Her heart pounded furiously. Fear. Cassidy inhaled deeply and calmed her breathing. She wasn’t cut out for this line of work. The enormous cavern that separated the two worlds she and Jake occupied loomed before her eyes. His calm detachment anchored his familiarity and ease in covert and dangerous missions. Cassidy suddenly felt like a scared rabbit. Something brushed against her shoulder, and her heart almost burst from her chest when Jake’s whisper followed the touch of his hand. “It’s all clear,” he said.
“Jesus, Mary, and Joseph,” Cassidy exhaled, her hands shaking from the adrenaline surge. Jake led them in the direction of the pounding drums.
A small village appeared before them. There were rows of crude concrete buildings, their doorways containing nothing more than a blanket to prevent the invasion of mosquitoes. Life here wasn’t easy. Darkness of night glowed with fires. In this remote corner of the delta proper there were no oil wells, which meant no gas flares. They felt the pollution in the form of acid rain and diminished river life. If Cassidy remembered correctly, there were a few pipelines that cut to the east. But there hadn’t been a spill in this region for twenty years.
If what she feared lay upriver, it would all change. New World Petroleum would rip through this jungle devouring everything in its path. Within the center of a clearing, a mass of bodies swayed to the power of the drums. They chanted and banged their feet in rhythmic steps upon the hardened earth. The women wore strands of beads braided within their hair. The multicolored decorations knocked against each other, creating a beat within a beat.
The men sported colors and tattoos in varying pictures. Each tribe held its rituals sacred. Some had piercings that must be unbelievably painful; others wore a simpler display of their culture—with only one line of paint highlighted by a few white dots.
Amazing. Cassidy stared in astonishment at the blend of tribes.
The one thing that remained common among these people was their conviction and fervor to banish the evil that controlled their soil. The band of rebels, guns slung carelessly over their arms, circled the edge of the worshippers, moving and singing along with their people.
A group of men surrounding the dancers noticed Jake and signaled across the fire. With a single cry, a large drum pounded twice and the dancing stopped. Bodies swayed and the circle opened; seven men approached them. Their hair appeared wild and gray, interwoven with feathers. Fangs and claws of the jungle were strung like beads around their necks, heads, and waists. All held staffs and their eyes burned with fire, red replacing the whites around their pupils.
Cassidy swallowed, not wanting to show fear.
They circled the Black Stripe squad, and Anna stepped forward speaking to the assembly in their native tongue. After several moments of what appeared to be intense negotiations, Anna nodded and returned to Jake and Cassidy. “They say that evil flows from the north and they won’t go upriver.”
Cassidy frowned. “Evil? As in NWP?”
Anna tightened her lips and moved her eyes to caution Cassidy against speaking too loudly. “I don’t know. But they’re spooked. The Ijwo will head downriver and spread across either side of the banks. They’ll hold the Kill-and-Go to this location.”
Jake gripped Cassidy’s shoulder. “This isn’t what I’d bargained for. I wanted them to cover our backs upriver. It’s too dangerous. We need to call in backup.”
She stared at Jake and shook her head. “We don’t know who the mole is. We’re better off going it alone.” Cassidy placed her hand on Anna’s arm. “Stay here and keep us apprised of any threat that breaks through the Ijwo defense.”
Anna exhaled and pursed her lips. “This is too dangerous, Cass. David and Charles…”
Cassidy didn’t let her finish her sentence. “We have to be sure of what NWP’s doing, Anna. I can’t show up to OPEC and throw out unfounded accusations. If we’re shutting this operation down, I need facts. Hard facts. Or else every life …” She choked, Steve’s smile flashing through her mind. “Every life lost because of NWP will be in vain. No …” Cassidy straightened her shoulders and turned on her heel. “We’re going upriver. Without backup and without the Ijwo.” She shifted the weight of her pack from one shoulder to the other and moved back toward the jungle. The flow of trepidation coursing through her veins belied the brave front she’d shown Anna. Cassidy was beyond her comfort zone and completely terrified.
