“Even so, I’ll have to make some calls,” he said. “Rearrange some appointments. You’d better tell Amal about what happened. She’s in the kitchen with Osmond and José.”
Amal seemed hesitant about going after hearing about the robbery. When José volunteered to take her place, Renee shook her head. “They’re looking for women to inspire the girls. Amal, I know this will be a wonderful experience for you.”
“But,” Remi said, “only if you’re comfortable. We’ll understand if you choose not to go.”
The young woman looked at everyone in turn, her face filled with uncertainty. Her gaze settled on Renee. “What do you think I should do, Dr. LaBelle? I mean, a robbery …?”
“I’m not worried a bit.” She put her hand over Amal’s and smiled. “If anyone can get us there safely, it’s the Fargos.”
CHAPTER EIGHT
If you have health, you have hope,
you have everything.
– AFRICAN PROVERB –
Taraba State, Nigeria
The capital of Taraba State, Jalingo, was situated in the savanna-covered foothills not too far from the highest peak in West Africa, Chappal Waddi—the so-called Mountain of Death. The school was situated farther southwest, between the Gashaka Gumti National Park and the village of Gembu. Since that was a good six-hour drive from Jalingo, the Fargos secured hotel rooms for everyone, intending to set out the next morning after a good night’s rest.
Once they arrived at the hotel, they decided to have dinner in the on-site restaurant. Sam and Remi stepped off the elevator to find Renee and Amal waiting for them in the small lobby. “Where’s Hank?” Sam asked.
“He’ll be down in a minute,” Renee said. “Something about a phone call and a small fire to put out.”
In fact, he met them in the restaurant just a few minutes later.
“Everything work out?” Sam asked as a waiter set out glasses of water for each of them.
“It did,” he said, taking a seat. “I was trying to arrange a crew to come in to fix that decking. That blasted curse.”
“Tell me about it,” Renee said, exasperated. “Over fifteen hundred years ago. You’d think they’d get over it by now. Hard to get locals to come in and work because of it.”
“Yes. No need to worry now, at least as far as the decking’s concerned. They’ve agreed to do the
work.” He raised his water glass in a toast. “Here’s to a successful trip.”
“Hear! Hear!” Renee said.
Hank took a sip, then looked over at Sam, his expression sobering. “Had we been smart, we’d have brought the books with us to go over. I’m assuming LaBelle has already told your wife that we believe Warren may have been skimming funds.”
“That would explain the financial hit,” Sam said. As much as he wanted to discuss the embezzlement of the Foundation’s funding. “The books aren’t going anywhere and we can talk to Warren when we get back. Obviously, the more pressing matter is getting the truck and supplies to the school.”
“I agree,” Hank said. “That far south, they can’t possibly depend on a delivery from Jalingo every time they need something. Surely there’s somewhere closer?”
“They get the basics from Gembu, a village about two hours’ drive south. But the roads around Gashaka Gumti aren’t the best. What we’re hoping to do is make the school self-sustaining for exactly that reason. So they won’t have to depend on anything or anyone. Unfortunately, this truck robbery set us back.”
“I can imagine,” Hank said. “That was pretty brazen. But I’ve heard highway robbery out in the bush isn’t uncommon.”
“Not just the bush,” Renee said. “I was reading the newspaper in the lobby. It seemed like every other article was about the increasing gang activity in Jalingo.”
“Big-city life,” Sam said. “It’s almost a given, no matter where you go in the world.”
“I suppose so,” Hank said. “But rural life down here can be bad. Aren’t you worried about Boko Haram and the like?”
“That’s always a worry,” Sam replied. The terrorist militant group, based in northeastern Nigeria, was known worldwide for suicide bombings as well as kidnapping women and children, and had been trying for years to establish a stronghold farther south. While the school’s isolation made it an attractive target, Jalingo, less than a day’s drive, was a large enough city to have a strong police and military presence. “They’re more active up near the northern Nigeria border.”
Hank was about to comment when instead he glanced at Renee. “Are you okay, LaBelle? You seem a little pale. It’s not your ankle, is it?”