Diamond Mine (26 page)

****

“Me and my stupid ideas.” Covered to the waist in raw sewage, Hannah held her hands and arms high above her head as she carried supplies for Hank.

Under the cover of darkness, they'd taken the small fishing boat back to the river and stopped alongside the camp. With a smaller boat they traversed to the shore and made their way over sharp pointy rocks until they found the camp's refuse system. Once they reached the base, they studied the crack. Covered behind scrubby foliage, it was bigger than originally thought. A person could easily pass through if they went in sideways. Hank and Hannah took one last deep breath and climbed in.

Following Hank like an obedient puppy, she held her breath and walked. The thick rock walls were illuminated by their head lamps.

They moved slowly to avoid falling in the slippery substance. The farther in they went, the higher the waste level. The tunnels worked like a funnel. Water carried the refuse from the camp and gathered it together in large open sections. From there it flowed gradually to the exit.

As they walked, they looked for other tunnels leading off into different areas, but they found nothing. Every few feet, Hank placed a charge. All the charges were connected by the same wire. When the first one blew, there would be a chain reaction that would blow the others in succession.

It took several hours to finish. Done, they returned to the boat and moved it away from the compound. While Hank adjusted his equipment, Hannah attempted to remove the odor and filth from her skin and clothing.

“Sweetheart, you won't get it off out here. Acclimate yourself to the smell. Tomorrow you can be free of it.”

Hannah nodded and lay down on the floor of the small shifting boat. It was looking to be a long night.

****

“Food service,” answered the driver as he rolled to a halt.

The guard's brows knitted together. “You're not the normal people.”

“Oh, of course. Simba has the day off. If you want to call and double check—”

“No, no, come in.” Elbowing his companion, the guard said, “It's about time we got some fresh food around here. I thought I was going to have to close my eyes and pretend that the weevils weren't there.”

Sister Mary and Father Thomas released a collective sigh as they were waved through. Inside the compound, they drove to the building on the left and unloaded the food. Today the
company
had sent prepared meals for the guards.

“What is this?” the swarthy cook asked.

Robeless and all female, Sister Mary saddled up beside him, placed her hand on his forearm, and winked. “This is a gift for you. You work so hard. So we cooked the guards' meals for you today.”

Mesmerized and left speechless by her long fluttering lashes and flirtatious manner, he didn't argue. Instead he said, “Thank you.”

They worked quickly. Once the food was inside, they left. Father Thomas thought about his added insurance. The extra ingredient should give the rescue team the advantage they needed.

****

Rory and Gabe waited in a truck hidden in bushes while Olin and Tina sat in an exposed van farther down the road.

“You can stop looking. The time won't come any faster because you looked at your watch,” said Gabe.

“I know. But we have to be so precise. If they change their routine, or—”

“They won't. Trust me. Tapiwa is a creature of habit. Everything will be right on schedule.”

“Did Hank check in?” asked Rory.

“Yes, the charges are in place and Hannah is fine.”

“I didn't ask.”

“Sure you didn't but I know you wanted to.”

Gabe smirked and Rory refrained from slapping him. As Rory's ire built, Gabe said, “Look alive.”

Rory straightened. Tina stood beside the road, waving her hand and jumping up and down. A truck sped toward her. Would they stop?

Right when it seemed like they were set to bowl her over, the truck skidded to a halt. Dust kicked up behind the wheels as a guard leaned out of the window. Using binoculars, Rory saw his frown.

“Can you help me?” came Tina's voice over the sound system. “I believe my vehicle is stuck and my boyfriend,” she said the word with disdain, spitting on the ground for emphasis, “is useless.”

Three large men jumped from the cab, each vying to help first. Rory and Gabe took aim.

“Olin, you ready?” asked Gabe.

“Yes, sir,” came the answer over the comlink.

“On the count of three. One, two, three…”

Tina fell to her belly as darts sailed overhead. The three guards grabbed their necks, their eyes widening in fear as they collapsed.

Back on her feet, Tina dusted off her pants and placed her hands on her hips, mumbling, “That'll teach them to ogle a woman.”

****

After stripping the officers down to their underclothes, Rory and the others tied them to separate trees. While they worked, eyes could be seen peeking out from under the truck canvas.

“Guess they're wondering what we're doing,” said Gabe, grunting as he pulled the last rope tighter.

Rory stood and straightened. “You're probably right. But they'll find out soon enough. I just hope they don't try to fight us.”

Tina was set to drive the diamond workers back to the monastery, hopefully without incident. With the guards tied to trees, someone from inside the truck gathered up enough courage to discover what happened.

He climbed from the truck and asked, “We want to know what you think you're doing.”

Rory and Gabe stared at one another for an intense second. Each reached for their weapons. Darts containing the knockout poison were all gone. Talking would be the only way out of this one.

“We're rescuing you. Please get back in the truck,” said Rory.

The man looked around. The dark color of his eyes grew larger as Tina stepped out in front of him and said, “Melanie sent us.”

Immediate tears fell from the man's eyes. He studied his long lean fingers. Without another word he climbed back inside.

Once the dust from their tires settled on the road, Gabe asked, “Are you ready, my friend?”

“I've never been more ready.”

Arrayed in guard's clothing, he headed for the compound. Tower guards spotted him and said hello with a raised hand. Walking around like he was supposed to be there, he found a spot and leaned against the wall, trying to blend.

Gabe waited back at the truck. At precisely two o'clock the prisoners would be released to walk the grounds. Every day it was the same. The prisoners exercised in the yard; thirty minutes into their movements, the diamond workers arrived. That meant they had thirty minutes to enact the plan.

The diversion should go off any minute. When it did, they would be ready.