CHAPTER 38
THEY APPROACHED THE RIVER. JAKE MOTIONED DOWNWARD with the palm of his hand, and Cassidy slipped to the edge of the path, pressing herself against the base of a mangrove. She watched Jake scout the area until his body blended with night and he disappeared against the shadow of the river. A light breeze kicked off the water and fanned across her face, bringing with it the acidic tingle of oil she associated with the Niger Delta.
Jake appeared before her and held his hand out. He spoke with a half whisper. “The boat’s ready.”
Cassidy nodded and followed him to the edge of the embankment. She waded into the water, inhaling sharply at the chill bite of the river. As gracefully as possible, she lifted her leg and slid over the top of the thick rubber boat, tumbling inside and quickly righting herself. Jake pushed them off from shore and jumped aboard. He ignited the small outboard motor, and they began their journey upriver.
Fog thickened as Jake maneuvered them into the center of the river. It cloaked their presence but hindered their vision. Cassidy unzipped her pack and retrieved a small flashlight, map, and compass. Spreading the map on the base of the boat, she hunkered down and flipped the switch of the light. Shielding the light with her body, Cassidy placed the compass upon the map and mentally calculated their position.
“We’ve about ten miles to go before heading back to the shoreline.” She kept her voice soft and quickly shut off the light.
Jake patted the floor of the boat and she nodded, shuffling back to seat herself between the warmth of his legs. She held tight to the compass and map.
He bent forward and spoke into her ear. “You never really explained exactly what it is we’re looking for.”
“I think a new drill site, but I’m not absolutely certain.”
Jake sighed. “Yeah, I understood that part. But something’s got your knickers in a twist, Sunshine. Why is this new drill sight so threatening?”
Cassidy nestled back against his chest and lifted her face to stare into his eyes. “Charles’ data shows an incredible amount of collected oil, but it doesn’t show the source—that’s the anomaly.”
“I don’t get it.”
“During the Jurassic period the sea level of the African continent lowered, leaving behind an enormous section of land to the evolutionary process. Until the middle Tertiary the fauna and flora of Africa were distinct from those of Eurasia and the rest of the world, creating this unique pocket of organic material.”
Jake nodded. “That’s what crude we’re extracting now, right?”
“Correct.” Cassidy shifted her weight, and rested her elbow against Jake’s leg.
Jake leaned forward and she held the compass up for him, flipping on the flashlight for a moment so that he could verify they were on course. “And why would this oil be different than all the other sites that are being drilled?”
“Because the stats Charles recovered display only vacuous space beneath the oil.”
“A canyon?”
Cassidy lifted one shoulder and stared into the night. “A very big canyon.” Cassidy’s nose wrinkled, and she rubbed it against her arm. “What stinks?” She coughed and gagged as the scent became stronger, making breathing difficult.
Jake pulled the bandana off her braid and handed it to her, signaling with his hand that she should tie it around her nose. She nodded and mirrored his actions. He idled the motor and grabbed her flashlight, flipping a beam of brightness across the water. “Would you look at all these fish?”
“Dead fish.”
“There must be thousands.”
Cassidy reached overboard a
nd plucked one from the water, holding it underneath the flashlight Jake beamed in her direction and performed a cursory check. “Gills are full of silt.” She tossed it back and peered through the fog. “How close are we to shore?”
“A couple hundred feet. Want to check it out?”
She retrieved the flashlight from Jake and consulted the map. “We’re not far from our coordinates. I think whatever we find here”—she pointed at their destination—“will explain this. It seems counterproductive to investigate when my instinct says it’s nothing more than erosion created by excavation of the land.”
“You sure?”
Cassidy nodded. “I’ve seen this before. Not quite so bad, but I’ve seen it. When you strip the mangroves from the shoreline, the soil erodes contaminating the water and strangling the fish.”
“Let’s move on then.” Jake fired up the engine and continued upriver.
The rubber boat moved through the water, each bump and sway heightening Cassidy’s anxiety. They dropped into silence, both caught within their own dark thoughts.
