“Ah. Very well, then. This way.”
Hassan and Frederick led them to the waiting SUV and held the rear doors open for them. The interior of the vehicle was arctic compared to the ambient air temperature, and the Russians sat back, savoring the climate control, relieved to be out of the city’s stink.
The driver slid the transmission into gear and the big vehicle lurched forward. Hassan twisted to see Leo. “How was your flight?”
Leo shrugged. “Any time we take off and land without incident, it’s a success.”
Hassan laughed. “Yes, well, your arrival caused quite a commotion. We don’t see many private planes here.”
Leo’s phone beeped, indicating that it was connected to the network, and it vibrated, signaling a message. He read it quickly and then pressed a speed dial number with a glance at Hassan. “I’m sorry. I need to make a call.”
“Be my guest,” he said, and swiveled to face forward, leaving Leo a modicum of privacy.
The line rang and Rudolf answered. “You finally got my message?”
“Yes. I’ve been in the air for the last eight hours. I’m in Africa. What’s the status?”
“Ah, that explains the lapse.” Rudolf paused. “We have her.”
“You…you do?” Leo asked, trying to keep the surprise out of his voice.
“Yes. We’re transporting her to Russia for you to deal with at your leisure.”
The Range Rover bounced over an iron grid, past four soldiers with submachine guns slung over their shoulders, and continued down a pothole-filled road that paralleled the runway.
“Where will you hold her?”
“A jail near Moscow. We have some connections there. They don’t ask questions when we need someone sequestered off the books.”
“Did she put up any resistance?”
“She gave us a hell of a chase, but in the end, we caught her.”
“That’s the important thing.” The call quality degraded and static hissed over the line for several seconds before Leo could hear Rudolf’s response, which sounded like only every other word was coming through. “Listen,” Leo said. “I’ll call you later, or tomorrow, about the other thing we discussed. Reception’s terrible. Keep the woman on ice until I get back.”
“I under–”
The call went dead. Leo hung up and looked through the window as the SUV turned onto the main artery. Reddish brown dirt coated every surface, including most of the patchy asphalt, and he cringed at the sight of a group of children splashing in a depression filled with noxious water, clouds of black flies buzzing around it. Mounds of trash rose from the curb where containers had been dumped into the street, and a pair of emaciated locals dug through the refuse with sticks, searching for anything edible.
“Is this your first time in the Central African Republic?” Hassan asked.
“Yes.”
“We are a poor country, Mr. Filipov, plagued by internal political problems, but you’ll find that there are certain…attractions to the place. Virtually anything you can imagine can be obtained for you. Nothing is off-limits.”
“I’ll keep that in mind,” Leo said noncommittally. He’d researched the area on the long flight, and what he’d read hadn’t whetted his appetite for any of the local attractions. With an average life expectancy of forty-five years and estimates of nearly twenty percent of the population HIV positive, the CAR was the last place on earth he wanted to spend any more time than necessary to finalize the transaction he was working on. He had no doubt that his host was referring to child prostitution, which was infamous for its pervasiveness in the region, but his tastes didn’t run in that direction, and all he aspired to was to seal the deal and leave without being bitten by any of the malaria-carrying mosquitoes that swarmed over the jungle nation. “Are we going to our meeting?”
“Ah, no, not yet. We’re taking you to your hotel, and then we’ll return later when arrangements have been finalized on our end,” Hassan said.
“Is there a problem?” Leo asked.
“No, no. Just a small delay, nothing more. It will not affect your business, and you were planning on spending the night anyway…”
“We’re at the Ledger Plaza. By the cathedral.”
Hassan nodded. “Yes. Of course. It is the best we have, although still in sad shape for world travelers like yourselves.”
“It’s safe?”
“Completely secure. The grounds are fenced and have armed guards round the clock.”
“I noticed your guns.”