Sanctuary: Delos Series, Book 9 by Lindsay McKenna

Author:Lindsay McKenna [McKenna, Lindsay]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Blue Turtle Publishing
Published: 2018-06-22T23:00:00+00:00

CHAPTER 14

Enver Uzan listened closely to Nazir, who had been employed at Kitra before being fired. They sat in a tent in the slums near Bachir’s tent. Nazir was a young, restless Sudanese, sweat dripping off his dark temples, his eyes red and bloodshot. Like many child soldiers in western Sudan, he’d become addicted to heroin and cocaine, the drugs of choice given to them before they went in to kill their enemies. That way, the young boys using the AK-47s fired without feeling or social conscience. It also made them bold and risk-taking; they didn’t care if they received wounds or were killed themselves. Earlier, he’d seen Nazir’s forearms as he pushed up the sleeves of his white robe: a number of nicks and scars, and at least two holes indicating bullet wounds from his past.

Bachir, who was crazy as far as Uzan was concerned, had loudly boasted that he could produce one of his soldiers who had worked at Kitra. But it would cost Uzan many Sudanese pounds. The mercenary was interested in the layout of the charity, and having access to an employee who had worked there and seen it firsthand was worth the price. Besides, his employer, Zakir Sharan, was a billionaire. He could afford to lay out one thousand pounds to speak to Nazir.

Quickly, Nazir drew Kitra with a stick on the red ground between them, then proceeded to show Uzan everything. Because Kitra was so far out in the middle of the grasslands and built strategically on a small hill, it posed a number of problems for Uzan to approach it without being spotted. Studying the layout, he rubbed his neatly groomed black beard. The place was huge—much larger than he’d anticipated.

“What of security?” he demanded of Nazir.

Nazir’s eyes widened. “Captain Ayman Taban has soldiers who protect Kitra.”

Uzan had heard Taban’s name. As a member of the upper ranks of al-Qaeda, he knew the players in all the countries of the Middle East and Africa. “He retired and works there now?” he demanded.

“Yes, sir, he does.”

Scowling, Uzan’s mouth tightened. “Are sentries posted in Kitra?”

“Yes, and he has three jeeps going around outside the seven-foot red clay wall too, twenty-four hours a day.”

That made things even worse for Uzan. “Are there any nearby villages?”

“Yes, one that is two miles south of Kitra. And then there are several more. Some as far away as twenty-five miles from the charity.”

“Do they visit Kitra?”

Nodding, Nazir said, “From the nearest village, which has a very large herd of cattle, the women bring butter to Kitra. They exchange the butter for clothes that are sewn there or for money.”

“But it’s always women?”

“Yes.”

“Are there camel caravans that pass nearby?”

“Sometimes, yes.” Nazir brightened and sat up from where he crouched opposite Uzan. “By the time they have crossed the desert from the east, they need water. There are huge water troughs that Kitra keeps filled for all animals, but they are located outside the north wall.”

“Are these caravans allowed to use them?”

“Yes.

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