Legacy and Redemption by George Norris Page B

learned how to make a suicide vest. He read further. Each item was to be purchased on different days and in different locations; all were to be purchased with cash.
    The next piece of paper had a list of three email addresses with no names attached. The instructions were to use them only in the case of an emergency, and should the need arise to send an email, to keep all messages to a minimum. Al-Haq was a bit surprised to see that he actually recognized one of the email addresses. It was that of his close friend, Murad Zein. Al-Haq took comfort in knowing that whatever the plot was, his dear friend would also be a part of it.
    The last piece of paper was an address in Brooklyn. Underneath the address was tomorrow’s date along with a time. Al-Haq’s heart beat quickened. He knew whatever the plot was, he would likely find out tomorrow.
    He took a deep soothing breath and closed his eyes. When they opened, he sought out the pictures hanging on his wall over his mattress. It was the picture of NYPD Lieutenant James Keegan and his son Timothy which he’d cut out of a newspaper a couple of months back. He hadn’t forgotten about the revenge which he sought on the Keegan family and still vowed to make good on it, but right now he had a new focus. He had been called upon by Allah to once again take part in the Jihad.
    Al-Haq gave another quick glance at the newspaper article before retrieving his prayer mat from the top shelf of his closet. He sought out the niche in the top of the red and tan mattress and positioned it in a south easterly direction; assuring the niche was pointed towards Mecca. Al-Haq removed his shoes and socks and set the mat down next to his mattress. He knelt on the two and a half by four foot mat, closed his eyes and began to pray…but his thoughts were scattered. He did his best to concentrate on his prayers, but his mind kept wondering back to the twenty years he’d spent in prison and to the man who’d put him there…Lieutenant James Keegan.
    He thought of his son—his only son. The one he had never even met because of James Keegan. It wasn’t fair that Keegan had the opportunity to know his children when Keegan had stripped al-Haq of the same exact opportunity. Of course, the drone strike which had killed al-Haq’s son could not be blamed on Keegan, but his imprisonment could. The fury built up inside Nazeem al-Haq. He had lost focus on his prayers. The only thing he truly wanted at this very second was to see James Keegan’s son dead as well. He was fully aware that his thoughts had become consumed by Keegan as well as his need for revenge. He was also aware that he needed to remain focused to serve Allah as best that he could.
     
    Al-Haq stood up and paced the floors. He needed to refocus. He couldn’t let his brothers down again. He’d have to take care of Keegan once he was done with whatever Sheykh Hajjar needed him to do. After all, making a suicide vest didn’t mean that he would be the one to necessarily wear and detonate it. Al-Haq felt his training in making the vests would probably be best served by him continuing to make them for his fellow Jihadists for years to come.
    He walked back over to the kitchen table and looked at the list. There was no reason the delay what needed to be done. He took twenty dollars from the pile and decided to take a bus to the Home Depot store on Rockaway Boulevard. The keys on the table then jumped out at him. He picked them up, along with the paperwork for the car, and headed for the door.
    Once outside, he held the remote out to the street and depressed the button. A navy blue, 2009 Chevrolet Impala parked in front chirped; the door locks opened. Al-Haq had goose bumps as he walked to the car. While he knew that the car was to aid in his mission and in no means a reward for him, nonetheless, he was happy to have it. No more walking to the bus stop in all sorts of inclement weather, and it also meant it would now only take him a few minutes to get