News That Closes the Doors
ALI WAS RECOVERING FAST from his injuries and still had the list given to him by Ammar. He would often take it out and read the names of people he had eliminated. He had made no contact with the American authorities or with the Establishment. One would nail him as a terrorist and the other would nail him dead. Sometimes, he thought about what he had been through and how he had been used, but most of the time he focused on the happiness he had with his newfound friends. Still, revenge on the traitors often occupied his mind, though the specifics on how and when to have his revenge were still to be determined.
Mohammed often talked about his dreams of getting back home. He also often spoke to Ali about leaving the path of violence and leading a life of peace. Ali, too, wanted to get back to his country, but he hadn’t completely forgone the idea of revenge. Ali was waiting for the right opportunity.
Kelly hadn’t made any contact with her workplace since the attack, and she was actually enjoying the time away. Thoughts about her job and coworkers and when to return to them often bothered her, but with Ali continuing to recover, those thoughts took a back seat every time.
One day, Mohammed walked over to the TV and switched it on. He looked worried. He tuned in CNN, which was broadcasting news about the series of murders that had taken place in various parts of the city during the last twenty-four hours. The report gave details about the killings and showed images of the areas in which they had taken place. The first victim, an American, was killed during the daytime on Queens Street. The second victim was also an American and had been shot in a very upscale apartment in central Manhattan at night. The third victim, another American, was shot at his ranch-style house in a nice, quiet neighborhood the next day. The locations of the crimes, noted the reporter, indicated that all three victims seemed to be affluent and well-off.
After the video clips, the news reporter continued: