by Jack Ford
‘I’m just here to listen. Carry on…’
‘I’m just angry that there’s so much manipulation of something which is supposed to save lives and do so much good. The part of the reform where it states companies are required to do due diligence by sourcing their suppliers? Well that’s a joke. Because what is due diligence? Who polices this? Who sets the bar? Companies just offer excuses that it’s not possible to source. Deny all knowledge. Come on. There’s a loophole there just for companies to jump through. This was supposed to encourage corporations, but instead it’s got them hiding and shamefully they’ve spent millions trying to block these changes with challenges based on constitutional rights. But what about the rights of the people of the DRC, Mr. President?’
‘You think it’s that simple.’
‘No, of course not. It would be stupid to oversimplify the conflict, but for companies to hide their sources and argue to the point of appeals and challenges and object to having to disclose when children are dying, well in my book that’s not acceptable. This is about the consumers’ right to know the truth, Mr. President. The American people are fed up with cover-ups. They want honesty and transparency from those in power. The DRC needs people who care. To foster reform, help stop corruption and most of all help create transparency. People here in the US need to know what they’re buying.’
Woods looked at his watch. ‘So what exactly do you want?’
‘I want people to be able to switch on their cells and their laptops with the knowledge that none of the components have been made from conflict minerals. I don’t want, when people call their friend, for them to have blood dripping down their hand.’
Woods glanced at Teddy who raised his eyebrows at the impassioned imagery.
‘If the electronics industry wants to spend millions per month lobbying senate offices to try to relax the reforms, let them, because we at Nadbury will be the consumer’s choice. Our supply chains for tin, tantalum, tungsten, and gold are conflict free, and we want the world to know that. But we can’t do it without you, Mr. President. We need your voice.’
Woods heard slight scepticism in it as he sunk the putt. ‘And this is the campaign you mentioned on the phone.’
‘It is, and to me it’s as important as the gun reforms. The next generation are becoming more aware. And maybe now more than ever people aren’t thinking so much in term of us and them. I think social media has really connected the whole of the world.’
‘And why can’t you do this without us? If you’ve got the certificates, there shouldn’t be a problem to do it without our help.’
‘Come on Mr. President, you know as well as I do if we go it alone there won’t be as much interest in it; people won’t open their doors to it, schools will be sceptical to be associated with a profit-making company. And it certainly won’t have kudos, and ultimately the success, if you weren’t part of it. We need each other.’
‘And of course if this administration gave you the support, this will make you and your company millions.’
‘Yes. Millions and millions of dollars. But that’s okay, because they’ll be millions of ethical dollars.’
‘Is there such a thing?’
‘I don’t apologize for being a businessman, but I won’t be part of someone else’s suffering. Stand by us, Mr. President. Head our campaign to encourage every kid, every American to know they’re a part of changing the world. Part of making a painful part of history come to a full stop. America is a great nation but it’ll be a greater one if it reaches out its hand to another and says to the world, no more.’
Teddy Adleman looked at his watch and took the putting iron from Parker. ‘Mr. Parker, thank you for your time. We appreciate you coming today. Obviously there’s a lot to think about. I’ll escort you to security.’
Out of his pocket, Donald Parker passed Teddy an envelope. ‘There’s a list of senators’ names in there. Call them, Mr. Adleman, and each one will tell you the same thing. They’ll give their support to your gun reforms. You’ll get your votes.’
‘As long as the president supports your campaign.’
Parker smiled. Rubbed his front teeth with the tip of his tongue. ‘Mr. Adleman, I’m a businessman, not a charity.’
44
‘In the words of John McEnroe, you cannot be serious.’
‘You’re showing your age there, Maddison. The man retired in 1992, unless of course you’re counting the ATP champions tour, then I…’
‘Shut up, Rosedale. What is it with you, huh? When I want a lecture about the history of Grand Slams, I’ll know who to come to.’
‘I was just saying.’
‘Well don’t. Don’t say anything else. All I want is to know why, Tom, you didn’t listen to me when I told you we should’ve driven east towards the border, where we could’ve easily found a decent place to sleep. But you didn’t, and now the rains have begun, and we’re stuck here. Go figure. Seriously.’
Rosedale was not put off by Maddie’s hostility. ‘Oh I think he’s serious alright, Maddison, see that twitch over his right eye? It always pulsates when he’s saying something he means.’
Cooper snapped. ‘Shut up, Rosedale,’–whilst at the same time trying to discreetly touch the point above his right eye to see if it was actually throbbing. ‘Look, Maddie, I know you’re right but now I’ve messed up I reckon this is the safest place to stay.’
Maddie gestured to where Cooper was standing. ‘Okay fine, let’s do it, but we need to keep watch. We can rotate so at least we’ll all get a couple of hours sleep.’
‘You sleep first and Rosedale and I will do the first couple of hours then Rosedale can swap with you.’
‘You sure?’
‘I am.’
Trying to make peace, he offered her a piece of several-times-melted chocolate. She shook her head, which he had to admit was probably a wise decision.
45
‘You sure? I am.’
Rosedale was in the full throes of imitating the conversation Maddie and Cooper had had earlier on in the night. Throwing a packet of potato chips at Cooper, he winked. ‘That girl still loves you, Thomas, why don’t you just put her out of her misery?’
Cooper drew deeply on his cigarette. He’d been doing okay. Well, with the cigarettes anyway, and that of course was if doing okay meant going a whole day without having a smoke. But today, day two, was different. Today had not been okay. Not even close. He could feel his patience at a dangerous low and his ability to stay calm was trickling away. And as well as that he’d had to compensate for the lack of nicotine with a couple of extra pills. Just to take the edge off.
With the smell of the wet forest around him, Cooper continued listening to Rosedale spouting bull. But then enough became enough. ‘You gotta stop this.’
‘Stop what, Thomas?’
He drove his cigarette into the wet undergrowth. ‘Stop acting like a jackass. All this with Maddie… The only person you’re hurting is her. Maddie and I, well… our marriage was over a long time ago. But it just took till now for both of us to realize it.’
‘And you’re cool with that.’
‘No, of course not.’
‘Well that’s how it sounds. Like you’re just throwing away a piece of trash in the garbage.’
‘Shut up, Rosedale, my marriage was important to me. Maddie’s important. But my point is maybe we shouldn’t have happened in the first place. Not that I regret it. We had some good times, and of course we’ve got Cora.’
‘Does she know that?’
Cooper pulled a face. Rosedale certainly knew how to get a guy wound up. ‘Know what?’
‘That it’s over, Thomas. That there’s no going back. You may be able to solve investigations – not that you’re doing great on this one mind – but when it comes to women, to Maddie, you can’t see what’s in front of your cherry pickin’ nose.’
‘What are you talking about?’
‘I think you need to look in those collecting bags of yours that you l
ike to carry around, see if you’ve dropped all your sense in there… Don’t you get it? Can’t you see? She’s holding out for you. She thinks it isn’t over.’
Cooper shook his head, resigned to the fact he was already reaching for the next cigarette.
‘You got it all wrong Rosedale. She was the one who left me.’
Rosedale pushed his hat to the back of his head. He whistled. ‘Thomas, Thomas, Thomas. What are we going to do with you, sugar pie? Why do you think she left?’
‘Because the marriage was over.’
Austin Rosedale Young looked at Cooper with rare compassion. ‘Wrong. She left because she was drowning herself, but she also wanted you to realize you loved her. Not some ghost. Not some memories of the past. She needed you to want her, and stop your crazy ways. See what’s important. What’s real… Does she even know about Ellie’s death certificate?’
Cooper bristled. ‘You know?’
‘It’s my job to know.’
‘It’s no big deal.’
