Enemy In the Room (26 page)

David’s daughter half smiled and brushed
back her hair with her left hand. “Yes, me too. How are you?”

“Oh, I’m fine. The usual jetlag. But I’m
used to it. How about you?”

“I was up late studying. But it’s a
beautiful day, and the drive revived me a bit.”

“Good. Good.” Kristen turned slightly and
motioned toward the open dining area off the lobby. “Shall we have
some breakfast—or brunch, I guess?”

Callie returned her smile. “Yes. I’m
starved, actually. Thanks.”

A few moments later they were sitting in a
booth on a raised area along the back wall, not far from the buffet
tables.

“I guess you want the buffet,” Kristen said.
Callie nodded expectantly, eyeing the serving tables. Kristen
looked at the menu, then put it aside. “Well, at my age I’m usually
more the fruit and yogurt type, but, hey, today I’ll join you.”

“Good, can we start now?”

Kristen nodded to the waitress, who was
bringing coffee and juice. “We’ll do the buffet.”

Five minutes later they returned to their
booth. Kristen had tried to use a little restraint, but Callie’s
plate was filled, including a ham and cheese omelet.

As they began to eat, Kristen remarked, “I
guess studying makes you pretty hungry.”

Callie nodded. “It sure does. And, like, no
time to eat, either.”

“Well dig in. Have all you want.”

Callie cut a slice of fruit. “Thanks. Do
you, like, see Dad much?”

“Sure. All the time.” A small frown crossed
Callie’s face. “I’ve worked with him for—let’s see—three years now.
Your dad
really
knows real estate, and I like working with
him.”

“Why?” She didn’t miss a beat with her
fork.

Kristen paused. “Uh—good question. I guess
because he’s always struck me as very knowledgeable, professional,
and…honest. And I think he cares about people.”

“Really?”

“Yes. You don’t agree?”

“Oh, he probably cares about the people he
works with.” Before Kristen could respond, Callie asked, “Why were
you in—uh—Singapore?”

She told Callie the story of Trevor Knox’s
sudden switch from Hong Kong just before the government there
changed its policies—and the resulting scramble for office space.
She filled in some of the details on her negotiations, careful not
to get too involved in business topics, but Callie seemed to be
interested. “So that’s how I wound up here in L.A. on this gorgeous
day. Hey, where do you suggest we go after you finish off the
buffet table?”

Callie smiled and sat back from her plate.
“Just resting. Those sticky buns are awesome. I know some great
shops in the South Bay area. They’re in a small shopping area off
the beaten path—like, great clothes. Good restaurants nearby, too.
What are you looking for?”

They discussed their problems with the
latest fashions for the summer. Kristen added. “I might even try to
find a swimsuit while I’m out here. You know, California girls and
all.”

“Whoa…well, we should, like, be able to find
some in these stores. I’m just not sure they’ll be your style.”

“We’ll see. You know, I’m not so old! And
I’m still looking for Mr. Right. I gotta look a little enticing,
even for a real estate exec.”

“OK. Maybe, then.”

“And if you’ll help me, I’ll buy you a new
dress, too.”

Callie smiled. “Really? That’s awfully nice.
I’m actually working part-time at my uncle’s real estate office,
and I could use a new dress that’s more businesslike. And”—she
leaned slightly toward the older woman—“I may have some real estate
questions that you can help me with, since my uncle is so busy and
you’ve been in it so long.”

“No problem. Ask about anything. I’ll be
glad to help. Now, how about you? Are you seeing anyone?”

Callie paused and looked down for a moment.
“Uh, well, I’m actually dating a guy I met at college. His name is
Alex.”

Kristen inched forward as she cut a biscuit
with her fork, “What’s he like?”

Callie looked up and smiled. “Oh, he’s
really nice. He cares about me a lot. But he doesn’t say too
much.”

“Are you going to do another round?”

“Thanks, but I’m pretty full. It sure was
good. Thanks.”

“Glad you liked it. I’ll get the check, and
we’ll be off.”

A few minutes later they were standing in
the motor lobby. The valet brought Callie’s ten- year-old red
European convertible down from the parking deck. “A classic!”
Kristen said with genuine admiration.

