“You got her! Oh, my God, Malik, I’m so relieved. We all are. What happened?”
Malik went through it, pausing so that Shields could put him on speaker. “We set up a recon north of the camp and called in to David’s contacts when we got confirmation she was there. But the situation went south fast. One of the assholes decided to kill their leader and take Kristi for himself. We had no choice but to move in early.”
“Just the two of you—against at least twenty-seven combatants?” That was Segal.
“Yeah.” An image of Peter aiming that pistol at Kristi’s head flashed through Malik’s mind. If Malik hadn’t already had the bastard in his sights… “David used a drone to create a distraction, while I opened fire. I was able to reach Kristi and get her and a boy to safety. The surviving bandits fled, and we drove back to the city.”
“How is she?” Shields asked.
“She’s with a doctor now. She has some bruises and probably a concussion. The boy told us that she bartered her nursing skills for physical safety, making them promise not to hurt her if she helped their leader, who’d been shot.”
He didn’t tell Shields that Kristi had also told them she was married and that her husband would be coming to kick their asses. He didn’t feel like being ribbed.
“Smart woman.” Shields sounded impressed. “And brave.”
That was an understatement.
“Good job, man.” That was Isaksen. “Samantha is going to be so relieved.”
“Tower here. We’ve notified the State Department that she’s been freed. Well done, Jones. When do you expect to fly out—”
Then the door to Malik’s room opened. The nurse stepped out in her crisp white uniform and motioned to him.
“I’ve got to go. Thanks, everyone, for your help and support on this. I couldn’t have done this without you.” He ended the call, slipped the phone into his pocket.
He found Kristi sitting on the side of his bed wearing a hotel bathrobe, arms hugged around her waist, her hair still damp. She smiled when she saw him. “I’m going to live—thanks to you.”
The doctor chuckled. “She has a concussion, and she’s probably still dehydrated. She needs food, water, and undisturbed sleep. But she is strong and healthy—and very lucky. I’ve given her a new supply of antimalarial drugs, as well as some pills for pain. She should rest now.”
Malik walked the doctor and nurse to the door and paid in dollars. “Thanks for coming.”
He grabbed the bag of clothes and other things he’d bought for her and carried them into the room. “I picked up some stuff at the mall. I hope it all fits.”
“Thanks, Malik.” She stood, walked into his arms. “Thank you for coming after me. I don’t know how you did it, but I’ll never forget it.”
“What else could I do?” Malik held her, the feel of her precious in his arms.
She didn’t pull away but looked up at him. “I need to call my parents. I don’t want them to worry.”
“The State Department will contact them, but they’ll want to hear from you. You can use my phone.”
From the doorway, David cleared his throat. “When you’re dressed, the officers from the Nigeria Police Force would like to ask you some questions, Miss Chang.”
Malik looked over at him. “Now?”
“I’ll be fine.”
Malik left her so she could dress in private, closing the door behind him. “The doctor says she needs food, clean water, and rest. He gave her some pain pills.”
“We must all eat. I will place an order. Have you ever had room service, Obi?”
The boy shook his head. “Room … service?”
Five minutes later, when Kristi hadn’t emerged, Malik went to check on her, tapping on the closed door with his knuckles then cracking it open when she didn’t answer. “Kristi?”
She lay asleep on the bed, still wearing the bathrobe, the clothes he’d bought her untouched in the shopping bag beside her.
He covered her with a blanket and left her to sleep.