Guardian Angel

by Becky Harmon

  Angel pulled her away from the crowd moving toward the train depot. They followed others headed directly into the city.

  “Did you see something?” she asked, matching Angel’s increased pace.

  “Possibly.”

  “Okay.”

  The walk to reach the first busy streets wasn’t short, but she didn’t mind. Her muscles were stiff from so little movement and the chance to move away from a potential threat was welcome. She had enjoyed the moments alone with Angel, but she couldn’t forget what had brought Angel into her life and the danger that followed them.

  “Can you ask him if he can take us to a cybercafé or whatever they call it here?” Angel pointed at a minibus taxi waiting in front of what appeared to be a hotel.

  “I’ll do my best.”

  She approached the open window of the taxi with Angel close behind her. The male driver turned the radio down and nodded eagerly to her request. They slid onto the bench directly behind his seat, keeping their scarves in place. The drive to the café was bumpy as they followed the road, dodging people and animals. Their driver turned right past a green building simply labeled BANK and then drove across what appeared to be an empty field. Back on a paved road, he made a left, swerving across traffic before pulling to a stop in front of a large building housing several businesses. Years of sun, sand, and salt had turned the vibrant red building to a pale pink.

  She passed a few bills to the driver and they slid out of the bus. The door on the right advertised cell phones and accessories. They went inside and purchased a small device that would give them one hour of phone charge.

  Next door was a small café. Two other patrons were sitting near the short counter where orders were placed. Angel led them to a table in the back corner. She plugged the charger into her phone and motioned for Ellie to stay with their stuff.

  When Angel returned with two cups, Ellie asked, “What did you order?”

  “I have no idea,” Angel said distractedly as she searched through her pack, pulling out the map.

  She chuckled, sniffing the steamy brew before taking a sip. She couldn’t identify the spices inside, but it was definitely tea. Though the air inside the café was stuffy with the early afternoon heat, the tea warmed her on the inside.

  She checked her watch as Angel dialed Eric. It hadn’t been quite an hour, but she was glad Angel wasn’t waiting.

  “We’re okay,” Angel said into the phone. “Fill me in quickly.”

  She tried to read Angel’s face while she listened to Eric. Whatever he was saying didn’t require a response from Angel. She wanted her to ask if everyone at the embassy was safe, but she knew Angel would get as much information as she could in the short time they had. For the moment, it was enough to know that Angel’s team was on the other end of the line.

  “Okay. Pick us up at Banc d’Arguin National Park.”

  Banc d’Arguin National Park was one of the first excursions her father had taken her on when she arrived in Mauritania. She studied the map on the table. The park was over four thousand miles of protected area for migratory birds. It was filled with sand dunes, coastal swamps, small islands, and shallow coastal waters. Sitting along the western coast of Mauritania, it was separated from Nouadhibou by the Bay of d’Arguin.

  Angel’s voice drew her attention.

  “As soon as you can…we’ll be fine.”

  She took another sip of the tea, but it no longer offered any comfort. She could feel the tension growing in Angel’s body even though her face held no signs to what she was hearing.

  Angel powered the phone off and dropped it on the table. She watched her pick up her cup of tea, sniff it, and then set it down again.

  “They’re coming?” she asked.

  “They’re on the road already. They left as soon as we texted.”

  “How are things at the embassy?”

  Angel frowned.

  “What?” she asked with growing concern.

  “Everyone is fine, but within several hours of our departure the crowd dispersed.”

  “What?”

  “They just walked away.” Angel rubbed her face. “My guess is they believed you were being…handled.”

  She fell against the back of her chair. “My death would have made everything better for them.” She shook her head. “What were they up to?”

  “I’ve been thinking about that. I think its smuggling. Something they were trying to get out of the country by way of the port.”

  “Smuggling what?”

  “Food, drugs, people.” Angel stood. “Let’s grab something to eat while the phone charges.”

  She pulled Angel back down and motioned at the cups of tea. “I’ll get the food.”

  She could see Angel wasn’t happy with this arrangement, but she was. She was starving and needed something she could actually eat. She ordered two plates of thieboudienne and carried them back to the table.

  “What is that?” Angel asked.

  “It’s the Mauritania national dish. Just eat it.”

  “I will, but what is it?”

  “It’s fish and sweet potatoes over rice. The sauce is made of pureed onions and tomatoes.”

  She watched Angel take a bite, chewing slowly. When Angel dug in for a second bite, she began eating too.

  This close to the coast, the majority of meals contained some sort of fish. Apparently, Angel was okay with that. They ate quickly in silence and left the café as soon as they finished.

  On the street, they flagged down another taxi. She wasn’t surprised to see Angel being vigilant again. She didn’t see anyone she recognized or anyone watching them, but she followed Angel’s lead. If there was one thing she had learned on this harrowing adventure, it was that she could trust Angel with anything and everything.

  Angel showed the map to their driver and pointed to the northern end of the national park. He nodded his agreement but quickly began negotiating for a higher fare. Their request wasn’t unusual, but it did take the driver away from the city and other fares, so she nodded for Angel to agree to the price.

