The Last Judgment by Craig Parshall Read Free Book Online

point.
    â€œAll I know is that, personally, I would have used a little different approach,” Will replied. “But to answer your question specifically—I’m not going to say that you blew it. And I’m certainly not going to say that you violated the law.”
    Gilead chuckled a bit. “Mr. Chambers, I don’t mean to be disrespectful. But do you lawyers always talk like that? Fail to say exactly what you mean?”
    Will replied with a smile, “We avoid sweeping generalizations. We try to define our terms. And we try to talk cautiously because words have power.”
    Will was preparing to conclude the interview. But one final thought had occurred to him.
    â€œSomething else,” he asked in conclusion. “About the detainer being placed on you by the federal authorities because of this terrorism thing—I heard that you traveled to the Middle East last year. What was that all about?”
    â€œMy father was from Egypt. He had relatives in Jordan. I visited them summer before last.”
    â€œWhere in the Middle East did you go?”
    â€œJerusalem for a while, mostly sightseeing. Then I crossed the border into Jordan. It was a very short trip—about a week or so.”
    â€œWhere’d you get the money for the trip?”
    Gilead studied Will carefully before he answered.
    â€œIt was donated to me.”
    When Will was finished, he shook hands with his client, assuring him he would do his very best to get him out of jail as soon as possible and would then start preparing for his trial in district court on the charge of disorderly conduct.
    On the way back to his office, Will called the U.S. Attorney’s Office in Washington, DC. He wanted to contact the assistant U.S. attorney assigned to the terrorism unit—the person responsible for placing the hold on Hassan Gilead Amahn.
    After making a few phone calls, he left a message for a Susan Kastone. A few minutes later she called him back, while he was still en route.
    After introducing himself as Gilead’s attorney, Will quickly addressed the hold issue.
    â€œWhen are you going to lift the federal detention order on my client? There’s no question that he’s not only not a terrorist, but has never had anything to do with any terrorist organizations,” Will said firmly.
    But Assistant U.S. Attorney Kastone was unimpressed.
    â€œI’m not sure when—or if—we’re going to be lifting the hold,” she replied. “When it happens, we’ll let you know.”
    â€œWell, with all due respect, Ms. Kastone, that’s not acceptable. My client has to prepare for his misdemeanor trial. He’s entitled to bail. But for the federal interference by your office, he would have had his parents sign the recognizance bond and he’d be out already. You can’t hold somebody indefinitely on vague, unfounded suspicions—”
    â€œWhat makes you think they’re unfounded?”
    â€œAll right—convince me,” Will replied. “What reasonable suspicion do you have that Hassan Gilead Amahn has any ties to any terrorist organization or activity? I’d like to hear the evidence.Actually—I would like to hear one single scintilla of evidence. One scrap of information.”
    â€œWe’re not required to tell you that,” Kastone said. “And as a result, it would be inappropriate for me to comment. An investigation is underway. As we get closer to a decision on whether or not we’re going to file charges against Mr. Amahn, we will advise you accordingly. We have your contact numbers. We’ll be in touch.”
    After this conversation, Will could see only two alternatives as a possible explanation for the mysterious hold placed on Gilead.
    First, Gilead’s Middle Eastern background, coupled with his presence at the controversial lecture given by Sheikh Mudahmid at the Islamic Center and his recent travel to the Middle East, had