“Don’t you want to leave here? When that bomb goes off, the law’s gonna tear Texas apart hunting for you.”
“I enjoy being close. Watching the fear and pain of the infidels is a great pleasure. While they lament, we will escape right under their noses. I have done this before, remember.” He shoved Riffey with the pistol. “To your apartment. Now.”
Riffey walked in front of Asadullah like a man going to the gallows. They took a zigzag path across town, hiding a dozen times from people and vehicles, up early to start their days. The two men crossed the town without being seen, and dogs only barked at them twice.
When they stood outside the Lerma’s house, Riffey pointed at his apartment above the garage. “Up there.” They saw a light go on in the adjacent house.
“Who?” Asadullah asked.
“The owners. An old retired couple.” Riffey watched through the kitchen window as the Lermas worked in the kitchen, with Pete making coffee while Laura turned on the stove and placed eggs and bacon on the counter.
“Are they feeble?”
“What?”
“Are those two mentally alert, up to date on news and happenings?”
“I guess so. They watch the news a lot, and read newspapers.”
“So they are aware of our recent failure.”
“I imagine so. They don’t miss much.”
“They will know something of us, then. And definitely of your involvement.”
“I…”
“Knock on their door.” Riffey hesitated, and felt the pistol muzzle touch the back of his head. He knocked.
When the door opened, Asadullah pushed Riffey into the room and followed right behind him. He put the pistol on Pete and said, “We will not harm you. We only need a place to stay for a while.”
Laura came into the room carrying a butcher knife. “You leave here right now!”
Asadullah pointed the pistol at her husband. “Do you want him dead? Drop the knife and take us to your phones.” She hesitated a moment, then led them to the kitchen table, where two cell phones were charging in the nearby electric outlet. One charging wire was blue, the other one pink. Asadullah pointed at the pink one, “Yours?”
Laura nodded. She looked at Riffey, “Floyd, when we heard you were involved in this…this terrorism thing, we couldn’t believe it.”
Pete said, “We heard on the news that you helped identify this man and some others, though. You still can save yourself. There’s good in you, Floyd.”
Asadullah cut off the conversation, “Do you have a home phone?” Pete pointed at a wireless phone sitting in the charging base at the end of the couch. “Riffey, bring all of it here and put it with the others.” Riffey did as ordered. “Now, you may continue with breakfast.”
The Lermas returned to the kitchen. Asadullah and Riffey sat at the breakfast counter and watched. Laura said, “Would you like some eggs and bacon?”
Asadullah said, “Do not eat bacon in front of me. It is an affront to Islam.”
Riffey said to the couple, “Because it is made from pork. They don’t eat pork.”
Laura said, “Would you like some eggs and pancakes?”
Asadullah said, “Yes, that would be nice of you.” As she cooked and Pete filled the coffee pot with water, the terrorist asked, “Would you have tea?”
Pete said, “Yes, tea bag okay?”
“Yes.” Pete heated a small pot of water and when it boiled, added it to the cup with the tea bag and slid it to Asadullah. “Thank you.” He sipped the tea and said, “You have a very nice house.”
The Lermas looked at each other, then Laura said, “Thanks.”
***