  Their course took them north, off of the peninsula where Nouadhibou was located and then south toward Nouakchott. The taxi dropped them at the edge of the park before the first entrance where very little vegetation dotted the sandy landscape.

  “We can’t stay out in the open like this,” Ellie stated after they had walked for a few minutes. “This is a mating area for migratory birds and there are regular police patrols. Tourists are never in this area.”

  “Let’s move closer to the base of that cliff,” Angel suggested, pointing away from the water to their left.

  She could see the sandy cliff stretching up at least twenty or thirty feet into the skyline. Small low-growing vegetation in a rich emerald green color dotted the ridge along with a few small trees. As they got closer, she could see small red and white flowers growing close to the ground.

  “How will your team find us?” she asked.

  “In another hour, I’ll turn my phone back on, and Eric will track our GPS signal.”

  “We need to find a paved road then, because they won’t be able to drive on the beach.”

  They stayed close to the base of the cliff in case they needed to find cover, walking in silence as pelicans, flamingos, and many other types of birds that she couldn’t identify fluttered around them.

  She had wanted to visit the park since her return in Nouakchott, but this wasn’t the way she had imagined. In the distance, she could see a wooden boat with a large sail and makeshift huts dotting the shoreline. When she had visited with her father, he had taken her to an Imraguen village. She remembered how antiquated their fishing boats had been. The no-motor rule along the park coastline encouraged more sustainable but less profitable traditional fishing methods.

  “Is that a boat?” Angel asked.

  “Yes, that’s the Imraguen tribe. They are the only ones allowed to fish inside the park.”

  Angel smiled at her. “Tell me more
.”

  She knew Angel was only distracting her, but she enjoyed sharing cool facts about the country.

  “They move their entire village up and down the shoreline following the schools of mullet. The men stand in the water and surround the fish with their nets. In the past, the dolphins helped herd the schools of mullet toward their nets. I’m not sure if that’s still true or not.”

  Angel bumped her arm. “I can see what you were talking about. The country is fascinating and beautiful.”

  She laughed. “You mean you liked the desert too.”

  “Yeah, I guess.”

  Despite their situation, she enjoyed the peacefulness that settled between them. At the base of a cliff, Angel guided her to a spot hidden by vegetation. They drank water and shared another protein bar. Angel leaned against the rock behind them and closed her eyes.

  She leaned against Angel, settling into the crook of her arm. One thought had been weighing on her mind while they walked.

  “What happens when we get back to the embassy?” she asked.

  “We’ll figure out what’s going on at the dock and then we’ll stop it.”

  She wasn’t trying to put Angel on the spot, but she needed to know where they stood. “And what happens with us?”

  She felt Angel take a deep breath. She couldn’t go back to pretending that there was nothing between them. She wanted more and she needed to know if Angel did too.

  “I’m looking for something more than a fling,” Angel said softly.

  She shifted away and turned so she could study Angel’s face. There was a shyness there that she had never seen as Angel’s eyes focused on a distant spot in front of them. This wasn’t the reaction she had been bracing herself for. It was great to hear that they wanted the same thing. She moved until Angel’s eyes were focused on her.

  “Me too,” she said.

  She could barely keep the happiness from her voice. She watched the slow smile spread across Angel’s face and then it was gone. She watched her unfold the map from her pocket and lay it in front of them. And just like that Angel was back on task.

  “Any idea on how we can manage that?”

  “We’ll figure something out. Right now, we need to find an area accessible to vehicles.”

  She ran her finger along the coastline on the map. “Based on the cliffs behind us, I think we’re about here. We need to go a little farther south and then cut east.”

  “That doesn’t look too far,” Angel said as she folded the map and stuffed it in her pocket.

  “I can’t wait to sleep in a bed with you.”

  “I won’t object.” Angel stood and pulled her to her feet. “Let’s keep walking. They should be here soon.”

  Chapter Twenty-Seven

  Angel could have screamed in celebration when the black SUVs came into sight. She texted Eric and he confirmed that it was her team. She wanted to run toward them, but she managed to maintain a fast walk. Ellie didn’t seem to mind the pace.

  “It sure is great to see you,” Eric said as he flung the door open, allowing them to climb in.

  “We’re happy to see you guys too,” she said as she tossed their bags into the rear compartment and climbed in beside Ellie. She patted Pollock’s and Toma’s shoulders in the front seats as Eric settled in beside her. She took the opportunity to press a little closer to Ellie, resting her hand partially on Ellie’s knee.

  Eric handed her his phone. “You know who you need to call.”

  She dialed Vince and he picked up on the first ring.

  “Angel.”

  “We’re fine, Vince. Eric’s here and we’re safe.”

  “What the hell happened?” Vince demanded.

  “After the ambush, we just kept moving. We caught the ore train back to Nouadhibou.”

  “That explains your appearance,” Eric mumbled beside her.

  She elbowed him.

  “Great job, Angel. Put Ellie on.”

  She passed the phone.

  Ellie listened for a few seconds and then responded, “I’m fine…really…everything you said about her was true.”

  She watched Ellie’s face, straining to hear Vince’s words. Ellie’s eyes connected with hers as they filled with tears.

