A Prayer for the Devil (35 page)

He thought he heard her voice quiver, but she finally answered, “Yes, I’m fine.”

“You don’t seem like yourself today.”

She said softly, “I’m fine, just tired. Before it gets too late in Riyadh, let me call the investigator and give him your flight information.”

Worried, Luke said, “Is there anything I can do to help?”

“No, I’ll talk to you tomorrow.”

“Probably not, since I’ll be at the airport early.”

After hanging up, Luke printed his boarding pass, logged off, and thought about what to do next. First, he called John and asked him to come over so that he could fill him in on his plans. Next he called Deborah.

She answered on the second ring. “Hi, Luke!”

“How have you been?”

“Great. The kids are having a wonderful time. They miss you, though.”

“I miss them, too.”

He could hear her walking and shutting a door. She whispered, “I just wanted to let you know that Lori may be returning to Boston in a few days.”

Concerned, Luke asked, “Is everything OK?”

“Not really. She’s going to meet with her lawyer and file for divorce. I’m sure she wouldn’t mind me telling you, but I don’t want to talk about it in front of the children.”

Luke thought about suggesting counseling or having them talk to a priest, but as much as he prayed for understanding, he disdained her husband, Dick, with a vengeance.

“I’m sorry to hear that,” he said insincerely.

Deb snapped back, “I’m not. If you knew half the things I know about that jerk husband of hers, you would understand.” Changing the topic, she continued, “Can you come up and stay with us? Maybe next week?”

He decided not to tell her that he was going to be on his way to
Saudi Arabia in the morning, not only so that she wouldn’t worry but also at this point, the less she knew, the better. “I’d really like to, but let’s see how things go.”

Before hanging up, Deborah added, “I told Lori that she could stay at our house if she wants. Her mother-in-law lives at their house, and she doesn’t want her to know that she is home. I’ve already alerted our security guards.” She added, “We really miss you. Please come to see us.”

“I’ll call in a few days.”

Luke found Vincent in the family room watching a football game with Justice lying on his lap. Seeing Luke, the dog began wagging his tail. “Vincent, don’t get up. I’m going to pack some things for my trip.”

“You decided to go?”

“Yes, I’m leaving in the morning. When John gets here, I’ll tell you both the details.”

While Luke was packing, John arrived with pizzas. They ate, and Luke told them about his travel plans.

They finished their meal, and Luke left John and Vincent watching the game while he drove to visit his parents before his trip. En route in Vincent’s Jeep, he called his mom to let her know that he was coming. She was waiting at the front door when he arrived.

“I’m so glad you’re here,” she said. “You have to talk to your father. Since we moved back home, reality has set in, and all he does is sit in his chair and stare into space. He still can’t accept Aaron’s death. The fact that whoever murdered your brother is still out there is eating him alive.”

Luke entered the house and went directly to the living room. He sat down next to his father and said softly, “Dad, don’t worry, I’m going to figure it out.”

Not understanding what he was talking about, his father blankly responded, “Figure what out?”

“Who killed Aaron.”

Turning to face him, his expression changed, and he asked, “How? The police don’t have a clue.”

“I’m not working with the police. I’m working this myself, and I think I’m getting close.”

His father’s eyes widened in shock. “Luke, even though nothing would make me happier than finding the people who killed Aaron, I couldn’t bear to lose another son. Please be careful.”

“OK, I will. I’m going to be away for a few days.”

“Where are you going?”

“I can’t tell you, but hopefully by the time I return, this will all be over.”

JOHN PULLED INTO THE
departure area of Logan International Airport and dropped Luke at the curb. Waving good-bye, Luke walked into the terminal and glanced at the monitor to find his gate. As he looked at his reflection in the glass windows, he hoped that his dark clothes and unshaven face would help him to fit in when he arrived in Riyadh. After waiting for over an hour in the security line, he sat at the gate with his head down, trying not to be recognized.

