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“Wait until the morning, Charles. That’s an order.” Turning, Cassidy ran toward the birdcages.
    Anna Kuffae, her black skin contrasting with the white, sweat-soaked T-shirt clinging to her body, knelt within the center of the birdcage wrestling with a dirty and irate crane. “Could you please give me a hand?”
    Cassidy opened the wire gate and slid inside the cage. She crouched down and inspected the bird’s wings. They were coated with a thick layer of sludge. “Another one?”
    Anna shifted her weight and pushed the bird toward Cassidy. “How many of these aren’t we finding? You’d think my government would at least do something about its national bird.” Anna sighed in exasperation. “Oil’s everywhere. I can’t hold it long enough to do any good.”
    Cassidy slid her fingers across the slick feathers, cooing in soft tones. She gathered the bird tightly against her chest and rose to a half crouch, using her body weight to deliver it to a large tub of water Anna was filling with warm, soapy suds. “Clean it the best you can. If the lungs are clear, we’ll be in luck.”
    Anna began rinsing the slick oil off the body of the bird, revealing white feathers. “Charles handed in a preliminary report. I put the flash drive with the geological survey you requested on your desk. You’re right. Port Harcourt is sinking.”
    Cassidy cupped a handful of water and assisted Anna with the cleansing of the feathers. “Lot of good that’ll do us, but I’ll take a look and add it to my findings.” She scowled at the dirty water quickly filling the tub. “He said something about an unusual finding. Did you see anything?”
    Anna bit her lower lip and scrubbed at the underbelly of the bird. “I didn’t even look at it. He did emphasize that it wasn’t complete, though.”
    â€œI wish he’d give me something to uncover NWP’s corporate bullshit.”
    â€œWho pissed you off this time?”
    Snorting through her nose, Cassidy wiped the back of her hand against her cheek. “That obvious?” Anna nodded and raised a brow, waiting for an explanation. Cassidy lifted her chin toward the sink tap, and her assistant quickly twisted the nozzle to an off position. Glancing at the bird, she ran gentle hands across its cleaned feathers. “Met with Robert Cole today.”
    â€œNew World Petroleum’s president?”
    Cassidy rolled her eyes. “Yeah. He’s refusing to clean any of this up and insisting I write that damn report for OPEC.”
    â€œYou can’t do that.”
    Cassidy stared at her assistant. “I know. They’ve reassigned me, Anna. ZEBRA’s pulling out in ten days.”
    The expression drained from the other woman’s face; then her features changed, distrust and accusation shining from her eyes. “Giving up are you?”
    Cassidy picked up the bird and released it into the cage. She reached for Anna’s arm and held tight. “Not on your life. I’ll be back. But right now, this is what I must do.”
    Anna bent her head and slumped her shoulders. “I know. I’m sorry. It was wrong of me to accuse you like that. It’s just…” She glanced around the village. “We’ve come so far.”
    â€œI know. I know.” A ring of childish laughter filled the night air, and Cassidy turned in its direction. “That’s what I need right about now.”
    Anna laughed softly as a young boy ran up and wrapped his arms around her legs. “This is our life, Cassidy. Don’t blame yourself for our mistakes.”
    Cassidy turned her face away from Anna’s son, purposely ignoring him. “It shouldn’t be—not under these conditions.” Unable to hold out any longer, she glanced down and grinned. “Who’s this handsome little man?” Georgie giggled and tried to hide behind Anna’s