Cargo: A Leine Basso Thriller

by D. V. Berkom

  “Good question. We need to track them, see where they’re headed. Meet me where Rashid parked the last time.”

  “Uh, sure. Yeh. We can do that.”

  “What’s going on, Derek? We don’t have a lot of time here.”

  “I…it’s nothing. We’ll be there in a couple of minutes.”

  Leine slid the radio into her pocket. Something about Derek’s tone put her on edge. Had they been compromised?

  She arrived at the rendezvous point a short time later. Derek and Zara were already there. Leine studied the area through the NVGs, searching for signs of company. There didn’t appear to be anyone else nearby except him and Zara. She keyed the mic. Derek brought the radio to his ear.

  “Almost there,” she said.

  “Roger that.” Derek put the radio back on the Rover’s dash and said something to Zara. He glanced behind him several times, giving Leine the impression there was someone hiding behind the seat.

  Sliding her gun free, she crept up next to the Rover. She listened for a moment, trying to determine if there might be more than one person in the back, but the only thing she heard was the sound of paper crumpling.

  Leine eased her fingers around the handle and took a deep breath. Then she flung the door open, stepped back with both hands on the gun, and shouted “Hands up!”

  Derek and Zara spun in their seats. Derek drew his weapon but Leine’s position blocked a clear shot.

  “Claire?” he asked, peering around the headrest. “What are you doing?”

  Several sets of eyes stared up at Leine from the newspaper-covered floor. It took her a second before she realized what she was looking at and lowered her gun.

  A half-dozen curious, mewling cubs tumbled over each other in an attempt to get to their new visitor. Recovering, Leine glared at Derek.

  “What the—?” she said. Her initial surprise morphed into anger at the possibility of getting her head blown off for nothing.

  Derek’s sheepish expression told her everything. She looked down at the cubs and shook her head.

  “You couldn’t leave them,” Leine said. It was more a statement of fact than a question.

  “Look, Zara said she wasn’t leaving without them and I didn’t want to leave Zara.” Derek shrugged. “What could I do?”

  Leine bit back a comment, but realized it wasn’t worth it. And, she had to admit the goddam things were cute.

  You’re getting soft, Basso.

  Leine slid her gun into her holster before carefully closing the door and crossing to the passenger side.

  “Slide over, Zara.”

  ***

  Leine pointed Derek in the direction Wang and his driver had gone. A short time later, they picked up fresh tire tracks heading east.

  “They’re headed toward my old stomping grounds,” Derek said.

  “What’s the terrain like?” Leine asked.

  “Low mountains, lots of trees and scrub. Good cover. And, this time of year there’s running water.”

  Leine checked her watch. Half past two. Sunrise wouldn’t be for several hours.

  “How are they tracking her?” Derek muttered. “I mean, it’s bloody dark out here. Even with NVGs, they’d have to have an idea where she was headed.”

  “Wang likes to keep track of his property,” Leine said.

  “Meaning,” Derek prompted.

  Zara answered. “Meaning he put a collar on the women he kept. Sapphire told me that the one she wore would shock her if she tried to go outside of a prescribed area.”

  “Wouldn’t be difficult to have one that also tracked the wearer,” Leine added.

  “Like a dog training device,” Derek said. “So we’re talking about maybe a half-mile to a mile range, depending on the charge.”

  “There are some that will work as far as two miles, but the majority of them are in the shorter range.” Leine leaned back in her seat and listened to the grass and brush hit the underside of the Rover. They needed to get to Kylie before Wang and the rebels did, but how?

  Half an hour later, Derek cut the Rover’s running lights and slipped on the NVGs. Wang’s vehicle left an obvious trail through the grass, as did the pickups belonging to the other gunmen.

  “I think I know where they’re going,” Derek said, and peeled away from the tracks, heading north. “We’ll loop around and come at them from another direction.”

  “How can you be sure?” Zara voiced what Leine was thinking.