  “Thank you for sending her,” Ellie continued, her voice hoarse with emotion. “I’ll call you tomorrow.”

  Ellie disconnected the line and passed the phone back to Eric. “Thanks for reminding us that we need to shower.”

  Eric smiled. “Do you need to call anyone else, Madam Ambassador?”

  “No, I assume my staff knows I’m okay.”

  “Deputy Patone and Ms. Allen have been kept informed. Everyone else thinks you spent the night in Atar.”

  “Thanks for picking us up,” Ellie said, resting her head against the seat.

  “Tell me exactly what happened while we were gone,” Angel asked Eric. She returned her hand to Ellie’s knee as she tried to get a handle on what had transpired while they were gone.

  “About two hours after you left, a car picked up both men on the wall. Once they left, the men in the crowd began to wander off. It was weird, but we got it all on video. It was clear they didn’t have a purpose anymore and no one was there to make them stay. Sam contacted Inspector Asker and he sent a team to talk with them. He stopped by himself a few hours later and said that the men were told their job was over that they should report back to the docks today. By that time Miller’s marines had phoned in and we knew about the ambush.”

  “They made it back?” she asked with relief.

  “The two who survived the attack. I’m sure you know about the two in the lead car, right, and the driver?”

  She nodded and felt Ellie’s body tighten beside her. So much had happened since that first moment of the attack that they hadn’t talked about the men they lost. She was sure Ellie felt responsible since she had insisted on making the trip.

  “So there has been nothing happening outside since everyone left yesterday?”

  “Nope. The streets are quiet.”

  She rubbed her face and then looked at the black dust on her hand. She couldn’t wait to wash the ore and the pain away.

  “Farook Kassib was in Akjoujt. He was definitely involved,” she said, forcing her mind to focus. She needed to fill in the gaps. Maybe then it would all make sense. “Have you seen him?”

  “No. He snuck out of the embassy not long after you left. We had his access badge deactivated immediately.”

  As he continued to fill her in, she used the feel of Ellie’s head on her shoulder to keep her grounded. Everything they had been through in the last two days as well as the last several weeks, and these men had walked away like it was over. Well, it wasn’t over for her. Or Ellie. She would find Farook and everyone else involved.

  She wanted to work out a plan, but she found herself drifting off to sleep instead. When she awoke, they were pulling to a stop at the embassy gates. The empty street around them seemed unnatural. The sun was setting behind the walls of the embassy, and it painted a golden shimmer across the lawn.

  She climbed from the vehicle and offered a hand to Ellie. Chloe grabbed Ellie in a huge hug as soon as her feet hit the ground. Ellie gripped her back and then hugged Sam too. Her face was unreadable as Angel watched her greet each of them. Ellie had been through so much and Angel knew she wouldn’t share the hard parts with either of them.

  “Let’s get you into a shower,” Chloe said as she pulled Ellie toward the entrance.

  She turned to meet Miller’s eyes and again felt the immense pain at the loss of his marines. There weren’t enough words to express her sadness. She shook his offered hand and pulled him into an embrace. “I’m so sorry, Shane.”

  “We’re all glad to have you and the ambassador back safe.”

  She could feel the sincerity in his words, and she longed to offer him comfort. She slipped the two dog tags into his hand. He embraced her again before walking away.

  She turned to Sarah, who had pa
tiently waited her turn. Pulling her into a hug, Sarah squeezed her tightly.

  “I never stopped believing you’d come back,” Sarah whispered softly.

  “We’re fine now.”

  Sarah stepped back and looked at her curiously. Whatever Sarah had heard in her voice, she knew she wouldn’t push her in front of everyone.

  “We’ll talk later?” Sarah asked.

  She nodded. She would need to debrief at some point, and she knew Sarah would be there for her.

  “Angel?” Ellie had stopped and was looking back at her.

  She wanted nothing more than to go with Ellie, but she couldn’t. She needed to talk with her team and figure out their next step. Now that she was back at the embassy she needed to focus on her mission. Once the men involved were caught, she would be able to enjoy Ellie’s attention.

  “Go with Chloe and I’ll catch up with you later.”

  “I thought…” Ellie’s voice dropped.

  She took the few steps to Ellie’s side and guided her away from everyone. Turning her back to the group behind her, she bent her head and spoke softly.

  “Can I see you tonight?”

  Ellie’s face brightened. “Yes.”

  “It might be late. I need to get a handle on what’s happening here.” She hesitated. “Then I’ll find you.”

  Ellie nodded.

  She gently touched Ellie’s face, wiping a black streak from her cheek. She longed to kiss her, and she hoped Ellie was reading everything she was trying to convey. With a last glance at Ellie, she quickly turned to face her team.

  * * *

  Angel rubbed her face for the hundredth time. The five hours they had been back had been devastating and frustrating. She was relieved to hear that the bodies of the deceased marines and the driver had already been retrieved. She would never forget them or their sacrifice.

  She stepped from the stairwell and leaned against the wall. She had stopped by her room earlier to secure her pistol and change clothes. It had taken all of her strength to leave without a shower. The truth was she wanted Ellie more than she wanted a shower. She wanted to crawl into bed with Ellie and hold her tight.