Cargo: A Leine Basso Thriller (19 page)

Kylie sat with
her back against the wooden pillar and picked at the chain, trying to remain calm by whispering song lyrics. She listened for Zara, her spirits lifting every time she thought she heard something. She forgot to be frightened when she was around. Besides, she’d know what to do in case a wild animal got curious.

After the attack in the kitchen, Ghanima had threatened to report Lek if he didn’t do exactly as she said, which included her order to stake Kylie outside at night like a dog. He’d acted mean when he secured her to the post and ignored her pleas for help, but she could tell he felt bad. No amount of bribery would change his mind. Lek’s fear of Ghanima trumped his desire for anything Kylie could get him from the kitchen.

A deep snort erupted somewhere nearby and Kylie tensed, squinting into the darkness. She wondered if what people said was true—that animals could smell fear. If so, then she was as good as dead.

Unable to see anything, she hugged her legs, attempting to make herself look as small as possible. The scene from one of her mother’s favorite movies,
Jurassic Park
, popped into her mind. It was the one with the bleating, sacrificial goat tied to a stake as a tasty snack for the giant
T. rex
. Only this time the sick feeling in her stomach was real, not something conjured up by script-writers in Hollywood.

She didn’t like being the goat.

Heavy footsteps echoed in the darkness. She didn’t hear the telltale clank of Zara’s ankle chains. Who would come to see her at this hour? A bulky form drew closer, materializing at the gate like a specter. Her breath caught in her throat.

Ghanima.

Kylie’s heart fluttered in her chest, and she hugged her knees tighter. The older woman unlocked the gate and clomped toward her, wearing a wide grin and carrying a package wrapped in newspaper. She stopped a few feet inside the enclosure and placed the package on the ground.

“Ghanima bring this girl something special,” she said. She bent down and unwrapped the mysterious bundle, revealing a glistening, dark mass about the size of a turkey platter. Then she stepped away. “The smell of blood should bring them soon.”

“What is it?” Kylie said, panic rising in her throat.

Ghanima laughed and walked back to the gate.

“Ghanima save the insides of the buffalo Mistah Wang butchered for last week’s meal. The intestines and heart, and many bones. I think to myself, now, where can Ghanima take this so it not go to waste?” She cocked her head to the side. “You know what I tell myself? Huh?” She waited for Kylie to answer, but when she didn’t she continued as though talking about the weather. “I tell myself, why, Ghanima, you should offer the buffalo’s insides to Simba. That way, my family stay safe.”

Ghanima flashed Kylie a winning smile and walked out of the enclosure. She replaced the padlock and, whistling, headed down the path back to camp.

Kylie climbed to her feet and shuffle-ran to the buffalo entrails, but the chain stopped her short. She tried yanking on it, hoping it would somehow magically lengthen. It didn’t. She dropped to her belly and stretched toward it, but her arms weren’t long enough. Her stomach heaved at the rank smell of rotten meat.

She looked around the enclosure for something to throw at the package to push it farther away, but she’d already checked when she’d been there last and found nothing. Tears of frustration coursed down her cheeks as fear clouded her mind. She rolled onto her back and sat up.

“Get as far away from it as you can,” she told herself. Hearing her own voice helped, and she continued the one-sided dialogue. “Don’t freak out.” She got up and shuffled to the other side of the enclosure, muttering to herself and putting as much distance between her and the bloody pile as possible. Without the imaginary safety of the post at her back, Kylie felt even more exposed. The night sounds grew louder, and she clapped her hands over her ears, trying to drown them out. Her teeth chattering, she jumped at every snort, every grunt, every breeze.

“Come on, Kylie. Get a grip. You’re going to be fine. Zara says there’s plenty of food for the animals this time of year.” Kylie kept up the self-talk until she was hoarse and had to stop. The irritating laughter of a hyena serrated the air, the squeaks and yips telling her there was more than one. Did they hunt in packs like dogs? What if the package of organs wasn’t enough?

Something moved to her left and she pivoted, saw nothing but dark. Her fingers closed around the knife Zara had given her. She wished it was bigger.

There.
Another ghostly shape appeared, and then disappeared, followed by yipping and more hyena laughter. Kylie tried to take a step, but her legs didn’t respond. Three more shapes materialized, growing bolder, edging closer to the fence. Glowing eyes stared at her through the wire, the hyena’s silhouette visible. It lowered its head and dug at the bottom of the fence, whining.

More joined in, milling around the leader. Several stuck their noses through, looking for a way inside. Kylie watched in dread as first one and then another leapt up and over the fence into the enclosure, easily clearing the barrier. The ones remaining on the outside paced the fence, whining and yipping while the few who’d made it in tore at the bloody package on the ground and growled.