  “The way they’re headed they’ll be on foot before too long. If your girl’s smart,” he said, glancing at Leine, “she’s working her way into the rocks so her position will interfere with the radio collar.”

  “What happens when he shocks her?” Zara asked. “Wouldn’t that make it difficult for her to keep going?”

  Derek shrugged. “Maybe not. Depends on the collar. Whenever you use the shock capability it drains the batteries. Especially when it’s operating at a distance.”

  They continued along a path only Derek could see, following a narrow valley. The evening smelled of ozone and verdant vegetation, and Leine sensed a charge in the air. As they crested a rise, the sky lit up like a rocket, creating a stark relief of their surroundings. Seconds later, the deep roll of thunder signaling an impending storm rocked the ground beneath them. Anxious, the cubs whined in unison.

  “Shit,” Derek said, glancing at the sky. “Looks like a good one coming.”

  The way ahead narrowed to the point that they couldn’t go any further. Derek pulled over and parked next to a stand of trees. He slid the .45 from its holster and handed it to Zara.

  “You know how to use this?” Derek asked. Zara nodded. “Good.” He gave her the extra magazine. “There’s food and water in the back.” He peered at the gauges in front of him. “Plenty of fuel to make it back to Rafiki.”

  “Wait. You’re coming back, right?” Zara glanced at Derek and then at Leine.

  “I think what Derek is implying is that if by any chance we don’t make it back, you’ll be able to get home.”

  “Yeh. Exactly.”

  Zara placed the gun on the dash before she leaned over and kissed Derek.

  “That’s to remind you,” she said in a soft voice. He smiled.

  Lightning flashed again, followed almost immediately by a clap of thunder.

  “That was close,” Derek said. “Let’s go before things get hairy.”

  Derek gave Zara some last minute instructions along with the directions for home before exiting the vehicle. Leine was already in back, gearing up when he joined her.

  Fifteen minutes later, the two set off in search of Kylie.

  CHAPTER 41

  KYLIE WINCED AND shrank back at the great thundering boom, waiting until the sound rolled off into the distance. She grabbed on to the next handhold in the ancient granite and pulled herself up and over, sliding across the rough surface and dropping down to the other side. Her grandmother used to assure her that thunder was the sound God made when he was bowling a perfect game, because, hey, God always bowled a perfect game, right? She smiled at the memory, comforted for a moment.

  But then the next shock came. Though less intense this time, she stopped and clutched the collar.

  Either they’re moving further away and the signal is getting weaker, or the batteries are dying. Both scenarios gave her hope, and she continued to work her way forward, moving deeper into the valley.

  Each time the collar went off, her resolve to escape grew. She couldn’t stop, not now. Not after what she’d done. Her punishment would likely be worse than what Wang did to Sapphire. Fear coursed through her at the thought of the bruises she’d seen on her friend.

  What if he became so angry he beat her to death?

  Kylie picked her way along the bank of a stream. She followed it like a road, not sure where it would end. She had to keep going until the batteries died or Wang gave up the search.

  The night sounds were more ominous this far from camp. A lion’s roar echoed nearby, accomp
anied by an animal she couldn’t identify screeching in the distance. She tensed at a far-off hyena’s whoop, remembering in vivid detail the night in the enclosure when Zara helped drive them off. She wouldn’t last long without some kind of weapon, but the fear of what Wang would do if he caught her spurred her on. She’d figure out her next steps when daylight came.

  If she survived.

  Kylie had run to the nearby valley because she didn’t know where else to go. Whenever she worked outside the kitchen tent peeling vegetables, she’d gaze at the distant valley with the scenic outcropping. Surrounded by trees, the gray and white rock formation shimmered in the sun, eliciting thoughts of one of her favorite movies, The Lion King. That was before Ghanima had banished her inside with nothing to look at except pots and pans and the stainless steel sink.

  She pushed the thought of what she had done to Ghanima to the back of her mind. Thinking about it now did her no good, not when she was running for her life.

