"Ahreed, hi," the man Russell held out his hand to Ahreed.
Ahreed stood and lifted his arm slowly, shaking Russell's outstretched hand, shaking. Ahreed sat back down in his seat.
"Look, I know all of this is difficult," the man began, "But it will all make sense in the end." He kept his eyes fixed on Ahreed's as he sat down in the other chair.
The boy looked back into his lap, the trails of tears in his eyes still visible after Kirstin's interview. "What do you want me for?" asked Ahreed quietly, still looking down.
Russell moved in his seat, thinking how he could connect now that the boy seemed ashamed of himself. "Ahreed, we need your help."
Ahreed paused for a moment, then looked up at the man Russell. "Then why do you treat me like this?" he asked.
Russell shuffled about again, his broad shoulders and large body leaning over the stainless steel desk. There was silence again. He waited a moment before speaking. "I promise you, in a few hours you will be back with your Baba."
"How can I trust you?" asked the fourteen year old boy.
"Because we trust YOU," continued Russell, "YOU are our main concern."
Ahreed was unsure. "Why me?" he inquired of his more friendly interrogator, persisting at looking down.
Russell looked down too. It was clear the boy was not going to look in his eyes. "Because you," he paused, "Because you are not just an Australian - you are a special Australian."
"This is how you treat someone special?" asked Ahreed, still looking down in his lap.
"You will understand, Ahreed," persisted Russell, "You will get a picture of things like no one else before has had."
Ahreed looked up at the man Russell. His eyes were fixed on Ahreed's and it was clear the man was watching Ahreed's every movement. "What kind of picture is that?" the boy recounted.
"A picture of the world, Ahreed," began Russell, "A picture of the people smuggling, the human trafficking, the drug trade, the systems these people use to convince young boys like you that their world is exciting, compelling, that they must come over and fight the Jihad.."
Ahreed looked down again.
Russell continued, "Ahreed, we need boys like you who can find these people." But the boy kept looking down. Russell persisted, "We need boys your age who we can trust."
Ahreed suddenly looked up again at the man, Russell. "How do you expect me to trust you?" Ahreed asked. "Are you hurting my Baba?"
Russell looked down and read his notes for the first time. He looked back up at Ahreed, watching him across the table. "Because your Baba knows what we are doing and wants you to help us."
Ahreed looked down. The thought of his Baba caused tears again in his eyes. "When can I talk with Baba next?" he asked, beginning to sob again.
Russell looked back down at his notes on the table, seeming frustrated. "I told you, Ahreed, you will see him tonight, after our interview."
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