The Oracle (Fargo Adventures 11)

As much as she tried not to believe him, a part of her figured there was some truth to his words. Wasn’t that why bad things kept happening to her?

Shaking off the old memories, especially the hurt of Chuk’s betrayal, Nasha crept toward the partially open shed door and peered out. She startled when she saw Mrs. Fargo, Miss Amal, and the four older girls surrounded by men with rifles.

Frightened, she glanced toward the closed trapdoor, longing for the feeling of security, wondering if anyone would let her in if she were to knock.

Still, she hesitated. Those girls down there might not be like her. But once she had been like them, thinking there was nothing else in the world but loving parents and a new day. And as much as she wanted to return to that life, free from Boko Haram and the likes of the Kalu brothers, she refused to knock on the door. If someone heard her, every one of those girls would be in danger.

Heavy footsteps scuffed across the courtyard toward the shed, and she hurried back to her corner, kicking something as she scrambled beneath the burlap sacks. She looked out, saw a small square thing near the door, too far to reach without exposing herself. Mrs. Fargo’s phone, she realized, her heart beating so hard, she was sure that the man who walked into the shed could hear each and every thud.

CHAPTER THIRTY

He who is sick will not refuse medicine.

– AFRICAN PROVERB –

Sam pulled up to the lobby doors of the Jalingo hotel, parked, then pushed the hatch release button, looking forward to having Hank and his bucket gone from the car. Thankfully, whatever had plagued the man seemed to have let up once they were on the road, though he still looked pale and weak. “I’ll get your bag,” Sam said.

“Appreciate it.”

Sam walked around to the back of the Land Rover, grabbed Hank’s duffel from the cargo, as Renee LaBelle hobbled out the lobby doors on her crutches, her own bag slung over her shoulder.

“Don’t close that,” she said as he slammed the tailgate shut.

Hank hauled himself and his bucket from the car. “LaBelle?” he said, looking at her travel bag. “Where are you going?”

“I left a voice mail on Remi’s phone. I thought that’s why you were here. Well, why Sam was here. Why are you here?” she asked Hank.

“Sick.” He held up the bucket. “I didn’t want to pass anything on to the kids. I figured I must have picked up what you had.”

“I’m fine,” she said. “I think it was a bout of food poisoning or a very quick bug. Anyway”—she smiled at Sam—“seeing as how you’re here, can I catch a ride with you to the airport?” She gave a pleading smile. “I’ve made a late-night flight back to Tunis.”

“Everything okay?” Sam asked.

“Unfortunately, no. There was a break-in at the dig site. Luckily, I think it was interrupted before too much was disturbed, but I need to get back right away.”

Hank put his hand on her arm. “I’ll go with you.”

“Au contraire,” she said, acknowledging his bucket.

“Really,” he said, quickly setting the pail at the curb. “I’m feeling better already.”

“Even if you were, the flight’s booked full. Besides, you look like death warmed over. You’d never get through airport security.”

“She’s right,” Sam said. “They’d quarantine you before you ever made it through the terminal.”

Renee looked at her watch. “Hate to rush you out of here. My plane leaves in a few hours.”

Sam took Renee’s bag from her, slung it over his shoulder, then set Hank’s bag at his feet. “And I have to pick up Lazlo.”

Hank looked at Sam in disbelief. “But—”

“Get some rest,” Sam said, opening the tailgate with a key on his fob and depositing Renee’s bag. He helped her into the front passenger’s seat, put her crutches in the back, and walked around to the driver’s side. “Couple of days, you’ll be right as rain. Oh, and thanks for your help with the dorm. Appreciate it.”

Sam slid behind the wheel as Renee buckled her seat belt. She rolled down her window, waving at Hank as they drove off. “Room service,” she called out. “They serve a mean chicken broth.”

When it was clear Sam was driving into town instead of out, Renee looked over at him. “Shouldn’t we be heading the other way? Airport? Lazlo?”

“Gotta make a quick stop first. Sorry. Should have warned you.”