The Reformers: A Matt Blake Novel (The Matt Blake legal thriller series Book 2) by Russell Moran

name. Get this, they call themselves the NFL. It an acronym that stands for Not For Long .”
     
    “So our guy plays for the NFL.”
     
    “Yeah, but he’s more like a locker room attendant. He’s not one of the players on the field.”
     
    “Matt, tell me your thoughts about our big question, the question why . Why have these three guys been framed? Why didn’t ISIS or al-Qaeda simply kill our three guys? Why all of the elaborate bullshit with thumbprints and videos?”
     
    “Well here’s Al’s opinion on the subject. Yes, he finally opened up. Al thinks that framing him, Mickey and Jake—shit, this is starting to sound like an old movie—is the beginning of an elaborate but simple plot. The radicals are trying to show the world, and especially Americans, that there’s no such thing as a moderate or reform-minded Muslim. What better way than to show the world that these three peaceful critics of radical Islam are themselves radicals, that they killed hundreds of innocent people. The idea is simple: the radicals want to sell the idea that all Muslims are radicals. That will force out the moderates.”
     
    “And if the Jihadis are successful in forcing out the moderates,” Dee said, “then the world will stand in fear.”
     
    “So all of this brings me to a great idea, Dee. At least I think it’s a great idea. I think you should start on a new book. The subject of the book should be the writings of Muslims who are critical of radical Islam. With your name on the cover, I think it will sell like crazy. It’s an important topic, and who better to address it than you, professor?”
     
    Dee stood up, grabbed a cushion and flung it across the room, shouting “Yesssss.” One of the many things I love about Dee is her explosive enthusiasm. She even gets enthusiastic about going to the store. She walked over to a shelf and grabbed our baseball gloves and a ball.
     
    “Let’s play catch, honey. It will help me think. Your idea about that book is absolutely fabulous.”
     
    She wound up and flung her fastball at me like it was shot out of a gun.
     
    “Hey, babe, don’t think so hard. I’m going to need a new mitt—maybe a catcher’s mitt with a lot of padding.”
     
    “I can’t believe it Matt. Your idea is brilliant. My agent, Suzie Cohen, has been talking to Harvard University Press about a book on Muslim reformers. They approached her on the subject and told her to talk to me. I’ve been scratching my head about it, and you just came up with the perfect idea—Muslim writers critical of Islam. Maybe we can title it, The Reformers. ”
     
    “I’m also thinking about our Yamani case, Dee. As you research the book I think you’ll come up with some evidence I can use, maybe even some witnesses I can call for the trial.”
     
    “Yesss—Perfect, honey,” she said as she flung the ball at my mitt.

 
    Chapter 19
     
     
    Professor Muhammed Islama conducted his class at the University of Cairo in both English and Arabic, both of which he spoke fluently. His specialty was “the correct” reading of the Quran. His idea of “correct” had been formed over the 40 years of his life, and some people thought of his interpretations as radical. Even some extreme Islamists consider Professor Islama’s reading and writings on the subject to be over the top. He subscribed to the notion that killing infidels is not only sometimes necessary, but actually a duty for every Muslim.
     
    His students eagerly anticipated his Monday morning class. He would stress the idea that there is no such thing as a moderate or reform-minded Muslim, and that the Quran requires every Muslim to subscribe to his harsh view of human relations.
     
    “The infidel does not have the right to exist,” Islama said, warming to his subject. “Either human beings follow the words of the Prophet or they follow the way of the heathen.” 
     
    A man in the back of the room reached under his seat and came up with a Sig Sauer P226