“No,” I say, and take another deep breath. “I have some enemies, but they aren’t here in America. I left them behind me in Africa. This is just Colton mad at me. He knows how I feel about preserving animals.” I lie through my teeth. I need time. I’m going to push them all away and go on with my life.
Tucker moves toward me. “What was all that about you couldn’t save him?” My body trembles and he reaches for me.
“No.” I hold up my hand as I throw the evidence bag filled with the pictures at him. “Is this about you? You had lots of girls before me. Maybe one of them is after us. Why does it have to be about me?”
“You know that’s a crock of shit.” Tucker raises his voice. “I know what you’re doing and it’s not going to work.” He rips his hands through his hair. “Nico, if you and Sergeant Whitlock could look into this, I would appreciate it. I have no enemies.Everywoman I was withbeforeSydney knew how it was.” He looks back at me. “Check on Colton’s location.”
“He is in Nashville.” Sergeant Whitlock, who I didn’t see before, steps into my view.
“See. Could be Colton,” I say as I look back at Nico and Tucker.
“Who are these enemies?” Nico asks me.
“The Brigade made threats toward me,” I say as I turn to my mom and pinch my lips so she knows not to say more.
“Why?”
“Because I worked with the Akashinga. They are a militant group that protects animals in Zimbabwe.”
“Does Colton know you did?”
“Yeah, he does. He and Lydia both know. But the Akashinga have nothing to do with anything here and neither does the Brigade.”
“What is the Brigade?” Tucker asks as he comes to stand next to me. He doesn’t try to hold me and it actually hurts, but this is what I asked for.
I turn and look up at him. “The Brigade is similar to the mafia but more like military guerrilla warriors. They pay the poachers, arm the poachers, and train them. The money from the animal parts they harvest is then used for terrorism, drugs, and taking over countries.”
“Fuck,” Tucker says as he pulls me into his arms. I find myself melting into him, needing the comfort.
“Okay, I’ll have some friends of mine with Homeland Security look to see if any of them have come over,” Whitlock says.
I pull from Tucker’s arms and turn to the trooper. “They are not a part of this, and I don’t want you to look them up. I don’t want them to even get an inkling we suspect them.”
“Is there a reason you’re so scared of them?” Nico asks, and it’s like all sound has stopped in the room. I slowly turn to look at him as I continue to back away from Tucker.
“I would like everyone to please leave my home now.”
“Sydney, we are only trying to help you.” Nico moves toward me.
“No.” I raise my voice. “Leave. Please just leave. I can’t talk about it anymore.” I drop my head. This is the moment. The moment I realize how broken and messed up I am. The moment I realize I have no choice. My life was written the moment I first heard that helicopter coming across the savannah toward us. “Too many people have already died for me. Please just leave.” I push past everyone and make my way to Mari’s room, where I find her sleeping. Before I step through the door, I turn back to my mom.
“Please take care of this.” I wave my hand to all of them and close the door.
I watch Mari’s little body as she sleeps. She’s wrapped around a soft elephant pillow she got when she was born. She’s slept with it every night. It goes with us everywhere we go. The body of it is wrapped around her. Her little curly head resting on the belly. Her arms clutching the leg so it won’t get away. Her breathing is even. She’s crawling now and into everything. I know soon she’ll be walking. Everything I’ve done has been for her. I’ve tried to be the best mom I could be. I’ve tried to protect her, but I haven’t. I brought the war to our front door, and I don’t know how other than that news report they found me.
Mari moves in her sleep, and I sit in the rocking chair watching her. Waiting for my house to be silent.
* * *
Tucker
I watch her walk through the door and close it behind her. I’ve never felt so useless, even the car incident can’t compare to the pain of her pulling away from me.
“Her attorneys will be in contact with you both to see what you’ve found,” Sharon says to Nico and Maverick. I stand there staring at Mari’s door, willing it to open and her to step back out to me. I hear the cops leave. Nico and Maverick following them. July and Wes leave, and it’s finally just Sharon and me.
“What did she go through? I know it was an attack of some kind. I know she begged for her life. Is this Bahati coming after her again? Is he the one who killed Mari’s father?” I turn toward her, raising my voice with each question. That’s not every question I have about Sydney, but it will be enough for now.
“I can’t answer those questions. She needs to. I want her to, but she’s so afraid.”