Cargo: A Leine Basso Thriller (20 page)

“Yeh.”

Leine sighed. “Long story. It comes in handy.”

“I’ll bet.”

Leine led the way to the location Zara described. By the time they reached the enclosure, a guard stood next to Kylie in the pen. Leine and Derek remained hidden and watched. The guard unlocked the chains attached to the center pole and led her out of the fenced area, back toward camp. The chain clanked as she walked. Her clothes were torn and dirty and she looked exhausted, but otherwise appeared in good physical shape. Pieces of torn, bloody paper lay strewn across the pen.

Leine checked her watch and glanced at the sky. The stars had just begun to fade. There wasn’t much time before sunrise.

“What’s our Plan B?” Derek asked. “Obviously, acting as guests won’t work, as long as Wang’s here. How do we get both of them out and not alert the guards?”

“I have an idea. But we need to get back to the Rover, asap.”

Victor and Bobbi
Jo set out in Wang’s safari vehicle before dawn, towing an enclosed trailer. The sky had turned a deep indigo, signaling the approaching sunrise. He’d woken the American heiress a short time earlier with the lure of a hunting expedition designed especially for her, ostensibly to get back in her good graces. Intrigued, and still livid about her husband’s infidelity, she rose without waking Clarence and joined him.

Wang made sure to equip the vehicle with champagne and orange juice as well as a bottle of premixed cocktails in order to help lighten her mood. She sampled two mimosas and enjoyed a Bloody Mary before curtailing herself, citing the need to remain sharp for the hunt. Noticing the trailer, she asked if they were going to hunt on horseback. Victor Wang told her no.

They drove several kilometers down a deeply rutted road, finally stopping near a huge, flat-topped acacia. Bobbi Jo had asked him to stop when they passed a group of giraffes, expressing the desire to “bring one down to watch it fall,” but Wang dissuaded her, reminding her that he’d set up the morning’s hunt specifically for her.

The two exited the vehicle and gathered together the equipment Bobbi Jo would need.

“May I?” Wang asked, holding his phone up. Bobbi Jo smiled.

“Hell, yes you can video me. This hunt you dreamed up is gonna be a doozy, huh?” She rubbed her hands together in anticipation. “I can’t wait. What am I goin’ after? It doesn’t sound too active.” She nodded at the trailer.

Wang smiled. “It’s a surprise.”

Bobbi Jo giggled as she loaded her rifle. As planned, the drinks Wang supplied on the journey had reinvigorated her buzz from the night before. Of course, the light sedative he’d added probably helped. She closed one eye as she tried to zip her vest, staggering back a step before succeeding.

“Hey, where’s my scope?” she asked, checking the backseat.

“I think the reason you are bored is because hunting has become too easy for you,” Wang offered. “I did not bring a scope so that your true talents can shine through.”

She tilted her head, smiling. “You know, you’re right, Victor baby.” She tottered toward him, leering suggestively. “How ‘bout after this here hunting expedishun, you an’ me go an’ have ourselves a little ching-chang?” she asked, reaching for his crotch.

A shudder slid through him, and he took a step back. Mustering a smile he wagged his finger. “Your offer is tempting, but if you don’t begin soon, the hunt will not go as planned.”

Bobbi Jo saluted and wheeled around, gun at the ready. She sank to a crouch and peered into the shadows. “Okay, killjoy. Let ’er rip!”

“Close your eyes. I will tell you when to open them.” Wang walked to the back of the trailer and opened the door. He climbed inside and grabbed Sapphire by the arm, leading her out as he would a horse. She didn’t make a sound. The tape across her mouth helped, but so did the fear in her eyes.

Wang turned on his phone and checked that the signal from the radio collar was working. He leaned in close, could smell the shampoo she’d used the night before.

“When I tell you to run, you run.”

Sapphire’s gaze flicked to each side, never settling on one point. Her eyes glistened with tears as she shook her head.

“I will give you a head start, to make things fair.” Victor Wang enjoyed the ruse. Giving the whore hope. Even if she did manage to escape, he’d find her using the app on his phone. The range before losing the signal was generous. “You must remain quiet or you will be punished. Do you understand?”

Sapphire closed her eyes and nodded, tears streaming down her cheeks. He turned her and unlocked the handcuffs.

Everything was in order.

“
Run
,” Wang growled into her ear, and gave her a shove. Startled, Sapphire sprinted forward and stumbled, but then recovered and ran, her head bobbing as she sprinted away. He waited until she became a dark speck on the horizon before he joined Bobbi Jo.