‘But it is. Look at you, Thomas, it’s sent you screwball again. Popping pills. Coming to Africa. We’re all only here because of you. You think Maddie likes this job?’
‘She loves her job and let’s face it she’s damn good at it.’
‘Yes, but not this one. Haven’t you noticed she’s not herself? For some reason she doesn’t want to be here in the heart of the DRC.’
‘That’s crap, she loves her country – albeit her country on her daddy’s side. But nonetheless she feels a part of this place and rightly so… You’re just talking bull.’
‘No, sir, I am not and I’m telling you there’s something wrong. She didn’t want to come.’
‘So why did she? To prove a point?’
‘You’re a fool sometimes, Thomas. She came here to look after you. To make sure she didn’t lose you to a bullet or to a ghost. She put how she felt aside and is willing to put her life in danger all for you.’
Cooper stood up angrily. ‘What the hell kind of crap are you talking?’
‘Am I talking crap? Think about it, Thomas. Use that pretty little brain of yours for a moment. She goes on every job you go on, just to make sure you’re okay. Hell, Thomas, she even risks her life to get you out of places like Eritrea with that klutz, Levi.’
‘Leave him out of it.’
‘But she does, and you accept her help like her life means nothing.’
Cooper glared at Rosedale, affronted he or anyone would think that. ‘That’s not true. I didn’t even want her to come.’
‘Oh it is though. It is true. You may not care about your life, but that doesn’t mean you stop caring about the people around you, especially the people that love you. And she does.’
Cooper was angry now. Enraged at the man’s accusations. His jaw clenched with his fist following in its wake. ‘I don’t have to listen to this.’
Spitting tobacco out of the side of his mouth, Rosedale looked on arrogantly at how far it’d gone. Gave Cooper a supercilious smile which ripped through him like a bush fire.
‘You may not like what I’m saying Thomas, but it’s the truth. I see it in her eyes every time she looks at you. Let her go. Set her free, Thomas, set her free. Let her have a life without you.’
Cooper bounded forward. Grabbed Rosedale’s top. Rotated his body and brought back his fist. Palm up. Elbow in. Angle up. Relax fist. Tighten on impact. Knocks a man out before he knows what’s hit him… That’s what he was going to do. Until the fight drained out of him as quickly as it’d come. He left his hand hanging in the air. Then without looking directly at Rosedale, he asked, ‘How do I do that? How do I set her free?’
‘You’ll find a way, but don’t put it off. Don’t hurt her any more than she’s hurting already. You’re lucky to have a woman like Maddison to love you. Real lucky. She’s one special lady. Don’t abuse that. There are a lot of people out there who’d give anything to feel that kind of love, even for just one day.’
Cooper didn’t say anything for a while but looked at Rosedale with interest. ‘Listen, why don’t you get some sleep, I’ll keep a watch… Go on… and Rosedale… Thanks.’
46
Even from where Cooper was sitting, with all the noise of an African forest resonating around the SUV, he had to smile to himself, acknowledging it was actually Rosedale’s snoring which reverberated most loudly and echoed through the darkness of the storm-filled night.
He stood up. Stretched. Shook off the rain which trickled down his neck. Then walked towards the thick groves of the banana plants to take a leak. His mind on both Maddie and Ellie.
About to undo his buttons on his go-to faded jeans, his movements became slow and deliberate. He leant forward, listening to a new sound coming from far to the left of him. It was the sound of an engine. A truck, but an old one.
Unusually he was easily able to distinguish the make. He wasn’t an expert on cars and trucks but he knew a few things. And he knew it was a British Commer. Nicknamed the Commer-knocker due to the distinctive noise it produced. The unmistakable sound of a two-stroke diesel three-cylinder horizontally opposed piston engine. One hell of a classic bit of engineering. Of course, distinguishing the make of a vehicle didn’t explain why the hell a truck would be out here in the middle of the night, but then, like anything else, there was only one way to find out…
47
Cooper could just about hear his own breathing above the strange mating call of the reed frogs in the trees above him. He could feel the rain getting heavier and stronger, and it took all of his willpower to stay still despite the savage bites of the red army ants which seemed to be using his body as a bridge between one giant leafed plant and another.
