He turned the radio on low, hoping to intercept a communication. What was the general’s endgame? Did he want Prime Minister Kimweri to surrender, or was this an assassination?
A burst of Swahili came from the radio. He recognized the word for “fire.” Commotion on the east side of the hotel drew his attention. He scanned the immediate area. All clear. He sprinted toward the action, arriving at the southeast wall. He crouched low, catching his breath. Three soldiers smashed windows, tossing grenades and Molotov cocktails into the building. The stench of white phosphorus doused the air.
Flames erupted in the east wing. Explosions rippled across the hotel. Screw the cloak of silence. He needed to enter the hotel, make sure the prime minister, Thea, and any other innocents made it out alive.
He lifted the Kalashnikov to his shoulder, aimed, and canceled the first soldier, then a second and third. Six down, twenty-four left.
Time to get inside. He hoped the mysterious sniper would take care of any loose ends.
Chapter Sixty-Five
Smoke seeped into the boiler room, forcing Thea and Mamadou to leave their hideaway. They breathed through wet cloths while they prepared to leave. Most fire victims died from smoke inhalation rather than the actual flames. Lethargic, her blood sugar skyrocketing, Thea cursed herself for leaving the insulin upstairs.
“I hope you’re not claustrophobic.”
“The air vent?” the prime minister asked.
“Looks like our only way out.” She slid her sat and cell phones into her bag and looped it over her shoulder. Then she grabbed the AK-47 she’d taken from the soldier and hopped onto the box. A wave of dizziness washed over her. She shook it off. No time for weakness.
“I’ll go first, lead the way. You okay to crawl through the vent?”
“I might be old, but I’m limber.” His eyes glistened like a mirage in the middle of a desert. She wasn’t sure if the dampness was from smoke or emotion.
“Just follow me, and move quietly. I’ll search for a vent that leads outside.” The heavy vegetation and the falls due west of the hotel gave them the best chance of leaving the building safely until backup could arrive.
One last check for cell reception. No bars. Too bad. She could really use Rif’s help about now.
Chapter Sixty-Six
Nikos sat with Xi-Ping and Chi in the sumptuous living room of their suite. The General had initiated the coup without waiting for his signal, but Nikos had anticipated this betrayal. It wasn’t as though Ita Jemwa was a man to be trusted.
Explosions shook the building, the reverberations rattling the windows.
“Was this really necessary? Why wasn’t it contained? And wasn’t that a gunshot in the hallway?” Chi was on the edge of frantic, while Xi-Ping’s gaze was more controlled.
Nikos smiled. “No need to worry. Prime Minister Kimweri is dead. I’ll take you out the rear entrance. In a few short minutes, General Jemwa will be the new leader of Kanzi, and you’ll be awarded the oil contract once order is restored.”
“You’d better hope so.” Chi leaned forward in the armchair, crossing and uncrossing his legs.
“We need to complete the wire transfer to the General’s account.” Nikos let the words hang in the air.
“We’ll wait for the paperwork first. I want everything signed on the oil rights before we pay.” Chi crossed his arms.
“I’ve known the General since I was a boy, when he rescued me from a warlord. That relationship is our biggest advantage. Do we really want to give him a reason to look elsewhere?” Nikos strode to the window and peered down at the courtyard. Two soldiers sprawled on the ground, blood soaking their shirts. Undoubtedly the work of his snipers.
Xi-Ping turned to her brother. “He’s right. Hesitate, and the general could go with the Russians or Iranians.”
“It’s a lot of money,” Chi grumbled.
“And we will make a hundred times that with this contract,” She-Wolf said.
Nikos remained silent.
Seconds ticked by.
“Okay, we do it, but I want that contract by end of day,” Chi said.
“I’ll make it happen.”
Chi grabbed his cell phone and punched in numbers. The transfer completed, he showed Nikos the confirmation number.
“Perfect.”
More shots sounded in the yard. The soldiers were closing in. No time to savor the moment.
“This deal will immortalize you and the Chinese National Oil Company.” Nikos pulled the soldier’s pistol from his waistband and moved to where Chi was sitting. Before the other man could react, he shot him twice in the forehead.
Chi collapsed onto the right arm of the chair, brain matter and skull fragments everywhere.
“Ares” was now “officially” dead.
Xi-Ping strode to Nikos and kissed him savagely. “Thank you. You have no idea how much I hated my brother. Now, let’s get the hell out of here.”
He pulled her close in a tight embrace and, with her head against his chest, lifted the pistol and double-tapped two bullets into her heart. Shock froze her face as she fell backward onto the rug, clutching at her chest, legs kicking.