Slowly, Malik stood, hands raised.
The ranger shouted back. “Walk out slowly.”
“Yes, sir.” Malik disappeared from Kristi’s view. “I was driving through last night, got lost, and then got stuck in that quicksand. I’ve been out here all night, hoping someone would come by to help.”
Careful to stay out of sight, Kristi did as Malik asked, listening, her body tensing in anticipation of gunshots.
“We had a sign blocking this road, but poachers removed it,” the ranger said. “Are you alone?”
A moment of silence.
“No, sir, my wife is with me, but I asked her to stay back.”
“She need not be afraid of me. I am a ranger. Come out, ma’am!”
Kristi’s pulse raced, but she stayed where she was.
Then Malik called to her. “It’s okay, Kristi. I think he’s one of the good guys.”
“I am a ranger, not a bandit. See my truck and my uniform?” The man sounded insulted. “I will not hurt her.”
“When you see my wife, you’ll understand why I’m being so careful. Kristi, just stand up slowly, hands over your head, and walk toward me.”
Kristi stood, hands raised.
* * *
Malik watchedthe ranger as Kristi slowly emerged from the shadows, ready to draw his pistol. He saw the moment the ranger recognized her.
The man’s gaze moved from Kristi to Malik. “She’s the woman who was abducted and rescued by the NPF.”
“Yes, but now the Sky Kings are after her.”
The ranger’s eyebrows almost disappeared behind his beret, his pupils dilating. “How do you know this?”
The man was afraid of them.
“The bastards who’d abducted her were one of their strike groups. Many were killed. We tried to catch a flight out of the country, but they had men at the Abuja airport waiting for us. We were trying to drive across the border, but men with weapons put up a roadblock on the highway. So, we left the road and got stuck here.”
The ranger lowered his rifle, gave Malik and Kristi a nod of his head. “I’m Chief Ranger Isaac Tinubu.”
“I’m Malik Jones.”
Tinubu met Kristi’s gaze, sympathy on his face. “I’m very sorry about what happened to you here in Nigeria, ma’am.”
“Thank you.”
A burst of static from Tinubu’s radio.
The ranger reached for his mic.
“Don’t tell them about us.” Malik didn’t want to have to hurt this guy.
Tinubu nodded. “Tinubu here. It was just some tourists from Ghana stuck in the road. You know how they are. All is well. Tinubu out.”
Malik exhaled. “I’m grateful.”
“If those fools are after you, you must leave the country and get back to America as fast as you can.”