Or would these moments with Wangari and Isaac be her last?
Footsteps pounded into the room, jolting Mena from her thoughts. Three armed gunmen pointed rifles, one trained on each of them as three others surrounded them.
A rough hand reached under Mena’s arm, jerking her to a standing position. Her legs wobbled, still partially numb from whatever they’d done to her earlier. Head swimming from the abrupt movement, Mena leaned against the wall. A sharp blow rocked the back of her head as the man punched her.
“Stand the fuck up!” he shouted in her ear, the stench of cush on his breath, assaulting her nostrils.
Mena stifled a cry as she balanced herself on shaky legs.
“Let’s go,” another said, as the three of them were led out of the room and into a larger, open space drowned in harsh bright lights. Taking short, choppy steps due to the ropes binding her legs, Mena tried not to fall as one of the gunmen directed her to the furthest chair perched against the wall. The gunman gave her a rough shove. Mena slipped down, banging against the chair with a loud thud.
Wangari was forced into the chair next to her. The gag was removed from her mouth, and she looked ahead with frightened and erratic eyes. Isaac sat down on his own in the chair next to Wangari’s.
Mena tore her eyes away from Wangari to look ahead at the man standing in the center of the room, appraising them. He was dressed differently than the others, in black trousers and a tailored white shirt, with diamond cuff links that glittered under the bright lights. His hands, clasped tightly in front of him, were severely scarred.
“Do you know who I am?” the man asked, his question directed at none of them in particular.
Wangari shook her head. Tears slipped down her face as her shoulders hunched forward.
“I am your worst nightmare come true,” the man said. “My name is Tubeec Hirad. It is important that you know who has put you in this horrific situation. Please, confirm that you are aware and repeat my name. Go ahead, each of you, say my name,” Tubeec instructed.
He pointed at Isaac first. Mena listened as Isaac, then Wangari repeated the man’s name. Then it was her turn.
“Tubeec Hirad,” Mena said, swallowing past the lump in her throat.
“If you survive this ordeal, I want to ensure that when you tell your tale of woe, you have attributed the source of your pain correctly. Now, I will deal with you first,” Tubeec said, pointing to Wangari.
“What do you want? Money?” Wangari asked, her voice quivering.
“Tsk. Tsk.” Tubeec shook his head. “Your father has already offered a handsome sum for your return. Unfortunately, this is not about dollars or cents.”
“What is it about? Why did you take us?” Wangari asked.
“Your husband has something of value to me. I asked him for a simple exchange. Your life for that item, but he refused. Why would he do that?” Tubeec asked. “Does he value your life so little?”
“My husband is an honorable man. He is a principled man. He has received threats from men like you during his entire time in office and survived them all. He will not hastily put Kenyans in harm's way by succumbing to the whims of terrorists like you,” Wangari said.
“That is good news for Kenyans, but not so good news for you and Ms. Nix and Mr. Gatobu, is it?” Tubeec asked, walking over to stand in front of Isaac. “Mr. Gatobu, are you ready to die for your country?”
Isaac squeezed his eyes shut as his body trembled in the chair.
Tubeec Hirad stepped past Wangari and stopped directly in front of Mena.
“And you? The lovely Mena Nix. Are you prepared to die for a country that isn’t your own?” Tubeec asked.
Mena looked away. She had never considered that this freak would want something other than money. Money in exchange for the release of a captive was how she thought these kidnappings worked. Obviously, Tubeec Hirad had something different in mind. What Mena couldn’t understand was why Okeyo Lagat had refused to meet the terrorist’s demands? What could be so important that he’d risk his wife’s life to protect?
Mena choked back a sob as the stark reality of her predicament rocked through her body.
“Please! Just let them go! They are innocent in all of this. Keep me, but let them go!” Wangari said.
One of the gunmen approached Tubeec, handing him a cell phone.
Tubeec glanced at the screen, then looked at Mena and smiled, sending a chill coursing down her spine. Turning toward Wangari, Tubeec said, “Breathe easy, Wangari. I’m going to give your husband a second chance to make the right decision.”
Chapter Twenty-Two
“Tubeec Hirad is behind the kidnapping. He’s the man you need to be looking for.”
