happened in those few short minutes. I didn’t want them to see me get emotional so I turned my head away from them. After a few minutes I looked back and they continued with their questions. They wanted to know if I heard the gunmen say anything. I recalled one had screamed in broken English that the attack was revenge for killing their leader. The authorities took notes and promised to be back in touch.
The Paris prosecutor came in to ask more questions later in the day. He and I were friends from college. Pierre Bernard was a good man whom I respected. He was my primary contact during the hostage siege. We discussed this might happen ten years ago, and he was who I spoke to last month when the threats began to come in again. He told me to stay in the United States as much as possible. I didn’t listen to him of course, and he quickly reminded me.
“Fabrice, you stubborn man, we are so glad you were alive. When I heard what happened, I feared the worst.”
“You were right and I should have listened to you.” My eyes were heavy with exhaustion as I tried to speak to him with a strong authoritative voice.
“Yes, you should have. I have word the two men in the shop had ties to the extreme Islamic group in Syria, the group that followed Azhar Hakim.
“That fucking bastard has been dead now for ten years. They have a new piece of shit leading them. It’s his son, I think.
“They wanted revenge. They had been following you for months back and forth to Washington. They wanted to kill you on your home land and take innocent people along with you.”
“There was this boy. I can’t get his face out of my head. They were going to kill him. Tell me he is okay.”
“As I recall, there was no child killed that day. The terrorist killed ten people, and children were not among the dead. I will definitely verify that for you.” My body relaxed to know he was still alive.
“Am I safe now? Is Isabella safe?”
He hesitated. His gaze left my face, and he looked away. I knew what that meant before he said anything.
“I feel you are, for the most part, safer. Two of them are dead. The group has claimed responsibility for the deaths of the innocent in the café. We have not heard anything from anyone to make us believe you are not. That is not to say they won’t start again. Right now, I don’t know how many we are dealing with. If Azhur’s son is now in charge, and he is still alive, I would say we have more work to do. I would like you to keep Gustan with you as much as possible, go back to Washington when you are strong enough, and this time inform me faster when and if any more threats come in. Also, I’m not satisfied with only Gustan. I’m getting some more people around you. I know you don’t like that, but that is how it needs to be right now. Later, we can cut back. I’d feel safer if you let me hire some more protection.” I took a second to look at him to read him more thoroughly. He was genuinely concerned. I had Isabella to think of now and my ego needed to take a backseat.
“Thank you, Pierre. More guards are not necessary for me, but for Isabella’s sake let’s do add more security.” I didn’t want more people around me. I had a hard time accepting Gustan living with me twenty-four hours a day. My place would be turned into a commune with more guards. “What are we talking about, a couple more?”
“I’m thinking, right now, at least four, and I want to make sure there are cameras all over your home for the security guard to monitor every angle. I will put Gustan in charge of this and speak to him today.
“I need to ask a question?”
“Anything, Fabrice.” He sat forward and listened to me intently.
“Tell me the truth, even with all of this, is Isabella safe here with me in Paris?” He looked down and said nothing.
“Tell me, Pierre. She’s my life.”
“I think she would be safer in the United States. I don’t think it’s safe for you or her to stay here right now. The
The Paris prosecutor came in to ask more questions later in the day. He and I were friends from college. Pierre Bernard was a good man whom I respected. He was my primary contact during the hostage siege. We discussed this might happen ten years ago, and he was who I spoke to last month when the threats began to come in again. He told me to stay in the United States as much as possible. I didn’t listen to him of course, and he quickly reminded me.
“Fabrice, you stubborn man, we are so glad you were alive. When I heard what happened, I feared the worst.”
“You were right and I should have listened to you.” My eyes were heavy with exhaustion as I tried to speak to him with a strong authoritative voice.
“Yes, you should have. I have word the two men in the shop had ties to the extreme Islamic group in Syria, the group that followed Azhar Hakim.
“That fucking bastard has been dead now for ten years. They have a new piece of shit leading them. It’s his son, I think.
“They wanted revenge. They had been following you for months back and forth to Washington. They wanted to kill you on your home land and take innocent people along with you.”
“There was this boy. I can’t get his face out of my head. They were going to kill him. Tell me he is okay.”
“As I recall, there was no child killed that day. The terrorist killed ten people, and children were not among the dead. I will definitely verify that for you.” My body relaxed to know he was still alive.
“Am I safe now? Is Isabella safe?”
He hesitated. His gaze left my face, and he looked away. I knew what that meant before he said anything.
“I feel you are, for the most part, safer. Two of them are dead. The group has claimed responsibility for the deaths of the innocent in the café. We have not heard anything from anyone to make us believe you are not. That is not to say they won’t start again. Right now, I don’t know how many we are dealing with. If Azhur’s son is now in charge, and he is still alive, I would say we have more work to do. I would like you to keep Gustan with you as much as possible, go back to Washington when you are strong enough, and this time inform me faster when and if any more threats come in. Also, I’m not satisfied with only Gustan. I’m getting some more people around you. I know you don’t like that, but that is how it needs to be right now. Later, we can cut back. I’d feel safer if you let me hire some more protection.” I took a second to look at him to read him more thoroughly. He was genuinely concerned. I had Isabella to think of now and my ego needed to take a backseat.
“Thank you, Pierre. More guards are not necessary for me, but for Isabella’s sake let’s do add more security.” I didn’t want more people around me. I had a hard time accepting Gustan living with me twenty-four hours a day. My place would be turned into a commune with more guards. “What are we talking about, a couple more?”
“I’m thinking, right now, at least four, and I want to make sure there are cameras all over your home for the security guard to monitor every angle. I will put Gustan in charge of this and speak to him today.
“I need to ask a question?”
“Anything, Fabrice.” He sat forward and listened to me intently.
“Tell me the truth, even with all of this, is Isabella safe here with me in Paris?” He looked down and said nothing.
“Tell me, Pierre. She’s my life.”
“I think she would be safer in the United States. I don’t think it’s safe for you or her to stay here right now. The