“This could be a suicide mission. No backup. No nothin’. We don’t know what the hell’s waiting for us.”
Cassidy refused to respond, her voice unable to carry any words that would dissipate the sinister edge of Jake’s statement. He was right. She glanced up, startled when he flipped the engine off. “What’s going on?”
Jake pointed over her shoulder. “We’re here.”
Cassidy ran her palms along the cool metal that framed the levy. She couldn’t see more than a few feet in front, but she felt the power and span of the dam by the sheer vastness of empty space beyond the railing. “This is amazing.”
“What’s it for?”
Biting her bottom lip, Cassidy smiled when another puzzle piece fell into place. “A portable oil rig.”
“This place feels abandoned.”
Cassidy nodded in agreement. “NWP would be foolish to maintain a presence in an area they don’t own. It would draw too much attention. I think we’re safe to explore.”
Jake stopped her from moving down the ladder they’d located. He bent close and stared directly into her eyes. “David wasn’t safe. Don’t get cocky.”
She gripped the edge of the crudely built ladder, ignoring the prick of splintered wood. “Don’t worry, Captain. I’ll be careful.”
Jake grunted something unintelligible, pulled a length of rope off his shoulder, and tied it to the edge of the railing. He allowed it to unravel, and Cassidy watched as it fell gracefully downward. “What’re you…”
Her words trailed off when Jake touched his lips lightly to her cheek and whispered, “Don’t take too long, Sunshine.”
She bit back an indignant shout as her eyes trailed his graceful leap off the edge and fast rappel into the belly of the levy. “Cheater,” she hissed and quickly began climbing down the ladder.
When her toes touched solid ground, Cassidy exhaled a shaky breath. She was grateful for the darkness. If she’d realized exactly how far down the base sat, her descent would’ve been riddled with panic and hyperventilation. Jake moved close and tapped a finger against her nose. He pointed two fingers at her eyes and then pointed them back at his own eyes. When she opened her mouth to speak, he shook his head with a sharp motion and then did the funny finger signal again. Cassidy frowned and bit her bottom lip. He rolled his eyes and repeated the eye poking maneuver, causing Cassidy to bend over and stifle nervous laughter. She’d watched enough movies to finally figure out this meant keep your eyes on me, but being an actual participant threw her out of reality.
With a few deep breaths she gathered some control and nodded at Jake, mimicking his finger signal and sucking in her lips to prevent another bout of giggles. He shook his head in defeat, then spun on his heels and jogged into the darkness. Cassidy followed, matching his pace. Her normal curiosity was curbed by the blanket of night. Visibility remained limited.
She felt the grade of earth shift as they headed upward, out of the levy. Jake paused at the top and motioned for Cassidy to retrieve the map. She laid it on the ground, and he focused a tiny beam of light on the area where her finger rested. Cassidy attempted to gain a clearer picture of their surroundings, but he flipped off the flashlight.
The moonless night left them victim to protruding roots and uneven ground. Jake kept their pace slow and methodical. Cassidy ignored the caress of foliage as it brushed against her face, not wanting her mind to stray to all that crawled upon its surface. Her line of business alerted her to the full dangers of what lurked within the dense jungle.
Jake paused. Cassidy slammed into his back, distracted by her attempt to listen for snakes and the like. He grunted but remained still. She tilted her head and peered around his shoulder. The jungle opened to a cleared area of land. There were shapes and shadows of things piled on the earth that were indiscernible in the darkness. A soft hum filled the night air.
Jake glanced over his shoulder and held his fingers to his lips. Cassidy remained silent. He dropped to the ground and she followed his actions, belly crawling across the clearing and in the direction of the odd noise. She felt a vibration and paused. Cassidy turned her head and put her ear against the dirt.
The vibration was real. It shook the earth and reminded her of the time as a teenager she’d tested Hollywood and placed her ear to the ground, listening for approaching horses. Her father had laughed but Cassidy sought the truth, intent on proving to the world how smart she was. Sure enough and much to her surprise, the approaching herd of Cutter horses she’d seen in the distance caused the earth to echo the pounding of their hooves.
