“When Tubeec wants something other than money, he adopts a particular style. He has a target, but he doesn’t attack. Instead, he prefers to weaken the resolve of the target by attacking loved ones, using them as bait to get what he wants. So, the way I see it, Wangari is the bait, and you are the target,” Julian said.
“While your theory may prove to be true, I can assure you that if I had any information that would help ASF find my wife, I would have freely given it to Chief Special Agent Kamau. You are wasting precious time thinking I know anything that could be useful,” Okeyo responded.
“What did Tubeec Hirad ask for when he called you?” Julian asked, growing impatient.
“I don’t know what you’re talking about.” Okeyo looked away, toward the door, then back at Julian. “No one has contacted me.”
Julian jerked up from his seat, his feet slamming to the ground in a thunderous bang as he towered over Okeyo.
Okeyo stiffened, his breath quickening as he grabbed the armrests of the chair.
“Tubeec presents an offer before every attack. He called you before you got on the plane this morning. He wanted something from you in exchange for your wife’s life. How are you going to feel if we find her body riddled with bullets because you didn’t want to tell us what was really going on? How heartbroken will you be then? Or is whatever he wants from you worth her dying?” Julian demanded.
“No! It’s not worth her dying at all! I love my wife dearly. I never meant for any of this to happen,” Okeyo said, pushing away from Julian.
“What the fuck did he want from you?” Julian asked through gritted teeth, disgusted by the confirmation that Okeyo had lied to Reggie and the ASF.
“From the moment I was appointed as DPP, I have been the subject of bribes, extortion, and death threats … on my life and that of my family. After four years of living under the constant threat of harm, you become somewhat immune. I was born to be a civil servant, and I’m committed to serving the people of Kenya. Nothing means more to me, so I live with the risks knowing that there are dedicated men and women who will keep my family and me safe,” Okeyo said.
Julian leaned over, bringing his face mere inches away from Okeyo’s. “You think that justifies you withholding information from the ASF? You allowed Tubeec to blow up the Tribal Museum, killing innocent people today! You allowed your wife to be kidnapped! All because you presumed it was another empty threat on your life. How the hell are you going to sleep tonight knowing that you could have prevented all of this from happening?”
Okeyo flinched at Julian’s words, his shoulders slumping as he glanced off into the distance. “I get threats monthly, sometimes weekly. Why would I have believed that this time would be different? Why would I have ever thought that this crazy bastard would actually follow through on the threat?”
“Because this time, you were talking to Tubeec Hirad,” Julian said.
“If I had realized that, I would have done everything in my power to protect Wangari and her staff. I would do anything to save her!”
“Anything?” Julian sat back down in the leather chair, pressing his hands against the table to prevent himself from squeezing them around Okeyo’s neck. “What did Tubeec ask for?”
Okeyo was silent.
Julian kept his eyes focused on the man, who shifted uncomfortably under the scrutiny.
Seconds ticked by loudly from the clock hanging on the wall. Julian was prepared to wait as long as necessary to get Okeyo to reveal what Tubeec wanted.
Ten minutes passed before Okeyo finally succumbed to Julian’s withering glare.
“It was an impossible request. A betrayal of my country, my people. Something that I could never—”
The door to the conference room opened.
“Tubeec Hirad has made contact,” Reggie said, beckoning for them to come forward. “He’s insisting on speaking with you, DPP Lagat.”
Chapter Twenty-Five
The pungent odor of sweat was stagnant in the room as the gunmen moved about, connecting wires and plugs to extension cords that stretched out of a window at the front of the house and presumably connected to the generator outside.
Mena took a deep breath. Now that they’d found Okeyo Lagat, maybe she would find out why they’d been kidnapped and when they would be released. Not knowing was torture. What did the leader, Tubeec Hirad, want? What would he do if Okeyo couldn’t or wouldn’t comply with his demands?
A pale guard with a long matted beard stalked toward them. Xirsi, they’d called him. Snatching Isaac to a standing position, Xirsi dragged him across the room toward a sidewall. His wrists and ankles still bound with the coarse ropes, Isaac stumbled and almost fell. Xirsi returned, yanking Wangari from the chair. Her shriek drew the attention of two other guards as she demanded to know what was happening. Her questions were ignored as she was lined up along the wall next to Isaac.
A different gunman approached Mena. The one from before, Rahim. Reaching down, he gently lifted her to her feet, then walked slowly with her, matching the pace of her hindered steps until she was standing next to Wangari. He swiped a stray strand of her hair from her face, then turned and walked away.
Mena watched as Rahim and Xirsi connected more wires to the generator, then assisted another armed guard with connecting the wires to several small silver boxes arranged on a table in the corner of the opposite side of the room.
Mena stole a glance at Wangari and received a look clouded with concern. None of them knew what was about to happen. Mena could only hope that by some miraculous turn of events, they would be freed soon. Despite Wangari’s insistence that Okeyo wouldn’t compromise his integrity, she couldn’t imagine that he wouldn’t do whatever it took to save his wife. And by saving Wangari, she and Isaac would also be saved.
Xirsi walked in front of them, a tablet in his hand. Mena stole a quick glance at the surface, noticing the camera app was displayed. Were they going to be recorded? Was Tubeec going to send a video to Okeyo?
