Close Quarters (19 page)

“Nice misdirection without lying.”

“I do try.”

“I bet you do. Not many men could give me a run for my money, but I have a feeling you're one.”

“I can guarantee it.” Ben had honed his skills at manipulation and covert work at an agency that required damn near perfection from its operatives.

He was careful to keep his trip from Fleur's to his quarters covert. When he got there, the Marine privates were playing a game of gin rummy and only too happy to be given an assignment. They moved their game to the dining hall and Ben walked openly from his quarters to the medical hut. Fleur was between patients, so he followed her back to her office for a moment of alone time.

He felt that it had been days rather than hours since he'd seen her last. This was love as others had described it, but Ben had never experienced the heady emotion himself. It was distracting, but he enjoyed it. Quite a bit actually.

“Anything suspicious?” he asked as he closed the door behind him.

She shook her head with a smile. “Are you always going to be this protective?”

“Yes.”

“I think I like it.”

That was really good, because he didn't think he could change. “So, nothing out of the ordinary?”

“No. Several people have asked after Tanya's health, including Mabu and two members of his security force, but that's to be expected. She's well liked in the compound. The interns miss her a great deal. I'm not as understanding of training mistakes.” Fleur's beautiful full lips twisted in a self-deprecating grimace.

“Rough morning?”

“I miss Tanya.”

“I bet.”

“Have you heard from the soldiers that took her?”

Ben tugged Fleur into his arms. “They didn't kidnap her, sweetheart. They helped her get out of the compound before she got killed.”

“I know.” Fleur's generous lower lip protruded adorably.

He touched it with his forefinger. “Is that a pout?”

Her eyes widened and her mouth dropped slack in shock. “I
was
pouting.”

“Yes.”

“I don't do that.”

“You must have learned from Johari.”

“Tanya had to teach
her
. Tanya said all children should have that expression in their arsenal.”

He could imagine that when Johari had come to live with Fleur, she had reacted as a child who had survived trauma, not as one confident of a parent's protection and love. “Tanya helped Johari remember how to be a kid again.”

“Yes, though my daughter is not a baby goat.”

He just grinned, taking Fleur's criticism in stride. “She's a pistol. Do you think she will like America?”

“She's very excited at the prospect of going and building a new life with you.” At Fleur's insistence, they had spoken to Johari about the upcoming move, and having Rachel in their home and why she was there. Fleur said her daughter had survived war, and she deserved to know of the danger, regardless of how intent Ben and the others were on minimizing it. “My daughter will adjust faster than I will, I fear.”

“I don't know, I have plans to help you adjust.” He ran his hands down her back and leaned forward to take her lips in a gentle kiss.

When they separated, she smiled. “I like your plans, I think.”

“Good.”

“I need to get back to work. The interns left without supervision will probably end up blowing up the clinic.”

He laughed. “Bad as all that, hmmm?”

“Yes. And that odious Ibeamaka has threatened to return today.”

“I'll listen for his jeep. When he arrives, I'll make sure you don't have to be alone with him.”

“I can handle the unctuous toad.”

“No doubt, but I'll still be here.”

“Thank you.”

He just shook his head. As if she needed to thank him for doing what came naturally. “We think the director has suspicions about the situation over here. His interviews are straying from the typical, experiential surveys into waters that might get hot for him.”

Fleur's expression became concerned in a heartbeat. “Will he be all right?”

“I've got my Marine guard watching over him.”

“Oh, good.” She frowned. “He's a good man who has dedicated his life to making a difference to indigent people. He should not be hurt for trying to protect Sympa-Med.”

“You think that's what he's doing?”

“What else?”

“Indeed. It might be a good idea to try to find out what raised his suspicions.”

“Maybe I can talk to him, implying I have my own.”

“Good idea. If you could do it in the dining hall, we can listen in and I'll know the privates will be watching over you.”

“You really are protective.”

“Yes.”

“I am not used to it.”

“But you like it,” he reminded her.

She smiled with feminine indulgence. “I do.”

He didn't even mind the indulgent attitude. He was so gone on this woman.

 

Roman was surprised by the difference between this village and the others they had visited in the last two days. The signs of moderate prosperity could be seen from the bigger herds of cattle in the fields, to the newer-looking materials used on the huts.