Kylie gripped her knees together to keep from shaking as the hyenas fought over the scraps. She was afraid to move for fear she’d gain their attention. One of the biggest dragged what looked like intestines across the enclosure. Two others followed.

“Kylie.”

Startled by the quiet voice, she turned. Zara stood near the back fence, eyes riveted to hers.

“Don’t make any sudden movements. I don’t think they will attack you since there is food, but you don’t want to attract their attention.”

Relief flowed through Kylie and her knees grew weak. She took a deep breath and steadied herself.

“Do you have the knife I gave you?”

Kylie nodded.

“Good. You can at least wound them if one attacks.”

“I’m scared, Zara,” Kylie said, her voice trembling.

“I know you are, Kylie, but you’re going to be fine. I’m going to leave for a few minutes. Don’t worry, I will come back to help you,” Zara said, and disappeared.

A crunching sound, like someone eating popcorn, accompanied the yips and growls of the hyenas as their powerful jaws cracked through the bones. Heart thudding, Kylie searched the darkness for her friend, willing her to reappear. An agony of minutes later, she did.

“Here,” she said, and tossed a large rock toward her. “Make a pile.”

Kylie caught the stone with both hands and set it near her feet. Zara watched the hyenas feed, waiting until their attention was elsewhere before she lobbed another one to her. It landed nearby with a thud. One of the hyenas lifted its head at the sound and Kylie froze. A few seconds later, it resumed eating and she let out a sigh.

In all, Zara tossed a dozen rocks into the enclosure, which Kylie piled at her feet. Zara gathered several more, keeping them nearby should any of the hyenas decide to attack after their dinner.

The one that had lifted its head at the sound of the rock hitting the ground did so again. This time it slouched toward Kylie with a
whoop
, licking its chops.

“Grab a rock and wait until I tell you. Then throw it as hard as you can,” Zara instructed. “I’ll do the same from here. It won’t know what hit it.”

Kylie picked up the biggest rock at her feet and waited. The hyena inched closer, sniffing at the air and vocalizing. Another hyena lifted its head to see what was going on, but ignored them and went back to the feast.

The hyena edged closer to Kylie—now only a few feet away. Its powerful shoulders and sloping back reminded her of a werewolf she’d seen in a movie. Slick with sweat, Kylie’s hand shook, and she almost lost her grip on the rock.

“Wait,” Zara urged.

Kylie took a deep breath and let it go, her heart thundering in her ears.

Increasingly bold, the hyena inched closer, faking a move to the right, watching her. It sniffed the air and whined.

“Now,” Zara yelled, and both women screamed as they hurled their rocks, striking the lone hyena on the skull.

Surprised, the hyena yelped and danced away, shaking its head. Kylie grabbed another rock and heaved it at the stunned animal, this time hitting its flank.

It yipped and ran back to the others who were finishing their meal. The other three scattered and milled around, confused.

“Get out of here!” Kylie shouted, sending another rock sailing at the group. Zara followed up with two more. One fell short, but the others glanced off two of them, hitting one on the nose. It bared its teeth but backed into the enclosure. With nowhere to go but up, it leapt over the fence and disappeared into the bush.

The two women kept yelling and throwing rocks, some hitting, some falling short, but it was effective. With no more food to be had, the other three hyenas followed the last one over the fence and disappeared.

“They’re gone, now. It’s okay.”

Zara’s voice washed over Kylie. She dropped the rock still clutched in her hand to the ground.

“Thank you for—” She stopped short, her voice catching in her throat. “I don’t know what I would have done if you weren’t here.”

Zara followed along the fence line until she reached the gate, the chains between her ankles marking her progress by their sound. She stared at the bloody newspaper. “Who left this here?” she demanded, her voice rising.

“Ghanima. Who else?” Kylie answered, crossing the enclosure. “Earlier, she pulled a knife on me when I dared to make drinks for the new guests.”

“My god. She’s trying to kill you.”

“You think?” Kylie shot back. She hated how afraid she felt, how her knees shook with fear every time she saw her. Hated Ghanima’s power over her. But what could she do? Kylie wasn’t good at revenge. She preferred to let Karma take care of things.

That wasn’t working too well.

“We’ve got to get you out of here.” Zara tugged on the padlock and let it fall. “Who has the key?” she asked.

“Lek did, but Ghanima probably took it from him. And what would I do once I got out of here?” Kylie shook her head, despair landing heavy in her chest. “It’s not like I have somewhere to go. I can’t just call a taxi, you know?”