  She’d been fortunate to find her way in the darkness, her luck holding with a bright moon illuminating the way. Lucky, at least, until the winds kicked up and blew the clouds in.

  Tired and hungry and weak from the sporadic shocks, Kylie yearned to lie down and rest, even if just for a moment. But her mind wouldn’t let her, whispering to her that if she stopped now, she’d be dead.

  Partially due to fear and partly from exhaustion, her knees shook as she continued to follow the stream. Soon, the path began to rise. Heart hammering in her chest, she scrambled over the loose gravel, gouging her hands on the jagged rocks. She didn’t want to climb too far—she knew that cell phone service worked better without obstruction and assumed the same was true of the collar she wore. That, and she’d read somewhere to get to lower ground if caught outside in a thunderstorm.

  Raindrops splatted her face, and she veered away from the small stream, further into the dense bushes. Storms came and went quickly here, dumping loads of water in a short amount of time. The small stream could easily swell to a raging flood, and she didn’t want to take any chances.

  The prickly shrubs scratched her arms, but she was beyond caring. The wind whipped at her clothing, indicating rain would soon follow. She needed to find shelter.

  She broke through the brush and found herself in a small clearing surrounded by trees.

  What was it she’d read about taking cover outside in a thunderstorm? Find a group of trees but don’t stand under the tallest one. She thought about retracing her steps to lower ground but decided against it, worried that it might bring her closer to Wang.

  Lightning flashed again, illuminating the clearing. Kylie glanced up to see which of the trees were taller. She picked the shortest one and squatted beneath it as the thunder crashed around her.

  Did radio collars conduct electricity? She had no idea. The sporadic drops became a wall of rain, drenching Kylie and everything around her. Crouched in a ball, she squeezed her eyes shut and covered her ears against the storm, waiting for the next shock.

  ***

  Leine pushed the hair off her face as she followed Derek up and over a boulder. Assuming Kylie would opt for the path of least resistance, they’d been tracking the main artery of a stream, which was now overflowing its banks. The intensity of the storm pushed them further into the bush, making the already difficult hike a hard, soggy marathon.

  “Not much further, now,” Derek shouted over the wind. “I don’t think Wang and the gunmen will get very far with the storm raging on like this. And, I doubt Kylie will, either. I say we take shelter until this lets up.”

  Leine nodded and followed Derek through the bush. He led them to a shallow overhang where they propped their weapons against a rock. Leine wrung the water from her clothes while Derek leaned back against the rock wall behind them and stared at the rain.

  “It’s going to be hard to track her in this,” he commented. He opened the top on his canteen and offered it to Leine. She took a drink and handed it back.

  “Hopefully it’ll stop soon.”

  Lightning flashed, followed by a deep rumble, punctuating her words.

  “Hopefully.”

  “So tell me about Zara.” Leine squeezed rainwater from her hair and shook the excess from her hands.

  “Not much to tell, really.”

  “You two obviously care for each other.”

  Derek dipped his head in acknowledgement. “We do. But caring and actually being together can be…difficult.”

  “You mean because of working on opposite sides?”

  “Yeh,” he said with a wry smile. “Let’s just say my profession causes a lot of arguments.”

  “Then stop poaching. Start working with her instead of against her. You heard Alma.”

  “It’s not that easy, though, you see?” Derek shook his head, staring off into space. “How do I earn a living? They live hand to mouth at Rafiki, relying on donations. A man’s supposed to take care of his woman.”

  Leine rolled her eyes. “That’s chivalrous of you, Derek, but most single women I know don’t require that a man take care of them.” She ran her fingers through her hair, shaking the last of the rain off. “Most want someone who can take care of themselves, who don’t expect them to cook every night or clean up after them.” Memories of Santa came out to play and Leine indulged for a moment before snapping back to real time. “Honestly. I think your girl Zara fits the bill.”

  He grimaced. “What kind of world do you live in? Most women I meet are interested in one thing: how much did I earn last year, and will I exceed expectations in this one?”

  Leine shook her head. “Then you’re meeting the wrong women.”

