For Blood And Country

February 21, 2014 - EVANS

I couldn't shake the feeling that things were about to change. Either for better or worse I couldn't tell. I was trying to get back to the embassy on time. The car radio was on and the broadcaster announced it was the news highlight at seven. I didn't know one could make a car move like a snail but the driver of the car in front of me did. At that speed, I wouldn't make it back to the embassy in time. I honked but it made no difference. I swerved to the other lane and tried to overtake the car. I saw it was a lady and frowned, swallowing what I was going to say. By the time I faced the front back there was a deep pothole ahead and I had to swerve back to my lane, in front of the woman. The distance from Sweet Mealz wasn't a long one but I had to weave through traffic.

I had that feeling – or hunch or intuition or whatever you want to call it – again. I knew better than to ignore it. It had saved my life on more than one occasion. In fact, countless times while I was serving in the army, times I try hard to put behind me because of those that died – good men that gave their life for their country and innocent civilians that the war took; no one deserved to die in those ways and I have seen enough deaths for a lifetime. Right now, I feared that things would get worse.

The newscaster was saying something about the President reassuring the citizens that a full-scale investigation has been ordered as regards the attack on Baga. I heard about the attack in the news when it happened about five months ago. The village had been attacked and civilians were killed including children and many wounded but no one knew if it was the Boko Haram as the military claimed or the military itself as the sect claimed. But the newscaster was saying now that the presidency said if the military was at fault, the necessary personnel would be–

My cell phone rang.

"The deputy director just called, he says he'll call back in thirty minutes and you better be here to pick up - his words, not mine."

"Thanks Sarah," I said and hung up. Sarah was sort of the secretary of my division at the embassy.

It was midnight in Virginia and I wondered what was so urgent the deputy director had to call so late. The thought of the deputy director brought a scowl to my face. The last time he called, he had told me he had successfully inserted an agent into the Boko Haram and I was to be his handler. I don't like that, not because I couldn't handle the agent but my hands were full with finding Al-Hassan – my reason for being in Nigeria. I had been after the sneaky SOB for quite some time now but he went underground for a long time, until he resurfaced about a month ago in Egypt on what seemed to be a legit business, and then two days ago, arrived in Nigeria. His presence in Nigeria was an opportunity to nail him once and for all. His presence in Nigeria raised red because even though Al-Hassan was a Jordanian accountant, he had been seen in various parts of Africa in past years and shortly after, large scale terrorist attacks had hit those countries. His presence in Nigeria for whatever reason, if it was successful would lead to catastrophe.

I drove into the embassy ten minutes later and headed to the top floor we occupy. Sarah was at her desk and she got up when I walked in. She said the video call was set up and she would call Langley to let them know I was around as I went into conference room. Jerry was in the conference room and he looked up squinting when I walked in. His glasses gave him a befitting geeky look.

"Oh, hey." He said.

"Anything new?"

"No."

Sarah peeped in to say the deputy director was online. Jerry punched some keys on the keyboard and the deputy director appeared on the screen.

"Have you got anything new?" he asked.

"Other than the footage of Al-Hassan at the international airport in Lagos, I'm afraid there is nothing new sir, mostly due to limited CCTVs in the country. Best guess is, he is meeting with some person or persons bankrolling the Boko Haram and we have been checking up on all businessmen and politicians with supposed ties to terrorism but progress is slow."

"I don't need you to do guess work Evans, dammit. It's been two days since he came in, I need something tangible to show we are not wasting our time in Nigeria."

"Sir, we are working as hard as we can, given the limited resources we have, and manpower, we can't just go anywhere here without being extra careful 'cos we don't have the authority to operate here."

"Now you're gonna tell me what you can and can't do? Christ! Just get me something tangible next time I call."

"Yes sir."

"And make sure if a meeting is holding, we know who attends the meeting and what the purpose is."

After a brief pause he said, "Any word from him yet?"

I hesitated because of Jerry in the room. None of those on my team was aware of the man inside the Boko Haram sect. Just a handful of people in the world knew of the mission. I was to keep it to myself because of its sensitivity.

"Not yet." I said.

"Keep an eye on him when he does. There must be no screw up."

"Sir." I said and his image was replaced by the CIA logo.

I turned and left the room without looking at Jerry. He wouldn't question me about the mysterious "he" the deputy director just asked about, but walking out felt like the right thing to do. Just great, I thought. I had to worry about Al-Hassan and keep an eye on the kid.