Treason (4 page)

“Ms. Delaney,” Adeogo said, “likes to tell others how they should think and what they should say. One of them was Governor Coldridge.”

“You helped run his presidential campaign, didn't you?” Olol said.

“Yes and your boss promised to support us, but—”

“Let's go,” Adeogo interrupted. “Ms. Delaney and I are not friends.”

“Not friends?” Delaney replied mockingly, touching her right hand to her heart as if she'd been mortally wounded. Looking directly at Olol, she said, “I keep my promises. I don't run scared and stick a knife in someone's back at the first sign of trouble.” Shifting her glance to Adeogo, she continued, “You might want to send your ‘press secretary' away so we can talk privately for a moment.”

“Perhaps I should stay,” Olol volunteered.

“Rudy,” Delaney replied sternly, “it's about our mutual acquaintance Decker Lake.”

Adeogo tried not to react at the mention of Lake's name, but Delaney was studying his eyes, and she saw what she suspected was fear.

“Why don't you give us a moment, Fatima?” he said.

Delaney waited while Olol stepped several feet away from them. “Have you bedded her yet?” she asked.

Adeogo snapped, “What do you want?”

“You bedded me. The last time we spoke was at National Airport. You were scampering home to your little Somali American wife after spending several sweaty nights between the sheets with me.”

“I have nothing to say to you.” He started to walk away.

“Decker Lake.”

He stopped.

“You were on our side,” she continued, “until he got to you. He found something in your past—something you wanted kept secret—something more important than—”

“What you were using to blackmail me,” he said, struggling to control his anger. “You seduced me and then you threatened to tell my wife about us if I didn't help your campaign.”

“Only someone who has a secret to hide can be blackmailed, and apparently you had more than one. Decker Lake found a bigger chit than your cheating. He's dead, but that doesn't mean your secret died with him.”

She'd continued to watch his eyes and now she was certain that it was fear that she was seeing. “You're an easy read, Rudy. There is something you are still hiding. I've come to tell you that whatever secret Decker Lake learned, I'm going to find it, and I'm going to use it to destroy you.” Delaney spun around, waved pleasantly at Olol, who was watching them, and marched away.

The White House

1600 Pennsylvania Avenue

Washington, D.C.

M
adam President, thank you for meeting with me,” Omar Nader said appreciatively between sips of coffee. The handsome, fifty-something Saudi Arabian was seated on one of two mustard corduroy sofas in the Oval Office. President Sally Allworth and White House Chief of Staff Mallory Harper were on another couch directly across from their guest.

“My administration is always happy to hear your organization's thoughts,” President Allworth replied. She was referring to the Organization of Islamic Nations or OIN, and Nader was their official spokesman and chief Washington lobbyist.

“I've come to express our members' outrage at the actions of these two criminals who attacked you yesterday and to offer whatever assistance we may to help the United States combat homegrown terrorism. As you are aware, many OIN members also have been targeted by these radical extremists. We want you to know how thankful we are that you were not harmed.”

“Yes, I was not injured,” Allworth replied in a stern voice, “but those two attackers killed and wounded innocent Americans, and that is not something my administration is going to forget, forgive, or tolerate.”

“Regrettably,” Harper said, cutting in, “our conversation today must be brief. We only have about fifteen minutes before the president's news conference about yesterday's attacks.”

“I understand,” Nader said, gently placing the White House china cup on its saucer. “Yesterday's attack is why I requested speaking to you before the news conference. This couple may have professed to being Muslims, but I can assure you that their perverted beliefs are completely alien to the OIN, its members, and our beloved religion. Unfortunately, Muslims in America unfairly come under attack whenever these incidents happen and we must—”

“The couple who tried to murder me were Muslims,” Allworth said flatly, interrupting him. “That's why Muslims come under attack.”

“Yes, Madam President, it's true they identified themselves as Muslims, but they were not true followers of Islam, which is a religion that abhors violence and murder. And that is why it is so important for the OIN and Muslims everywhere to divorce our religion from their criminal acts. That is why it is so important for you to divorce Islam from their actions too.”

“Divorcing Islam is a bit problematic, isn't it?” Harper asked, as she eyed their immaculately tailored guest. She was familiar with his credentials. Nader had attended the best private schools in England and later studied international affairs at Harvard University before joining the Saudi diplomatic corps. He'd left an ambassador posting to represent the OIN. Continuing, Harper said, “After all, the couple posted a video on the Internet proclaiming their loyalty to ISIS, which is the Islamic State.”