As she slid past the door held open by the
valet and fastened her seatbelt, Callie looked over at her and
smiled. “Southern California. Even if it’s old, this is what you
drive.”

Callie pulled out of the hotel driveway with
a quick squeal. After a few minutes of just driving and taking in
the beautiful day, she said, still facing forward, “So, what did
Dad tell you about me?”

“I think he said that you’re about to finish
the semester and that you’re doing well. He also said you’re going
to be in a play. He’s excited for you. So am I.”

“What about movies? Did he, like, mention
any movies to you?”

“Are you doing movies?”

“Uh, no, not really. Though I guess it’s a
dream I’ve had.”

Kristen looked over. “That would be
great!”

“You’re
really
here just to relax? To
shop and have fun?”

“Yes, of course. I’m due some vacation days,
I’ve been working my tail off, I thought it would be good to stop
here, and I’m just glad that you’re here. I’d love to have a friend
in L.A. Especially one with a red convertible who can help me
shop.”

Callie looked over at Kristen, then back to
the road. “Well, OK. Good. That’s good. I’ll show you some great
shops. And this first place we’re going has lots of swimsuits.”

Kristen looked down the road ahead. “I’m
with you, girl.”

Friday 18:20

To: David Sawyer

From: Andrei Selivanov

Subj: Lease for Moscow Expansion

Dear David,

The developer has agreed to incorporate your
comments in the lease. The space they’ve already fit out appears to
work well for you. Pictures are attached. I met with both attorneys
this afternoon, and we should have a final lease to execute on
Monday. Congratulations! We’ll begin working with the space
planners, and you should be in your new office by early to mid
July. Call if you have any questions or additional input. Have a
great weekend.

Andrei

Late that morning Yusef dropped off his
first clients and noted that he was not far from Los Angeles’ huge
airport, LAX, one of the nation’s busiest. He could not pass up the
opportunity to drive by it. He did this often, though careful never
to stop for long or bring any attention to himself. The terminal
was like an island between two long parallel runways. But there
were plenty of residential roads and stopping places on the north
side of the vast complex. And it was through some of those that he
now drove, thinking about how glorious it would be during Ramadan,
when he would be a hero and a martyr.

And he thought of Salim, his friend,
spiritual mentor, and teacher. Four years ago Yusef had joined the
Army, like so many young people, to “see the world”. Instead, Salim
had helped open the world of his faith, and brought meaning to his
life.

After Basic Training, Yusef had been
assigned to Fort Bliss, Texas, for missile school. And Salim was
one of the instructors on the Stinger Missile, a one-man plane
killer. While teaching him everything about the missile, Salim also
opened his eyes to the Qur’an and the true power of the faith that
his parents acknowledged, but did not practice.

The Army officially encouraged Salim to
search out and train the young Muslim enlistees in religious
studies, in the name of diversity. Out of the hundreds that Salim
had taught in this way, he had singled out only a handful, like
Yusef, for special time and extra study.

Yusef pulled into a parking lot at a school
near the western, or ocean end of the airport. Without getting out,
he rolled down the windows and watched the big jets as they climbed
up from the runway, full of fuel and people.

He imagined back to his training at Fort
Bliss. The missile launcher on his shoulder, tracking the plane as
it climbed, waiting to hear the tone in his earpiece signifying
that the heat seeker had acquired the infrared signature from the
engines. Then fire the missile. So fast. In only a few seconds it
would climb to the target and explode, ripping the plane into
pieces, killing everyone onboard. And because it was passive
infrared, it never alerted the pilot to its presence until the
wings were blown off.

Yusef smiled. Just a few more months until
Ramadan. He hoped that when he got the signal to proceed, it would
be a sunny California day like today. With the wind off the ocean,
so that the planes would be headed west. Then the wreckage and
bodies would fall into the sea, making it that much worse. And a
great day to die for his faith.

“Oh that looks good on you,” Callie said, as
Kristen emerged from the dressing room at a small boutique
specializing in expensive business attire. It was three hours
later, and the two women had shopped up and down the streets in
Callie’s favorite area of South Bay.

