“Ve hear about de rich doctors and lawyers in America. You cannot fool us.” The pirates believe she is lying.
“Well there are lots of rich doctors and rich lawyers but there are also some that are not so rich because they have to pay for an expensive education and buy clothes and food and pay rent. It’s not so easy in the beginning or if you can’t find a job.” Tawny realizes they have no real concept of her life.
Suddenly Tawny’s fear intensifies and she decides to stay quiet. She is with three pirates who are probably meeting more pirates. Once she sees lights she can ask to use the bathroom and text Billy. It is too big a risk to retrieve her phone now. She will have to figure that out later.
Again there is silence in the car. The toddler falls asleep and Chinyere huddles close to Tawny as they drive through the night. Where they are going is anyone’s guess.
CHAPTER 25
I t was supposed to be a nice ride around the countryside with no drama, no real adventure; just a sightseeing trip. Not a kidnapping. It’s been eighteen hours and no one has heard a word.
Billy is beside himself with worry. He called every person he knows with any clout to ask for help. The Nigerian president himself is aware that Tawny is missing. Billy texted her numerous times and left messages on her cell phone. She has her bag with her and she used the phone all day to take pictures. He is afraid her battery may be dead.
Ken blames himself. He never should have made that last stop. He should not have gone into the field or he should have stayed in the field until Tawny and the girls were safely inside. He comes up with more reasons to blame himself than Billy comes up with places she could possibly be.
“I can’t sit at a hotel and wait for the phone to ring or someone to meet me. I have to do something.” Billy’s restlessness and concern are driving him mad.
“What do you want to do? I’ll do whatever you want. This is all my fault.” The last time Ken accused himself of messing up he went off the deep end. Billy cannot let that happen again.
“Let’s go talk to Loko. I keep thinking his brother has something to do with all of this. He wouldn’t tell us anything about him but I’m pretty sure he knows a lot more than he’s saying. We’ve contacted every person we can and there’s an all-points bulletin out on them. If they haven’t separated them how hard can it be to find an American woman with a teenager and a toddler?” Billy is examining every angle.
“Tawny’s smart. We’ve seen that before.” Ken does not need to remind Billy that she can fend for herself.
Billy continues to pace and pull down on his chin. “I wish she had a gun. She’s streetwise but she doesn’t have a weapon. I wonder what she’s got in her back pack. Why isn’t she contacting me? I’m sure she’s got her phone.”
“She probably doesn’t want to show it to the men who took her. They’d only confiscate it, don’t cha think?”
“Probably so. Anyway, we don’t have any leads on which way to go so I say we talk to Loko. He’s a native and he’s missing his sisters. If this older brother finds out, I’m hoping he’ll join the search party.” Billy’s inkling about Nwankwo is the only bit of knowledge he can cling to right now.
The two men hire the same guide and ask him to return to the small farm. The guide is as shaken as the two men. Nothing like this has ever happened to him. He is afraid of who may have taken her. It could be a religious extremist. There are plenty of them trying to influence the people of Nigeria.
Traveling back to Loko’s home is excruciatingly slow. Enjoying every moment of the trip yesterday, Ken becomes more and more disgruntled as they pass the same sites today. Billy endures the same tedious drive and hates it even more than yesterday.
Upon arriving at Loko’s farm, they find him and his brothers picking crops. Billy is angry at first but Ken reminds him that the boy is only a boy and he has no power. He has to feed himself and his brothers while defending the farm. He has no alternatives. He cannot hunt for his sisters and he cannot leave his little brothers. He has to hope for the best and face the reality of what has happened.
Striding up the short row Billy and Ken both stand near Loko and start picking crops with him. They decide that if they help the young man he may help them and they offer him money.
Loko accepts the money with relief that cannot be expressed in words. His whole body lightens up as if he was shouldering a mountain. He even stops his brothers from picking and motions for everyone to come inside the home. The two little ones are thrilled to stop the monotonous harvesting. They are so young and are missing the best part of their lives.
