Chapter 71

CHAPTER 71

KABERA WAS FLYING lazy loops over Lake Kivu, a thousand feet up. The club glittered like a gem on the eastern bank. Along the shoreline, Lial could see other patches of light—small settlements and marinas. To the north, she could make out the glow of Goma International Airport, where Kabera stored his plane. A chopper had deposited her there six hours earlier.

Lial stilled her shaking legs, but kept her hands clasped tightly over her knees.

"How do you feel?" asked Kabera. "Getting used to it?"

"Kind of," said Lial. She kept the quaver in her voice. "Where are we going?"

"At the moment, nowhere," said Kabera. "Just enjoying the scenery. But I can take you anywhere you want."

Lial stared out her side window and let a few pregnant seconds tick by. "Are we near Lake Tanganyika?" she asked. "Somebody told me it's really pretty."

Lial saw Kabera's face light up. "It is," he said. "I know a place there. Gorgeous. Right on the water."

"Really?"

Lial made a point of adjusting the small designer knapsack on her lap. It was her subtle cue that she was prepared to spend the night.

She felt the plane make a slow bank. The wing on her side tilted toward the water. Then they straightened out. Lial glanced at the direction indicator on the console. Perfect. It pointed due south.

Kabera slid his right hand off the control yoke. He reached over and let it rest on Lial's left thigh, just below the hem of her skirt. Lial didn't flinch or resist, even when his fingers began a slow creep upward. She bit her lower lip and let it happen.

"Is it fancy?" she asked. "Where we're going?"

"Don't worry," said Kabera. "You'll fit right in."

Lial allowed herself to look a little excited now. She wiggled her butt in the seat, then picked up Kabera's hand and placed it gently back on the controls.

"Focus on flying for now, right?" she said, flashing him a smile.

Kabera smiled back. "Right. Good idea. For now."

Lial reached into her bag and pulled out her lipstick and a small mirror. She reapplied her Stoplight Red. Next, she pulled out an eyeliner pen, concealing the tip in her curled palm. She leaned toward Kabera and pointed past him. "Hey! Is that another plane?"

Kabera whipped his head to the left.

Lial plunged the needle into his neck.

Kabera slumped against the side of the cabin. Lial quickly unclipped herself and reached over to steady the yoke. Then she unstrapped Kabera from his seat. She muscled him out and shoved him into the back. He fell face down into the well below the rear passenger bench, his expensive shoes protruding into the front of the cabin.

The plane was drifting to the left. Lial slid into the pilot's seat and grabbed the yoke. She turned off the transponder and kicked off her high heels, placing her stocking feet on the rudder pedals.

She strapped in and ran her gaze over the control panel. Checked her airspeed, altitude, and fuel level. Nearly full. Which meant a three-hundred-mile range, not counting the reserve. She gripped the control and pulled back slightly. She felt a flutter in her belly as the nose lifted. After gaining another thousand feet of altitude, she leveled out again.

Piece of cake.

It felt exactly like the simulator.