered hate speech in many parts of the country. If it’s any form of intolerance, it’s intolerance of being forced to support something we believe is wrong. When the Supreme court announced that homosexual marriage should become the law of the land, some people celebrated, other mourned. There were judges, justices of the peace, and county clerks all across the country, who felt they had to resign their positions because they couldn’t bring themselves to sanction something they believed was wrong. Many of them were publicly castigate
d and ridiculed.” Tony said.
Hafsah considered his answer.
“The definition of what we call ‘culture’ is formed by people’s shared attitudes and values. It represents the behavioral norm of a group of people or a society. Christine’s point is that the present culture strives to get all people to reject everything we used to have as shared traditional attitudes and values, and replace them with personal and individualized values. What happens when everyone is pretty much free to do whatever they want? It’s the very thing that causes division, insecurity and eventually, lawlessness. We’re seeing lawlessness spreading across the country. There are more and more people with no respect for law and order. This emphasis on individual liberty, without shared or common values, creates conflicts and eventually destroys a culture.” I said.
“America has exported many cultural elements to other parts of the world, everything from fast food to hip-hop music and pornography. I suspect personal freedom and rejection of traditional values is also part of the culture we export.” Tony suggested.
“It is one of the reasons Islam hates the west. Islamic leaders see the west as corrupt and vile. In many respects, I think they are right.” Hafsah said.
We all considered her statement for a moment.
“Culture tries, but fails, to dictate what the people of God do. I’m reminded of Daniel, Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego. They were dragged away from Israel and taken into a completely different culture in Babylon. They refused to bow to those edicts that violated the Law of Moses or the leading of God.” I said. “They lived as people of faith in the midst of a culture opposed to those values.”
“Right, whatever the cultural norm may be, there are people within the culture who have differing values. He mentioned Daniel and his friends, back in the day. A more modern example is the Amish people here in America. Because of their beliefs they’ve rejected much of the modern, mechanized and digital world. They continue to live, or at least try to live, in the same way their ancestors did, sharing common values. So devoted to those values, they’re still plowing with horses and lighting their homes with lamps and candles, while you and I are ordering smart phones off the internet.” Tony said.
“Good example. To me, it proves people can hold on to their personal beliefs and values in the midst of a world that’s becoming increasingly contrary and counter to those beliefs and values.” I said.
“Can one do both? Can a person accept and enjoy the things of the world and remain devoted to their faith?” Hafsah asked.
“The Bible says, ‘Do not love the world or the things in the world. If anyone loves the world, love for the Father is not in him. For all that is in the world, the lust of the flesh, the lust of the eyes and the pride of life, is not of the Father, but is of the world. And the world passes away, and the lust of it; but he who does the will of God abides forever’.” I quoted. “Christians struggle every day to overcome the temptations and distractions of the world, the flesh, and the devil. We live in the world, but we are not of the world. We can enjoy some of the things of the world, but we cannot love those things. We are called to be salt and light for the world. So, we inform and model what it means to be a Christian. We hold to the values we’ve learned and let our light shine in the darkness. We must bloom where we’re planted, even in the midst of a hostile environment.” I said.
“Is this not an example of why Christians must strive to maintain their commitment to their core beliefs in the midst of a changing culture?” Hafsah asked.
“It is,” I said. “The culture is becoming more and more hostile towards Christians, who are viewed by many as backwards or even mentally deficient. The number of people who self-identify as Christian is dwindling in this country.”
“…At least for now.” Christine observed. “Let’s not worry about all that. Each day is a gift. Yesterday is a memory and tomorrow is a mystery. We only have today. I’m glad we all get to spend some time together, today.”
“This is the day the Lord has made, let us rejoice and be glad in it.” I quoted.
“Well, amen to that, too!” Tony replied.
“Yep, today is a great day, congratulations again, you two.” I said. I raised my glass in their honor.
I hold that moment in my mind, like a snapshot in a photo album. The four of us sitting there, grinning at each other like we didn’t have a care in the world.
41
We heard sirens in the distance, not uncommon in a city of this size. Immediately there were multiple sirens as fire trucks and police cars headed West on the south loop raced by, right outside the restaurant.
“I wonder what all that’s about?” I started to say.