“Open your eyes,” he said.

Bobbi Jo did and looked around. Wang pointed at the rapidly disappearing speck. From where they stood Sapphire resembled some exotic animal darting through the brush.

“Your quarry.”

She narrowed her eyes and nodded. “Kinda small, ain’t it?”

“Ah, but a worthy opponent. You will see.”

“Anything I need to be aware of? Is it dangerous? Teeth? Claws?”

“Get no closer than thirty yards and, to make things interesting, you must make the kill before sunrise.”

“Oh, good.” Bobbi Jo smiled. “A challenge. And when I succeed? Are there more I can take back to the game farm?”

“I’m sure something can be arranged.” He scanned the horizon, searching for Sapphire. The shadows had swallowed her whole. “You’d better hurry.”

Bobbi Jo laughed and slung her rifle over her shoulder. “This is gonna be fun,” she said, and started after her prey.

Wang smiled as he turned on the recorder and followed her.

***

Twenty minutes later, Bobbi Jo stopped to catch her breath.

“Where the hell
is
it?”

Victor hadn’t figured on Bobbi Jo being as out of shape as she was, and switched to the tracking app on his phone. The screen showed Sapphire two hundred yards to their left. The blinking icon didn’t move. He searched the area but saw only grass and shadows. She was probably lying on the ground, hiding. Bobbi Jo raised an eyebrow and cocked her head. He pointed to his left and she nodded.

Wang watched the gap narrow between them and the icon at their approach. The sun had just tipped the horizon, so there was still time, but Bobbi Jo would have to shoot now, or she might realize what she was aiming at. He worried that the drinks she’d had on the drive were wearing off. She seemed more focused and determined than she’d been in the beginning.

As Wang had hoped, their approach flushed their prey. A dark shape rose from the grass. Wang’s heart raced in anticipation, filming everything in a wide angle. Bobbi Jo stopped and raised her rifle.

And fired.

The dark form staggered and dropped.

“Yes!” Bobbi Jo lowered her rifle and pumped her fist.

Wang zoomed in on her triumphant smile, and then zoomed back out to capture the action.

She strode to the inert form, slowing as she approached. Wang zoomed in yet again. A look of confusion crossed her face, replaced by horror as she drew close enough to make out Sapphire’s body. Her face drained of color, Bobbi Jo’s gaze skated to Wang.

“It’s…it’s…” She stopped and looked down again, unable to voice the words.

The sun had breached the horizon, creating the perfect light. Wang framed Sapphire’s face with his phone, peaceful in death, and congratulated himself on the timing.

“Stop filming, you ass,” Bobbi Jo hissed. Victor lowered his phone, but didn’t turn it off. He glanced down to make sure he’d angled the lens correctly.

She stared in horror at the woman she’d just killed. A moment later, she squatted to get a better look, and brushed away the black hair covering Sapphire’s cheek.

“Is this…is that the woman who seduced Clarence?” she asked, tilting her head.

“Yes.”

Bobbi Jo glanced at Wang and their gazes locked. He waited, wondering how she would react, his free hand inching toward the gun in his waistband. She blinked, and looked back at the dead woman.

“Oh,” she breathed.

Bobbi Jo rose to her feet and slung her rifle over her shoulder. She hesitated a moment before she drew back her foot and kicked the dead woman in the ribs, hard, and then did it again. Grimacing, she continued to kick the body, muttering epithets under her breath, working herself into a frenzy before Wang stepped in, murmuring softly as he took her by the shoulders and led her back toward the truck.

“The whore deserved it,” she sputtered, climbing into the passenger seat.

“Of course, Bobbi Jo. Things are back to normal now, aren’t they?” Wang nodded and smiled, and opened the console for a bottle. “Here, have a drink,” he urged, pouring the contents into a large cup.

Bobbi Jo accepted the Bloody Mary without saying a word, her gaze focused on the horizon. Wang watched her, calculating his next move. Filming the murder took care of the Schneider’s ill-fated decision to seek out another hunting camp, and eventually another wildlife supplier, putting Wang in the driver’s seat. Unfortunately, with Sapphire’s death, he was now in the market for another companion. He ran through the available women at camp, but his interest flagged. There had to be someone who hadn’t been tainted by his guests.

His attention wandered to Zara, the lion-whisperer, but he nixed the idea before it took hold. Without her acquiescence, his dream of becoming the go-to hunting camp in Tanzania would be that much harder to achieve. No, there had to be someone else.