“Loko, we know that you’re hiding information about your older brother. Please tell us so that we can rescue your sisters and our friend,” Billy pleads with the boy.
“I don’t know details. De police von’t help find two poor girls snatched by de men. Dey have more important tings to do.” Loko speaks the truth but Billy reaches for his hand.
“Loko, that may be true and it’s very sad but you must remember they have an American girl with them and everyone will be searching for her. She has a big heart and she will do whatever is necessary to protect your sisters. She is very smart. She grew up on a huge farm and can do lots of things that men can do. She saved both of us last year.” As Billy informs him of Tawny’s prowess his eyes brighten.
“A girl saved two big men?” Loko cannot believe Billy is even admitting such a thing.
“Yeah, but only because she is so smart.” Even in such dire circumstances Billy does not appreciate his manhood being questioned. Ken stares at him as if to say ‘are you kidding me? This bothers you now?’
“Dat girl Tawny is very pretty too. De men will vant to have her. Like Chinyere.” His face lowers.
Billy cannot stand to think of Tawny being violated by all those men. She has to find a way to get away from them and take the two girls with her. “Tawny’s pretty resourceful. Let’s not think about the bad that could happen but rather what we can do to help them escape.”
“Tell us about your brother, Loko.” Ken is gentle but firm. Loko is only seventeen and this is too much for him to handle alone. He has to tell them more.
“Nwankwo is twenty years old now. He is a pirate.” The words sear through Billy’s heart.
“Tawny’s with pirates,” Billy says it slowly, not believing his own words. He gets up and walks around and around. This is too much to take in. How did she encounter pirates on land? Weren’t they supposed to be trolling the gulf? It is one of the reasons they flew to the landing dock instead of going by speedboat. They wanted to assure themselves they would see no pirates, much less have to face them.
“Do you know where your brother’s ship is? Can you tell us anything about where he may be located?” Ken takes over the conversation because Billy is losing it.
“I don’t know anyting but if you ask about my broder, he is de young fisherman Nwankwo, son of Edochie. Dat is how you vill find him.” Loko provides all the information he possibly can. “Please don’t tell anyvne dat you heard from me dis news.”
Billy and Ken assure Loko his secret is safe with them but they leave as quickly as they can. Unable to talk about their plans while with the guide they fear any leaked information might harm Loko and they could never live with that on their conscience.
Back at the hotel after a two and a half hour trip Billy and Ken make their way down to the fishing docks. Very few people are there much less boats. Walking up and down the area they spy an old man and decide to find out what he knows.
“Excuse me, sir.” Ken takes the lead since he is older and less intimidating than Billy. The old man looks up at seeing the Americans in such an unusual place. This area is home to native Nigerians and really to no one else. He is probably wondering what these two are doing here.
“Vhat you two boys vant?” He opens his mouth to reveal very few teeth. Those he does have are brown.
“We’re looking for a pirate named Nwankwo, son of Edochie. Do you know him?” Billy b
arges into the conversation.
“I don’t know any pirates. Deys only in your American movies. No such ting as pirates,” the old man counters. “You’s two are crazy. No vne goes looking for pirates.”
“Listen, let’s skip all the lying. We know there are pirates and they took our friend, a girl. We want to get her back. We’ll pay for her. Can you get that message to the right pirates?” The old man’s eyes open widely and reveal more interest now that he hears money is involved for the girl.
“You tink dis Nwankwo pirate has de girl?” he eagerly asks.
“We think he can help us find her. They have his two sisters as well.” Billy is not concerned about giving up too much information. He knows money talks and if that is how he saves Tawny he will give all he has to these pirates.
“I don’t know notings ‘bout any pirates.”
“Listen here, old man. . .” Billy comes after him but Ken holds him back.
“Sir, if you can help us, we will pay you too. Here is a card with my number on it. Call it anytime, day or night.” Ken hands him a business card and Billy reaches in his wallet to get one of his. The old man accepts Ken’s but dismisses Billy’s. Ken then practically forces Billy away from the old guy. Resisting his friend he waits until they are out of earshot and then berates Ken for shoving him along.