Tony’s pager and his cell phone both chirped at the same time, interrupting me. He answered the phone, as he looked at his pager. He listened, his eyes got big and his mouth dropped open.
“…In route, ETA three minutes. Scramble SWAT and request assistance from all available officers in all agencies.” He said into the phone, as he leaped up from the table.
“I have to go. There’s an active shooting incident at the mall. J.W., will you and Hafsah take Christine home, please.” He gave Christine a quick squeeze and a peck on the cheek.
“Be safe…” Christine called to him as he ran for the exit.
Hafsah and I stared at each other for a moment, both of us thinking the same thought. “Let’s go to the office.” I suggested. I waived to the waitress to bring us our bill.
“I need to go to the hotel.” Hafsah said.
“I think it might be better if you call your team, and invite them to join us at my office.”
Christine was chewing her lip.
“Why? Do you two know what’s happening?” She asked.
My office was only about three quarters of a mile and only two stop lights away from the restaurant. Oddly, it was about the same distance from the mall. The parking lot of the six-story office building was virtually abandoned on a Sunday. The bank occupying the first floor was closed and there was little or no business being conducted in any of the offices on the other floors.
When the three of us raced into my outer office, I turned on the television. There was nothing on the national news or the cable channels related to the current event. They were all still focused on the FBI raid in East Texas. What could have gone wrong? What was the real cause of the explosion at that remote farmhouse?
None of the network affiliates had news programs on at this time on a Sunday afternoon. The local news was trying to get on top of the story. A ticker popped up at the bottom of a football game on one channel, advising the public to avoid the area around the mall. Police had reported a shooting at the mall with an unknown number of casualties… On another channel a shaken news reporter appeared on the screen announcing they were breaking into the scheduled program to report there was some sort of shooting incident at the mall.
“Ladies and gentlemen, we are being told the public should avoid the area around Broadway and Loop 323. It seems there’s been a shooting at the shopping mall on South Broadway at Loop 323, in the city of Tyler. Let me repeat this, the public is asked to avoid the area around the shopping mall on South Broadway at Loop 323, in Tyler. Witnesses have said they heard multiple gunshots inside the mall. The scene is chaotic and emergency vehicles are having difficulty getting through the traffic. Again, the public is advised to avoid the area around the mall located on South Broadway, in the city of Tyler. We’ll continue to monitor the situation and bring you the story as fast as we can. This is an ongoing situation and we have a reporter on the way to the scene. We return you now to the program already in progress.”
“What do you think is happening, John?” Hafsah asked.
“It’s too soon to tell. There’ve been other incidents and shootings at the mall. The place is popular with young people and some of them are in gangs. Sometimes things get out of hand.”
I changed the channel.
“…I’ve heard it before. I’m telling you,
I know an AK when I hear one. Two tours in Nam. I’ll tell you something else. There was more than one shooter. People were screaming…”
A reporter was interviewing someone on the scene.
Now we knew. There was only one logical conclusion.
Jihadist butchers had attacked the mall. The feds had seen something coming, but not in time to stop it. We were also responsible. The bloodshed and loss of life was partially due to our own failure.
Within hours, every major news organization in the United States was on the scene and Tyler was once again on the map. This was the top story and would be the banner headline on Monday morning in every newspaper in the country. No other story could be as riveting or good for their ratings. Acts of terrorism and mass murders of the general public were much more interesting to see being discussed by the talking heads on the morning television news programs.
The rest of the afternoon was filled with watching the news and discussing what, when, and if we could do anything to put an end to this horror. Christine was no longer afforded the privilege of ignorance. Initially her primary concern was for Tony’s safety. That concern was replaced by outrage and anger. She became part of the discussion of what could be done to find and stop these killers.
After her team joined us, Hafsah spoke with her superiors in Israel. It was being discussed in Israel whether or not, and to what degree to alert the FBI and provide them with the information we’d gathered. For now, Hafsah and her team were ordered to continue gathering intelligence and be prepared to act if the opportunity presented itself.
I was ready to hand the whole thing over to Jack and the federal authorities. I was even tempted to call Tony and tell him the whole story. Failure to provide law enforcement authorities with information would probably be construed as interference in a criminal investigation and could get me arrested. I had no desire to be considered any kind of an accomplice to this madness. On the other hand, the feds knew all about it, long before I did.
The Ticking Clock Page 16