He continued to crouch in the wet bushes, watching the Commer truck, driving rain making it difficult to see clearly. But he was just about able to make out the outlines of three people loading the truck. But with what? It was impossible for him to see unless he went further down the hill.
He felt for his gun. Edged along on the ground. Kept low. Pulled his body across the rutted and sodden and uneven earth, but even before he got halfway down the hill, he saw the men had pulled a large sheet of blue tarpaulin over the back load. Squinting. Annoyed with himself that he’d missed the chance to see what they were doing, he crept a fraction closer.
A bit further along from the truck, he could see another car. Though he couldn’t decipher the make from where he was. But it was large. Black. Expensive. And taking into account where they were, he thought it was strange.
Just as he assumed both the car and the truck were going to drive off, the passenger door of the car opened. And there, in the rain, stood Papa Bemba.
Their gut feeling about coming to the area had been right. Instinct encouraged Cooper to get closer, to hear what Papa Bemba and the two other men – who’d also stepped out of the car – were saying. But then for no reason that Cooper could see, a tall, stocky man with tight plaits and a heavy jawline began to walk towards where he was hiding. And even though the man might’ve only wanted to take a leak, Cooper thought it was his cue to back away but not before seeing a man who was bound, gagged and blindfolded, being pulled out of the car.
Cooper stole silently into the night with the sounds of the forest surrounding him. A noise shot out of the darkness, making him stop, and then a snap behind him made him freeze. He reached for his gun. Scrutinized his surroundings quickly. Looked for hiding spots. Then felt a hand on his back.
Whipped round.
Gun drawn.
Leg taut out.
Ready to fight.
Bringing whoever it was, down.
‘Jesus…! Jesus H. Christ…!’ Cooper threw up his arms at Rosedale, before bringing them down to rest on his head. Gun in hand and breathing hard. ‘Do you have to creep up on me like that? I could’ve blown your goddamn head off.’
Rosedale sniffed, speaking softly. ‘Not a chance. You would’ve been toast, Thomas. Your last view would’ve been of that ants’ nest over
there.’
Crouching down again, Cooper wiped away the rain from his face, which bought him time to regain his composure.
‘What the hell are you doing anyway, Rosedale? Sneaking up like that.’
‘Babysitting you. That’s why I’m here. You’re lucky it was me, because if it hadn’t been, I reckon it would’ve been them… ’ Rosedale, who was also now crouching in the wet, trailed off. Nodded towards some men who Cooper hadn’t noticed – and who were fast approaching.
‘What do you want to do? Stay still or shoot out? Your call, baby.’
Weighing up the situation, Cooper whispered back. ‘I think stay still for now, the rain’s heavy and it’s doubtful they’ll see us.’
Rosedale nodded. Winked. Whispered. ‘So you haven’t completely lost it and turned into Billy the Kid. I was worried for a while.’
For the next three minutes Rosedale and Cooper stayed still. Watching as the blindfolded man was pushed into the truck. Then they watched for another two as the Commer and the car drove off.
Moving away, heading back to the Toyota, Cooper said, ‘I think tomorrow we need to go and speak to Bemba. Get him on his own somehow.’
‘Don’t know how easy that’ll be, but when have you ever liked to do things the…’
‘Maddie…? Maddie…? Maddison?’
Pulling out his 9mm Glock Gen 5 handgun from his concealed pistol holder, Cooper began to run, leaving Rosedale and the conversation behind as he spotted the doors of the Toyota were wide open.
Nearing the car, he could see it was empty. Alarmed, his eyes darted round in the darkness before settling on Rosedale. ‘She’s gone…! Maddie’s gone!’
48