Exceptional Merit (43 page)

A
l-Haq was half daydreaming as he flipped through the newspaper.  Then, when he got to page five, a photo caught his eye, snapping him out of the trance.  The picture was of someone from his past.  A chill engulfed his body.  There was no mistaking it.  He would never forget the face of the man who had caused him to lose so much.  Not only did he spend so much time in prison, but he also never met his only son due to this man’s actions.  Al-Haq’s son had been born only six weeks prior to his arrest and died at age seventeen at the hands of a U.S. drone strike, while Al-Haq was still in prison.  His mouth went dry; his dark eyes narrowed. 
Keegan!
  He looked at the headline of the article.

Hero cop’s son among 1,100 new recruits

Al-Haq scanned the article.  It detailed the graduation ceremony at Madison Square Garden for the N.Y.P.D.’s Police Academy.  Much of the article focused on the reduction of crime and how and where the Police Commissioner would deploy the new recruits.  There was one paragraph however, that was dedicated to twenty-six year old Timothy Keegan.  Keegan’s father,
James Keegan,
was a hero cop who was assassinated by Middle-Eastern terrorists back in 1995.  The assassination was in retaliation for breaking a case against them, in which they plotted to bomb the Brooklyn Federal Courthouse. The rage built up inside al-Haq. 
I would have been a martyr and living with Allah and my son if Keegan had not interfered.
  The article further went on to say that Timothy Keegan will be assigned to Brooklyn’s 67th Pct, the same precinct that his father began his career.  Timothy Keegan would also be wearing the same shield his father wore before being promoted to detective.

Al-Haq had done a great deal of reading while in prison.  He read about many different cultures and criminal enterprises.  He was particularly fond of the way Columbian drug lords dealt with their enemies.  Not only did they kill their enemy, but they also killed their
enemy’s children, for fear they could one day retaliate.  He looked back at the photos in the paper.  There was a photo of Timothy Keegan alongside the photo of his father.  He stared deep into the eyes of the younger Keegan.  He studied his face, memorizing his features.

As Nazeem al-Haq laid his head down the pillow of his roach infested apartment, he had only one thing on his mind; revenge.

****************************

Exceptional Merit was a near twenty year journey for me; almost as long as my career in the N.Y.P.D.  This book never would have been written if not for the unconditional support from my wife of now twenty-one years, Jasmine.  She encouraged me to write my own novel and I would have never thought of doing so on my own.  She sat with me and read every chapter as I wrote it, offering constructive criticism, advice and acting as my personal editor.  She was not just the inspiration for me to write the novel but she has also been a wonderful and supportive mother and wife.

I began writing this book in 1994.  Once it was completed I had no luck in having it published.  I sent it to numerous agents and publishing companies who enjoyed the story but told me I needed to work on my writing skills. 
In hindsight, I can see they were correct and hope that twenty more years of life experience has paid off.  In 1996, no closer to having it published, my first child was born.  Exceptional Merit was put away in a closet somewhere and all but forgotten about.

Earlier this year, one of my oldest and closest friends, Mitch, asked me about the book and if I still had a copy.  He told me about e publishing.  Had it not been for him reaching out to me and offering advice along the way, Exceptional Merit would still be locked away in a closet.
  Thanks MF.  I owe you!

Lastly I would like to thank the men and women who go out every day and put on a uniform to protect and serve the rest of us.
  Especially, my brothers and sisters in blue, with the New York City Police Department.  To all of you, I say please stay safe, do your twenty years and enjoy your families.  You all deserve it!