Jihad

CHAPTER 84

“Checking him for bugs,” Karr told Dean. “Think they’ll find any?”

Dean ignored his partner’s laugh, studying the satellite locator map on the PDA. The meeting was being held two blocks away in the subbasement of a building across from the mosque Asad had gone into for services earlier.

The Art Room was feeding the intercepted conversations back to them; it played like a low, slightly off-tune radio station in the background.

“Ranting about oil again,” said Karr. “At least it’s in English.”

“Tell me if he explains why he murdered people.”

“You think he’s got a good explanation?”

“It’s not something to joke about, Tommy.”

“I’m not joking,” said Karr — but he laughed anyway, a habit he couldn’t avoid, Dean realized. “He’s a psycho. He doesn’t have an explanation. Not one that makes sense.”

“I guess,” said Dean. “The problem is he feels compelled to share his insanity with the rest of the world.”