“Are you really asking me to help you to find an African girl in Harlem?”
“She is one of the women kidnapped in Ethiopia, and apparently the only one who managed to escape alive.”
“But you promised me not to get involved in risky tasks any more, especially in this issue that already got Leroy killed. You committed to me and my father.”
“I know... I know and I will stick to my promise, but I'll make one last contribution to clarify the murder of my friend; I think I owe him that much. Then I'll put all the information into the hands of someone who also loved him, someone you know.”
“Who are you talking about?”
“Sergeant Murphy.”
“Eric Murphy?”
“Yes.”
The name seemed to calm Loretta. Murphy had been Leroy and Vince´s guide since both had entered the police force. Besides being a friend, the man was incorruptible, and was free of suspicion of belonging to the corrupt network of dealers that Vince had told her about a few moments earlier, and that allegedly included Lieutenant O'Halloran, head of the unit to which both had belonged. Loretta thought for a moment and said.
“Do you reassure me that once you complete this task you will stay away from your old life and its dangers.”
“I promise.”
“Well, what do you want me to do?”
“Help me find this woman.” Said Vince showing her the photo in his mobile screen.
Loretta worked as a social worker in a neighborhood of Harlem that precisely matched the area in which the unknown African woman had been seen by Walt Kolski and then pursued by her abductors. Vince gave his girlfriend copies of photos of the woman, including some on an enlarged scale, and pointed on a map the areas mentioned by Kolski. What Loretta selectively had to do was showing the photos to people of her absolute confidence who due to their activities would walk in the area and ask them to alert her if the woman was seen.
“But you must be sure that you only show the photos to people you know well. The woman has already suffered attacks and persecution so we do not want to expose her to more risks and distress.”
Nubia was walking in the dim light of a distant street lamp down a deserted square. She had become used to move always at night like certain animals that thrive in the dark, to avoid being recognized by people who might be hostile. Her nervous system missed the sunlight, that sun under which she was born in Africa twenty years ago, not far from the Equator, but for now the girl was restricted to adapt to the rapidly approaching New York winter.
She was lost in her thoughts and memories and longing to arrive quickly to Uncle Charley´s home, get into her bed and receive the heat of Marcos ´body, when unexpectedly some inside concern began to grow. Suddenly the certainty that she was being observed grew in her mind. At first Nubia dismissed the feeling attributing it to a certain paranoia she knew she was developing due to the life situation that was going through. But the feeling remained and Nubia had learned to accept the signals coming from her psyche, which had previously saved her life more than once. In a reflex action the woman squeezed between her fingers the talismans that always hung from her neck. When Nubia performed further analysis of her emotions she noticed that the signs were warning lights but not alarm signals and there were no painful feelings associated with them.
Nubia looked up and through the mists that invaded the small square dimly lit by a distant focus, saw a slender figure approaching her. By the way the shadow moved she realized that it was a small woman, and her lithe step also evidenced she was young. The African woman came close to a public light post and waited there. The approaching walker understood her intention and quickened her pace. When she was also placed under the streetlight Nubia saw that she was an African American young woman, very sheltered from the prevailing cold, and that by removing a scarf that covered her mouth and nose discovered a face of singular beauty.
Both women stared each other at short distance.
“My name is Loretta.” Said the newcomer.
“You can call me Nubia.”
“Please do not be afraid. Let me ask you to come with me.”
The two women walked a few steps up to a bench, the only one in the square, which was in the shadows. Nubia he could see a white man sitting in it and beside him there were two crutches.
“Nubia. He's Vince.”
Vince laboriously rose and shook hands with the African girl.
“Excuse me, but the cold increases the pain of my wounds.” Said. “If you trust us let me I ask you to come with us to the car, where we will be more comfortable.”
Vince had explained the purpose that guided him and Loretta in the search they had made and whose object was to find a girl whose name or affiliation they did not know and of whom they had only a few vague photos. Loretta then explained that she had entrusted people of her confidence to track Nubia and finally, after a couple of weeks, an elderly woman had recognized her nearby.
“If you could find me so can those who chase me.” Mused gloomily Nubia.
“Those who chase you may not have the network of contacts in this area I have because of my work.” Explained Loretta to comfort Nubia. “But do keep always your guard up.”
“Nubia, we need to know who is persecuting you and why.” Expressed the so-called Vince. “We have reasons to believe they are people we know and must be brought to justice. Tell us what happened to you.”
In the next half hour the young woman told her story, from her capture in Ethiopia until her escape in Harlem. She was interrupted numerous times by Vince who demanded further clarification.
“And you say that when you were in the alley you could glimpse two men who were watching the chase?”
“Yes. One of them was white and the other black, both very high and robust. I had the feeling that they were not just witnesses but somehow were monitoring the hunt.”
“Could you describe them, starting with the white man?” Vince was asking the questions.
“I could see them very fleetingly, in a dark alley and in the midst of the terror I felt, but on the other hand they were under the headlights of their own car. The white man had very fair skin and blond hair.”
“Look carefully this photograph, and tell me if you recognize any of these men.” Vince turned on the internal light of the car cabin. Then he showed a photo in which three men appeared. Watching it Nubia´s body shook as a consequence without doubt of a very strong emotion. The girl brought her hands to her face as trying to prevent her eyes from seeing that picture.
“Oh, yes!” She exclaimed. “He is the one who is with you and the other black man.”
“You have no doubts?”
“Not at all! I will not forget that man in my life.”
“And this woman was not with him?”
Vince showed Nubia the photo of a Latina woman.
“No, there was no woman at the scene. Only one black man.”
“Please describe him the best you can.”
The meeting in the car lasted another half hour. The first light of dawn began to displace the shadows and none of them wanted to be seen on that site at daylight.
“Keep this mobile phone number.” Said Vince giving Nubia a piece of paper. It is necessary that we keep in contact every other day so I can give you news. It's a secure phone but call me from public phones and always from different payphones. Can I ride you somewhere?”
“No, I'd rather not be seen with company.”
When Nubia arrived home Marcos and Uncle Charley were waiting for her with anxiety.
“You must listen to this.” Said the girl.