A Prayer for the Devil (26 page)

TRINITY EXPLAINED THAT HER
daughter, Grace, was going to school late that morning because the class had a field trip. “If you wouldn’t mind, we’re running late, so if you take a ride with me, we can talk after I drop Grace at school.” She led the way toward a white Range Rover and unlocked the doors. Grace jumped in the back and Luke sat in the front. As they drove toward the school at a reckless pace, Luke felt like he was a passenger in an off-road car race, and he said a few silent prayers.

Based on the way Grace was dressed, Luke wasn’t surprised when they sped into the parking lot of Greenwich Catholic School. After saying good-bye, they were back in the zone, speeding down the road again. With her eyes fixated on the traffic in front of her, Trinity said, “I was really sorry to hear about your brother.”

Luke thanked her. As he started to ask her about her father’s company, her cell rang. “I’m sorry, but I really need to get this.”

Luke smiled. Not wanting to listen to her conversation but having no choice, he heard her say, “I’m going to have to cancel lunch.” She looked at him while continuing to talk to the person on the phone. “Something has come up. I’ll call you later to explain.”

She turned onto Greenwich Avenue and parked in front of Michaelangelo, which looked to be some kind of exclusive gift store. Thinking that she had an errand to run, Luke waited in the car until she said, “Aren’t you coming?”

He followed her across the street and into a restaurant called Mediterraneo that had just opened its doors. The hostess recognized Trinity, smiled, and said, “Right this way, Mrs. Lombardi.” They were led to a table in the contemporary dining room near a window. After ordering coffee, Trinity looked at Luke and said, “OK, Father, how can I help you?”

Easing into the conversation, Luke responded, “First of all, let me just say how sorry I was to read about the accident involving your parents. They seemed like wonderful people.”

Trinity’s eyes filled with tears. “They were the best people I’ve ever known, and I miss them so much.”

Luke smiled. “I’m sure God has blessed them.”

She nodded and he continued. “Were you involved with your father’s construction company?”

Concerned, she replied, “What do you mean?”

“Did you work there, help out, or anything like that?”

“No, I’m the oldest in the family and was in college when the company became successful. Why do you ask?”

Studying her face for a reaction, Luke replied, “I visited several mosques in Boston last week that were built by Corner Stone, and I had a few questions about the construction.”

Not flinching, she responded, “I’m sorry, Father, I wouldn’t know anything about that. My brother ran the company for a few years after my parents died, so he could probably tell you everything that you want to know.”

Encouraged, Luke asked, “Does he live around here?”

She took a deep breath and frowned. “No, he still lives in Massachusetts. Cape Cod, to be precise.”

“Do you talk to him often?”

Another deep breath. “No, we haven’t talked in several years. After my parents died, he changed. Vincent hurt his back unloading a truck at the shop one day and became dependent on painkillers. To make things even worse, while he was home recovering, he began drinking. I spent a fortune checking him into several different rehab facilities, and I thought he was finally cured. When he showed up for Gracie’s fifth birthday party inebriated, and vomited in the yard in front of my friends and family, I told him he wasn’t welcome here anymore. That’s why I was so upset when I saw you at my door today. I recognized you immediately, and knowing that you are from Boston, well, I thought he’d finally killed himself.”

“I’m sorry that I frightened you. That wasn’t my intention.”

Changing the topic, she asked, “How have you been since the bombing?”

“As you know, it feels terrible. It’s like a really bad dream. Sometimes when I wake up in the morning, I forget for a few seconds that he’s gone, and I feel good until reality sets in. I wish I could go back in time and tell him all the things I should have told him before he was gone.”

Teary-eyed, she asked, “He had two young children, right?”

Luke smiled. “Yes, two angels, Abel and Alessa.”

Her motherly instincts were in high gear when she asked, “How old are they?”

“Three and four.”

Innocently, she stated, “Well, thank God that you’re there to help your brother’s wife.”

Hoping to get more information on Vincent, Luke asked, “Do you think your brother would talk to me?”

“I don’t see why not, that is, if he’s not drunk or high. Before the drugs, he was a great person and someone that everyone admired, but now, only God knows.”

“Do you have his phone number?”

“No, but I think I have his address at the house.”