There also wasn't as much interest in the battered truck's arrival. They stopped in front of a small marketplace and Tanya went to get out, but Roman shook his head. With a marketplace came visitors, but the venue was too small for them to blend in. Especially Tanya. He didn't want her exposed more than was necessary here.

“I was going to ask for directions to Amadi's sister's house,” she said.

“Amadi and I will do it. I want you to stay back here.” He handed her his bandana. “Cover your hair with this.”

Her face was still streaked with the black greasepaint they used for night camouflage. With the bandana, it would take a family member to recognize the medical relief worker known in the Sympa-Med compound.

She stared at the bandana as if it was a snake, poised to strike.

“I remember too,” he gritted out. “Apparently my memories are better ones.”

She shook her head.

“Would you prefer I get Kadin's?” he asked, his own mood going south.

That had her meeting his gaze instead of staring at the bandana. “You would do that?”

“Yes.” He wouldn't like it. Letting Kadin provide for her didn't sit right with Roman, but if that was what she wanted, he'd do it.

“I never let anyone do that to me before.”

He nodded. He'd figured that.

“Was it just part of the…” She let her voice trail off.

But it didn't matter. He knew what she meant. “No.”

“Give it to me.” She put her hand out.

He handed her the bandana and watched while she tied it around her head, tucking all the loose strands of her hair under the fabric.

He did not know why, but he felt that he'd won a powerful battle with her distrust. Maybe he didn't deserve her faith in him, but that didn't mean he wasn't hoping for it.

A vegetable seller at the market gave him directions to Amadi's sister. Her new family lived on the outskirts of the village, so they went back to the truck and drove the boy to his sister's home.

To say she was thrilled to see her younger sibling was an understatement. She grabbed the small boy to her and hugged him fiercely, talking a mile a minute to him in Shona.

“She's telling him she went to the village to get him after learning of their mother's death. Their aunt told her that he had been sent to work on one of the large farms, but wouldn't tell her where. She was scared to death he'd been sold as a slave.” Tanya smiled with satisfaction. “She's furious that that is exactly what happened. Her husband has already offered to send Amadi to one of the mission schools and accept him into their home as another son.”

“That's pretty generous.”

“That little boy deserves it.”

Both the boy and his sister were grinning ear-to-ear as she offered to share the evening meal with them in halting English.

“I am sorry, but we must be on our way,” Roman said, his hand settling on the shoulder of the remaining boy.

The quiet child looked up at him with uncertainty. Roman knew Mbari wanted to know what would happen to him, but Roman still didn't have an answer. At least not one that didn't seem crazy-nuts.

The boy stepped forward. “My name is Mbari. Is your husband, or anyone else in the village looking for a boy to work?”

The woman's face creased with sadness as she immediately realized this boy had no family to return to, but she shook her head. “Maybe these men can take you to the city where work is more plentiful.”

This village might be doing better than others, but in a country where the majority of the adult male population was out of work, a boy had little chance of finding employment.

Mbari's shoulders drooped, but he nodded politely. “I will ask.”

Roman wasn't about to leave a child alone in a city to fend for himself, but he didn't say that. He just settled his hand back on the boy's shoulder and stepped closer to him.

Tanya gave him a warm look, and it was so different from the way she'd been looking at him since finding out about the information on her security chip, he almost staggered at the impact of it.

“Let's go,” he said to Mbari.

When they got back outside to the truck and Kadin and Neil, who had stayed with it, his fellow Atrati operatives gave identical looks of compassion to the single boy left.

Kadin stepped forward. “You want to ride up front with us?” he asked Mbari.

The boy looked up at Roman. “You go too?”

Ah, shit. The future was starting to look inevitable. “I'll drive. Kadin, you and Neil ride in the back.”

Both men nodded, but Tanya frowned. “You shouldn't be driving with your arm.”

“Ah, does your boo-boo hurt?” Neil mocked before Roman could answer.

Roman ignored him and said to Tanya, “It's not a problem. I can barely tell it's there now.”

Which wasn't exactly true, but the last time he'd let such a superficial wound slow him down, he'd had training wheels on his bike.

“But I can ride in back and someone else can drive,” she tried again.

He just shook his head and went to climb into the truck. He stopped with the driver's door open. “You coming?” he asked Mbari.

The boy double-timed it to the cab and climbed up, taking the middle seat with a grin that Roman knew was going to be his downfall. No way could he stand the idea of that glow of happiness turning into fear and disappointment.

