In contrast to Shannon’s rather upbeat report, Alex was all gloom and doom. He told Shannon about the visit from Bill Fitzsimmons and Harry Dent. He had also responded to several e-mails from personal-injury clients who were nervous about the firm’s continuing to handle their cases. “They think a jury might take it out on them if we’re their lawyers,” Alex explained.
“I can’t believe the entire world has tried and convicted Khalid Mobassar before the first witness has even taken the stand,” Shannon said. “How can we get an unbiased jury after this?”
We? Alex thought. He had intended to wait until after they had ordered their food, but he couldn’t let that pass. “Look, Shannon, I know you like this family, but I think we need to withdraw from this case.” He hesitated while she absorbed the statement. “I mean, we should stay on Ghaniyah’s case and help her. But we’re in over our heads on this criminal stuff.”
After an uncomfortable silence, Shannon’s voice was measured and calm. “I like this guy, Alex. I can’t imagine cutting and running on him. You know as well as I do that they’ll end up with some criminal lawyer who is just in it for the publicity. And besides, I really believe he’s innocent.”
Alex stared at Shannon in disbelief. There were powerboats motoring by on the Lynnhaven, young singles on the prowl lining the bar, ESPN blaring away on the television-but Alex ignored it all. “They’ve got text messages from his phone, Shannon. Somebody in the mosque was siphoning the offerings and wired $20,000 to a Lebanese bank account using Khalid’s password. The cell phone that received the text messages was at the parking lot where Ja’dah Mahdi was abducted and then was traced to Sandbridge that night. How do you explain all that?”
“Maybe Khalid’s phone was stolen,” Shannon countered. “Maybe somebody’s trying to set him up.”
“You don’t think Taj Deegan has thought about that? You don’t think they’ve got pictures of Khalid with his cell phone in the days following the text messages? You don’t think they can reconstruct the movement of his cell phone using GPS coordinates and show how his cell phone happened to be in precisely the same places that Khalid was in the days after he sent the text messages? Deegan’s no amateur. She doesn’t file a case like this until she’s covered every angle.”
“You might be right. But I’m just saying that it’s too early to tell. And it’s not our job to assume scenarios that would convict our client.”
When the waitress came to take their order, Alex asked if she could give them a few more minutes.
He leaned forward and lowered his voice. “Shannon, you did an awesome job this morning for Khalid. I want to believe in his innocence as much as you do. But at the end of the day, we’ve got a responsibility to our firm, and I’ve got a responsibility to the people in my church.”
Alex decided not to finish the thought. He could tell by the look on Shannon’s face that she knew his position was nonnegotiable. But what worried him was that look of flint in her eyes-a look that said she was digging in too.
“I know we both wish that your grandfather was here right now to help us through this,” Shannon said softly. “But he’s not. And I know that, as much as I loved and admired him, you were a lot closer to him than I was. So I’m not going to sit here and tell you that he would have taken this case.” She hesitated and took a sip of iced tea, though Alex could tell she wasn’t finished. “But I can tell you what seems right to me. And I can’t walk away from this man, Alex.”
Alex started to respond, but Shannon put a hand on his forearm. “Please let me finish.”
Alex nodded. He hated being at odds with Shannon like this.
“I’ve been thinking about this a lot,” she continued. “On the way over here, I decided that the best way to resolve this matter is for me to leave the firm and take Khalid with me. You can continue to represent Ghaniyah and the personal-injury clients who are getting nervous. Your deacons will get off your back, and we won’t be abandoning Khalid. And I’m not suggesting this out of frustration or because I’m angry or anything like that. You and I just have different ideas about what it means to be a lawyer. We’ll still be friends,” Shannon promised. “But maybe it’s best if I strike out and start handling criminal cases, and you can focus on personal-injury clients.”
The whole thing caught Alex so off guard that he didn’t know how to respond. He wrinkled his brow and frowned at the idea. “I… I don’t know… Shannon, I definitely don’t want this case to split our firm.”
“It’s too late, Alex. It already has.”
35
Hassan Ibn Talib watched the news coverage of Khalid Mobassar’s bond hearing with more than passing curiosity. He noticed how haggard the imam looked when he stepped out into the bright sunshine after posting the $1.5 million bond on Friday morning. Reporters shouted questions, but Khalid ignored them all as he climbed into the backseat of a waiting Town Car. After the vehicle pulled away, a field reporter talked about the issue on everyone’s mind. Where did a man like Khalid come up with the security to post a bond worth $1.5 million?
Hassan smiled at the television and the idiocy of the American press. Now that Khalid was out of jail, Hassan knew that the next assignment would not be far behind.***
It was, Khalid Mobassar thought, Allah’s will that I was released in time for the Friday noon salat.
Prayer was a cardinal tenet of the Islamic faith, the foremost duty after the Shahadah. Like all devout Muslims, Khalid prayed publicly five times each day, allowing the salats to dictate the rhythm of his life. Man existed to worship Allah- “I have created the jinn and humankind only that they might worship me.” The salats were an outward expression of worship, a spiritual lifeline by which worshipers submitted themselves to the will of Allah.
Khalid had, of course, been faithful to each salat during his time in jail. For a devout Muslim, when it is time to pray, all the world becomes a mosque.
On Friday, Khalid arrived at the Norfolk mosque in time to hear the adhan blare over the loudspeakers: “Allah is most great. I bear witness that there is no God but the One God. I bear witness that Mohammed is the messenger of God. Hasten to pray! Hasten to success! God is most great! There is no God but the One True God.”
In response to the call, the faithful streamed into the Islamic Learning Center and went about their purification rites. Each worshiper removed his or her shoes prior to the ritualistic washing. The carpet, trampled on by so many wet feet, smelled musty-the stench of sin being washed away.
Khalid delighted in the sight and the smells. The mosque had never been so full!
He led the salat, as always, with the worshipers stationed behind him in straight rows, shoulder to shoulder, all facing the quiblah. As the congregation proceeded through each part of the ritual, Khalid was overwhelmed with the majesty and greatness of Allah. He could see Allah’s timing in his release, Allah working out every detail of Khalid’s humble life.
Allah is most great.
He prostrated himself before Allah and thought about the opportunity he would have in a few moments to speak not just to his mosque but to a worldwide audience. Khalid’s voice of reform, so stifled and insignificant only a month ago, would now be broadcast to the entire planet.
Khalid begged Allah for favor and ended the salat with the invocation of peace called the salaam. Following Khalid’s lead, the worshipers turned first to the right and then to the left, uttering the greeting, “May the peace, mercy, and blessings of Allah be upon you.”
As they finished and sat down, Khalid turned to face the worshipers. Next came the khutbah, a ten-minute message of solemn importance. Khalid placed his left hand on the front of his right hip and his dominant right hand on the top of his left as he began.