Once boarded, Luke reclined his seat and attempted to relax. He noticed that many of the female passengers were dressed in hijabs or head scarfs, and a few had on full burqas. Most of the men wore dark, loose-fitting clothing, similar to what he was wearing. One thought kept crossing his mind: Was he really about to meet his brother’s killer?

When the plane’s wheels touched down in London, he opened his eyes. As additional passengers began boarding, a woman with a head scarf that hid everything but her eyes quickly sat in the empty seat across from him. After taking off, he closed his eyes again and prayed for guidance once he landed in Riyadh. When he felt a nudge the
first time, he thought it was an accident. When it happened again, he opened his eyes to see who was poking him. The woman across the aisle was staring at him. Unsure of what she wanted, he made eye contact, and as she uncovered her face, he exclaimed, “Jami, I can’t believe you’re here!”

Her eyes crinkled as she smiled. “I was sitting up front, but when we landed in London, I asked the flight attendant if I could change my seat. Since the plane wasn’t full, she said I could sit anywhere.”

Luke smiled. “Were you in first class?”

“Yes, I thought you would be sitting there, so I decided to spend the extra money.”

Luke realized that Jami must have read the newspaper accounts regarding his inheritance. “I know it probably doesn’t seem like it, but I normally live a very simple lifestyle. You should go back to your comfortable seat. We can talk once we land.”

“No, this is fine.”

Once the plane took off, Luke was glad to see that it was more than half empty. With no one sitting nearby, he could discuss the details of the trip with Jami and not have to worry about anyone overhearing their conversation.

“So, who is this private investigator and what’s his name?

“His name is Masud, and he’s supposed to be very good.”

“How did you find him? Are you sure he can be trusted?”

“He works for a friend’s company and I’m told he can help.”

Luke sensed that she was holding back information and began to wonder if he had done the right thing by telling her everything he knew. “That’s it? He works for a friend’s company?”

Jami’s eyes darkened. “It’s not just any company; it’s the largest company in Saudi Arabia, and he’s the head of security.”

“I don’t know what arrangements you made, but I want to be the one to pay his fees.”

“That won’t be necessary.”

Frustrated at her short answers, Luke asked, “Why not?”

“He’s doing it for free.”

Luke was astounded. “Who exactly is your friend?” he asked.

She took a deep breath, and Luke could tell that she was agitated. “Two years ago when I was still living in Cairo, I went to visit a girlfriend who was away at college. She was attending King Saud University in Saudi Arabia, one of the best schools in the Middle East. When she was showing me around the campus, my head scarf blew off in the wind and a young man picked it up for me.” She took another deep breath. “He never said a word to me. Three days later, I returned to Cairo. A few weeks after that, I returned home from school one day, and the man, Layth, was sitting in my house with my father. He had asked to marry me. My parents were so happy. His family owned one of the most successful companies in Saudi Arabia and they were very rich.”

Seeing that the more she talked, the more upset she became, Luke said softly, “But you didn’t get married?”

“At first, I went along with it, but I didn’t even know him. When I told my family that I wanted to call off the wedding, they were furious. As you know, this is not something a woman can do in that part of the world.”

Luke knew all too well the horror stories of Muslim women who turned down marriage proposals. There were documented cases of attacks where humiliated men had doused their brides-not-to-be with sulfuric acid, disfiguring their faces by burning the skin until their bones were exposed, often causing them to go blind. The underlying rationale seemed to be that if the man who was turned down couldn’t have his chosen bride, he would make sure that no one else would want her. These attacks had a catastrophic effect on the victims’ lives, not only physically, but psychologically, socially, and financially.

She continued, “My entire family turned against me, except for Ablaa. Have you ever heard of Chop Chop Square?” Luke shook his head. “My father sat me down and explained that there is a public square in Saudi Arabia where executions take place. Crowds gather to see criminals killed by beheadings or mutilated by amputations. This is not uncommon; it happens on a weekly basis. I think my father told me about this for two reasons: He wanted me to marry Layth, and he wanted to warn me about the dangers of not marrying him. Ablaa understood and insisted that I come to Boston, where she was attending school.”

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.