Perspectives, An Intriguing Tale of an American Born Terrorist by Jeffrey Shapiro Read Free Book Online

You should be thankful that we keep all these parasites away from you.”
    “Can you do me a favor? Take me to Arlington to pay my last respects to Bob.”
    “Sure, hop in.”
    When he stepped out of the car at Arlington National Cemetery, he noticed the morning sun was breaking through the trees making surreal images that danced among the graves of the noblest of Americans. As he stood before Bob’s grave, there were no other feelings but rage. As a friend he had failed, otherwise Bob would still be alive. The anger inside him reached the point that he felt he had to do something, anything, soon to avenge Bob and Matthew’s blood. If not he would explode! Every waking moment there was a new realization of what had been taken from him. Except for Mary and Carly, the explosion had stripped everything in his life that had meaning. And even they were now damaged goods. Like the other simple memorials there was no inscription on Bob’s grave other than name and the dates of his birth and death. He lay dignified with the countless others that had given their lives for this country. “You actually got off easy buddy,” he said. “You’re a hero, fulfilled your mission.” He laughed and then said sarcastically, “I’m the poor son of a bitch left to figure this whole thing out.” Jonathan looked around, “You belong here. Must be one helluva a party you’re having with all those other heroes down there? I hope they like your stories. “Tell them the one about the woman’s shoe.” Jonathan laughed out loud and then for some odd reason began telling Bob’s favorite story out loud.
    “ My brother and I were out whoring one night and we had 2 girls in the back of his car. The next night we were taking our wives out to a formal meal and I was riding in the back seat of the car with my first wife, Nancy. The girls were all slicked up and it was a beautiful West Virginia summer evening. Johnny my brother had the sun roof open. I looked down on the floor and to my horror there was one of the hooker’s shoes. Shit, I thought, if Nancy sees this we’ll both be up shit creek without a paddle. ‘Hey honey look where they’re building those new tract homes,’ I said pointing in the direction of new construction across the street. When she turned and looked, with one fluid motion, I tossed the shoe out the sunroof. ‘Where she asked?’ Over there, I repeated. A few miles down the road she started looking frantically on the floorboard. ‘What’s the matter?’ I asked. ‘I can’t believe this, but I’ve lost one of my shoes!’ Instantly, I replied, ‘How can you lose a shoe between our house and here? We’ve only been gone 10 minutes and you’ve lost a shoe? Johnny, we have to go back. Shit for brains back here has lost one of her shoes.’ When he turned the car around and headed back, I was terrified by the thought that her shoe would be lying in the middle of the road. It would be a difficult explanation. Thank Jesus, it wasn’t.”
    Jonathan laughed out loud, “I must have heard that story a hundred times.”
    He then thought about himself and realized that he would never be buried here. A mixture of feelings now swam in his head, all coming with an immense amount of shame.

 
Chapter 5
    Following CIA protocol and a detailed set of instructions for a discovered covert agent, the Andersons changed their home and cell phone numbers and refused to talk with the press even though they followed them everywhere taking pictures and baiting them with questions that were most infuriating. Everyone, including Carly, became efficient at saying “no comment.” All the popular news and morning shows requested appearances and even 60 Minutes called for comments on a story they were doing on a “whistle blower” who had CIA letters that showed suspicions of an attack on the Federal building 6 months before it occurred. The letters were neatly tucked away and never acted upon. Once again Jonathan politely declined