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Islamic clothes he was now wearing. It was as if he had returned to his true family.
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    Omar knew that Musa was walking towards Faud as they finished speaking. It would be on the Internet later that day that two American soldiers of Al Shabaab had planned the bombing in Mobile. One had become a martyr.
    Much of the Middle Eastern world would be asking where Mobile was. It didn’t matter as much as the reply.
    â€œIt is the United States!”
    â€œ Allahu akbar! ” Came back the cry.
    Omar was far from safe. His journey had several more dangerous legs but he was much closer to his new army of believers.
    Omar knew that Faud would be pleased. The American, or al-Amriiki , as Omar was known, would be posted on the Internet bragging of his deeds and beliefs. It would raise money. And Faud was good at raising money for Al Shabaab. The word was that he had raised some monies recently from several dedicated followers in Saudi Arabia. The money was for a special project that would tilt the balance of power in the region. And it would scare Israel to death.
    Omar would be the next step in achieving that goal.

C HAPTER E LEVEN
    â€œG ot an ID?”
    The police officer held the flashlight directly in William Parker’s eyes. He had a big barrel neck and bulky shoulders that stretched the uniform as tight as a drum.
    Parker held his hand up over his eyes. He could see more of the officer. The man was bigger than the frame of the window of Parker’s truck. He looked like a bear standing on its paws.
    â€œYes.” William Parker reached for his wallet.
    â€œEasy there.”
    â€œSure.” Parker held up his left hand so that the officer could see all of his slow movements. He pulled out a wallet that held nothing more than his license. The money was kept underneath the console.
    The officer held up the license with one hand while shining the light on both Parker and the faded picture. It was a poor reproduction.
    â€œMr. Berks?”
    â€œYes, Officer.”
    â€œNot a good place to be, especially at night.”
    â€œI understand.”
    â€œWe have had a bad time here recently.”
    â€œYeah.”
    â€œGet out of the truck.”
    William looked surprised. He stepped out of the truck and turned to the hood. He heard the click of a holster and felt the Glock pushed into his ribs.
    â€œCan I help?”
    Even with the officer’s size, Parker could have taken him down in a moment. But this wasn’t the fight he was interested in now.
    â€œYou are under arrest.”
    Parker looked forward as the officer held the pistol to his back while placing handcuffs on his wrists. He cooperated. Something else was going on with this particular officer.
    â€œYou are interfering with a criminal investigation.”
    Parker couldn’t help but give him a look that said the charge was lame.
    â€œGet into the back.”
    The policeman shoved Parker into the back of the cruiser. It was like stuffing a large man into a box. His knees were up to his chest as he turned to get an angle across the seat. The cage was slanted in towards backseat passengers, giving most of them a feeling of claustrophobia.
    The policeman slammed the door shut, shoving the handle into Parker’s side. Parker grimaced as he shifted himself again. His eyes followed the officer as he crossed in front of the cruiser’s lights while talking on his radio. Parker couldn’t hear what was being said. He could, however, get a better view of the man. He had a naturally large and bulky frame. His hair was cut short. In fact, it was down to the skin on the sides, like a drill instructor’s high and tight. It was the haircut of a man who didn’t care for conversation.
    William scanned the front of the cruiser as the officer opened the door.
    â€œTen-four. I’m bringing him in now. We need that tow truck for his vehicle.”
    Now, in the close space of the car, William detected the smell of