Page 12

CHAPTER 12

R onan walked quietly down the small trail. It was dark, but the moon was full and illuminated the trail ahead of him. He saw Adil step out of the brush about ten feet in front of him. “Your man will watch your backtrail, yes?”

“Of course.” Wraith always had his back. It was a given.

“Your uncle and his team are good men. They did a hard job.”

“I didn’t tell you he was my uncle.” Ronan crossed his arms over his chest and stared down at the man.

“Of course, I made a few calls of my own today. A very old, dated satellite phone may have been left in my care. I’m sure you will understand I do not take things at face value. ”

Ronan liked this guy. “I get it. What do you have for me?”

“Unfortunately, not a lot. I have asked my contacts for information, but from what I gather, the person inside the camp is protected. They have some value or potential value to the people using him.”

“Him?”

Adil nodded. “I do know that much. A man, a foreigner, who the ISIL is using to give them information on the convoys.” The ISIL was a militant fundamentalist group that reigned in waves of terror in the area.

“What did they gain from attacking the convoys?”

“The first convoy was attacked to take out one of the escorts. He was a threat to the man in the camp.”

“How do you know this?”

“I know who attacked the convoys.” Adil shrugged. “They were told to take whatever they wanted, but the man had to die.”

“And the rest of the convoys?”

“Were to cover the first.” Adil shook his head. “The refugees were sold or given as gifts. The fuel, food, and medical supplies were sold on the black market. Each convoy provided over five years of money to the people who attacked the convoys. They look forward to the next. ”

“The next one is in three days, going to Al-Tanf and returning with transport vehicles. It will be protected.”

“And you would like me to do what with this information?” Adil cocked his head.

“Tell the people you know who attacked the convoys. Let them know if they come for us, they will die. Guardian doesn’t play games.”

“This will not stop them when you move refugees again. Whether or not they’re told to attack the convoys, they will. The profit is too good.”

“How will they know which day we move the people?” Ronan put his hands on his hips and asked, “And why were all the convoys attacked on a Tuesday?”

Adil smiled. “Who is not working on Tuesdays? Who can leave the camp without anyone’s knowledge and place a call?”

“It sounds like you already know the answer.”

“I think I do, but you won’t like what I say.”

“Try me.” Ronan waited for Adil’s response. The one word out of the man’s mouth hit him with the force of a freight train. “You’re sure?”

“Certainty is a moving target in this country. If part one and part two join together, the probability is very good that the two pieces join to equal one. ”

Ronan stared at the tip of his boot. “I’m going to need proof.”

“That you will. I, however, am not in the business of providing proof, just information.” Adil sighed. “There are good people in the camp. Some have lost their lives trying to protect my countrymen and aid them. I ask myself, why this camp? Why is it going away? The other camps are not touched. What is so special about this camp? Why would someone want the camp gone?”

Ronan narrowed his eyes. “It’s bigger than just the convoys.”

Adil nodded. “The convoys are, how your uncle said, low fruit. Easy to pick. But the tree is much bigger with a wealth we can’t see, but somehow it is there. Yes, I believe it is much bigger than the convoys. There’s a lot of shale in this area, isn’t there?”

“And why would whoever it is want the camp gone? What does shale have to do with anything?”

“That I don’t know. Again, it is my speculation and suspicion, but the questions are worth asking, don’t you think?”

“Agreed. Do you have any way of validating your suspicions about the informant?”

Adil shook his head. “No. The protection of this man is from someone very powerful. I rarely run into roadblocks. My network is extensive and many, many years old. Trusted people with proven allegiances have told me not to inquire further. So, I watched. Five convoys, five trips out of the main gate. My speculation about his identity is based on observation and a suspicious nature. Who he works for and why he’s doing it need to be determined, and that is on you. I will, of course, provide any information I can.”

“I’d like to provide you with something for the information you’ve already provided. What do you need?”

“A country that is not torn by war?”

Ronan gave a sad laugh. “Above my pay grade, my friend.”