“You ever wanted to go to America, kid?” he asked as he started the truck's engine.

When he didn't receive an answer, he turned his head to look down at the child. Mbari was staring at Roman as if terrified to hope. And that cinched it. Roman let his future settle over him.

This was going to change things, a lot of things, but the boy needed family and Roman had a boatload to share with him. “My
baba
is going to eat you up with a spoon.”

“She a cannibal?” the boy asked with undisguised horror.

Roman didn't laugh. He just ruffled Mbari's closely shorn curls, or rather rubbed his palm over them since ruffling didn't really happen with that tight nap. “Nope. It's an American saying. It means she's going to like you.”

“Who is your
baba
?”

“My grandmother.”

“She still lives?” the boy asked in disbelief. In a country where the average life expectancy was forty-two years, his reaction wasn't surprising.

“You bet. And she's gotten real loud about us giving her some great-grandkids.”

Mbari considered this for several moments and then asked with a trepidatious hope that squeezed Roman's heart, “You want to make Mbari
your
child?”

“I think it was meant to be, kid, but if you want something else, you just say. I'll make sure you find a family here if you'd rather stay in Zimbabwe.”

“I do not want to be a slave.” The terror the boy experienced at the thought was written all over him.

“We agree on that, kiddo.”

The child looked sideways at Tanya. “You my mother then?”

She shook her head, suspicious moisture making her eyes glisten.

“She's a friend, not my wife,” Roman explained.

Mbari gave him a strange look and then turned back to Tanya. “Maybe you wash the black stuff off your face, show you pretty. He might pay many cows for you.”

She choked out a laugh. “In America, wives are not bought with cows.”

“What buy them then?”

Tanya was silent for several beats before saying, “Love.”

Mbari shook his head as if he could not believe such naïveté.

F
leur gave final instructions for the day to the interns before going to find the director. When she entered the dining hall, there were a couple of Sympa-Med employees in one corner, playing a game of
mancala
.

Though, if they were there for any reason other than to listen in on the director's discussion with their fellow workers, she would rebraid Johari's entire mass of curls every morning for a month. The Marine privates were at a table a little closer to the director, playing a card game and snacking on a plate of flat bread.

The director was alone, so Fleur approached him. “How has your day gone, sir?”

The man rubbed his eyes with his thumb and forefinger, his gray head shaking. “Tiring, Dr. Andikan, very tiring.”

She respected the fact he had come to find answers, but she doubted he'd had much luck. “I'm sorry to hear that.”

“Has the schedule for the interviews changed?” he asked. “I thought I was doing medical staff tomorrow.”

“Nothing has changed, but there was something I wanted to discuss with you.”

The director's eyes narrowed. “What is that?”

“It's a delicate matter.”

If anything, the man's expression sharpened. “Is this personal?”

“In fact, I do have something personal to discuss, but the issue I wanted to raise is related more to Sympa-Med, or rather someone who works with the organization.”

“Who?”

“I don't know.”

“That sounds mysterious.”

Fleur sighed and leaned forward. “It is. A mystery, I mean.”

“What is that?”

“You heard about the almost strip search of Tanya Ruston, I assume.”

“I did.”

“I found the circumstances”—she paused for effect—“questionable.”

“In what way?”

“The security guard argued against the search, but made no move to actually stop it.”

“You would expect something different?”

“In fact, I would. Roman Chernichenko made a call on his sat-phone, but our vehicles are all equipped with short-wave radios. The driver could have reported the incident in progress, but he didn't.”

“Perhaps he feared for his own safety.”

“Perhaps.”

“I have always found you to be an eminently practical woman, Dr. Andikan. I assume there is more to your concern than this incident.”

“Yes, in fact. When Miss Ruston returned from her last traveling clinic, she had to miss the final stop.”

“I am aware.”

“Yes, of course, but your insistence that she make the trip to Tikikima surprised me somewhat.”

“My
insistence
?” he asked.

“The e-mails came from your office.”

“And these e-mails, they demanded Miss Ruston return to Tikikima before the next circuit of the traveling clinic?” he asked.

“Yes, sir.”

“I see.”

“You didn't instruct that they be sent?”

“No. I did not.”

Well, there was confirmation that his assistant was part of the espionage. “Miss Ruston has always found the inclusion of that village inefficient, considering it is near a stationary clinic.”