“You’re right.” Zara grew quiet. “I almost forgot why I came tonight. I saw your friend, Sapphire. Wang let her visit the cubs, but the little boy—Jaidee, right?—wasn’t with her. When I asked where he was, she told me that Wang sold him to a gunman named Assad.” She shivered and crossed her arms.

“That can’t be good. Jesus. He’s just a kid.” Kylie’s adrenaline surge from fighting off the hyenas plummeted, leaving her drained.

“She couldn’t tell me much more. Wang wasn’t with her, but she had two guards. She looked pretty beat up.”

Kylie winced at the expression on Zara’s face. Her stomach churned at the thought of Wang using Sapphire as a punching bag. “So, what, this Assad is going to use Jaidee as a servant? He’s six,
maybe
seven, Zara.” She paused. “You know something, don’t you?”

Zara bit her lower lip. “It’s the same man who kidnapped me.” She stared into the darkness. “You have heard of boy soldiers?”

Kylie nodded.

“He will teach Jaidee how to be a soldier and convince him to join his cause, whatever it is. Eventually he will learn to kill.”

Kylie unclenched her fists and leaned against the post. She slid to the ground, any fight she had now gone.

“That’s it, then. We’re all going to die.”

Wang would probably beat Sapphire to death, and Jaidee would have a short, violent life as a child soldier. Ghanima would eventually succeed in getting rid of Kylie, and, unless Zara was able to breed more lions and tigers for Wang, he’d tire of her, too.

The idea of Jaidee being trained as a murderous soldier depressed Kylie the most. Her brother had died of violence in his own city, near his family. Jaidee would die of violence in a strange country, away from family. How lost and alone he must feel, thousands of miles from his home. At least Brandon had been surrounded by people who loved him when he died.

“Don’t think like that, Kylie. There was a reason that we were able to fight off the hyenas tonight. You must have hope.”

Kylie smiled at the earnestness in Zara’s eyes. Hope. Something that had been in short supply since Brandon was killed.

“I don’t believe in hope.”

Victor Wang approached
his tent quietly. Loud, guttural snores emanated from the interior. He mounted the steps and tiptoed across the deck. With a look over his shoulder, he slipped inside.

Naked, with the sheets twisted between his legs, Clarence Schneider lay passed out next to Sapphire, who also appeared to be asleep. The bed was surrounded by gauzy mosquito netting, giving the scene a pseudo-romantic feel. Lamps glowed in the corner of the room, bathing them both in amber light. An empty bottle of scotch lay on its side on the floor.

Perfect.

Victor Wang left them and made his way to the Schneider’s tent. A half bottle of bourbon and an empty glass rested on the nightstand next to the king-sized bed. Wang pulled back the netting as Bobbi Jo snorted and turned onto her side. Spittle dribbled from the corner of her open mouth and down her chin, hovering just above the pillowcase. He stilled, listening for the sound of footsteps telling him Clarence was trying to sneak back into bed with his wife.

Hearing only the chirruping of crickets, Victor leaned over and shook Bobbi Jo. She didn’t respond. He tried again and this time was met with a sleepy grunt. Victor scanned the room. His gaze fell on a thick, leather bound book lying on top of the bookcase. He retrieved it and returned to the bed. Raising it high above his head with both hands, he slammed the book on the floor.

Bobbi Jo bolted upright.

“Wha—what’s happening?” she croaked, blinking. Wang sat on the edge of the bed.

“You must come with me, Bobbi Jo,” he whispered, being sure to put some urgency into his tone. “Your husband—” He stopped and lowered his gaze, waiting for her reaction.

“Clarence?” She glanced at the empty space beside her. “Is he all right?” she asked, alarm creeping into her voice.

“He is, but—” Wang bowed his head, working to appear ashamed. “I thought you would want to know…” He let his words trail off.

Bobbi Jo pressed her lips together, her eyebrows struggling to frown. “Want to know
what
?” The last word exited her like the crack of a whip. She threw the sheets off and clambered to her feet.

Wang jumped up, handing her a robe. She tore it from him, shrugged it on, and knotted the belt. “Where is he?” she asked, her voice dangerously low.

“You do not deserve to be treated this way, Bobbi Jo. You must know the truth. I’m so sorry.” Victor Wang lowered his gaze again. “He is in my quarters.”

Bobbi Jo pushed him aside as she charged onto the deck and down the steps, headed for Victor’s tent. Wang slipped his phone out of his pocket and followed after her. The screen glowed as he recorded.

