The two men looked at each other. Hashim could see they were confused.

Robinson cleared his throat.

“This is our job, whether we want to be here or not. We’re trying to keep you from a death sentence.”

“There’s already a fatwa on me.”

“We can’t protect you from that. But we might be able to keep you from getting a lethal injection,” Keyser said.

“I’m not afraid to die.”

“Well, I guess we’re wasting everyone’s time here,” Robinson said, annoyed, as he gathered his materials and placed them in his briefcase.

“Let me ask you something,” Robinson said, as he stopped what he was doing. “Why did you agree to see us if you want to defend yourself?”

Hashim looked at them. They were a trial run. He didn’t need them to represent him. He needed them to gauge their reactions to what he had to say. They represented the world he would be thrust into. A world of juries and judges.

“What I did was evil. Every action. Every order was designed for one purpose. To bring America, to bring the world, to its knees. And while I believe now that our jihad was wrong, and am willing to pay with my life for my actions, America is no less culpable in horrors. You’ve convinced yourselves you must police the world. In that is an inherent arrogance, and you’ve made as many enemies as you believe you have friends.”

“You’re not a hero, Hashim,” Robinson said. “You’re a wanted man. And you’re lucky if you don’t get a death sentence. So, don’t tell me what’s wrong with America. They’re going to ask you to name names, name places, sites of coming attacks. And they will want all of the dummy companies that have been set up to filter the funds used for your jihad. You do that, then maybe…maybe you have a chance to convince any of us your words are something other than total bullshit.”

“I understand,” Hashim said. “Might you be able to arrange the transaction of this information to happen in private?”

“You don’t want to go to trial now? Is that what you’re telling us?” Keyser said.

“I did want that platform. But it was arrogant of me to think it would have any other purpose than to create turmoil that would serve no one.”

“We’ll take your request to our superiors. Is there anything else you want to say?”

“No.” Hashim said as he stood up. His eyes didn’t waver from theirs.

“Thank you for doing whatever you can.”

Robinson picked up his briefcase and moved out.

Keyser lingered.

Hashim could see he was trying to figure him out.

“You coming?” Robinson called, before the guard opened the door for him to leave.

“Give me a minute,” Keyser answered.