“It is? That information was not included in the data used to determine this compound's traveling clinic itinerary.”

“That is disturbing, if you do not mind my saying so, director.”

“I agree.” He sighed, as if not just tired, but exhausted. “I noticed that some of our medical workers have been given transceivers rather than GPS locator chips.”

“You found that significant?”

“I did. The chips were almost twice the cost of the ones we used for the other medical workers.”

“So, these chips aren't just being used in workers from this compound?” That meant this espionage ring was bigger than she was sure Ben was expecting.

Then again, maybe not. Her secret agent man was brilliant at his job.

“No.”

“Why did you begin your investigation here? That is what you are doing with these interviews, isn't it?”

“It is. I had hoped to identify outside influences manipulating the situation, or, in the best case scenario, to be wrong about the significance of the different chips. I had hoped it was simply a matter of one of our board of directors trying to engage in a little nepotism.”

“But you have ruled out that possibility?”

“I hadn't entirely when I came, but I have now.”

“Because of what has been going on with Tanya.”

“That and the inordinate interest one of the members of the board has shown in the itineraries of our traveling clinics.”

She named the board member she had heard was having an affair with the director's personal assistant.

“Yes. How did you know?”

“It's a matter of logic. If you didn't send those e-mails demanding Miss Ruston go to Tikikima, then your PA did. She's rumored to be in a liaison with that board member.”

“He's a married man.”

Fleur shrugged.

The director shook his head. “I am a Frenchman, but that does not mean I approve of infidelity. And there is a definite conflict of interest in having office staff involved with a board member.”

“I notice she's not participating in your interviews.”

“I sent her and George to Harare with Mr. Ibeamaka to glad-hand the local government officials,” he said, naming the other man who had traveled in their party.

“No wonder Ibeamaka has not returned as he threatened.”

“I take it you are not fond of him.”

“He's a supercilious toad who thinks I would make an ideal traditional wife.”

The director laughed with true amusement and Fleur found herself smiling.

“I take it he is not the reason you wished to discuss something personal.”

“No, he is not.”

“Mr. Vincent, the State Department official auditing the mines?”

“He's only auditing one mine and yes.”

“Ah, I suspected something from the rather protective stance he took at mealtime.”

“I will be joining him in America with Johari as soon as visas can be arranged.”

“Are you sure that is what you want? You've dedicated your life to healing the sick.”

“I can be a doctor in America too.”

“True.” He sighed, clearly accepting that she meant to move on from Sympa-Med. “Do you have a recommendation to fill your position?”

“I
would
recommend Tanya Ruston.”

“But she is not a doctor. Do you think she would be open to attending medical school at Sympa-Med's expense?”

Fleur found herself smiling. “The woman hates school with a passion.”

“That is unfortunate.”

“For Sympa-Med, yes.”

“Point taken.” He rubbed his eyes again. “Thank you for sharing your concerns with me. I'm still not sure what all this means, but it's not going to be good for Sympa-Med.”

“I'm sorry,” Fleur said with genuine sadness.

“Have you noticed any other odd behavior in the security personnel?” he asked, as if it was an afterthought.

“Not really, no.”

He nodded. “A couple behaved very strangely during their interviews. I cannot decide if that is because they were nervous talking to me, or if it indicates a need to hide something.”

“The unemployment rate is over eighty percent,” she said, giving the men the benefit of the doubt.

“There is that. We do a good thing here.”

“In more ways than one, yes, we do.”

“Is it naïve of me to hope greedy people aren't going to screw that up?”

“To hope? No.”

“But you're worried too, aren't you?”

“Yes.” She saw no reason to deny it. If the espionage ring was linked to Sympa-Med, donations were going to plummet and along with them the budget for the legitimate and necessary work the organization did.

 

Tanya and Mbari were starting to make dinner from the stores they had gotten at the village the day before while the men put up the tents and secured the area. Mbari kept turning to watch Kadin as he worked on the first tent.

Tanya smiled and gently nudged him. “Go help Kadin. I've got this.”

The boy looked at her, his expression agonized. “Roman told me help with food.”

“He won't mind. Trust me.”

Kadin called, “Come on over here, Mbari. I could use your help.”

“I have never put up a tent.”

“I will teach you how.”

Neil arrived with another load of wood for the fire a few minutes later. “Will this do for cooking?”

