Time Bomb(27)

Rashid grabbed the phone and looked at the cracked display.

No bars.

They hadn’t changed locations, but something had changed.

Rashid hurried down the hall, looking for a zone where they could get a signal. But there wasn’t one. The cell-phone signal in the school was never reliable. Everyone was always complaining about it, but he had a feeling this was due to something else. “The police must have jammed the cell-phone signal for the school. They must want to cut off any contact the bomber would have with the bombs or anyone outside who might be helping him.”

“So they think the person behind the bombings has more bombs and is trapped in here with us?” Tad kicked a bent piece of metal, and it skittered down the hall and slammed into the door of an open locker. “What kind of terrorist takes out a school when school isn’t even in session? It’s not like we’re some kind of major military target or a church or—” Tad went completely still. “Hold on a sec.” His eyes narrowed as he turned his head and looked at Rashid. “I know who you are.”

Rashid stepped back and balled his hands into fists at his side. Everything inside him tensed. Heat built inside him. He replayed all the insults in his mind as distrust twist Tad’s face. Distrust that had become more and more a part of Rashid’s life from people who thought they understood him. They thought they knew what he was. Was it any wonder he did what he did today? It was because of Tad. Because of Tad’s friends and all the people like them.

Normally at school he turned away when the distrust surfaced. This time he lifted his head to look Tad straight in the eyes. Rage and humiliation burned hot as the floor shuddered beneath him. “No. You don’t. You don’t know me at all.”





Not everything that is faced can be changed. But nothing can be changed until it is faced.



—James Baldwin





12:24 p.m.





Tad





— Chapter 26 —


THE BEARD WAS GONE. That’s why Tad hadn’t recognized Rashid. Without the beard, the guy actually looked normal. Kind of like he had when they were in English freshman year. Rashid hadn’t had the beard then, but he had always been tall and skinny and quiet. Different. He looked the way Tad always felt—like someone on the outside, looking in. Tad used to think about trying to talk to Rashid, but that seemed like a good way to make people look sideways at him—something he had no interest in. He had just wanted to be as normal as possible in this place.

And that’s when Tad realized something. “You never called 911.”

Rashid stared at him with dark, unblinking eyes. “What?”

“When I called my mother back. There was only one 911 call on the list. You never called for help.”

“I never said I did.”

Of course you did, Tad thought. Rashid had shaved. He must have done that to make sure people wouldn’t recognize him, and now he was lying. Mom said the bomber had given a “message” to the cops. Rashid must have known the emergency line would be jammed and had reached them some other way. How else would Rashid have had an explanation handy for why cell-phone signals were blocked?

The smell of smoke was getting stronger. The fire had to be getting closer. He had to get out of the building. And the guy standing in front of him was looking seriously pissed, which made this even worse. Rashid had been timid in class, but this didn’t seem to be the same guy.

“Look, man.” Tad took a step back. “I don’t care why you’re doing what you’re doing. I just want to get out of here before something else blows up.”

Rashid stared at him then took a step forward. “You think I’m the one who did this? Why?”

Tad automatically stepped back. “How the hell should I know why crazy people do things like this?”

“Crazy people?” Rashid repeated. Anger simmered under the measured words. “What’s that supposed to mean, Tad?”

Tad looked around, trying to decide which was the best way to run.

“You think I woke up today and decided to blow up the school because I’m a Muslim? Unbelievable.” Rashid shook his head, turned on his heel, and walked several steps down the hall. Tad reached for a board sticking out of the pile of debris. He yanked it free as Rashid spun around and let out a bitter laugh. “And now you’re going to beat me up? This keeps getting better. My family is Muslim, so to you, that makes me a crazy person. Well, maybe I should call the cops and tell them you’re the one who robbed the house at the end of my street a few weeks back. After all, you’re black. Aren’t all black people gang members and criminals who belong in jail?”

“That’s not the same thing,” Tad shot back, even though it was. A splinter dug into his hand as he tightened his grip on the board.

“I’m sure you can figure it out. You’ve got everything else figured out, don’t you, Tad? I’m a Muslim, so I must hate you. Fine. I do hate you, but it’s because you’re an idiot.” Rashid jabbed his finger at Tad. “I didn’t blow up this stupid school. I’m not a person who would do that, and you can believe me or not. I don’t care.” His shoulders slumped as he shook his head. “I just don’t care.”

“You’re just walking away?” Tad shifted his feet and cocked the board back a bit in case Rashid was trying to get him to lower his guard. That’s the kind of thing his brother would do to gain the upper hand.