“Oh, my God—who the hell are
you
?” Bobbi Jo’s angry voice exploded inside the structure. “Get away from him, you fucking bitch!” she screamed. There was a loud slap, followed by a string of expletives. Bobbi Jo stormed out of the tent, dragging Sapphire by the hair.

“Let go!” Sapphire yelled, clawing at the older woman’s hand. Clarence stumbled from the tent, a sheet bunched around his torso.

“Now, Bobbi Jo, darlin’, there just ain’t no need for you to treat this li’l girl that way. No need at all.” He reached for her hand but stopped short at the look on her face and began to slowly back away. “Now honey buns, don’t you look at me like that. I can explain things, see—”

“Oh, I think I’ve seen all I need to, Clarence,
darlin’
.” Bobbi Jo gave Sapphire a vicious shake and let her fall to the deck, then kicked her in the ribs. Sapphire grabbed her side and doubled over, wheezing. She climbed to her knees and scrambled to the corner, drawing her legs up for protection while Bobbi Jo, seething with anger, advanced on Clarence. Wang stopped filming and slipped the camera into his front pocket.

“I guess I ain’t enough for you anymore, huh?” The blonde drew herself up to her full height and thrust out her chin, getting in Clarence’s face. “And now I suppose my mama’s money ain’t enough, either.”

“No, now sweetness, you know that ain’t right,” Clarence pleaded. “I had a moment of weakness, that’s all. Why, this vixen came to
me
, not the other way around.” He pointed an accusing finger at Sapphire huddled in the corner, and shook his head. “If it wasn’t for her comin’ on to me, slidin’ her naked body all over me and makin’ me lose my mind, well, I’d a still been yours truly.” He cupped her face in his large paw and dipped his head, looking in Bobbi Jo’s eyes. “You got to believe me, baby cakes,” he finished, his voice a soft caress.

Bobbi Jo glared at Clarence, her chest heaving. He continued to make soothing sounds and touch her gently until her shoulders dropped and she melted against him. He returned the hug and glared over her shoulder at Wang, waving him away. Stifling a smile, Wang nodded and yanked Sapphire to her feet.

“We must leave, now,” he said through clenched teeth.

“But what about the collar?” she asked, tears rimming her eyes.

With an impatient sigh, Wang took out his phone and tapped the screen.

“There. Now come.” He seized her arm and dragged her down the steps, headed for the main camp. Bobbi Jo and Clarence disappeared into Wang’s tent.

Wang would have everything cleaned once they were done. If all went according to plan, the result would be worth far more to him than the price of a new bed.

***

From the shadows, Leine watched Victor Wang drag the girl toward camp. He wasn’t supposed to be there. Hadn’t Derek said Wang preferred Bangkok? They’d need to rethink their plan to pose as guests.

She slipped past the larger tent into which the American couple had disappeared, and followed the other two at a safe distance.

“Wang’s headed into camp from the north,” she said into the radio, her voice low. “Where are you?”

“East of camp, near a group of three huts. Meet me here,” Derek answered, his voice terse. Leine keyed the mic.

Wang paused at a small structure, unlocked the door and shoved the young woman inside. He made sure the door was secure, and continued into camp. Keeping to the shadows Leine followed him, noting the hut’s location. He disappeared into one of the smaller tents surrounding the main courtyard. Leine waited to see if he reappeared. The light that had been on inside the tent went out. She gave it a few more minutes before she worked her way east, avoiding two guards before finding Derek.

“Wang’s here?” Derek whispered. Leine nodded. “Then we can’t pose as fucking tourists, can we?”

“On to Plan B,” Leine whispered back.

“I think he’s keeping the women here,” he said, nodding toward the three roughly built structures.

Leine stepped next to the back wall of one and listened. Soft snoring emanated from the interior.

“There’s a smaller one just like this back the way I came. Wang locked a young woman inside. It looked like she was wearing a radio collar.”

Derek nodded, keeping an eye on the path next to the huts. “Seen enough?”

“Yes. Have you checked the area east of here?”

“Not yet.”

“Let’s finish up. We can still get to the truck if we head that way,” she said.

A dozen yards past the huts, they came to a large enclosed area. Made of wood backed with reinforced metal, the fence stood at least twelve feet high.

“That’s robust,” Derek commented, scanning the enclosure.

“I wonder what’s locked up in there?”

“Can’t hurt to look.”

They followed the structure until they came to a padlocked gate. Leine peered through the bars.

“Some kind of arena.” She moved closer so she could see more of the darkened space. “There are several stalls at the other end.”

“Probably where the fucker keeps the animals he says he’s going to save.”

Leine was about to reply when she caught movement in her periphery. “Wait a second,” she murmured. “Someone’s there.”

