David knelt down beside it. “A nice bit of kit, don’t you agree?”
Before Malik could answer, his phone buzzed. “It’s Shields.”
“Hey, I’ve got something for you.”
“I’m listening.”
“I sent the photos to my connections at the Agency, along with the intel you sent last night. I just heard back. They rerouted a drone that’s been following Boko Haram and found the vehicle.”
“What?” Malik ran to his laptop, explaining to David. “They found the vehicle.”
Shields went on. “I’m certain it’s the same one. I blew up the images and analyzed them myself. There’s even someone standing there in what looks like blue scrubs. I’m sending you the images and the GPS coordinates now.”
Malik booted up his laptop, set his phone on the table, put it on speaker. “Thanks, Elizabeth. I owe you—big time.”
This was the break he’d been hoping for.
“I counted twenty-seven fighting-age males in the image, not including the figure in blue. Lots of AKs. I don’t see any machine guns. My guess is that they holed up here with their injured guy, the one they wanted Kristi to treat. Once he’s mobile again, they’re likely to move on and either eliminate her or take her with them.”
“The photos just arrived.” With David leaning over his shoulder, Malik opened the files—seven pixilated images. “That’s definitely the Highlander. See the three bullet holes near the taillight?”
David pointed. “And those dents. It’s definitely their vehicle.”
And there, standing at a distance from a group of men gathered around a campfire, was someone with dark hair and blue clothes.
His heart gave a hard knock.
Kristi.
“When were these taken?”
“This morning, so they’re about three hours old.”
“Have you sent this up the flagpole?”
“Yes, of course. I expect the State Department will pass it on to the Nigerian government, and they’ll start working out plans for a rescue. It won’t happen overnight. You should know that Corbray and Tower are pushing hard to get this assignment. They haven’t forgotten, Malik. Don’t do anything stupid.”
“Me? Do something stupid?”
“Says the guy who quit his job and flew to the other side of the world to rescue a woman he hasn’t seen or spoken with in more than a year.”
David shrugged. “She has a point, man.”
Shields appealed directly to David. “Don’t let him do anything stupid, David.”
David leaned closer to Malik’s phone, grin on his face. “I’ll do my best.”
“I’ve got to go. It’s our first day on the ground here in Ouagadougou.”
“Good luck. And thanks again, Elizabeth. You might well have saved her life.”
“I know.” She ended the call.
“I like her. Why did she marry that orange-haired beast, McManus?”
“I think she loves him.” Malik punched the GPS coordinates Shields had sent into his phone and closed his laptop. “We’ll head to Kinu, make our way toward their position, and do some recon. We wait for your army friends or NPF to come in—unless her life is in danger.”
“And then what?”