Chapter 15
Debbie walked down the stairs from her apartment to the street. Her apartment was located on the second floor just above a travel agency. She waved to the very muscular woman, Uriel, who ran the agency before heading down the street. Based on her build, Debbie figured the woman competed in the shot put. She was definitely muscular enough to throw the shot put far enough to win a gold medal at the Olympics.
She didn't have to be at work for another forty-five minutes. That was long enough to get something to eat and walk to the building. She stepped into the bagel shop and went up to the counter. She waited while the woman behind the counter prepared a bagel for another customer. The blond haired woman was tall and well developed with Nordic features giving the impression that she was a Valkyrie. When the woman came to the counter, Debbie said, "Hello, Raquel. I'll have a coffee, a bagel with creamed cheese for here and a bagel with butter to go."
"You're always feeding that musician. He's a bum sitting out there playing his trumpet all day for coins. Toot, toot, toot, all day long. It gives me a headache. If you didn't feed him, maybe he'd go away," the woman said while fixing the order.
"I like Gabriel," Debbie said shrugging her shoulders. She heard the same speech from the woman every morning. Like many of the people in the neighborhood, Debbie thought that Raquel was a strange woman. The only time she seemed to work was in the morning. The rest of the time, she spent staring out the front window of the shop.
"I know," Raquel said. She set a plate with a bagel on the counter and a second bagel wrapped in paper next to the plate. Pointing to the wrapped bagel, she said, "That's a raison bagel. He likes raison bagels."
"Thanks," Debbie said cheerfully. Raquel might complain about Gabriel and his music, but she always made sure that he got the kind of bagel he liked. She carried the bagels over to a small table and returned in time to get her coffee. Handing over the money for her food, she returned to her table.
After finishing her breakfast, Debbie left the bagel shop and headed down the street. When she reached the corner, she stopped and said, "Hello, Gabriel. I brought you a little breakfast."
"Thank you," Gabriel said taking the bagel wrapped in paper from her. He looked at her and said, "You're looking cheerful this morning. I hope that you slept well."
"I slept well enough," Debbie answered with a smile. Gabriel always asked about her health.
"I hope that you are taking care of yourself; getting plenty of exercise, eating well, and taking your vitamins. Hate to hear that you've gotten sick or something," Gabriel said.
Debbie laughed and said, "I'm healthier than you are, Gabriel."
"Well, you might want to join the gym across the street. I bet Raphael would give you a discount on the membership," Gabriel said gesturing across the road with one hand.
"Maybe one of these days," Debbie said.
"You better get to work. It wouldn't be right for you to be late because you were talking to the likes of me," Gabriel said.
"You're always looking out for me, aren't you?" Debbie asked with an appreciative smile.
"That's right."
At the knock on her open office door, Debbie looked up from her desk and looked at her supervisor. There was a strange expression on the woman's face. Curious, Debbie asked, "What is it?"
"You have a visitor," the woman answered. She shifted nervously and bit her lower lip.
"Oh. Who is it?"
The supervisor leaned into the office and whispered, "It is Rabbi Teitelbaum."
Debbie's excited smile grew as she got out of her chair. She said, "Rabbi Teitelbaum is here? That's great. I didn't even know that he was in Israel. Where is he?"
"I put him in the conference room where he wouldn't be disturbed."
Startling her supervisor, Debbie ran out of the office to the conference room. Rabbi Teitelbaum was waiting for her at the door. Throwing her arms around him, she gave him a friendly hug and said, "It is so good to see you."
Coworkers who had never really talked to Debbie about anything other than work stared at the friendly greeting she gave the Rabbi Teitelbaum. All office conversation came to an abrupt end when he said, "I was so sorry that I couldn't attend your wedding."
"I understood," Debbie said. She kissed him on the cheek and added, "I know that you had important work to accomplish. What are you doing coming here to visit me?"
"I was in the area and needed to see a friendly face. So, of course, the first person who I thought I would visit was you," he said. He glanced at the faces of the people watching them. The awe with which they gazed upon him was disheartening. Debbie's honest smile was like a breath of fresh air.
All work had come to a complete stop. Coworkers gathered around to see the great Rabbi Teitelbaum. Everyone knew that he had proclaimed the coming of the Druid Oscar Meyers. Even though many had not liked the message that Oscar had delivered, the fact that he had said that Oscar was coming was reminiscent of the ancient prophets. That alone had made him a household name.