“Ah, well, then, how about a seat on the plane when you leave?”

Ronan blinked in surprise. “Are you sure?”

“I talked to your uncle about it. He will work the paper for you to bring me out.” Adil shook his head. “I have to think of my future. I’ve learned English and how to read and write it. I want a chance to sleep without the fear of war. I am tired of being one step ahead to ensure I stay alive.” Adil looked at him. “I am ancient, and yet I am only twenty-four. ”

Ronan could understand the exhaustion. He’d been on his own and working to survive since he was a teenager. “If the organization says yes, I’ll ensure you come with us.”

Adil smiled. “They will say yes. They offered me a job.”

“Did they? Doing what?”

“Mapping the tunnel system in Aleppo and beyond.” Adil smiled. “I could walk through them blindfolded.”

“Are they where the women and children are being taken?”

“Some. Most are taken to the ISIL as gifts for overlooking debts. They are also taken over the border to be sold as labor for the drug fields or to be used for sex.”

“How did you escape going to war or being sold?”

Adil looked up at him. “Who said I did?”

Ronan frowned. “You were a child soldier?”

“No.”

Ronan snapped his mouth shut and ground his teeth. Son of a bitch, he wished like hell he’d kept his mouth shut. “I’m sorry.”

“As am I. As I said, I am ancient. I’ve seen and experienced too much and am ready to leave. I will contact you if I have any information. It would be best if no one sees us together.”

“I understand. Thank you for the information.”

“You’re welcome—oh, and one more thing. Tell Buchanan not to meet the people Rana had contacted. They will kill her after they …” He shrugged. “They are not the people Rana used to know.”

“I’ve already told her, but I’ll say it again. Thank you.”

“Good night,” Adil said as he returned to the brush and walked out of view.

Ronan headed back to the main road, and Wraith met him about a quarter of a mile up the trail. “Did you get the information?”

“I got it.” He repeated his conversation with Adil. Wraith was quiet until Jug met up with them.

“Everything good?”

“Not even close,” Wraith said.

“What does that mean?” Jug asked Ronan.

Ronan sighed, “It means there’s a traitor in our midst.”

“So, it’s a staff member,” Jug said.

“We believe we know who it is,” Ronan acknowledged.

“Then we take them out. No more worries. ”

Jug was always a straightforward kind of guy. “We contact Guardian first, tell them what we know and assume, and they let us know what they want done.”

“Like there’s any question?” Jug turned to look at him as they walked.

“There is a question,” Wraith said quietly.

“What is it?” Jug asked.

“Who’s paying them, and why are they trying to close this specific camp.” Ronan sighed. “And you can’t say shit about this to Shelly.”

“What the fuck? Like I would?”

“Pillow talk,” Wraith said with humor in his voice.

“Ain’t been no pillows. Ain’t going to be any. She’s out of my league.”

“Not what I heard,” Wraith said. “She’s into you.”

“Stop pulling my leg, man. She’s a fucking doctor.”

“And you’re a fucking good man, regardless of any perceived lack of education from your perspective,” Ronan said. “If you don’t make the move, it’s on you, Jug, but that woman is into you.”

Jug was quiet for the rest of the walk, which was fine with Ronan. They entered the camp through the side checkpoint, where Stryker was talking to the militia on duty. “How’s the perimeter?” he asked, knowing they hadn’t been doing a perimeter check.

“Secure,” Jug grumbled and trudged off toward the medical tent and presumably his cot. He and Wraith walked to their tent, and both dropped onto their respective cot. “Proving it will be tricky.”

“I know,” Ronan agreed with his friend, but he had a feeling they would have to get it done anyway. “I’ll call Uncle Jacob in the morning. I need a couple hours of sleep.”

“Ditto,” Wraith said and yawned. That was the last thing Ronan heard. Turning off his brain tonight wasn’t a problem. He closed his eyes, took in a four-second breath, and let it out as he shut his shit down.