Lost in the sound that hummed from below, she didn’t hear Jake’s whistle until a rock hit her forehead. Rubbing the sore skin, she glared into the darkness. His low whistle reached her ears, and she scooted forward.
“Don’t do that again.” He ground the words out through gritted teeth. “I can’t see you in this darkness.”
“The earth is vibrating,” Cassidy hissed back.
“No kidding. Stay close.”
She stuck her tongue out at his back and moved behind him. He stood and reached down to help her to her feet. “There appears to be a cave here.”
“No sign of life.”
Jake tilted his head and searched their surroundings. “That we can see.”
They slipped between two leafy bushes and into the cool entryway of the cave. Cassidy felt the damp stone beneath the palm of her hand as she stepped forward; it soothed for some unknown reason. Her foot caught on a soft mound jutting from the base of the wall and caused her to stumble. Jake flipped on the flashlight and spanned the ground.
“David’s backpack.” Cassidy dropped to her knees, recognizing the worn green fabric and bright orange initials he’d embroidered into the canvas himself. Her fingers traced the smooth stitching, and she swallowed against the sudden lump that formed in her throat. “I remember when he did this. He hated that Charles kept grabbing his pack by accident so he picked the loudest thread he could find and sewed on his initials.” She gasped when Jake’s flashlight highlighted what appeared to be a dark patch of blood against the rock wall. Standing, she scrutinized the area. “There’s some scalp and hair here.” She ignored the sudden dip in her stomach at the site of the matted hair and dried brown substance.
Jake pulled out an envelope and small knife. “I’ll collect DNA.”
Cassidy nodded and disregarded the trepidation that crawled along her skin. They moved farther into the cave, every step cautious, every breath silent. Her heart pounded in her ears in direct competition with the mechanical humming that drew them deeper and deeper into the cavern.
“Over there,” Jake spoke softly into her ear and pointed over her shoulder.
She followed the angle of his arm and nodded when she saw a small red light secured against the cavern wall. “Modernization.”
Jake led them across a narrow ledge. The humming notched higher as they passed the red light, rumbling and vib
rating through the rock. They rounded a small bend and faced the source.
“It’s a generator.” Jake approached the large ten-by-ten green box and circled it warily. “There’s switches and controls along this back wall.”
Cassidy flipped her flashlight beyond the shadow of the generator and inhaled a sharp gasp. A lake spread farther than the scope of the beam of her narrow light, its surface rippling in murky waves. She staggered forward, kneeling at the edge of the basin. “Look at this…” A loud bang sounded, and Cassidy blinked as the cavern brightened to an uncomfortable level.
“And let there be light.” Jake whistled softly, gazing over Cassidy’s shoulders.
She followed his line of sight and shook her head slowly from side to side. “This is a lake—no, it’s a sea …”—her voice dropped to a whisper—“of oil.”
“Amazing. No drilling. No methane. Just gallons and gallons of crude ready for shipping.”
Cassidy sighed. “But the source?”
Jake signaled for her. “Maybe these maps will help.” He pointed toward a wall behind the generator that sported large geological renderings and what appeared to be some type of station schematics.
“You think it’s safe to keep these lights on?”
“Probably not.” He flipped the switch, and they sank into darkness once more. “Wait for your eyes to adjust before making your way over here.”
Cassidy grumbled. “You could’ve waited until I’d gotten there.”
“Sorry, Sunshine. Wasn’t thinking.”
She moved the beam of her flashlight around the interior and began walking in Jake’s direction. Trailing her fingers along the edge of the generator, she guided herself to the back wall. Cassidy began with the geological survey farthest to the left. She studied the drawings, glancing back and forth from the color-coded template in the bottom right hand corner and then tracing her fingers along the survey.
Next, her eyes absorbed the map that displayed a blown-up section of the Niger Delta. “Okay …”
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