It was his second contribution to Israel that had raised him to the status of living legend. He had worked tirelessly to engineer how Israel could make things right and give the country a new legitimacy. His solution was that all of the Children of Israel should contribute to make reparations for the properties that had been confiscated. The original plan in which the owners of those properties were responsible for the debt had fallen by the wayside. Jews around the world were raising money to purchase properties.
"I'm glad you came," Debbie said. The hardest part of being here was not being able to talk to anyone about Oscar. The only one who knew that she was from the Druid College was the owner of the company.
Rabbi Teitelbaum looked at Debbie and, in a kind voice, said, "It is a lonely path we've chosen to walk. Don't despair; there will be an end to the loneliness for you."
"I know," Debbie said looking at one of the few people who understood her situation. Looking at the elderly man, she said, "For you?"
"I am old and the end of my path is quickly approaching," he answered.
Those close enough to hear the conversation looked from Debbie to the Rabbi wondering what their cryptic comments meant. Had the Rabbi just predicted his own death? Most stared at the Rabbi recognizing his importance. A few stared at Debbie wondering about her importance. Seeing the attention they had, Debbie said, "Let's go in the conference room where we can talk."
"Wise idea, my friend," he answered. There were things that he had to tell her that were best kept private between them.
The immediate excitement about the mysterious visit of Rabbi Teitelbaum had died down and Debbie was able to return to her work. The curiosity of her coworkers was almost a physical thing. People who had never talked to her approached her and tried to strike up conversations. Others who had normally engaged in small talk now kept their distance wondering what it was that she had never said to them.
It was normal that a guest scientist without a doctorate would meet with mixed reactions from collogues in a research facility. People differed in their opinions of her. Some felt that she was brilliant and that the doctorate was a mere formality. Others felt that she was pretentious and must have used some sort of political connection to get the job. A few thought that she had slept with the owner of the company to get her position. No one suspected the truth although with the visit of Rabbi Teitelbaum rumors were flying fast and furious.
Ruth Silverstein sat in her office wondering about Debbie Meyers. The young woman had been assigned to her. She had not been given a real resume. She had been told to watch over her, but not to interfere in the young woman's work. There was no doubt in her mind that the young woman was brilliant. She had managed to synthesize a new compound that had potential to be a significant product for the company. In looking over her work, it was obvious that she had nearly worked out all of the details about how to produce the compound with minimal environmental impact. Still, it irritated her to have a subordinate about whom she knew nothing.
The visit of Rabbi Teitelbaum was the last straw in Ruth's patience. She was going to get to the bottom of the matter regardless if the cost was her career. Rising from her desk, she headed towards Debbie's office.
Ruth's progress was halted when she recognized two more visitors making their way to Debbie's office escorted by the owner of the company. She froze and stared at the elderly silver haired black man walking slowly down the hall supporting himself with a cane. The large black man who walked behind him was the scariest figure she had ever seen. His face bore scars she knew had been received as a result of shrapnel from a hand grenade that had been intended for the elderly man.
Samuel Cohen spotted Ruth Silverstein and nodded to her. In a tone of voice that would allow no argument, he said, "Debbie Meyers has another distinguished guest. Please make sure their visit is not disturbed."
"Isn't that Reverend Leroy Jones?" Ruth asked.
"Yes," answered Samuel with a smile. He hadn't realized when he had accepted taking in Debbie Meyers that he would be given a chance to meet three of the most important religious figures of his time. First it had been Rabbi Teitelbaum who had stopped by his office. Then the Reverend Leroy Jones had shown up. While talking with the Reverend, he had received a call from Imam Abdel-Malik requesting the chance to visit with Debbie Meyers later that afternoon.
The Reverend Leroy Jones went into Debbie's office. His entrance was accompanied by a scream of joy from Debbie. Hearing it, Ruth said, "It sounds like they are friends."
"Yes, they are friends," Samuel said. Turning to her, he said, "Tell your people to expect another guest this afternoon and that anyone who might have a problem with a Muslim visitor should go home. I don't want any problems to come up. I'm still making the security arrangements."
"Who is it?" Ruth asked. She couldn't imagine who the last visitor would be if he required special security arrangements and the Rabbi Teitelbaum and Reverend Jones hadn't.
Looking around to make sure that he wouldn't be overheard, Samuel answered, "Imam Abdel-Malik. Don't tell anyone. I'd hate for there to be a problem."
Covering her mouth with a hand, she stared at her boss with wide eyes. Shaking her head numbly, she asked, "Who is she?"
