Chapter 5

Danny Fletcher’s shoulders were stooped. An unusual look for a guy who always walked with purpose and strength, even before coming to Kenya to find it. But it had been a hard morning, and he’d spent the last few hours on his knees praying—no, begging God to do a miracle. So far, there had been no sign from above.

“Faith is the substance of things hoped for,” he muttered, straightening his back as if that could change anything. “The evidence of things unseen.” The verse was gritty in his mouth. Words spoken out of rote more than because he believed them at that moment. But the words out of his mouth and the rigidness in his posture couldn’t change the sourness in his stomach. He kept his shoulders back anyway because, in the last few years, he’d learned a lot about standing on truth. He’d spent a lot of years in darkness, so when he’d finally stepped into the light, he’d tested the reality of those words. And time and again, he’d always found that the best way forward was to not rely on how he felt as an indicator of anything beyond his own frivolity.

“That’s no guarantee.” It was a reminder to himself that God’s plan was not always what he hoped for. He may not get the miracle he wanted today, but God had given Danny more than his fair share in his younger days. He should be dead about a dozen times over from when most of his decision making had come from compulsion or adrenaline. Back then, he’d pilfered as much from life as he could before it all came crashing down on him. But that expected demise had never come. Now, at thirty-six, he had a lot of years left to live—God willing—and he’d do his best to live them right.

He tugged his cap lower over his eyes against the glare of the sun, then glanced at the swirling pattern of the tattoo wrapping around his arm as he squeezed his hand into a fist, watching the muscles in his forearm shift the pattern of the ink—a reminder of what he’d once been and everything that could have happened but didn’t, thanks to his salvation. He needed to remember the power of God now more than ever.

Loud shouting brought his focus back out in front as a group of boys ran toward him. He forced a smile but knew they’d see through it.

More than a dozen kids, all between the ages of eight and sixteen, were sprinting at full speed, their white-toothed grins making him blink in the fierce sunlight. Most of the smiles had disappeared by the time they reached him. He wasn’t sure how, but they could always read him.

The oldest of the group, Ekele, stepped forward. They’d celebrated his sixteenth birthday the week before, choosing an arbitrary day to celebrate his birth because no one knew for sure. “Did you see him?” he said.

“No,” Danny said.

“You said you prayed. Sielewi, ” Ekele finished in Swahili.

Usually, Danny would make them translate anything they said in their native tongue into English. He wanted them to be ready for any opportunity God opened up for them. But this wasn’t the time.

“I don’t understand either,” Danny said with a sigh. “But sometimes, God has other plans.”

“You’ve been telling us your god is powerful,” another of the boys said, crossing his arms. “Or maybe he’s just another mzungu . Making promises he can’t keep.”

“My God is not a man. Black or white,” Danny said. “He’s God. And He decides what’s best better than any of us can.”

Ekele nodded solemnly. “You believe Adisa has to pay for his sins?”

“I’ve explained this before.” Sometimes it was so hard for them to accept things that were contrary to everything they knew. “Adisa’s sins have already been paid for. Jesus died so we don’t have to. But that doesn’t mean there aren’t consequences for our actions. One thing I do know about Adisa is that he’s prepared to face what comes to him. He knows what he did in the past is wrong.”

“ Unakata tamaa, ” another boy said.

“No. I won’t ever give up on him. I won’t stop praying. I know Adisa has changed. And he trusts in God. No matter what, his soul is at peace.”

They were empty words to most of the boys who didn’t yet believe. The few who did didn’t look hopeful. It would be a test for them all. In Danny’s mind, this would be the perfect opportunity for God to display his power, but that was Danny’s own wisdom speaking. Only time would tell if it lined up with God’s.

“There’s nothing we can do right now,” Danny continued, “so how about we get back out onto the field and keep practicing?”

They were all reluctant to head back. Adisa was well liked, but they didn’t want to let Danny down, either. And he knew better than anyone that sitting and sulking when you were feeling down was the wrong way to move forward. He’d climbed into too many pits only to find that the only way out was to climb back up again. He’d rather skip the whole process and keep his head above water.

He jogged with the boys back to the field while stealing a quick look at a building being constructed nearby. It was the beginning of what would become a multipurpose area for these boys and other kids from the slums. He’d worked hard to get support for the new building that would house a library and study space to help get these boys and more through school.

Once they were gathered at the side of the field, rough with stones and dirt, he clapped his hands to bring them in, and they started running through drills. A couple of times he found his mind wandering to Adisa, but he couldn’t let himself get distracted when there was a whole group in front of him that needed guiding.

He jogged down the sideline, calling out encouragement or instruction. Then, he noticed someone standing on the other side, watching.

Ekele noticed her too and ran over to Danny.

“She’s back,” he said.

