Monday the Rabbi Took Off

Chapter Forty-Five

Your pajamas fit you better than your suit." said Dan Stedman sourly. And indeed they did because unlike his seersucker, the pajamas were unwrinkled.

Donahue smiled. "Yeah, they're some new kind of drip dry. You hang them on a clothes hanger after washing and they come out like you just took them out of the package from the store. My daughter gave them to me last time I was in the States. Drink?"

Stedman shook his head. He was silent, sitting hunched forward in his chair, his hands folded, his forearms resting on his thighs, staring down at the floor. "Sorry I got you out of bed." he said awkwardly.

"I wasn't asleep, just reading. Why didn't you tell me you were coming down when I spoke to you?"

"I wasn't planning to. I didn't think I could. I was giving this dinner party in the Grill. Nice people— I didn't see how I could run out on them. Nice evening, good dinner, interesting conversation— when I came back to the table, that's what got me, the conversation. How was I going to

go on talking pleasantly with Roy...there? So I excused

myself and got a cab. I didn't think to call ahead."

"It's all right. But you know I can't do anything. The case is different now."

Stedman looked up. "Why is it different?" He knew, of course, but he wanted to talk about it.

"C'mon. Dan. Before, they had nothing on him. He was friendly with an Arab. So what? Lots of American students, and Israelis too. are. He was in the vicinity of the bombing— at the site even— but he had a plausible excuse. No overt action, no official action, had been taken by the police."

"They pulled his passport, didn't they?"

"No, they didn't. You know they did, and I know they did, and they know they did, but officially they had just mislaid it and hadn't got around to sending it back to him."

"Sure."

"But now they caught him trying to cross the border." Donahue hurried on. "That's a crime at any time in any country. But in a country at war. it can be a serious crime. And if it means crossing into enemy territory, it can be damn serious."

"But he didn't know he was crossing the border." cried Stedman.

"I told you he said he didn't know." Donahue corrected. "His story was that this Abdul had invited him to visit an uncle— some big shindig that would last a few days. So they drove north, presumably to Abdul's uncle's place. And when they were almost there, they abandoned the car to take a shortcut. And Roy isn't too clear as to just why they abandoned the car— it either conked out or Abdul ran it into a ditch. The whole story is a little weak. Dan— you got to admit. I mean, this kid of yours has the normal amount of smarts. He has to have to be in the university at all. But at this point, leaving the car and taking a shortcut through the woods— dammit, driving all that time, he must’ve known that they were damn close to the border."

"Why would he have to know? Chances are he's never been up that way before. And if the other was driving, he could have dozed off."

"All right, but he found out damn quick when suddenly there were Israeli soldiers all over the place." He cocked his head to one side and considered. "That's a little unusual, their being in force right at that point."

"You think it was a trap?"

"Could be. It wouldn't surprise me. Anyway, your boy showed some sense for the first time: He stopped and put his hands up. The Arab tried to make a run for it, and they shot him."

"They killed him?"

"No. just through the leg. I guess they wanted him for questioning."

"And of course he'll implicate Roy." said Stedman bitterly.

"Not necessarily. Why should he? It wouldn't make it any easier for him. And if he did, they'd probably discount it. The whole affair is a little funny. It has a Shin Bet flavor. I get the impression that they're not really concerned about the border crossing. That's a matter for the border guard. I should think, which comes under the Police Ministry, but they don't seem to be handling it. The case seems to be directed from Jerusalem. That would suggest to me that they're really interested in the possible connection with the bombings they've had up there. And if they tied your boy in with the bombings, it would be a murder charge. I'm sorry. Dan, but there's no sense in trying to minimize the situation."

"No. no sense at all." said Stedman dully. "The thing to do would be to get a lawyer."

"That's the last thing to do. You know what it would mean to Roy even if a lawyer managed to get him off? An Arab — he's a hero among his own people, and even the Israelis have some understanding of his reasons. But an American and a Jew! Even if he got off scotfree. what kind of life would he have? I can't have him stand trial. There must be something you can do."

"Be reasonable. Dan. Now a lawyer—"

Stedman nodded quietly. "If worse comes to worst, of course I'll get a lawyer. But first— well, that's why I'm coming to you."

Donahue got up and poured himself a drink. "There's no way I could make a deal if it's murder. The ambassador himself couldn't. You can't go to the government of a sovereign state and say that this man killed one of your nationals but I want you to let him off."

"No. I suppose not."

"Well, then—"

"Look, can you find out who's in charge in Jerusalem?"

"I guess I could." Donahue said. "What good would that do?"

"I don't know. I could try to see him. maybe convince him. What else can I do?"

"I'll see what I can do."

Stedman rose and headed for the door.

"Dan."

Stedman stopped.

"Are you sure he didn't do it?" Stedman hesitated. "I don't know. I don't want to think of it." He turned to go and then stopped. "I suppose I don't really know my son."