Malik zipped his duffel bag. “Carry your bags to the door. If you need to use the restroom or get some bottled water, do it now.”
Unanswered questions rushing through her mind, Kristi packed up the clothing and toiletries Malik had bought for her, rolled her bags to the door, and checked the contents of the little backpack she’d used as a handbag here. Her phone was there, but it needed to be charged. Lip balm. A comb. Breath mints. She made a quick stop in the bathroom and then grabbed four bottles of water out of the suite’s refrigerator.
In less than five minutes, she found herself sitting with Obi in the backseat of Malik’s rental, David driving, Malik riding shotgun. Bruno and Idris followed in two SUVs—David’s fancy Mercedes and a Toyota.
David looked over his shoulder at Obi, a broad smile on his face. “You will love my sister. Everybody does. I will come to see you as often as I can. I promise.”
Obi looked miserable. The poor kid had been through so much already. He’d endured the deaths of his parents and months with killers in that camp. He was probably terrified at being shuttled off to a new life where he knew no one. He’d clearly come to idolize David since the rescue, and now he was going to have to say farewell—another loss in his short life.
Kristi tried to reassure him. “I know you’re going to miss David, Obi, and I know it’s scary to go to a new home, but you’re getting a new mother and father. It will be safe, not like the bandit camp. You’ll have food when you’re hungry, people to care for you, and a real bed.”
“My sister makes the world’s greatestjollof.”
Obi reached out, took Kristi’s hand. “You are going away?”
“Yes. I have to go home now. My family is worried about me.”
Obi leaned against her, a pleading look in his eyes. “I beg, don go.”
She hugged him, a hitch in her chest. “I will miss you, Obi. Do you want me to write to you?”
“Yes.”
David seemed pleased by this. “You must learn to read, Obi, so you can read the letters Miss Chang sends you.”
The boy nodded. “I will learn.”
Kristi gave him what she hoped was a reassuring smile. “I know you will. One day, you can write letters to me. I would like that.”
Kristi knew Kaduna enough to realize they were heading for one of the city’s more exclusive neighborhoods. They parked in front of a large three-story home, and a woman in a bright red and yellow dress and matchinggele, or head wrap, stepped outside.
“You two stay in the car. Someone might recognize you. Obi, come.” David walked with Obi up to the door.
His sister welcomed the boy like a long-lost son, arms outstretched. “Welcome to your new home, Obi. I hope you will be happy here.”
Lump in her throat, Kristi watched as David said goodbye.
“I will visit. I promise. You listen to your new mother and do as she tells you. If you behave and are happy here, she and her husband will adopt you, and I will be your uncle forever. Would you like that?”
A big hand closed over Kristi’s, Malik’s voice soft. “He’s going to be okay, angel. Because of you, he’s got a chance now.”
Kristi blinked back tears. “What did I do?”
“You’re the one who said we should take him with us, remember?”
“Oh. Right.”
Malik frowned. “How’s your head?”
Now it was her turn to laugh. “I’m fine. So much has happened this past week. I’m just having trouble keeping up.”
His phone buzzed. He let go of her hand, drew the phone out of his pocket, and tapped it to read the message, his expression going dark. “Fuck.”
Kristi’s pulse picked up. “What’s wrong?”
“Shields just got back to me. I asked her to send whatever she had on the Sky Kings.” He read Shields’ reply. “‘The Sky Kings started as a confraternity on college campuses but morphed into a criminal organization with international reach. They run heroin from Asia to Europe and the US. They also run major sex-trafficking operations in cities throughout Europe and in Russia and possibly the US. They are known for brutality, torture, and murder. If they were behind Kristi’s abduction…”
His words trailed off.