“Who is?”

“Don’t know. She was here earlier asking for you. We all thought you knew her.”

Danny squinted, but the most he could tell was that she looked like a Westerner. “Guess I better go find out. You guys keep going.”

He didn’t hurry as he rounded the field. When he got closer, the woman put her hand on her forehead to shade her eyes in the light. Her white hair made her head glow like a halo. When she dragged her braid across her shoulder, his stomach plummeted.

“What could she possibly be doing here?” he muttered. “God, this is a challenge I don’t need right now. Please let me be dreaming.”

“ Jambo ,” she said with a wave, and what he’d prayed was only an apparition in the shimmering heat became a solid form. “ Habari gani? ” she added with a disarming smile he knew was a tool she used to get what she wanted.

“We speak English whenever we can” was all he gave her as a greeting.

“My apologies. Let me start again. Hello. How are you?”

“I’ve been better.”

“I hope that’s not due to my presence. My intention in coming here was not to upset you.”

“You can’t take all the credit. My life does consist these days of things other than the bureau.”

“But you’re not happy to see me.”

Danny looked out at his boys to keep a level head and give him time to find a response. “Did you expect me to be? You took advantage of the help I offered.” She may want to act like there were no hard feelings between them, but he wouldn’t ignore the past. Not when it could bite him again.

“You were a criminal, Danny. Did you really expect me to play fair with you?”

“Was that too much to ask?”

“I’m sorry we didn’t agree on all the outcomes, but in the end, we both got what we wanted.”

“Did we? Because I recall you promising I’d never have to see you again.”

A soccer ball soared through the air, and Danny jumped to catch it before drop-kicking it back.

Deborah watched it bounce once before one of the boys trapped it with his feet and they started playing again.

“I bet you’re happier having soccer balls speeding toward your head than bullets,” she said.

“I am. But I take it you’re not here to see what I’ve done with my life.”

“I already knew what you were doing.” Her eyes were steady on him, watching for his reaction to her bluntness.

“Which leads me to the pressing issue of why, when you said you’d forget I existed once I walked out of your office, do you know where I am and what I’m doing?”

“You should be flattered I kept tabs on you.”

“I’m not.”

She tugged on her braid, then flicked it to her back. “I wouldn’t have come if it wasn’t important.”

He took his time responding. “It couldn’t be because you want my help with another case.”

“It is.”

He laughed lightly and scratched his head. “You can’t be serious.”

“You know me well enough to recognize this look on my face.”

“Yeah. It’s the one that says you won’t take no for an answer. But you’ll have to start because I paid for my crimes. Nothing’s changed since the last time we spoke. I’m done with all that.”

“Are you?”

A shout came from the field, and Deborah’s attention was drawn to the team. She took a few steps past Danny to watch the boys as they continued their drills. “Looks to me like you’ve still got sins you’re atoning for.”

“That’s not what this is.”

“No? You’re not trying to pay back your debt to society?”

“I’ve found a better way to live, that’s all.”

“Well, some of us still have responsibilities.”

“And mine are here.”

She huffed a frustrated breath. “There must be something you want that I can give you to make it worth your while.”

“I doubt it.”

“I’m the deputy director now. I have more influence.”

“From what I recall, you had a lot back then.”

“I do know how to get what I want. Keep that in mind.”

“Sorry you wasted your time, but I’m not interested.” Danny called out to the boys. “Davu, watch Imani’s feet. Work on your ball control.”

“You don’t even want to hear what the job is?”

“It wouldn’t make any difference.”

“So you’ve cut all ties to your old life?” she said.

“Yes.”

“Including the Hebers?”

It wasn’t a big jolt that hit him, but it was enough. He hadn’t thought of them for years and wasn’t prepared for the memories to surface so easily.

“What do you want with them?” he said, hating that he couldn’t stop himself from asking the question. “I thought Gregory went straight.”

“It’s not the Hebers I’m after. Gregory was always a small fish anyway. It’s the Siseras I want.”

“Artus and Christopher?” Danny shook his head. “No way. There’s no way in with them.”

“That’s what Barak said.”

“I’m surprised he’s still kicking around. I thought you would have gotten rid of him by now.”

“He’s one of my best.”

“Thomas Barak is the best you can do?” Danny said.

“Just because you guys didn’t get along doesn’t mean he’s not a good agent.”

“He liked to color inside the lines.”

“And you had a problem with that?”

“He’s got no imagination.”

“He’s a good agent,” Deborah said.

“He’s smart enough not to go after Artus Sisera. I guess that counts for something. But you’re wasting your time with me. I have as much chance with Artus as Barak does. I was never part of that circle.”

“I don’t need you to get close to the Siseras. Gregory already is.”

“You think my old connection with Gregory is enough to get my foot in the door with them? Won’t happen.”

