Relief flooded Natalie as she pulled into the parking lot of her office compound, thankful for the security of the high walls and the electric barrier that surrounded the property. Such safety measures had become the norm in a city riddled with burglaries and petty crime. She waited until the automatic gate clicked shut, then stepped out onto the brick drive. The gardener raked leaves in the corner of the compound. Voices drifted across the yard from people passing on the street. Strange how life continued as if nothing had happened.
Beside her, Joseph raced up the front steps of the one-story building. The walls of Kalambali Square, with its chipped and worn exterior, held offices for two nonprofit organizations as well as a branch of the government health headquarters.
Inside the office, she nodded as she swept past the receptionist, who seemed more intent in filing her nails than the stack of papers lining her desk.
“Is Stephen in?”
The secretary shook her head. “He should be back any minute.”
“Please tell him to come see me when he returns. It’s very important.”
Her tiny office at the end of the narrow hallway held little more than a desk, two chairs, and a few items she’d brought in to brighten up the space. A collage of photos hung above her desk beside a wilted plant that needed water. She glanced at the pictures of her parents, taken at her father’s sixtieth birthday party.
They hadn’t been thrilled with her decision to move to the RD. Since retirement, becoming grandparents had topped their wish list. But up to this point, neither she nor her brother, Sean, had managed to supply them with a bundle of joy. Sean had married an attorney set on making partner by the time she turned thirty-five.
At least no one would be sending them a notice of her death today.
Natalie shoved open the window to let in a breeze, then waved Joseph onto the extra chair. Pulling the memory card out of the camera, she prayed it would work with her photo printer. She’d told her parents she didn’t need the expensive piece of equipment and had only used it twice; anything more than a computer or laptop seemed an extravagance in a country where people struggled to find enough food. For the first time, she was glad they’d insisted on the purchase.
Joseph sat on the edge of the chair. “Is it going to work?”
“I think so.” Natalie drummed her fingers against the desktop as she waited for the first photo to emerge. When it did, she shuddered. The camera had captured the mocking expression of one of the men in black. “I’ll make two copies. That way I can give a set to Stephen and keep one for myself. And I want Dr. Talcott to see these.”
She pulled her cell phone out of her purse to call Chad, then paused. What about Gabby? Her journalist friend’s connections with the media might be enough to get something done. Even the RD would make a humanitarian effort in order to avoid bad publicity.
She logged onto her online account, typed in the password, and punched out a quick e-mail to Gabby. After attaching three of the photos, she pressed Send, then erased the message in the Sent box and emptied the trash. There was no need to take any chances at this point.
Chad was next. She punched in the number he’d given her and waited for it to ring. The call failed.
Natalie frowned. Great. The lines were down…again. She dropped the phone back into her purse. More than likely they’d be up again soon, but for once she wished things would work when she needed them.
Another photo fell into the tray. One of the soldiers was pushing someone onto the ground. She pressed her lips together, afraid she was going to be sick. Joseph’s fingers tightened around the edge of the desk. They both needed a distraction. “Tell me about school.”
Joseph seemed to understand her desire to talk about something other than the images they’d just seen.
“There are many students and few teachers, but I want to learn, so I study hard. That is what the camera was for—a chance to earn extra money for books and something to send to my family.” He ran his finger along the edges of the chair. “And maybe a chance for University. That is. . .was . . .my mother’s dream.”
A sullen look crossed his face. There was simply no way to avoid the subject.
Natalie squeezed his shoulder. “I’m so sorry.”
“It is our life here. I do not expect it to be easy, but this…”
The last picture finally dropped into the tray. Natalie separated the pile of color photos. They would be enough to convince someone of what was happening.
The front door slammed shut. She dropped the second set of copies into Joseph’s backpack and zipped it shut.
“Stephen?” She heard the familiar gait of his heavy boots before he stopped at her office.
He leaned into the doorway looking anything but pleased to see her. “Where have you been? I’ve tried to call you all morning. You didn’t leave a message as to where you were going.”
His normal fatherly concern was overbearing today. “I guess you didn’t notice that the cell phone tower is down again.”
“It was working fine an hour ago.” He frowned. “Next time at least leave word where you’re going. I’m responsible for your well-being.”
Natalie grimaced. Obviously she wasn’t the only one whose pre-election nerves were hanging from a thread. He wasn’t going to be happy when she told him she’d been running through the jungle instead of teaching preventative health measures in the relative safety of the city.
“I took Joseph up the mountains to where his family lives.”
Lived.
The veins in Stephen’s neck pulsed. “I told you to leave it alone. There’s no such thing as Ghost Soldiers.”
“Don’t be so sure.” Natalie watched his face, gauging his reaction. Disbelief? Fear? She wasn’t sure at this point. “They’re real, Stephen, and I have proof.” Stephen ran his hand across his short, black hair. “Natalie, leave it alone. Sometimes you have to overlook things—for the good of everyone.”
“For the good of whom, Stephen? A little girl ripped from the only home she’s ever known? A grandfather killed because he’s not strong enough to work?” Her heart thumped. She wanted to scream at the way everyone tried to bury the problem. “How does that work for the good of everyone?”
“I’ve talked to Patrick—”
“Maybe Patrick cares more about his position as a government official than looking at what’s really happening out there.”
“He assured me they were only rumors—”
“Look at these.” Natalie began dropping the photos one at a time onto her desk in front of him. “Then tell me if you still think the existence of the Ghost Soldiers is nothing more than a rumor.”