"You haven't figured it out yet?" Samuel asked amused by the revelation.
"No."
"It is probably for the best, then," he said. He sighed and said, "She told me that she would be finished with her project this week. I imagine that we'll be losing her by the end of the month. Her work will bring millions of dollars into the company for the next twenty years. It's a shame that she has to leave."
Ruth was left standing in the hallway staring at the retreating back of the owner of the company. She took the few steps to Debbie's door intending to find out more. The large black man stepped in her way and, in a soft voice, said, "They do not want to be disturbed."
"I am her boss."
"And I'm his bodyguard. They don't want to be disturbed, so they won't be disturbed," George said in a harder flatter voice while staring into the eyes of the woman. There was a hard edge to his eyes that suggested he would be more than willing to snap her in half and use her bones as toothpicks.
When she was younger, Ruth had done her mandatory military service. She remembered basic training and the intimidating Sergeant who had put her through hell. The Sergeant could have learned a thing or two about intimidation from this huge man standing in front of her. She stepped back and said, "Okay."
Debbie had given up all hopes of getting any work done that day. She was so close to finishing her practicum that the delay was frustrating. She opened her e-mail to find one from technical support saying that e-mail services were being shutdown for the afternoon as a result of a need for unscheduled maintenance. She didn't believe that excuse for a minute.
Rising from her desk, she headed over to the company cafeteria for lunch. People moved out of her way; giving her a wide berth. Whether it was out of respect or fear, she couldn't tell. Men wearing black uniforms and carrying Uzi submachine guns had appeared in the hallways. Looking at them was a reminder that she was going to be receiving another visitor sometime after lunch.
At least there was one friendly face in the place. The janitor, a rather rough looking individual, always had a kind word for her. He smiled at her as she passed and said, "Good afternoon, Debbie."
"Good afternoon, Remie. How are you doing today?"
"I'm fine. No matter what else happens, there are always floors that need cleaning," he said in a cheerful voice. He swept a little scrap of paper out of her way. Gesturing to it, he said, "Hard to believe that little pieces of paper like that represent job security for old Remiel.
She laughed at his comment feeling a little better. In a teasing voice, she said, "Remind me to buy another bag of confetti."
Remie laughed and went back to sweeping the floor. Debbie continued on her way to the cafeteria feeling a little better. Her good feelings didn't last long. Ruth Silverstein joined her without saying a word, but the expression on her face reminded Debbie of someone who had bitten into an unripe persimmon. Ruth said, "You seem to have friends in high and low places."
Puzzled, Debbie asked, "What do you mean?"
"You seem rather friendly with the janitor," Ruth said.
"Oh, we just started work here the same day," Debbie answered. She had met Remiel while filling out all of the paperwork associated with starting work. He had entertained her while waiting with tales of working the seven seas as a sailor.
"He's a janitor."
"So?" Debbie asked. Remiel always had a nice word for her; something that couldn't be said for the majority of people there who often acted like she didn't exist.
"It is just that he is of a little different social class than your visitors this morning," Ruth said.
Debbie laughed at the comment. Having been around many people who were important and many more that would become important, she knew otherwise. She said, "I think that the Reverend and the Rabbi would probably disagree with you on that score. Like all men, they appreciate a kind word from someone who wants nothing from them."
The figure in the wheel chair wasn't physically imposing. In fact, he was ugly with his bent body, absent left arm, and missing leg. The snow white beard tried unsuccessfully to cover scars on his face. Despite his physical appearance, he managed to project an aura of power. The Israeli rocket that had destroyed his body years earlier had done nothing to diminish his spirit.
Using the little lever that controlled the wheelchair, Imam Abdel- Malik rolled up to a few paces away from Debbie. Looking up at her, he asked, "You are Debbie Meyers?"
"I am. You are Imam Abdel-Malik," she answered looking at the man.
"Yes, I am. It is a pleasure to meet you," he said.
"The pleasure is all mine," she said. With a sad frown, she said, "I was sorry to learn of the death of our mutual friend."
Imam Abdel-Malik sighed and said, "The world lost a great man the day that Mullah Farzin bin Saud died at the hands of those cowards."
From where she was watching, Ruth couldn't believe what she was hearing. She wondered how anyone could know so many spiritual leaders of such great stature. Shaking her head, she was about to comment that the next visitor Debbie would entertain was going to be Oscar Meyers. The thought struck her like a baseball bat to the middle of her forehead. She stared at Debbie realizing the identity of her subordinate.
