Temple by Robert Swartwood

Author:Robert Swartwood [Swartwood, Robert]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: RMS Press

Abu Muhammad al-Naser didn’t react when I walked into the room. He didn’t even blink. His eyes did shift to take me in and watched as I approached the Tank, but there was no recognition. For all he knew, I was just another interrogator come to ask him questions.

I had interrogated hundreds of people in my time as a police detective. Never once had I used physical force. Often intimidation was needed to persuade the perp to start talking, but I never once placed my hand on anyone. It wasn’t that physical force wasn’t allowed—almost everyone in the department would gladly turn a blind eye if it yielded results. But after my time in Vietnam, my outlook on physical force had changed. In the end, there was never any apparent result other than to prove who was more vicious.

But this man was different. If Agent Njeim was to be believed—and up until now I had no reason not to believe her—al-Naser was one of the worst terrorists in the world. Responsible for thousands of deaths. His men went in and looted towns. Raped and beat women. Beheaded people in the name of their religion.

Beheaded those like my daughter-in-law and grandchildren.

I stepped up to the Tank and stared hard at al-Naser.

“Do you know who I am?”

He made no reply. Just stood there, staring back at me.

“My name is Elijah Shepherd. But you may know me as Temple.”

This caused the desired effect.

Al-Naser blinked. For an instant, confusion filled his face, and then immediately it became stoic once again.

“You do speak English after all.”

He said nothing.

“I want to know what you did with my son.”

Nothing.

“You do realize that, if I wanted it, your oxygen would be cut off. I’m guessing this isn’t the first time you’ve been in this room. I’m guessing your oxygen has been cut off before. Tell me, what did it feel like?”

Al-Naser again made no reply.

“Your people made a mistake going after my family. You’ve made it personal now.”

Still nothing.

I glanced up at one of the cameras. I wondered what Agent Njeim and Warren thought. Had they expected more from me? It had been two decades since I performed my last interrogation. Two decades since I had put on the mask and become Temple.

“Do you think Allah agrees with what you’re doing? That when you die, you’re going to be given one thousand virgins or whatever the hell it is you believe?”

Al-Naser did not move one muscle. His gaze stayed steady with mine.

Part of me wanted to follow through with my threat. Part of me wanted to snap my fingers and have the oxygen cut off inside the Tank. Part of me wanted to watch al-Naser’s eyes the instant he realized there was no more fresh air. The instant he realized that he might die.

I turned away and walked back toward the door. I reached for the handle when al-Naser spoke behind me.

“Temple is an abomination.”

Abu Muhammad al-Naser’s voice seemed to echo in the silence. He didn’t speak perfect English, but his words were clear enough.

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