Chapter Thirty-Four
IKAMatua shuffled about in his kitchen, boiling water on a gas stove to make Phoenix a cup of coffee. He dug in a canister of solidified brown powder while she called Bodie with the address of the camp and her location. “I’m safe,” she reassured him. “Matua knew my tupuna tāne Reuben. I’m fine here for now. Please, just stop them hiding the refugees somewhere else.”
“Okay.” Bodie insisted on speaking to Matua and took the phone number. Phoenix didn’t hear what he said to the old man, but she noticed Matua’s bushy grey eyebrows rise. He said nothing and hooked the receiver back on its cradle.
Phoenix sipped the strong coffee and winced. A hefty helping of sugar hit the back of her throat like a syrup. “Did he threaten you?” she asked, her tone filled with ready apolog
