So Justin swallowed his pride and muzzled his anger as the Land Rover disappeared around the corner. He lowered his pistol to his side, swore in a loud voice, and made himself a silent promise to rescue Duncan even if it meant starting a war.
Chapter Two
Justin put his gun back into its holster and went to check on his driver. A crowd of curious onlookers had formed around the area and it was only a matter of time before local police showed up at the scene. It was Nigeria, but the police still worked, maybe not very fast, but they still got their job done. And at this point, Justin would rather have the police on his side, if he were to need their help in his attempt to find the kidnappers and rescue Duncan.
The driver had not been roughed up, but was held at gunpoint by a masked man, who had taken away his pistol. The driver had not seen or heard anything useful. He said he could probably identify the masked man’s voice if he heard it again.
“Just some Nigerian dude,” the driver said. “He sounded just like a normal guy, like me.”
Justin could not argue with that.
They raced to the farmers’ market to find Kayo. He was gagged and tied up with ropes to a rusty metal post behind a couple of stands, just a dozen or so steps from his initial position. Like the driver, he had not seen any identifying feature of the masked man who had put a gun to his back, disarmed him, and ordered him not to move. Considering the location, Justin knew there had to be witnesses among vendors or customers, who must have seen whoever attacked Kayo. But like in any other seedy neighborhood, it would be difficult to get someone to come forward and offer an accurate description of the attackers.
Justin left the driver and Kayo to comb the market for any witnesses, and hurried toward the sniper’s nest atop the apartment building. He found the sniper face down on the roof, knocked out cold next to his rifle. Someone must have hit him from behind, if the huge lump at the back of the sniper’s head was any indication.
Justin sighed. There was not much to work with, but this was only the beginning. He still had almost forty-eight hours.
It took the sniper a few minutes to regain complete control of his senses. Justin packed the rifle and helped the sniper down the three flights of stairs. They met up with Kayo and the driver, whose quick search had been a waste of time. No one had seen or heard anything, despite the attack taking place in the middle of the day, in the middle of a busy market.
Justin cursed the situation, but tried to keep his anger in check. He needed to stay focused and use his energy to remember the words the woman had said. Perhaps he could use some of what he had learned from her to track her down. Or perhaps that information might help him to better understand Duncan and to view the circumstances around his kidnapping under a different light.
They hailed a taxi, which took them to downtown Lagos. Justin and Kayo split up from the sniper and the driver and headed toward their safe house in Lagos Mainland. The two-bedroom apartment was on the second floor of a four-story building painted a bright orange on one side and a baby blue on the other, along Hughes Avenue. It was near a busy intersection, with lots of noise and foot traffic, but also next to three different escape routes if there was ever a need to make a quick exit. And the CIS had rented the other two apartments on both sides of the safe house for security reasons.
Justin brewed a fresh pot of strong coffee and sat with a large mug at the kitchen table next to his laptop. He began to write down crucial bits of intelligence from his conversation with the woman. Kayo was taking his time in the shower, so Justin used the silence to think and analyze the situation. He found it quite surprising and alarming than his team members were caught with their pants down. It meant one of two things: either his team members were very, very lousy and simple amateurs, or the rebels were really, really good and true professionals. He did not want to consider the possibility of a third option: one or more of his team members were actually working with the rebels, and the attack had been well planned and well executed.
Justin sighed and ran his hands through his black hair. He did not know his team very well. Kayo was a native of Nigeria and a naturalized Canadian, and he had been working with the CIS station in the country for over a year. He had been transferred from Johannesburg, South Africa, after completing a three-year stint in the country. There was nothing in his track record to indicate any negligence, incompetence, or insubordination.
Kayo had introduced the sniper and the driver to Justin. They were local contacts that the CIS used on special operations like this one. They were independent contractors, and as such, their loyalty came with a price. This was not their first engagement for the CIS, and all prior operations had ended up with a successful outcome. But it was the first time their mission had resulted in a failure.
And my mission as well, Justin thought, then quickly shook his head and dismissed that gloomy thought. This is not a failure, he told himself. It’s a step back, before we reassess the situation, regroup, and resume the rescue.
Who exactly are these rebels? And who is this woman?
He made a mental note to recheck the files. He had obviously missed or dismissed some important fact. He hoped a thorough review would bring it to light.
Justin reached for his mug and took a long swig. The coffee had gone cold, but it still held its strong taste. He finished the mug, then got up for a refill.
Kayo stepped in the kitchen. He still looked tired and worried.
“Coffee?” Justin asked.
“Sure,” Kayo said, and sat at the kitchen table, across from Justin’s laptop.
Justin poured two mugs and brought them to the table.
“How is the report going?” Kayo picked up the mug and took a sip.
“Okay. Still figuring out what exactly to tell my boss. I don’t have Duncan; I don’t have the money; and I need another four million in two days.”
Kayo shook his head. “I’m sorry about what happened at the market. I have no idea how it happened. One moment I was looking at your table and the next someone shoved a gun in my side.”
Justin shrugged. “It happens, Kayo. Let’s not think about it. How are we going to find this woman?”
“Will you be getting the money?” Kayo asked.
Justin frowned. He did not like that Kayo was shifting their course of action. He wanted to find the woman and go after her, not sit on his hands and wait for the money transfer. Then he realized Kayo did not know the details of Justin’s conversation, details which he had highlighted in his report, but had not yet shared with his partner. Justin was not sure he wanted to share them with Kayo. Not yet, not until he was completely certain Kayo was still the right man to assist him in this operation.
Justin studied Kayo’s eyes. He found some uneasiness mixed with a hint of distress. But no greed and no fear. “Yes, I’m sure the office will wire the money. But I have to convince them that this time the exchange will take place and we’ll get Duncan.”
“And how are you going to do that?”
“I’m still working on it. I have to convince myself — the next time our op goes without a glitch.”
He wanted to say “guarantee” instead of “convince,” but thought it was better for the moment if Kayo was left in the dark about Justin’s next moves. The plan taking shape in his mind required Justin to take some steps to ensure the woman was going to play by the rules.