Kristen turned and looked at herself in the
mirrors on the wall. “Yeah. It’s kind of tough to mix ‘feminine’
and ‘conservative’ in one business suit, but I’d say this one pulls
it off better than most. I’m just not sure I can afford it.”

“It’s classic. It’ll last for years. And if
Mr. Right is ever at a business meeting with you, he’ll definitely
be interested!”

Kristen smiled. “You’re right. Hey, how
often do I shop in southern California, anyway?”

“Good.”

Ten minutes later they were on the sidewalk,
each with several shopping bags. “We’ve done well, Callie,” Kristen
said, looking down the street. “Thanks for showing me these shops,
and for your advice. And I hope that your new dress works well with
your uncle and cousin. Want to do a late lunch—maybe call it a
‘tea’?”

“Sure.” Callie looked at her watch. “I’ve
got a rehearsal tonight that I need to get ready for. But let’s
walk down to Dave’s. Have you ever had fish tacos?”

“I don’t think so.”

Dave’s had high ceilings and a bright,
casual, open look with lots of plants, and an outdoor patio, where
they were soon seated at a table for four, their bags piled in the
adjoining chairs.

“This has been great,” Kristen said, after
the waitress took their orders. “Wonderful shops. I can see why you
like living here.”

“Yeah, it’s pretty nice.”

“Do you ever miss your family?”

“My friends, yes. But I didn’t have a lot,
and two are coming out to visit this summer. My family? Well, my
brother and I talk on the phone sometimes. Mom and Dad—I don’t
know. I guess.”

“I don’t know your brother or your mom very
well, except what your dad has mentioned about them. Of course I
know that he loves you and is very proud of you.”

“How do you know that?”

“Well, because he tells me that he is.”

“Have you talked to him recently?”

“Why?”

“Then you’d know that he has cut… Hey,
let’s, like, talk about something else, OK?”

Kristen noticed the change in Callie’s
expression and smiled again. “Sure. And look, all families go
through some tough times. But they’re still families. And if I can
ever help you, please call me. I’ve been through some tough times
myself, and I know that being alone is no fun, especially when
times are rough.”

“You? That seems impossible. What kind of
hard times?”

Their lunches arrived. A Caesar salad for
Kristen and a beef stir fry for Callie.

“Me? Well, you probably haven’t been
following it, but the whole country was recently treated to my
past, thanks to some overly zealous press people—and my own
stupidity.”

“What happened?”

“Well, several years ago I did a terrible
thing and had an affair with a married man—an attorney—a wonderful
man with two children.”

“You?”

Kristen nodded and took a bite of salad. A
moment later she continued, “Yes, me. We all can do stupid things.
I’m not sure why, except that God made us with the ability to
choose. The problem is that when we do stupid things, there are
always consequences. Sometimes sooner, sometimes later. But they
always
come. And they aren’t pretty. We hurt others and
ourselves. And so of course that’s what happened in my case.”

“What happened?”

Kristen told Callie the story of her affair
with Richard Sullivan, what had happened then, and what had
happened to all of them that spring with the revelations in the
national press.

“Wow, that would be awful,” Callie said.

“Yep. It was pretty awful. But I have to
tell you. The peace that settled on me, on all of us, when Janet
Sullivan forgave me—it was like nothing I’ve ever experienced. It
was like a chain had been wrapped around me and was choking me, but
it was suddenly broken. A great freeing. Genuine forgiveness is
about the most potent force on earth.”

“Why?”

“Because I don’t believe it’s human. There’s
nothing in human experience that explains forgiveness. Just the
opposite. We’re all wired to want personal revenge, justice, our
way. So forgiveness must come from the one who made us—from outside
us. And when it suddenly happens, it just changes everything.
Regular human experience stops in its tracks when faced with true
grace and forgiveness. I know. I’ve experienced it.”

“Mm.”

“Sorry, I didn’t mean to get into all of
that.”

“No, I asked. What a story. I would never
have known.” Callie smiled. “I just thought you were a boring real
estate executive, like my dad.”