“These radicals cloak themselves in our religion because they want to make their actions and cause appear to be a holy war,” Nader replied. “They are trying to use Islam to legitimize their cause, which they claim is to revitalize the Islamic caliphate in the Middle East. But they are liars who are using Islam to hide their true intentions.”

“Which are?” Harper asked.

“The leaders of ISIS are mafia criminals who engage in slave trade, sell guns, and distribute drugs. They are not religious leaders. This is why we must strip Islam from their rhetoric. This is more than mere semantics,” Nader said. “If Madam President mentions Islam this morning during her announcement, she will be granting these terrorists the legitimacy they seek. President Obama and Hillary Clinton understood this.”

“Yes,” Harper said, “I remember how they were criticized by Republicans for refusing to use the term ‘radical Islamic terrorism.'”

“What would you have me call them?” Allworth asked.

“What they are: criminals. Or use the derogatory term: Daesh. If Madam President feels it necessary to mention Islam, we would ask that you do it in the proper context by explaining that these terrorists come from a misguided and tiny radical fraction. They do not represent a majority of our people. Surely, you understand how hurtful it is to those of us who are religious to have our beloved Islam besmirched by these murderers. It would be our preference that the words ‘Islam,' ‘Muslim,' and ‘terrorism' are never mentioned together.”

Harper had felt obligated to arrange this pre–press conference meeting because Nader and the OIN had been major supporters of the president's reelection campaign through a score of American Muslim organizations and political action committees.

“We believe the most effective way to counter homegrown terrorism,” Nader continued, “is by eliminating the grievances that these criminals exploit, such as poverty and a lack of opportunity for young Muslims. I have been authorized to say that the OIN is willing to financially support community programs in Minneapolis and elsewhere aimed at eliminating the injustices and inequities that these criminals capitalize on to recruit members.”

“What exactly are you and the OIN offering to do?” Harper asked.

“We would be happy to finance the building of more Islamic community centers in Muslim neighborhoods in Minneapolis and other American cities where young people can be taught that these radicals are thieves and murderers. But our presence alarms many Americans because they have been misled about our people. This is why I am here urging you to not proliferate this harmful rhetoric by referring to these killers as being followers of Islam.”

“You mentioned financing projects in Minneapolis,” President Allworth said. “Can I assume you are good friends with Representative Adeogo and he is aware of the OIN's willingness to help?”

For a moment, a crack appeared in Nader's polished diplomatic veneer, and Harper noticed.

“So you are not friends with Adeogo?” she interjected, turning her statement into a question.

“As fellow Muslims, we are, of course, colleagues.”

“But I asked if you were friends?”

“Unfortunately, Representative Adeogo and I have, as you Americans like to say, a history. But that certainly will not prevent us from working together.”

Harper wanted to continue probing, but Nader switched subjects, and when an aide appeared to escort him to the Rose Garden news conference, he ended his spiel with these words. “Please, please, Madam President, do not give these criminals the honor that they are desperately seeking. Do not give them a cloak to hide their treachery. Do not refer to them as Muslims or followers of Islam.”

Minutes later, the president walked down the White House Colonnade to an outside podium in the Rose Garden. It was a cool March morning but Allworth's media advisors had urged her to stage the conference outside because it would send the public a subtle image: The president was not hiding inside the White House.

President Allworth quickly expressed her condolences to the victims of the National Cathedral attack, especially the Secret Service and District of Columbia police officers who were maimed and killed. She thanked Major Brooke Grant, who was seated in the fourth row. Without mentioning either Fawzia or Cumar Samatar by name—so not to humanize them—she described how radical extremists operating under the banner of ISIS had committed horrific atrocities in Syria and Iraq, how the Taliban had sparked political upheaval in Pakistan, how Al-Shabaab and Boko Haram had butchered men, raped women, and kidnapped young schoolgirls in Africa and sold them into the sex trade.

“Early today, a video of six Coptic Christians being beheaded on a beach in Libya was posted on the Internet. The masked figure who committed this act of barbaric cruelty goes by the fanciful name ‘The Falcon.' But make no mistake; he is nothing other than a serial murderer and coward who hides his face behind a black hood. This psychopath will ultimately be held accountable for his actions because we will not rest until he is brought to justice.”

