The Oracle (Fargo Adventures 11)

“You’re sure they were shooting at you?”

“No doubt.”

Disheartened, Sam handed the binoculars to Okoro as the helicopter continued in that direction. He took a look and returned the glasses to Sam, saying, “A week ago, a herd was stolen by armed Fulani. It would probably take them that long to get all the way out here.”

The aircraft, caught in a sudden gust, shifted violently. The copilot looked back at Sam. “Hate to say it. Turbulence is picking up. We’re going to have to turn around. Wait for the squall to pass. Soon as we can get back out, we’ll do so.”

The helicopter passed high over the Fulani cattle. Sam, not willing to lose one second of possible search time, focused his binoculars, seeing the armed gunmen who were tracking them with their rifles as they flew overhead. The helicopter banked away and Sam swept the binoculars across the cliffs, catching movement about midway down. “I see something.”

The pilot hovered as best he could, allowing Sam to focus.

The soldier sitting next to him looked through his own pair of binoculars. “Cat.”

It took Sam a moment to make out the reddish brown fur of the African gold cat. Smaller than a cheetah, it blended into the cliff face—so much so that he was sure that wasn’t what caught his attention. But when he looked higher up, searching, a blinding flash of lightning, followed by a torrential downpour, impeded his view.

CHAPTER FIFTY-FOUR

Evil knows where evil sleeps.

– AFRICAN PROVERB –

The rain beat against the windows of Makao’s apartment while he waited for word on the hostages. He and his crew had driven five and a half hours straight back to Jalingo after the debacle at the school but had heard nothing since. Every minute that passed, Makao saw his profit slipping away. Anxious, he called Pili’s phone, but it went straight to voice mail. Again.

He looked over at Jimi, who’d fallen asleep on the sofa, while his other two men had crashed on the floor next to him. They didn’t seem bothered. Must be nice. He was too keyed up to sleep, though he’d been the one who drove all night to get there.

“Call, already,” he said, pacing. He looked over at the phone, stolen from that Amal woman, wondering if Fargo suspected anything when he’d called last night about the ransom.

Of course he did. Which made it all the more important to find those missing hostages.

When Tarek first hired Makao, he’d mentioned very little about the Fargos other than to say they’d be an easy mark. After a bit of quick research, Makao had thought the same. He knew better now. He also knew they were too rich and well known for law enforcement to look the other way. If Makao’s men didn’t find the hostages, not only was he going to lose his share of the ransom, he was going to have to relocate yet again.

A gust of wind rattled his front window, drawing his attention. Parting the blinds, he saw Kambili Kalu getting out of a car parked out front.

“Jimi …” He kicked Jimi’s foot. And those of the two men sleeping on the floor. “Get up,” he said as Kambili stormed toward the apartment. “All of you.”

Makao drew his gun, intending to shoot the man in his tracks. But as he reached for the front door knob, the door burst open, splinters flying from its shattered frame. Startled, Makao jumped back, tripped over one of the still-sleeping men. Before he could right himself, Kambili rushed in, aiming his semiauto at Makao’s head.

“Kamb—”

“Drop your gun,” Kambili ordered, “or I’ll kill you right here.”

Makao slowly lowered his weapon to the ground, surprised to see Kambili’s left eye swollen nearly shut. “What’s this about?”

Kambili towered over Makao, glaring. “You killed my brothers.”

“No,” he said. “It wasn’t me, I swear. Where’d you hear that?”

“You see my face? Yesterday, the man who did this told me.”

Makao shot a look over to Jimi, who seemed as shocked as he was by the revelation that Kambili knew what had happened. The rest of his crew who hit the Fargo caravan were dead, which meant there was only one way Kambili had learned of this.

It had to be from Fargo himself.

What Makao couldn’t figure out was how Fargo could possibly have known who the Kalu brothers were. “I assure you that whoever told you this was lying. There has to be some reason this man would want to blame me. What’d he tell you?”

“He came to my home, looking for one of my boys.”

“For what reason?”