The Samson Effect: A Novel by Tony Eldridge

Author:Tony Eldridge [Eldridge, Tony]
Language: eng
Format: mobi
Publisher: Tony Eldridge
Published: 2007-10-09T00:00:00+00:00

Chapter 16

THOMAS GREW NUMB from sitting on the iron bench he was shackled to. For an hour he watched policemen pass by, none even glancing his way. His fervent requests to speak with someone, anyone, were ignored.

A door opened down the hall, and the detective, the man in the suit who had brought him in, stepped out of an office, followed by Arnold’s son. The young pastor’s eyes met his, and his stomach tightened as he felt the pain hidden behind those young eyes.

Two small children, a boy and a girl, rushed past Thomas and threw their arms around the pastor, who knelt to receive them into his arms. The children’s wails echoed through the hall. A woman rushed past and joined the grieving trio.

“Dr. Hamilton.”

Thomas roused from his thoughts and looked over his shoulder. “Pastor Willingham has convinced me you’re not the one who killed his father.”

Thomas sighed. “No, I—”

“Silence! You may not have done it, but we both believe you are involved. I’ve agreed to let him sit in while I ask you a couple of questions. If I don’t like what I hear, well, let’s just say you’ll be able to witness Israeli justice. If your words satisfy me, I’ll arrange to turn you over to the American consulate.”

“Please, if you’ll call Ambassador Ben Hur—”

“Dr. Hamilton, I will not ask you again to remain silent.” The detective nodded to a man who knelt and unlocked the shackles from the bench. “Bring him to me.”

The policeman escorted Thomas down the hall to the interrogation room. He stopped before entering and looked at each member of the Willingham family, who stared back silently, except for a sniffle from the girl. When Thomas’s eyes met the pastor’s, he saw the moisture dammed behind the lids, ready to burst forth. His escort pushed him forward and led him to a chair in the room. A few clicks later, his shackles were firmly secured to an iron ring protruding from the wall. The detective and pastor followed and sat at the table across from him. The policeman left and shut the door behind him.

“Now’s your chance to speak, Dr. Hamilton. Help me understand who you are, and what you’re doing in my country illegally, while evading U.S. authorities for murder.” He arched his eyebrows and turned to the pastor. “That’s about it for me. Anything you want to add?”

The pastor’s gentle spirit tugged at Thomas’s heart. “I just want to know why my father died.”

Thomas could not look at the pastor. Instead, he looked at the detective. “Please, just contact the ambassador. One call to him will clear everything up.”

“What kind of fool do you take me for, Dr. Hamilton? Do you really expect me to go to my supervisors and say, ‘a wanted murderer from the U.S., with a false passport and traveling under an assumed name, is asking me to contact the ambassador to the U.S. to clear up everything for him?’” The detective leaned back in his seat and folded his arms over his chest.

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