“Sure. I'm not making a feast and we didn't get meat because we don't have a cooler. The cornmeal will take the longest to cook.”

“So, Roman's keeping the kid.”

“He said so.” She still couldn't quite believe it. “How is he going to arrange Mbari's move to the States?”

“Our boss has a lot of clout in high places. As soon as Face and Ben identify the real culprits for the espionage, the General will get the kill order on you rescinded and we can come in.”

“Your boss is a General?” Somehow, she'd gotten the impression that the Atrati were not connected officially to the military.

“Retired. Still acts like brass though, at least the smart kind. He'll get the wheels spinning on Mbari's adoption.”

“Adoption. Wow. I never would have expected Roman to adopt a child.”

“I don't think he planned on it either, but sometimes you just gotta swing the bat when life throws you a curve ball.”

“That's a good attitude to take.”

“Yeah. Roman helped me see it that way when I didn't make it into the SEALs.”

“You didn't?”

“Nope, but the Atrati wanted me anyway. I've been on Roman's team since I joined.”

“You make it sound like military.”

“More like paramilitary, but yeah. Technically, we're mercenaries, but most of our funding comes from Washington.”

“And no one even knows you exist.”

“Wouldn't be very effective if they did.”

“I suppose.” Roman had said this wasn't a Hollywood movie, but it was pretty intriguing to say the least. “So, how can a man who will use a woman sexually to get answers be the same guy who will adopt an orphaned Bantu boy?” she asked before she even realized the question was lurking in her thoughts.

“He puts the assignment ahead of personal considerations.”

“He told me that.”

Neil started peeling bananas to add to the cornmeal. “With you, that attitude is all bullshit.”

“What?” Her head jerked up and she stared at the blond soldier.

He met her gaze with a serious look of his own. “Listen, I heard him tell you he would have had sex with you no matter what, right?”

“So he said.”

“He wasn't lying. He reacts to you like I've never seen him react before. He was looking for excuses to break his own cardinal rule about no recreational sex while on a job.”

“I don't consider sex a recreational sport.”

“No, I don't imagine you do.”

“He told me it wasn't casual.”

“Did it feel casual to you?”

“No.” Anything but. “Only…”

“Nothing. Listen, Tanna, I don't know what your past experience with sex is, but I'll tell you that as long as I've known Roman, no woman has gotten to him like you do.”

“So, he wants me.”

“He's possessive of you. You have to have noticed. He practically shits bricks when Kadin gets within spitting distance of you.”

“That's ridiculous.” Only it wasn't. She'd noticed.

“They got into a fight, would have torn up our quarters if I hadn't moved the furniture double-time.”

“Why would they fight over me?”

“Kadin didn't want Roman having sex with you and Roman figured that meant Kadin wanted you himself.”

“What a couple of knuckleheads.” But it warmed her heart to think of Kadin's trying to protect her the way Beau would have done. She wasn't sure what she felt about Roman's sexual jealousy.

She was pretty sure she liked it, not another banner moment for her responses. “So, you're saying that I'm special to Roman?”

“He risked his career to keep you safe.”

“He said something about that, but I don't understand. It sounds like your boss approved Roman getting me out of Sympa-Med's compound.”

“Unofficially. Officially, if we're caught before the kill order is rescinded, political pressure could be brought to bear and Roman could be kicked out of the Atrati. We guarantee our clients a certain amount of loyalty, especially Uncle Sam.”

“You and Kadin could lose your jobs too.”

“He'll take the fall for us, say he ordered us to do what we did.”

“You won't let him take the blame though.”

“Nah, but he thinks we would. The man's a serious control freak. He thinks he can tell the rest of the world what to do and they'll listen.”

“Arrogant.”

“You think so?”

“You don't?”

“We like to call it ‘fully justified confidence'.” Neil winked.

She laughed. “I should have known.”

“Should have known what?” Roman's voice came from behind her.

She spun to face him, surging to her feet from her crouch beside the fire. “That Neil agrees with you on the definition of arrogance.”

Roman's features tightened. “Talking over my faults?”

“Don't be a drama queen, Geronimo. It's not all about you. Didn't your mama tell you as much?”

“Not lately.”

“I bet.” Tanya gave him a teasing smile. “I imagine she acts thrilled to see you when she gets the chance.”

“She does that.”

“Maybe now that you're taking on Mbari, you'll see her more.”

“It's inevitable.”