"The FBI says he was. Says he went for a gun, so they killed him."

"And Bush said there were weapons of mass destruction in Iraq so he invaded."

"Okay, Omar, let's try to focus. This is about getting you your freedom."

"I will never be free."

"If we win Friday, you will be. At least till trial."

"I am Muslim. I will never be free."

"You live in America. You're free ... well, you're in jail at the moment, but-"

"My brothers in the Middle East are not free, not when American drones armed with missiles fly overhead. How would Americans feel if Russia flew drones over California?"

"Most Americans would probably be happy if they took out a few of those crazy liberals out there."

Still no hint of a smile. Frank prided himself on being able to connect with human beings from all walks of life, particularly jurors who could award his client millions in damages. But finding a connection with this guy was proving tough.

"Look, Omar, we can't solve the world's problems today, okay? Let's focus on the detention hearing Friday. The Feds got nothing except your writings and speeches. Give me the study notes version of what you've said and written."

Mustafa shrugged. "I am just a teacher of Islam."

"And what do you teach?"

"The truth."

"Which is?"

"Muslims are fighting another crusade, an epic battle between good and evil."

"Let me guess-you're the good?"

"Yes."

"And we're the evil?"

"I am afraid so."

"Who decided that?"

"Allah."

"How do you know?"

Mustafa held up the book. "It is written in the Koran."

"And the Koran is-"

"The word of God." He opened the book and ran his hand across the pages as if they were made of gold. "These very words are the message of God communicated by God Himself to Muhammad."

"In an email, text, what?"

"Counselor, you are treading very close to dishonoring the Prophet, the penalty for which is death."

Frank laughed. "You're threatening me? Omar, I've won ten billion dollars in verdicts against multinational corporations. You don't scare me."

"Did they carry swords?"

Frank studied the little man. Was this guy for real?

"So how did God communicate to Muhammad?"

"In visions."

Frank grunted. "I had visions once. Free advice: stay away from tequila."

"You really don't want to be an old man, do you?"

That's it. Frank gave up on establishing an attorney-client rapport.

"So you think our war on terror is a war on Islam?"

"It is."

"Well, if we hate Muslims so damn much, why are we taking in sixty-five thousand Muslim refugees from Syria?"

"Because you are fools."

"We're fools? Why? Aren't they going to assimilate, become Americans?"

"Why would Muslims become Americans?" He turned the pages in the book and read. "God said, 'The day will surely come when those who disbelieve will wish that they were Muslim.' You see, counselor, it is Americans who must become Muslims."

"And if we don't?"

"Then one day those Muslims will kill you. We have spread out across the planet, and soon the ummah, the global Muslim community, will rise up and conquer the unbelievers."

"How do you know?"

"The Koran says so. God said so."

"And you'd like that?"

"What I would like is irrelevant. What will happen will happen."

Frank leaned in to Mustafa, as if they were kids telling secrets in class; he glanced around then spoke in a low voice.

"So, Omar, tell me, buddy, are you one of those terrorists?"

Mustafa leaned in as well. He also spoke in a low voice.

"Are you my lawyer?"

"Yes."

"Everything I say to you is confidential?"

"Yes."

"So you cannot tell anyone what I tell you?"

"No. The attorney-client privilege."

"Even if you are tortured?"

"Is that a joke?"

"No."

"Even if I'm tortured."

"If terrorism is standing up for Islam, then I am a terrorist."

"Have you ever beheaded anyone?"

"Not yet."

"Why not?"

"I always wanted my first beheading to be of a lawyer."

Frank leaned back.

"Funny. Why are you a terrorist?"

"I prefer jihadist."

"Why are you a jihadist?"

"Jihad means to defend Islam."

"What does 'defend Islam' mean?"

"It means to engage in a holy war to bring the entire population on earth under Islamic law."

"Ah. That sounds reasonable. Problem is, Omar, each country has its own law."

"We do not recognize national boundaries."

"Neither did Hitler."

Frank felt his blood pressure rising and himself being drawn into a debate with his client, never a good thing for a lawyer- "More particularly, since Christians and Jews desire control over Muslims, Muslim land, and Muslim oil, jihad means armed resistance against the conspiracies of the West and Israel." He held up the book. "Allah tells us to defend our homeland just as the U.S. Army is defending your homeland. Of course, we didn't invade you. You invaded us."

-particularly when his client is a nut. How do you debate a nut? Why was he debating a nut? It was the lawyer in him; he wanted to win every interpersonal encounter. He knew he shouldn't, but he pushed onward.

"We? Us? You're American."

"I was born here and I live here, but my heart is with my brothers in Syria." He turned the pages of the book. "God said, 'The believers are a band of brothers.' "

"Maybe so, but you're an American citizen. You live here, work here, pay taxes here."

"I do not pay taxes here."

"You don't? Where do you pay?"

"Nowhere."

"How much do you make?"

"Last calendar year, about seventeen million."

"That's not bad. I made almost sixty million."

"How much did you pay in taxes?"

"Thirty million."

"I paid zero."

"Tax shelters?"

"Mosque. I run all the money through the mosque, it is a charitable organization. I have not paid taxes since I returned from Jordan."

"Is that when you became radicalized?"

"I became informed. I met al Maqdisi and al Zarqawi there. I traveled to Palestine and personally witnessed the atrocities committed by the Christians and Jews against Muslims. So when I returned, my first act of jihad was to no longer pay taxes. I mean, why should a Muslim in America pay taxes so the U.S. Army can wage war on Islam? Would you pay taxes to your enemy? I am waging financial jihad."

"Financial jihad?" Frank chuckled. "I've heard a lot of reasons for cheating on your taxes, but that's a new one."

Frank hated paying half his income in taxes. But now, listening to this guy, he suddenly wanted to pay more taxes-to the U.S. Army.

"And all Muslim immigrants are encouraged to seek welfare and other government benefits to bankrupt the unbelievers. Also financial jihad."

"Cheating at taxes and freeloading off society-you guys are assimilating better than you think." Frank sighed. "Okay, we're way off topic. What were we talking about?"

"Invasions."

"Oh, yeah. Some regard nine-eleven as an invasion."