Back at Rafiki
, Rashid dropped Leine and Derek off and headed home. All three of them were exhausted. When Alma asked them what happened when they tried to retrieve Hugh’s body, Derek shook his head and told her what they’d found.

Alma’s cheeks grew red, her anger bubbling to the surface. “Someone has to answer for the death of that good man,” she declared, fists clenched. By this time, Hattie had joined them and tried to calm the older woman down.

“You can’t fight Wang,” Hattie said. “You know that, Alma. We can’t win against his money or influence.”

“I don’t think it was his men,” Leine said. “The gunmen who shot at us were dressed differently and didn’t carry the same kind of weapons.”

“Then who?”

“Didn’t you mention the men who took Zara looked like they were well-funded?” Leine asked. The two women exchanged knowing looks.

“So you think it was Assad.” Alma nodded. “Of course.”

“We found Zara,” Derek said, leaning against the Rover. “Wang’s keeping her locked up in an arena with the cubs.”

Alma’s eyes widened. “Zara? She’s all right? Oh.” She whispered the last word, steadying herself on the side of the Rover. Hattie led the older woman to the back of the vehicle and helped her sit on the tailgate.

Leine and Derek joined the two women.

“How is she?” Alma asked. “Why didn’t you bring her home?”

“She’s fine. And we will. Tonight.” Leine described their plan. When she and Derek finished filling them in on the details, Alma shook her head.

“You can’t do this. It’s much too dangerous. For God’s sake, a man was
murdered
because he got too close.”

“Yes, but now we know the camp’s layout and have a general idea where the guards patrol,” Derek added. “We’ll be careful.”

“Do you know where Assad and his thugs will be when you arrive at the camp?”

Derek sighed. “No. But if we don’t go in and at least try, then you’ll likely never see Zara again.”

“He’s right.” Hattie took Alma’s hand. “Come on. Let’s leave them alone so they can put together the things they’ll need for tonight.”

Alma nodded. “At least we can make breakfast. I’ll bet you two are starving.”

“I could eat,” Derek replied.

“Would it be all right if I used the sat phone again?” Leine asked.

“Of course,” Alma replied. “You know where it is.”

Alma and Hattie left, while Leine and Derek combed through the Rover, putting together supplies they’d need to prepare for that evening’s operation. They inventoried the gear they’d managed to take from Derek’s house in Dar. In addition to the semiautomatic pistols, their cache consisted of two MP5s, the sniper rifle—which Derek re-sighted after Leine’s mishap on the roof—as well as three pair of NVGs, binoculars, and enough ammunition for the attempted rescue.

“You take the girls. I’ll cover you.” Leine said as she loaded a magazine.

“Wait a minute. Why don’t I cover you? I’ve got more experience.”

“Think so?” Leine picked up one of the 9mm pistols and fired three rounds into a post several yards behind Derek.

He turned to look at the perfectly centered shots and whistled. Then he picked up the .45 lying on the tailgate and carefully aimed at the small branch of a baobab tree about twenty-five yards from him. He pulled the trigger and the branch dropped to the ground.

“Nice.” Leine fired three more rounds near Derek’s feet, making him jump.

“What the fuck was that?” he sputtered, his face turning crimson. “You could’ve hit me.”

“But I didn’t, did I?” Leine set her gun on the tailgate and leveled her gaze at him. “Look, we’re both tired. You can shoot. Great. So can I. We’ll probably have to play it by ear on this one, so let’s not get too attached to our roles, okay?”

“Hey, you were the one making up the rules, not me.”

“Okay, Derek. Whatever.” Leine finished loading the magazine and placed it in the back of the Rover with the other gear. Tired of his alpha male stupidity she said, “Looks like we’re done here. After I call Lou, I’m going to get some breakfast and then I need to sleep.” She stood up and headed toward the outdoor kitchen, following the smell of coffee and fried eggs.

***

Kylie opened the top dresser drawer and rummaged through Wang’s clothes. She was sure she’d seen him hide something there when he thought she wasn’t looking.

Underneath the perfectly folded undershirts, her fingers curled around a small plastic thumb drive. She glanced to the side to make sure her captor wasn’t nearby and pocketed the device.

Wang had liberated her from the kitchen earlier that morning without an explanation. Ghanima had been livid but hid her displeasure well; Kylie could feel her eyes boring a hole into her back as they walked out of the camp headed for Wang’s tent. She didn’t want to think about what would happen if Wang decided to return her. Kylie had no doubt that it would be her death sentence.