“We should’ve offered him money. We could’ve gotten more information,” Billy persists. He cannot believe they are leaving without getting him to talk. The fear and anxiety are overwhelming him.
“I don’t think so. This old guy needs to put out his feelers. I’m certain he recognized Nwankwo’s name. We just have to let it settle for a while,” Ken reassures him.
“We should’ve said that she had to be safe and unharmed. We should go back and tell him.” Billy is frantic now. Why hasn’t Tawny contacted him?
“I know this is eating you, Billy, but we’ve done the best we can. Let the old man do his work. He’s fished these waters a long time and if he can help, he will do it his way. He’s not going to listen to two Americans who’ve lost a girl. I think telling him that Nwankwo’s sisters are kidnapped too may have been the more interesting news to him.” For some reason Ken is able to stay calm. He remembers how resourceful Tawny can be and he believes she can pull off a miracle.
“What else can we do today? This place is abandoned. I’m not even sure why that old man was even out here.” Billy needs to do something to find the love of his life.
“We need to stay strong, to have some faith. Let’s eat some lunch and check in with our contacts.” Ken refuses to lose his cool. He is going to do whatever it takes to free Tawny and the native girls but losing his composure is not going to help anyone.
Billy cannot even think about sitting down to a meal. “I can’t eat.”
“You have to keep up your strength. She may need us,” Ken convinces him and they force down some food. Billy is on his phone non-stop trying to find out information. No one has any worthwhile news and so he plots a rescue without any facts.
“When are you going to realize how much you love her and that you can’t live without her?” Ken listens to his nonsense for so long and then he drives home the facts.
“It’s complicated.” Billy stares at his phone, trying desperately to figure out what he can do to save her.
“Love is always complicated. Easy love would not keep you entertained anyway.” It is clear Ken marvels at Billy’s naiveté in matters of the heart.
Billy cannot bear to think of Tawny being hurt in any way. He is having flashes of terrible things happening to her. “We have to find her first.”
“We will. Have a little faith, Billy.” Ken again tries to console him.
“I don’t know what to do.” As they enter the hotel, Billy sees his reflection in a long mirror on a post. His features are strained with the extreme extent of his tortured emotions.
“Sleep. We both need sleep. I know that sounds like we’re giving up, but we have nothing at this point to investigate. Maybe after a few hours of sleeping we will hear some news and then we’ll have the energy and the stamina to act.” Ken makes a lot of sense but taking a long nap makes Billy feel guilty. “Just a few hours, Billy.”
Finally, Billy is convinced. They retreat to their hotel rooms and despite a guilty conscience Billy falls fast asleep for five hours.
Thirty-nine hours after they’ve gone missing Billy’s phone beeps. He is out cold but the noise stirs him. Five minutes later it beeps again. His dreams start to get strange and he is coming out of REM. The phone beeps a third time and he jolts up from the bed and retrieves it.
A text flashes and it’s from Tawny: ‘Safe on mothership 4 now. Don’t contact. Low battery.’
She is in the water. They have taken her to the pirate mothership. But which one? How can he get to her? His thoughts are whirling and he is not sure what to do. Calming himself enough to call Ken, he wakes him and relays the news.
Within minutes Ken is with Billy. Together they call their police contacts who say negotiating with the pirates will be difficult. They must wait until the pirates contact them.
“I’m not waiting. Let’s talk to that old man again.” Billy is determined to find her. He has a small ounce of hope and he is going to act on it.
The two of them bolt from the room and rent a driver and car to take them to where the old man was earlier. They search high and low but to no avail. He is nowhere in sight. His boat is there but it is empty. They will have to try again tomorrow.
“She’s safe so far. If only we can find her soon. How did we ever lose her to pirates? This whole nightmare is surreal. Totally surreal.” Billy’s thoughts are consumed with Tawny; only with Tawny until he remembers the other two girls.
