The Oracle (Fargo Adventures 11)

“Fargo,” Lazlo said. “Only one’s leaving. He took a hostage.”

“You know what to do.”

Lazlo took a deep breath, steeling himself.

Sam dragged his prisoner back, whispering into his ear. “Save a hostage, save your life.”

“It’ll never work. He’ll kill you first.”

“You better hope otherwise because I’m not the one who’s going to die tonight.”

The knob turned, the door opened inward, silhouetting the man holding a gun on Okoro.

“Easy,” Sam said. “I don’t want to hurt anyone. Just want to exchange hostages, then find my wife and the missing kids.”

“Good luck. You have one, I have one. My friend Urhie has three more.” Which told Sam that the missing girls weren’t there. “Gun. Down. Now,” Joe ordered, pressing the barrel of his semiauto into Okoro’s temple.

Sam slipped his finger into the trigger guard, letting the weapon swing down, dangling it from his index finger. Slowly he held it out, proving he was no longer a threat. “Here you go,” he said. “Where do you want it?”

“Give it to Deric.”

“How about I give you Deric.” Sam drove his foot into the back of Deric’s knee, shoving him forward. As expected, Joe forgot about his hostage, aiming for Sam, who by this time had swung his Smith & Wesson upright. The butt landed against Sam’s palm, he gripped it, and fired. Joe stumbled back, letting go of Okoro, falling to the ground. Deric scrambled for Joe’s gun. He grabbed it and aimed.

Sam fired. Deric fell back, lifeless.

Three more shots rent the air.

Sam turned to see Lazlo at the window, staring in shock, his gun pointed into the room.

“You okay?” Sam asked.

“He was going to kill them.”

Okoro leaned against the wall, looking faint. Sam aimed at the two fallen men, making sure they were dead, recovering Joe’s weapon before moving to the window next to Lazlo. Inside, the three remaining hostages looked as shell-shocked as Lazlo, unable to take their eyes from the dead man on the floor.

Sam looked over at Okoro. “How many gunmen?”

“Four.”

“We’re good. For now.”

“What do you mean ‘for now’?”

“Maybe we should go inside, where we can sit down.” He surveyed the road that ran across the north end of the farm, leading up into the hills toward the school. Typically, it was at least a forty-minute drive down that winding road to there. Assuming the kidnappers left when Pete first called them, they should’ve been long gone. What didn’t make sense is why these men were still here. And now they were dead. He looked at Lazlo, handing him the key fob for the Land Rover. “Take one of Okoro’s men with you to get the car. Hide it behind the barn. Warn me if you see any vehicles coming from that direction.”

Lazlo nodded, appearing grateful that he was remaining outside.

Sam envied him in that moment. Informing a father that his only daughter was a kidnap victim was not something to look forward to.

CHAPTER FORTY-SIX

Those who move are the ones who see the lion’s footprints.

– AFRICAN PROVERB –

Remi heard the second volley of distant gunshots coming from the direction of the farmhouse. The timing would put Sam in the vicinity. Though she wished she had some way to contact him, she had every confidence that he was the one doing the shooting. The thought buoyed her spirits, something she desperately needed since Makao had failed to take her bait and returned to look for the upper trail.

Remi waited several minutes. When she no longer heard the sound of his pickup, she worked her way through the shrubs to the road, coming out beside the supply truck. Moonlight caught on one of the bullet holes in the side panel from their first encounter with Makao’s gang. If Nasha hadn’t escaped the Kalu brothers by hiding in the truck, they might have fallen prey to Makao back then.