She nosed around the well-appointed room, tugging at the weird butch collar Wang insisted she wear around her neck. He’d warned her not to step outside the perimeter of the deck unless he was with her, and suggested she try while he was there. When she did as he instructed a hot, shooting pain arced across her throat and neck. Surprised, she yelped and jumped back, her hands gripping the collar as she tried to tear it loose.

Wang had laughed and patted her head on his way to taking his extra special guests on a hunting expedition. She didn’t like the look the bleach-blond woman had given her, even though her husband, a big man with an even bigger belly, hardly gave Kylie a second glance. After they’d gone, Kylie tried to get the collar off, but the band was too strong and wouldn’t budge. She’d even gone under the shower to see if she could short it out, but when she’d tested it again, she gave herself another shock.

She spent the afternoon looking through Wang’s things and lying on the king-sized bed, alternating between relief that she no longer had to wear leg irons and sleep outside unprotected, and fear of what this new development portended. Where had Sapphire ended up? Had Wang grown tired of her and put her back into rotation for the guests?

Kylie shuddered at the idea of having sex with Wang, but was resigned to the reality. How long would she be able to hold Wang’s attention before he grew bored with her, too? Would he beat her like he did Sapphire? Tentacles of depression began to weave their way through her mind, reminding her she had nothing to look forward to, that life would go on after her death as though she didn’t matter, just like after her little brother Brandon died.

You have to keep your mind away from such negative thoughts, Kylie.
She climbed off the bed and busied herself with cataloging every item in the tent. The few books she found on the shelves were all written in Chinese, and after she’d gone through the photographs and drawings, she was back to thinking.

The thumb drive intrigued her, and she searched the room for a laptop or other device she could use to view the files. She figured the information it contained was probably boring like spreadsheets and business stuff, but with nothing else to occupy her mind, even that could be interesting. Besides, Wang must have had a reason to hide the drive, and Kylie wanted to discover what it was.

Unable to locate a laptop or tablet to read the files, Kylie fished the drive out of her pocket and put it back in the drawer. Knowing Wang, he’d look for it, find it missing, and blame her. He’d be right, but she didn’t want to give him a reason to use the shock collar.

Kylie had finally drifted off to sleep when a noise woke her. At first disoriented, she snapped fully awake at the voices outside the tent.

“I don’t think Mistah Wang take her,” a woman said in a low voice. Kylie’s heart fluttered in her chest at Ghanima’s unmistakable voice.

“Are you sure? He brought the other one with him.” The man’s voice was louder. It was Ubaya.

“Yes. Now go inside and bring her out.”

Kylie rolled off the bed and onto the floor, careful not to make any noise, and slid underneath. The sound of footsteps walking onto the deck told her one of them was coming inside. Both Ghanima and Ubaya would certainly look under the bed if they were searching for her. Kylie cursed her shortsighted impulse to hide in such an obvious place.

She turned onto her back and looked up. The underside of the bed was made of wooden slats running widthwise an equal distance apart. She grabbed hold of the slat directly above her face, testing her grip by lifting her head and torso off the floor. Then she eased the toes of first one foot and then the other between the mattress and the slat near her feet.

The floorboards creaked and Kylie turned her head. A pair of lace-up boots with the pants tucked inside moved across the floor.

The boots stopped, turned. “No one’s here,” the man said in a loud whisper.

“You look?” Ghanima demanded. Footsteps pounded up the stairs, crossed the deck and stopped. “What about there?”

“The door’s open. I looked,” he responded.

“Ghanima have to do everything,” she sputtered. Heavy footfalls tracked across the room to the
en suite
, and then came back, pausing at the side of the bed. Breathing heavily, Ghanima’s feet shifted as she got down on one knee. At the last second, Kylie pulled herself up tight to the underside of the bed and held her breath.

The older woman’s wheezing told Kylie she was still looking. There was a brief pause and Kylie squeezed her eyes shut, trying to make herself smaller. The weight of the mattress above Kylie’s right hand grew heavy as Ghanima used the bed to hoist herself to her feet.

“All right, then. She not here. Mistah Wang must have her.” Ghanima shuffled across the room toward the other man. Kylie quietly exhaled and lowered herself back to the floor. Both sets of feet turned and walked outside.

“We’ll come back another time?” the man asked, the crunch of gravel fading as they walked.

“Oh, yes. Ghanima will come back.” The determination in her voice sent chills down Kylie’s spine. She’d have to do something to keep the sadistic bitch away from her.