  Derek grew silent, watching the downpour. Eventually, the rain eased and then stopped.

  She checked her watch and glanced at the sky. The stars were fading. The sun would soon rise and take the safety of the darkness.

  They continued along the still-swollen stream, working down the steep slope. Derek stopped when he spotted a blade of grass bent a certain way, or a broken branch, things Leine would easily miss in the dark. At one point, he pushed through the brush, coming upon a clearing surrounded by trees.

  Stooping beneath a stunted tree, he shoved his NVGs up as he took out his flashlight and shined the beam on the ground.

  “She sheltered here,” he said, conviction in his tone. He followed the tracks leading through the small stand of trees. Pivoting in place, he scanned the area. “She’s climbing.”

  “How did we miss her?”

  Derek shrugged. “She isn’t following the stream. She must have passed by when we stopped to wait out the storm.”

  Following the prints, they scrambled over loose rocks and climbed, leaving the swiftly moving stream behind them. The sky grew lighter as they progressed, and the sun peeked over the horizon, throwing long, dark shadows across the landscape. Half an hour later, they reached the top of the outcropping.

  Leine checked the way they’d come, making certain no one was behind them. She turned back to Derek.

  “Look for signs that someone’s been here,” Derek said, eyes on the ground as he walked, studying the terrain. Leine scanned the rocky promontory, pausing at a shadowy opening near the base of a large rock.

  “Over there,” she said. Derek followed her gaze. “Looks like a good place to hide.”

  They split up, each coming at the area from opposite directions. They were within a few feet of the opening when Kylie broke cover.

  “Kylie! Wait.” Leine started after her. “Your mother sent us.”

  Kylie disappeared behind a mound of rock.

  A few moments later, she called out, “How do I know I can trust you?”

  “Your mother is Mindy Nelson and your father is Paul,” Leine said. “You live in Phoenix, Arizona, and last year your little brother was murdered.”

  Kylie didn’t respond. Leine continued. “My name is Leine Basso and I work for an anti-trafficking organization called SHEN. We help the victims,” she said, ignoring t
he look she got from Derek. “We met once, briefly, after your brother died. Your mother and I used to work together. I also know you were backpacking in Southeast Asia and ended up here. We want to help get you back home.”

  The top of her head appeared as she peeked over the rock. “Who’s he?” she asked, giving Derek a wary look.

  “His name’s Derek. He’s the muscle.”

  “Leine Basso, huh?” he muttered.

  Ignoring him, Leine waited as Kylie emerged and walked toward them, her distrust of Derek obvious in the way she held herself, as though coiled to run at the slightest provocation. She stopped several feet from them. Leine opened her arms. Kylie hesitated a second, her face twisting in an effort not to cry. She took a tentative step forward before she crossed the distance between them and fell into her arms, sobbing.

  “It was you on the ship, wasn’t it?”

  “Yes, it was me,” Leine murmured as she stroked her back. “It’s okay, Kylie. You’re going home.” Her hand brushed the radio collar. A thick, plastic-coated wire band encircled her neck. The built-in transmitter was sheathed in a hard plastic casing and lay against her throat. The band itself would take a metal cutter to remove.

  “Let’s do something about this thing.” Leine pulled out the multi-tool she’d purchased in Dar and, using the pliers, slid the jaws around the transponder and squeezed, fracturing the screen. She repeated the process until the unit had been damaged sufficiently enough to render the device inactive. Derek offered his canteen to Kylie. Wiping her eyes she took it and drank.

  When she was finished, Kylie handed the water back to Derek. “We have to go. Victor Wang is close.”

  “Have you seen him?” Leine asked.

  “No,” she said, indicating the collar. “The shocks. The last time was right before the storm quit. The jolt wasn’t as strong as before, so I think the batteries are getting low.”

  “Come on, then,” Derek said. “Let’s go before we find out for sure.” He started for the edge of the outcropping, but Kylie didn’t move.

  “Wait,” she said. “They’ve got Jaidee.”