"You are right," Debbie said.
Looking around at the crowd his presence had drawn, he said, "Let us go someplace private where we can talk."
Behind the closed door of the conference room, the pair discussed the future. This was a courtesy call with just a little business thrown into the mix. It was his chance to learn a little of the personal history of Oscar. The death of Mullah Farzin bin Saud had come at a very awkward time. He didn't want to die with a man without first knowing a little about him.
This visit was also her chance to get to know him. He knew that they would only have a single chance to get to know each other before the last great meeting. He didn't want to waste the time at that final meeting getting to know her only to never see her again.
Walking home from work that evening, Debbie stopped to talk with Gabriel. The man was blowing his trumpet; playing a blues tune that was hauntingly familiar although she couldn't place it. She stopped and placed a bill in the trumpet case. It fluttered down to land beside another dozen bills and a handful of change. When he finished the piece, she said, "That was nice."
"Thank you," he said with a smile.
"It looks like you had a slow day," Debbie said gesturing to the trumpet case.
"It wasn't too bad. There were times when it was real busy and there were some slow times," he said with a shrug of his shoulders. Grinning at her, he said, "I hope you had a good day."
"I did. A few friends dropped by at work. It was nice to see them," Debbie said deciding that all in all it had been a good day. She had enjoyed meeting Imam Abdel-Malik. The man had a wonderful sense of humor and had enjoyed the stories about Oscar tremendously. It had been great to talk about her husband and wife.
"A visit from friends is always great," Gabriel said.
"It's been nice talking with you. I've got to get some marketing done and fix dinner," Debbie said.
"Make sure you eat plenty of vegetables. A young woman like you needs all of the vegetables she can get," Gabriel said going into lecture mode and shaking a finger at her.
"Sometimes you sound just like my mother," Debbie said with a laugh. She waved and headed into the little grocery store.
From halfway down the block, Ruth Silverstein had watched Debbie talk to the vagrant musician. She found it incomprehensible that a woman who knew so many important people bothered to waste time talking to janitors and vagrants. She headed towards the store Debbie had entered. It was time to find out if her suspicions about Debbie were correct.
As she approached the corner, the street musician blew a horrible sounding note that was almost shocking in contrast to the music he had been making. She paused and stared at him. When he set down his trumpet, she resumed her journey. She suddenly found her way blocked by the biggest strongest looking woman she had ever seen. She moved to go around her and found that her way was blocked by a bodybuilder wearing a tee shirt with the logo of the gym across the street. The street musician had appeared at her side.
Feeling nervous, she started to turn around only to discover that the janitor from work was standing behind her. It took a second for her to realize that he was carrying a broom handle. Smiling, the janitor said, "Dr. Silverstein. Please leave Debbie Meyers alone."
Frowning, she asked, "Who are you?"
"I'm Remiel," he answered gesturing to the name patch on his shirt.
Ruth glanced at the name patch suspecting that he was more than just a janitor. She looked at the others who were surrounding her. They looked a lot more relaxed than before. Tired of not knowing what was going on, she asked, "Who are you to stop me from talking to her?"
"That doesn't matter. We're asking you politely to leave her alone," Remiel answered.
Ruth looked around and spotted a policeman moving in her direction. He had seen her and was coming over to investigate. Remiel glanced in the direction she was looking and smiled when a large blond woman stopped the policeman. Ruth's hope at a timely intervention fled when the policeman turned and walked away. Giving into the inevitable, she said, "You win. I'll leave."
The four watched Ruth walk down the street talking to herself and waving her arms around as if furious. She definitely looked like a woman on the verge of a nervous breakdown. Remiel chuckled and said, "She sure does look angry. I bet I get called into my supervisor's office when I get to work in the morning."
Chuckling at the comment, Raphael said, "I'll see you later. I better get back to the gym before someone drops a weight on their foot."
"I'll call it in," Uriel said rolling her eyes. She pulled a cell phone out of her purse and stepped away to make a call. After dialing the number, she started walking towards the Travel Agency. She still had to finish booking the vacation for one of her more troublesome customers. She was half tempted to arrange for a one way ticket to Outer Mongolia with lodging at Rent A Yurt.
While picking up his trumpet, Gabriel said, "Ten months here and all I get to do is chase off one skinny little woman."
Remiel asked, "Who would have thought that being a Guardian Angel
would be so damned boring?"