Chapter 7
The following week, Kevin got a telephone call from an excited Agent Simmons. He insisted Kevin come down to FBI headquarters the following morning. Although Kevin asked him what was up, Simmons wouldn't discuss it over the phone. All he would say is that they might have found one of the men in the photograph Kevin had picked out. Kevin didn't know how he felt about the possibility of the capture of the man who shot him. He was just starting to get over all of the horrible trauma he had experienced. Now, if there was a trial, he would have to relive it all over again.
Kevin arrived at FBI headquarters precisely at nine the following morning. As he was waiting to speak to the receptionist, Agent Simmons walked in the front door.
"Oh, you're here, right on time, Kevin. Thanks for coming down. Let's go back to my office."
"Sure," Kevin replied.
He followed Agent Simmons down a long corridor to his office. As he stepped inside, he was impressed at how clean and orderly it looked. He had thought most cops were slobs. Then he remembered–this was the FBI.
"Have a seat."
"Thanks. So you found the guy, huh?"
"We think so. The Port of Spain police put out an all-points-bulletin on both the persons you identified from the mug shots the other day. Their pictures were also printed in Trinidad's national newspaper, the Daily Express. It wasn't long before the police were getting tips on where they might find one of the guys. It turns out he's a security officer for a local shipping company."
"Oh really? What about the other guy?"
"Funny you should ask. It turns out both pictures are of the same person. He apparently used an alias and had been arrested and booked under both names. That's why we're certain this is our man."
"So, did they arrest him?"
"Not yet, but they've located him."
"What's the problem? Why don't they nab the bastard?"
"Trinidad is a democracy, like the United States. They have a constitution and due process, just like we do. They can't just go arrest someone unless they have solid evidence. I'm afraid your photo ID isn't going to cut it."
"So what are they going to do?"
"Well, as a matter of fact, that's why I’ve called you down here today. They want you to go to Port of Spain, so you can identify the guy in a lineup."
"Oh shit. You've got to be kidding. When do they want me to go?"
"Right away."
A cold wave of uncertainty washed over Kevin. He was stunned. The thought of going to Trinidad had never even occurred to him. He briefly considered the ramifications of the FBI’s unexpected request. He didn’t know why, but he didn’t have a good feeling about it.
“Right away? But I've already missed so much school this year. I can't afford to miss any more."
"You can make up your studies later. This is more important, don't you think?"
Kevin stared silently at Agent Simmons. Still in shock he began to collect himself. "How long will it take?"
"A week or ten days is all. They'll need you to do the lineup. Then you'll testify before a grand jury or magistrate–or some other official. I'm not exactly sure what their procedure is there, but it's similar to ours."
"What about the trial? Will I have to be there for that?"
"Probably, but that will be months off."
Uncertainty now turned to anger. I’ve already risked my life to save the Prime Minister–now they want me to turn my life upside down? I can’t believe this!
"Crap! . . . What if I refuse?"
"Well, we could extradite the suspect to the United States for trial, but the Trinidad and Tobago government doesn't want us to do that. They want to have a quick trial down there and then hang him–to set an example and send a powerful message to other dissidents. They can't force you to come to Trinidad, but the Prime Minister has notified the State Department that it is of the utmost urgency that you come. As a matter of fact, I've got a letter for you from the Prime Minister himself."
"You're kidding. He wrote me a letter?" Kevin asked–his anger now giving way to curiosity.
Agent Simmons opened his middle drawer and pulled out a letter on the Prime Minister's stationery, secured with his official seal. Kevin took it from him and looked at it with a tinge of excitement.
"You might want to open it and see what it says," Agent Simmons suggested.
"Do you have a letter opener?” Kevin said now smiling. “I don't want to damage it. This will definitely have to go in my scrapbook."
Agent Simmons opened his middle drawer again. This time, he pulled out a letter opener.
"Here you go," he said as he handed it to Kevin.
"Thanks."
After Kevin opened the envelope, he pulled out the letter and began reading it. Suddenly, his eyes lit up, he smiled broadly at Agent Simmons and said, "When do I leave?"
Kevin couldn't wait to get home and show the letter from Prime Minister Shah to his mother. He was so happy, he could hardly contain himself. He had to share his joy with someone. Luckily the traffic on Central Expressway had died down. Rush hour was over. He raced home, going seventy-five most of the way. He came to a screeching halt in front of his house, ran to the front door and rushed inside.
“Mom! Mom! Where are you? I've got incredible news."
Kevin raced into the laundry room, where his mother was loading the dryer.
"Mom, there you are. Guess what?"
"What, honey?"
"I'm going to Trinidad."
"What?"
"I've got a letter from Prime Minister Shah. You want me to read it to you?"
"Of course,” she said, amused by her son’s exuberance. “Don’t keep me in suspense."
Kevin began to read the letter.
Dear Mr. Wells,
I want to apologize for not personally thanking you for saving my life at the Caribbean Trade Conference. Unfortunately, at the time I had urgent matters of state that needed my immediate attention. I trust the President conveyed to you my sincerest thanks for your courageous deed.
I know you have already done so much for me, my family and for the people of Trinidad-Tobago. Accordingly, it is with great reluctance that I send you this letter asking your help once again. You are the only person who can testify as to the identity of the scoundrel who would have deprived our people of their elected Prime Minister. I need you. The people of Trinidad-Tobago need you to come to Port of Spain–to do your duty as a citizen of democracy to insure justice is done.
Of course, I would insist that while you are here, you stay at my home, as my guest. While I will be busy tending to my duties as Prime Minister, my wife and my daughters will give you all of their attention, so that your stay will be most enjoyable.
I will anxiously await your reply.
Sincerely,
Ahmad Shah
Kevin looked up excitedly to see his mother's response. "So what do you think?"
Mrs. Wells hesitated. "I don't know what to say. I hate for you to leave the country. I don't know anything about Trinidad. Is it safe?"
"Of course. I'll be staying with the Prime Minister for godsakes. Anyway, I've got to go. Did you catch the gist of the last paragraph?–I will have all of Kiran's attention while I'm in Trinidad. That's so incredible! I never thought I'd ever see her again and now I'm going to spend ten days with her. I can't believe it! I'm so excited I can hardly stand it!"
"I know you’re excited, honey, but you've only met this girl one time. You’ve only been with her for twenty minutes. Why are you so infatuated with her?"
"I'm not infatuated with her, I'm in love with her. She's an angel, a goddess. All I can think about is being with her!"
Mrs. Wells frowned and started to respond but Kevin interrupted her.
"For a while, I thought I would never see her again. I was almost resigned to living a life of misery without her, but it must be our destiny to b
e together. I mean, how can you explain what has happened? There's some divine intervention here, Mom. You can't deny it."
"I don't know, Kevin. What if she doesn't love you? I mean, she barely knows you."
"She will. I know she will."
"I don't want you to get hurt, honey. You've got to be more realistic about this. Don't expect too much. You should talk to your father. He went steady with a few girls before he met me. I'm sure he thought he was in love too."
"I'll talk to Dad, but there's nothing he could say that will change the way I feel."
"Well, if you do go to Trinidad, you should get to know Kiran before you start planning your future. Take it slow. She may be an entirely different person than you think."
"I'll be careful, Mom, don't worry."
"I will worry, I'll be scared to death every minute you're gone."
Kevin smiled warmly, then put his arms around her again. "There’ll be nothing to worry about. I'll be perfectly safe. I'll call you every couple days."
"You better call me every day."
"Okay, every day."
The Prime Minister's Daughter Page 7
