Fatal Convictions

40

the present virginia beach, virginia

On Sunday morning, Alex was still conflicted over whether he should stay in the case. Something about the meeting with Khalid’s daughter was making him reconsider his tentative decision to withdraw. He tried to tell himself that it had nothing to do with her looks. It was already obvious, from the short meeting the night before, that Shannon and Nara would be like oil and water. If Alex didn’t stay, those two would end up at each other’s throats.

Another reason for staying surfaced after Alex preached a lackluster sermon. Bill Fitzsimmons met Alex in the foyer of the church and asked Alex if he would join the deacons for a brief meeting. During the meeting, Harry Dent asked Alex whether he was going to withdraw from the case.

“To be honest,” Harry said with an air of moral superiority, “I’ve heard from a lot of people in our church who believe it would be pretty selfish for you to continue.”

That statement, and the smugness with which it was delivered, turned out to be the tipping point.

Alex’s grandmother had made him think hard about what it meant to be a Madison. Could he live with himself if he abandoned Shannon and Khalid? On the plus side, if he took the case, he might get to know the imam’s daughter a little better. But what pushed Alex Madison absolutely over the edge was the sanctimonious Harry Dent sitting in a deacon’s meeting, his bald head gleaming in the sunlight from a nearby window, trying to tell Alex what cases he should and should not handle.

“I’ve been praying a lot about this,” Alex said, knowing it was a small lie. “And I’ve been asking myself two questions: What’s best for the church? And what would Jesus have me do?”

Alex paused for a moment, actually enjoying this little drama. Truthfully, his decision would have minimal impact on the church. They would have sixty people there next Sunday whether Alex stayed in the case or not.

“I’m staying on the case,” Alex announced, and he enjoyed the shocked looks on their faces. “I believe Mr. Mobassar is innocent.”*