Listening through his ear piece, he waited. The clock struck two. He could hear the faint sounds of children and women moving behind the walls. Guards standing in the towers doubled over. They straightened and coughed only to double over again. Moans rent the air, and Rory couldn't help but smile.

Suddenly the towers emptied. Now was the time. Where were the explosions? Why hadn't the charges blown yet?

“Gabe?” he asked into his microphone.

“Yeah, I know. The ground should be rumbling by now. I'll call him.”

Rory waited, tapping his foot. They had twenty minutes left before everything went wrong.

****

The ground shook.

“It's about time,” Rory muttered under his breath.

He edged to the large doors, pushed, and they opened without hesitation. Before stepping inside, he checked in. Olin waited outside the perimeter in the van loaded with electronics.

“Olin, how do we look?”

“Thermal imaging shows you're clear. Wait. They're on the move. The women and children have gathered around the flowerbed. Repeat, they have moved to the flowerbed.”

“Acknowledged. One other thing before I go in, where are the guards?”

Snickers raced through the background.

“Well?”

“Oh, yeah. The guards. They're still around but writhing on the ground. I think you're good. That Father Thomas sure knows his stuff. We're just lucky the food was hot and steaming and the guards didn't wait to eat it. This was the one time that Gabe being wrong was a good thing.”

Rory smiled. Gabe had said the guards were creatures of habit. He didn't think they would eat until later, but thankfully, this one time, they had neglected their schedule.

Rory continued. He pushed the doors farther apart and secured them. Gabe drove the empty truck inside. Metal-sided and used to haul large loads of dirt, it would be a great place to secure the women until they were out of harm's way.

Gabe jumped from the cab and pulled open the door. Hurrying the people forward, they climbed inside. Melanie hung back and stared at him.

“You?” she questioned.

Rory urged her forward. “Yes. Don't worry. Your husband is safe at the monastery and waiting to see you.”

She nodded. Tears spilled down her cheeks as she ushered the children forward.

Gabe closed the truck. “They're in. Let's go.”

Placing his foot on the step, Rory went to pull up. The sound of gunfire had him flying into the cab. A look at Gabe showed him hold a smoking gun. A bullet hole rested in the roof of the cab, right above his head.

“Told you I had your back.”

Rory nodded.

Once settled, Gabe asked, “Ready?”

He answered, “More than ever.”

****

They drove out, met Olin, and switched vehicles. He would deliver the prisoners, while Rory and Gabe stayed behind with the listening equipment.

“Any minute now.”

Gabe gazed through the binoculars. A dust cloud billowed in the distance.

“Who is it?”

“Biashara,” said Gabe breathlessly.

Rory grasped the dashboard, his knuckles white with tension. Olin had left the thermal imaging on in the van. While inside the compound, Rory had dropped a few microphones. Now they just had to sit back and wait to see what went down inside.

They sunk lower in their seats. Blood rushed between his ears as Rory struggled to control his worried breathing. The sound of dirt being flung into the wall and doors slamming came in loud and clear over the speakers.

“Tapiwa!” roared Biashara.

A bent over, red and splotchy figure stumbled forward. An arm appeared to be holding his middle.

“Stand and face me.”

A groan emitted as Tapiwa rose, his image shaking. Red color glowed brighter on the screen, indicating an extra measure of heat on his forehead.

“What happened here? Where are my workers? My women?”

“I, I—”

Tapiwa wasn't given time to explain. Gunfire exploded, and the red and yellow figure slumped to the ground. The image of The Butcher glowed as he kicked Tapiwa's inanimate body. His hands moved to his hips as he surveyed the area.

“Let's go,” he said.

Under his breath, Rory muttered, “Where are they?”

“Maybe this guy doesn't have as much clout as Hannah thinks.”

As the last word left Gabe's lips, a new dust cloud emerged on the horizon. A row of military vehicles drove into view. They pulled in front of the doors, blocking Biashara's exit. A voice echoed from a bullhorn. “Surrender in the name of the South African government. You are under arrest.”

Biashara and his men didn't resist. They raised their hands to the sky and allowed themselves to be taken into custody. All the while Biashara protested. “I don't know what you are doing. We were lost and merely stopped to ask for directions. What is this country coming to when a man can't even stop to find out his location? You will hear from my lawyer about this!”

The sound of his voice cut off as he was forced into one of the military vehicles and driven away.

****

“Where are they?” Mike fumed.

Rory ran his hand through his disheveled hair for the umpteenth time. Everyone had reported back to the monastery except for Hank and Hannah. Radio silence had been crucial during the mission, but now that it was over, they should have checked in.

After Hannah contacted Mike, Tonya's husband, he'd worked through government channels to have the South African authorities arrest Biashara Githinji for human trafficking. Of course, they'd arrived at the very end of the rescue mission, not helping at all with the actual retrieval of the prisoners.

But now that the mission was complete, Mike was driving him crazy. Rory was just as worried about Hannah, but he didn't know what to do other than wait.

At the end of his rope, Rory saw a grim-faced Gabe walk in. He said, “Hank's back.”

Rory gulped. Repressing his rising anxiety, he hobbled out to meet him. Covered in dust and debris, brown dirt filling his hair, his clothes torn and ripped, the large hulk of a man cast his gaze at the ground.

“Where is she?” Rory asked.

“I tried.” He lowered his head farther, his shoulders sagging. “The charges weren't working. Something happened to the main one, a loose wire or something. She connected it and…” Hank stopped talking.

The scream welled inside. He stumbled outside and ran to the sanctuary. Once inside, he dropped to his knees. “Why, Lord? Why? Why didn't you take me? She didn't deserve this. She only wanted to help her friend.”

Father Thomas appeared. Head bowed, he placed his hand on Rory's head.

“What can I do now? She's gone. I waited and now it's too late.”