Looking directly into the television cameras that were broadcasting her comments live, Allworth announced that she was appointing a blue-ribbon White House panel to investigate homegrown terrorism. She had each panel member stand as she read down the list of appointees. Major Brooke Grant, Representative Rudy Adeogo, and the OIN's Omar Nader each rose from their front-row chairs.

“All of us have a moral responsibility,” President Allworth said, “to refute the notion that ISIS and these other gangs of murderers are inspired by a religious cause, because that falsehood gives legitimacy to their warped ideology. They are thugs. Criminals. Nothing more.”

Nader applauded, causing those sitting near him to join in.

“If we wish to prevent future attacks by misguided Americans on our own soil,” the president continued, “we must acknowledge our fault in alienating young people in cities such as Minneapolis where they are trapped in poverty and isolated with no path to achieve the American dream. This dream must be reachable for all of our citizens, not a select few.”

Gazing down at her newly named members of the blue ribbon panel, she said, “I'll expect your report in ninety days. Now get to work!”

As soon as Allworth exited the Rose Garden, Nader was on his feet working the crowd. “Major Grant,” he said, hurrying up to her. “Those of us in the Arab world are keenly aware of your courage, not only yesterday at the National Cathedral but also at the Mosque of Islamic Solidarity in Mogadishu where you rescued the U.S. ambassador and prevented a suicide bombing that would have killed hundreds.”

“Thank you,” Brooke replied modestly. “But it was a team effort.”

“Yes, yes, but it was you who fatally shot the terrorist Abdul Hafeez.”

“Actually it was a fellow Marine, Sergeant Walks Many Miles, who fired that shot.”

“What a curious name,” Nader said.

“Sergeant Miles is a member of the Crow Indian tribe in Montana.”

“Perhaps I will have the opportunity of thanking him personally someday.”

“May I ask you a personal question?” Brooke replied.

“Please do, but not too personal, I hope.” He smiled.

“You are on the task force, but you aren't an American citizen. You're from Saudi Arabia, correct?”

“Yes. I believe I am the only non-American on the panel. I presume the president thought it prudent to include one Muslim from the Arab world to offer an international perspective.”

Nader was glancing over Brooke's shoulder as they talked and he noticed Representative Adeogo was about to leave. He quickly excused himself and walked briskly toward the congressman.

“A word please,” he said, stopping him. “The president has seen fit to appoint both of us on this task force. I trust we can put any past personal differences aside and present a unified Muslim perspective.”

“By unified, you mean the OIN's perspective,” Adeogo answered.

“As the only Muslim currently in Congress, you not only represent Muslims in Minneapolis, but Muslims worldwide. The OIN is the voice of Muslims, so I would certainly expect you to adhere to our global point of view.”

“I would never presume to speak for all Muslims—as you and the OIN claim you do. And I was elected by all of the people in my district, not just Muslims, so my personal religious beliefs are secondary to my elected responsibilities.”

“Stop being naïve,” Nader replied in a hushed voice. “Like it or not, you are the Muslim face in Congress and you need to accept that role and act accordingly. You should not have spoken about Islamic supremacy at your news conference this morning. You should not have criticized Saudi Arabia and other Arab nations. You should not have referred to Israel as a sovereign nation during your campaign.”

Adeogo started to answer him, but Nader wasn't finished. “Your statements encouraged
Islamophobia
. You should not be mentioning our beloved religion in the same breath as terrorism. The president understands this. When I met with her before her news conference, she—”

“You met with the president before her announcement?” Adeogo said, interrupting Nader.

“Yes, in the Oval Office, and I'm certain you took note that President Allworth did not use the terminology ‘Islamic extremists' or ‘Islamic radicals.' She called them ‘thugs,' which is who and what they are.”

Nader glanced around to ensure no one could overhear them. “This is not the first time we've had this conversation. I sent you a list of forbidden words to help guide you. But apparently you have not bothered to read it.”

“Oh, I read your list of OIN forbidden words, such as ‘Islamic militants,' ‘extremist Muslims,' and ‘Islamists'—basically anything that mentions our religion,” Adeogo replied, “and I have ignored your list because it is
naïve
. The American public sees a connection between Islam and the actions of these Islamic radicals. Rather than ignoring that, we need to explain that their views are based on an outdated seventh-century interpretation of our religion. We need to—”

“Yes, yes,” Nader said in an impatient tone. “I heard your comments this morning about how we need to do more to police our own people and mosques, and I am reminding you now that you are expressing opinions that are
not
in keeping with the Arab world's viewpoint.”