“We know a lot more now than we did before. We have clues and I’m guessing we will hear from them soon. They will want a ransom for her. I have money.” Ken is ready to spend what he has to return her to safety.
Money is the least of Billy’s worries. “I can get whatever we need. I’ll call my family and my personal banker. They’ll start getting it together.” Billy wastes no time making the calls. He will get whatever he needs to free her.
“Do you think we should call her parents? They have no idea what’s going on.” Ken starts to think beyond the two of them.
“I’ll text Jaclyn and see what she thinks. She knows them well.” Billy picks up his phone and sends Tawny’s roommate the message. In no time he receives a frantic one back from her.
“She says yes, absolutely. She wants me to call her. I think I’ll ask her to deliver the bad news.” Billy ducks out on this one. Calling Jaclyn he relays what he knows and suggests she tell Jeremy and Gloria Martinique about their daughter. She agrees and says to get ready for the blistering phone call that surely will come when they learn about Tawny’s fate.
“Now what?” Billy wants to continue the search.
“We wait.”
~
The drive to the boat after being kidnapped is exhausting for the three pirates and their captives. Chioma awakens and consumes all of their attention. At one point the pirates want to leave her at a church but Chinyere refuses to let go of her little sister. Tawny cannot decide if this is a good move or not. She and the teenager could maneuver better without the little girl but worrying about her welfare outside her sister’s sight is too much pressure so little Chioma comes along.
The boat is small and the air is thick in the dark night as they quickly board while Chioma cries, screams, kicks and throws a temper tantrum. Chinyere tries to console her and Tawny even gives it a go but the little girl is so scared.
The only benefit is Chinyere’s courage intensifies as Chioma’s fears erupt. In one night the teenager finds her inner strength and Tawny knows she has an ally. Together they will find a way to escape unharmed. They only have to wait for the opportunity to present itself and act accordingly. Tawny has no doubt it will happen and Chinyere leans on this older woman’s confidence.
Seven hours after the kidnapping the three females find themselves aboard a large tanker called the mothership by the pirates. They huddle together as they are escorted to the captain’s quarters. He hears the tale of how Tawny became a part of the group and then dismisses the other pirates.
“An American beaudy.”
“I don’t understand why we’re here. Can you please enlighten me?” Tawny dismisses the comment.
“Nwankwo killed his pirate captain and took over de modership. Dose tree pirates vere loyal to de pirate captain. Dey have taken Nwankwo’s sisters as revenge. You vere in de vay so dey took you too. Dey is now loyal to me,” he does not hesitate to answer her.
“Thank you for telling me. Um, so what happens next?” Tawny decides to get as many answers as she can.
“Ve vill hold you for ransom. De Americans vill pay vell for you.” This pirate captain sees an easy windfall for handing Tawny back to her countrymen.
“What about Nwankwo’s sisters?” Tawny wants to assure their safety as well.
“Dey vill die.” The pirate captain has other ideas.
“That’s not acceptable.” Tawny is in full attorney mode now.
“You have no say, American girl.” The pirate captain is quite amused. “You’s American girls are too liverated.”
“When you ask for ransom for me, ask for them as well. You will have your money and they can go free.” Tawny knows that they can ask what they want and Billy and Ken will get the cash and free them all.
“Ve don’t vant money for his sisters. Ve vant revenge.” His voice is filled with hatred. His cold black eyes show no remorse, no regret, no heart.
“But that’s not fair to these girls. They have nothing to do with what their brother did. You can’t punish them,” Tawny pleads.
“It is not dat vay here. Dey vill pay for deir broder’s crime.” This is pirate justice. He is not interested in any other justice.
“That’s just stupid. They may have done that five hundred years ago but take a look, we’re in the second millennium,” Tawny tries to use reason with the crotchety old man. She is not sure she is going to make any progress but at least he is talking to her.
Limiting Liabilities: Book Two - The Martinique Files Page 33
