Page 94 of Into the Gray Zone

Too late, Kamal realized that Jaiden himself was from the same village. He said, “Look, you need to trust me on this. I’m not going to tell you his name, and we’ll never meet him. He has a tiny factory and he’s agreed to let us stay. Trust me, he’s with us, but he doesn’t wantto get involved. He continues his work and we hold the hostages in his factory. Everyone there is illegal and won’t want to turn us in.”

Jaiden said, “How do you intend to get the hostages into the slum? You want to just walk them in?”

“Yes.”

“You think that’s smart? What if they decide to run?”

Kamal looked back into the van and saw the hostages listening. He said, “Because I’ll kill them if they try anything.”

Manjit pulled into a parking area across the street from the rail station, a bridge across the tracks leading to the slum. He said, “You want to just leave the vehicle here?”

“For the time being. We need to calculate the government response. They’re going to come at us with everything they have, and we need a means of escape.”

The sedan following them pulled adjacent in a parking spot three vehicles away, the two drivers still wearing their red and black uniforms, complete with dastaars. Kamal said, “We need to get them out of those uniforms before we enter.”

Jaiden glanced at them, then turned to Kamal. Kamal saw in his eyes that something had shifted during the drive to Mumbai.

Jaiden said, “Get out of the van.” He flicked his eyes to the hostages and said, “We need to talk.”

Kamal did so, remembering Manjit’s warning about Jaiden’s propensity for wanting to take control. He met Jaiden at the front bumper and said, “What?”

Jaiden looked left and right, making sure they were alone, then said, “You take the American to the slum. I’m going to take the women.”

“Wait, that’s not the plan. We’re going to hold them until the government reads my manifesto on television, or until we’re forced to kill them.”

“You can’t hold them all in the slum. The only security you have is your anonymity. Once that’s gone, you’re dead.”

Kamal grew angry, wanting to put a stop to any mutiny before it began. “We knew that before we came here. Nothing’s changed in the plan since the sun’s come up, and let me be clear: I’m the one who’s in charge.”

Jaiden said, “Calm down. I’m not trying to usurp your plan. Trust me, from what I saw last night, you’re the right man for this. You have the courage of your father.”

The comment surprised Kamal. He had been expecting a fight, but maybe having to be forced at gunpoint to return to the mission while Kamal’s men went willingly had caused Jaiden to reflect on the meaning of courage.

Kamal said, “What’s my father have to do with this?”

“You never asked me why I agreed to do this.”

Now confused, Kamal said, “I just assumed you believed as we do.”

Jaiden smiled and said, “What did your mother tell you about your father’s death?”

“He died in a car wreck. Nothing special.”

“Your father was a member of the Khalistan Commando Force, as was both Rakesh and myself. He was a cell leader, and he was murdered by the government. He didn’t die in a car crash.”

Shocked, Kamal said, “That’s impossible. I would know. My mother would have known.”

“Shedidknow. After he was killed, she insulated you from any talk of Sikh nationalism. It’s why she hated you hanging around with Rakesh and me. After the loss of your father our cell dissolved. Rakesh and I went into the Army, but we never lost faith in the cause. When you appeared out of nowhere, hired by Mr.Chin, it was like something sent from beyond the grave. It was a sign from your father.”

He put his hands on Kamal’s shoulders and said, “You are the heir of the KCF, andthat’swhy I’m following you.”

His mind reeling at the revelations, Kamal stuttered for words, but none came out.

Jaiden continued, “Your father would be proud, and that’s precisely why I’m taking the women with me. To ensure your plan succeeds.”

Kamal simply nodded, deciding to refocus on the mission, leaving Jaiden’s words about his heritage behind for later reflection. He said, “But why do you need us to separate?”

Jaiden said, “I’ve been giving it some thought. The workers at that little factory are all going to be illegals, and possibly all Muslim. Maybe one of them wants to get on the good side of the authorities.”

---