A dark silhouette moved across the empty arena. The figure turned for a moment, and Leine caught a glimpse of a face.

“It’s a woman.” Leine stepped aside so Derek could have a look.

“Christ,” he said, his hands gripping the bars. “It’s Zara.”

“Are you sure?”

Derek nodded and snapped his fingers. The woman turned at the noise and started toward them. Leine scanned the area behind them to make sure none of the guards were nearby.

When Zara was close enough to see who it was, she gasped. “Derek? What are you doing here?” She covered his hands with her own, tears shining in her eyes, and bent to kiss his knuckles. Derek dipped his head and kissed her through the gate. She pulled away.

“You have to leave. It’s too dangerous.”

“What are you doing here?” Derek asked.

“Assad sold me to Wang, along with the cubs from Rafiki.” She glanced behind her, as if expecting to see Victor Wang or one of his gunmen. “He says he wants to rehabilitate the babies, but it’s obvious he doesn’t care. He’s trying to breed them, even though they’re too young.” For the first time she acknowledged Leine. “Who are you?”

“This is Claire.” Derek stepped back, scanning the gate. “We’ve got to get you out.”

“I’m looking for some people—mainly women—who arrived here a few days ago from Bangkok,” Leine said. “One of Wang’s shipments. Have you seen anyone new?”

Zara nodded. “Yes, there have been several new people in the last few weeks, both men and women. The most recent shipment was a few days ago, as you said. But I think only a few were from Thailand.”

“It’s possible most of them come from western countries. I’m looking for one in particular.”

“We need to get her out of here, Claire. You can talk all you want when we’re safely away,” Derek insisted. Zara’s eyes widened and she shook her head.

“It’s too dangerous. Victor’s guards patrol the grounds with automatic weapons.”

“We can’t yet, Derek,” Leine said, catching his gaze.

“The hell we can’t.” Derek reached for his gun, but Leine wrenched it from his hand before he had a chance to aim. He grabbed for it, but Leine pushed back. A second later he had a knife in his hand, the blade glinting in the moonlight.

“Give me my gun,” he said, grinding out the words.

“What are you going to do?” Leine said, aiming the gun at Derek. “Shoot the lock? Then what? Do you even have a plan for when all those guards she was talking about come running?” She shook her head. “And what about the others? What happens when they realize someone broke in and rescued Zara? I guarantee this place will go into lockdown so fast a fucking beetle couldn’t get past the front entrance.”

“She’s right, Derek.”

He glared at Leine, who glared right back. After a few moments he nodded, took a deep breath, and put the knife away. “Claire’s looking for someone named Kylie—”

“Nelson,” Leine said.

“I don’t know her last name, but there is a woman named Kylie here,” Zara said.

Leine’s heart rate picked up. “Where is she?”

Zara leaned closer to the bars. “At night, they stake her out in a pen like a dog. I think they’re trying to kill her. One of Wang’s kitchen staff left raw meat inside the enclosure. I helped her fight off a pack of hyenas earlier tonight. I don’t know if I can be there when it happens again.”

“You’re allowed to go free?” Leine asked.

“Wang lets me out at night to walk around camp. He thinks the special treatment keeps me happy so that I’ll continue to work with the babies. I don’t tell him otherwise. Although,” she looked down at her feet. “I have to wear leg irons. Kylie has them on all the time.”

“Tell me more about Kylie. What does she look like?” Leine asked.

“Shoulder-length brown hair, kind of wavy. I think she’s about nineteen. She said she was from California.”

Leine retrieved Kylie’s photograph from her pocket and held it up. “Is this her?”

Zara glanced at the picture. “Yes.”

“Tell me where the enclosure is,” Leine said, sliding the picture back into her pocket. “I promise, when we come for Kylie, we’ll come for you.”

“What time do you usually go for your walk?” Leine asked after Zara described the pen’s location.

“I don’t have access to a clock, but the guard comes to get me around moonrise.”

Leine looked at Derek.

“Eleven o’clock, give or take,” he replied.

“Can you keep Kylie company tonight?”

Zara nodded, hope lighting her eyes. “I was planning to, anyway.” She touched Leine’s arm. “Please, don’t wait too long. I don’t think Kylie can survive many more nights out there.”

“We’ll do our best, Zara.” Leine turned to leave.

Derek held out his hand.

“My gun.”

Leine gave him a look. “Do we have a deal?”

Derek nodded.

She pulled the .45 free and handed it to him, and then walked away, giving them both a moment alone.

“Where’d you learn that move?” Derek asked when he caught up with her.

“You mean when I took your gun away?”