“Barak might not have much imagination, but give me a little more credit.”

“Maybe I’ve chosen to forget how clever you always were. You ran rings around me.”

“I brought out the best in you.”

“Is that what you call it?”

She smiled. “Artus’s son will soon be CEO of Gregory’s company.”

“Christopher’s running Heber Industries?”

“And that’s not all. The word going around is that Jael’s about to become engaged.”

He flinched. “To who?” Deborah lifted an eyebrow, and Danny shook his head. “Not to Christopher.”

“The one and only.”

“I don’t know where you got your information, but she would never marry him.”

“My information is reliable. You haven’t seen Jael in a long time. Maybe you don’t know her as well as you think you do anymore. She wouldn’t be the first to accept a match to keep Daddy happy.”

It had been years, but he couldn’t picture Jael stooping so low. “But they’re not engaged yet?”

“No.”

“Then what does any of this have to do with me?”

“I need someone who can get close to the family. And quickly. We expect the engagement to come any day, and we need you in place. That way, when the time comes, you have some sway over the venue for the marriage festivities.”

“You came all this way to hire me as a wedding planner?”

“See? It’s an easy job, but you’re the only one who can do it. And if you do this one last thing, I’ll lose track of you for good. I promise. You’ll never hear from me again.”

“That’s what you said last time.”

“I chose my words more carefully last time. I never made promises I didn’t expect to keep. Come on, Danny. There must be something you need. Or something you want?”

There was a lot he needed, but he found it hard to believe this was God’s answer to his prayer. Then his thoughts drifted to Jael. The FBI wanted to use her engagement to pull the strings they needed, but all Danny wanted to do was go save her from it. He sighed.

“There we go,” she said. “There is something.”

“I don’t like this.”

“You don’t have to like it. Since when has that ever been a consideration?”

“If I help you, we’re doing things my way.”

“Within reason. I have no intention of babysitting you. I know how you work. I trust you to get the job done.”

“But if you can’t get me what I want?—”

“I can.”

“We’ll see. One of my boys has been arrested.”

“Let me guess. He didn’t do it? You want to blame a corrupt police force? I’m sure I can find some dirt.”

“No. He did do it. But he was a different kid back then.”

“They all are, aren’t they? You want to help him because he’s a reflection of yourself?”

“Does it matter?”

“Not really. Okay. You want him exonerated? Consider it done. Now, would you like to hear the rest of my plan?”

“I’m not finished yet.”

She looked impressed. “I’m listening.”

“These boys need new uniforms. Sneakers, jerseys, everything.”

“Easy.”

“And my building.” He pointed to a tangle of metal and cement. “I want to make a place where the kids can study and learn. I’ve gotten it started, but the construction has been moving too slowly. I want it finished within a year. Also, I want books, desk, tables, chairs. The works.”

“Is that all?”

“I don’t have any money, so I’ll need my expenses covered while I’m back in the States. ”

“Done and done.”

“You must be really desperate.”

“Sisera is making a fool out of us,” she said. “He’s gotten stronger and more shrewd. But also more dangerous. We need to bring him down, and we’ve tried everything else. So, are you in?”

“I guess so.” He held out a hand, but neither one of them smiled as they shook.

“You ready to hear the rest?”

“May as well.”

“Fantastic. I’ve got your backstory lined up. You’ve been in prison. I have all the paperwork.”

“Already?”

“I had reason to be confident.”

“Makes me want to change my mind,” he said.

“But you won’t, because you care too much about others. And right now, you’ve got a good deal. May I continue?”

“By all means.”

“You’re getting back on your feet, and you’ve come to Gregory for help.”

“And what if he doesn’t want to?”

“Gregory loves you. You’re like a son to him. He’ll do whatever he can.”

“How do you know?”

“You told me.”

“I wouldn’t have told you that.”

“It was back when we were getting along better. Anyway, like I said, I need you to influence where they hold the engagement party. We have a conference center where everything is set up how we like it.”

“Recording equipment?”

“Exactly. Get them to hold it there, and we’ll record what we can. Who knows what they’ll give away while they’re drinking?”

“Is that even legal?”

“I have the warrants. The hard part has been getting them where we need them.”

“And if it doesn’t work?”

“Then there’s always the wedding.”

Danny thought through all the requirements for a job like this. And all the things that could go wrong, including complications around his reintroduction to the Hebers. “It’s not a great plan.”

“It’s better than what we have.”

“I won’t kill anyone for you.”

“It shouldn’t come to that.”

“Good.”

Deborah hiked her bag closer to her body in preparation for leaving. “I’ll send you your flight details. Do you need time to organize things here before you leave?”

“It shouldn’t take more than a few days.”

“Then I’ll be in touch.”