After their food was served, the restaurant began filling up. When several customers recognized Luke, he quickly paid the bill, and they headed back to Trinity’s house. She went inside to find Vincent’s address while Luke waited in the driveway. Returning, she handed him a piece of paper with the information. He thanked her, and she walked back toward her car. As she opened the door to the SUV, Luke asked, “Can I get your cell phone number in case I have any other questions?”

She smiled and said her number slowly so Luke could enter it in his phone. When she was finished, Luke gave her his. Before she left, Luke innocently asked, “Are you in contact with your sister?”

She furrowed her brow and said, “My sister?”

Confused, Luke replied, “Don’t you have a sister named Faith?”

“No.”

“But the newspaper article said your parents were survived by three children: Vincent, Trinity, and Faith.”

She laughed. “Not Faith. My adopted brother, Fatih.”

Hearing the name, Luke’s heart raced, “Where is he from?”

“Saudi Arabia. Why?”

Despite the unsettling feeling he had just gotten in his stomach, he calmly replied, “I was wondering if he would know about the construction of the mosques.”

“I’m sure he would. His parents moved in next door to us, and his father helped my dad get a lot of new business.”

Confused, Luke asked, “But I thought you said he was your adopted brother?”

She moved closer to Luke. “It’s another really sad story. Fatih’s family moved into our neighborhood when I was away at college. His father would always stop by our house to see my dad. At first, my father was wary of the Abu family, but they turned out to be such great people. I don’t know the details, but as I mentioned, Mr. Abu really helped my dad with his business, and eventually they became very close friends. About a year later, something happened with Mr. Abu’s job that required him to travel back and forth to the Middle East for work. When his parents began traveling together, Fatih stayed at our house for weeks at a time while attending high school. During a trip to the Middle East, while Fatih was living at our house, both of his parents were killed in a plane crash. It was so sad. That same day, my parents decided that they would adopt him.”

“Do you still see Fatih?”

She smiled. “No, after staying in Boston for a few years, he decided that he wanted to return to the Middle East. He wanted to go home.”

“Have you talked to him recently?”

“No, I haven’t talked to him in many years. Vincent might still be in touch. I’m just not sure.”

 

“Deep faith eliminates fear.”

—Lech Walesa

 

LUKE ENTERED VINCENT’S CAPE
Cod address into his GPS and saw that it was about five hours away. Since it was still early afternoon, he decided to drive there directly, hoping to get a chance to talk to him that night.

While on the road, Luke made a few calls. First, he checked in on Deborah. She was already driving to the mountain house, and he could hear Lori chatting in the background. As Lori’s voice became louder, he heard her say several times, “Ask him.” Finally, Deborah said, “Hold on,” and she handed the phone to Lori.

Lori got right to the point. “We saw your picture in the paper this morning and were wondering who that was with you.”

Luke had no idea what she was talking about. “My picture was in the paper?”

“Yes, you were sitting on a bench drinking coffee with a lady in dark sunglasses.”

Now he knew. “That’s Jami. Her sister was killed in the bombing with Aaron.”

There was silence for a few seconds and then Lori replied, “Oh, we never saw her before and couldn’t imagine who she was.”

“Her sister was a special adviser to Aaron, and we’ve spoken a few times since the bombing,” he said.

Once they finished talking, he called John, who was working at Aaron’s office. John told him that Blade’s funeral was scheduled to be held in two days. The authorities had already checked, and Blade had no known relatives. John added, “We thought it would be best if he was cremated. Is that all right with you?”

Luke knew that the Catholic Church had changed its views on cremation in the early 1960s, but he realized that many people still didn’t know it. “That’s fine, John. Do they know that I want to have a small service and say some prayers?”

“Yes, I already told them. Blade’s body will be on display, and after your prayer service is finished, he will be cremated. We can pick up the ashes the next day.”

“John, thanks very much for taking care of this. You’ve been a big help.”

Pulling onto I-95 northbound, Luke knew he would be on this road for almost two hundred miles. He set the cruise control, adjusted his seat, and relaxed, letting his mind wander. He kept asking himself if someone could be so devious that they would plant a bomb years in advance of an event taking place. If Blade’s dates were correct, many famous people had given speeches in the Common after the bomb was buried. Were they waiting for a certain time, or a particular person, before blowing up the stage? It had been rumored that the pope was going to visit Boston again. Based on the previous papal visit, he probably would have been at the Common. In fact, even the president had spoken there; why didn’t they explode the bomb then? Was it because he was a Democrat? Was being a Republican the link?