Cooper could just about hear his own breathing above the strange mating call of the reed frogs in the trees above him. He could feel the rain getting heavier and stronger, and it took all of his willpower to stay still despite the savage bites of the red army ants which seemed to be using his body as a bridge between one giant leafed plant and another.
He continued to crouch in the wet bushes, watching the Commer truck, driving rain making it difficult to see clearly. But he was just about able to make out the outlines of three people loading the truck. But with what? It was impossible for him to see unless he went further down the hill.
He felt for his gun. Edged along on the ground. Kept low. Pulled his body across the rutted and sodden and uneven earth, but even before he got halfway down the hill, he saw the men had pulled a large sheet of blue tarpaulin over the back load. Squinting. Annoyed with himself that he’d missed the chance to see what they were doing, he crept a fraction closer.
A bit further along from the truck, he could see another car. Though he couldn’t decipher the make from where he was. But it was large. Black. Expensive. And taking into account where they were, he thought it was strange.
Just as he assumed both the car and the truck were going to drive off, the passenger door of the car opened. And there, in the rain, stood Papa Bemba.
Their gut feeling about coming to the area had been right. Instinct encouraged Cooper to get closer, to hear what Papa Bemba and the two other men – who’d also stepped out of the car – were saying. But then for no reason that Cooper could see, a tall, stocky man with tight plaits and a heavy jawline began to walk towards where he was hiding. And even though the man might’ve only wanted to take a leak, Cooper thought it was his cue to back away but not before seeing a man who was bound, gagged and blindfolded, being pulled out of the car.
Cooper stole silently into the night with the sounds of the forest surrounding him. A noise shot out of the darkness, making him stop, and then a snap behind him made him freeze. He reached for his gun. Scrutinized his surroundings quickly. Looked for hiding spots. Then felt a hand on his back.
Whipped round.
Gun drawn.
Leg taut out.
Ready to fight.
Bringing whoever it was, down.
‘Jesus…! Jesus H. Christ…!’ Cooper threw up his arms at Rosedale, before bringing them down to rest on his head. Gun in hand and breathing hard. ‘Do you have to creep up on me like that? I could’ve blown your goddamn head off.’
Rosedale sniffed, speaking softly. ‘Not a chance. You would’ve been toast, Thomas. Your last view would’ve been of that ants’ nest over there.’
Crouching down again, Cooper wiped away the rain from his face, which bought him time to regain his composure.
‘What the hell are you doing anyway, Rosedale? Sneaking up like that.’
‘Babysitting you. That’s why I’m here. You’re lucky it was me, because if it hadn’t been, I reckon it would’ve been them… ’ Rosedale, who was also now crouching in the wet, trailed off. Nodded towards some men who Cooper hadn’t noticed – and who were fast approaching.
‘What do you want to do? Stay still or shoot out? Your call, baby.’
Weighing up the situation, Cooper whispered back. ‘I think stay still for now, the rain’s heavy and it’s doubtful they’ll see us.’
Rosedale nodded. Winked. Whispered. ‘So you haven’t completely lost it and turned into Billy the Kid. I was worried for a while.’
For the next three minutes Rosedale and Cooper stayed still. Watching as the blindfolded man was pushed into the truck. Then they watched for another two as the Commer and the car drove off.
Moving away, heading back to the Toyota, Cooper said, ‘I think tomorrow we need to go and speak to Bemba. Get him on his own somehow.’
‘Don’t know how easy that’ll be, but when have you ever liked to do things the…’
‘Maddie…? Maddie…? Maddison?’
Pulling out his 9mm Glock Gen 5 handgun from his concealed pistol holder, Cooper began to run, leaving Rosedale and the conversation behind as he spotted the doors of the Toyota were wide open.
Nearing the car, he could see it was empty. Alarmed, his eyes darted round in the darkness before settling on Rosedale. ‘She’s gone…! Maddie’s gone!’