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problem.” Duna tapped his watch. “Time to go back. The UN convoy will be departing from the airport in two hours. Larry arranged for you to travel with them. We must not be late.”
    Not enough time. “I thought Mr. Coleman wanted subtlety. Traveling with others will expose us.”
    “Subtle is slow. It gets you nothing.”
    “And lies are just as easy,” Max added, giving the man a sharp look.
    Duna’s expression never changed. “The soldiers you will be traveling with do not know you are providing extra protection for Doctor Kinn. Only that you are independent security specialists hired by the CDC.”
    Eddie frowned. “We just came from the airport. Why did we even bother?”
    “It was at Larry’s request. Too many wagging ears.”
    “Whatever. What you’ve given us isn’t enough to do shit, not even to pretend.” Max gave Eddie and Amiri a thoughtful look. “You’ll have to leave me behind.”
    “No,” Eddie said, straightening.
    “Yes. There are two major cities in Zaire. This one, and Kinshasa. If mercenaries have been hired to kidnap people—specifically, our doctor—this is where they, or someone who knows them, will be spending their downtime. I’ll poke around, do a little eavesdropping, see what I turn up. Meanwhile, you and Amiri can play bodyguard.”
    “I cannot guarantee your safety,” Duna protested. “And this is not a good city for outsiders. The rebels, even the soldiers—”
    “I’ve been in worse,” he interrupted. “I can handle myself.”
    I do not like this, Amiri thought at Max, and then for Eddie’s sake, added, “There are too many unknowns.”
    “It stinks,” Max agreed. “It stinks so bad I can’t stand it. That’s why I need to stay. Unless you want to wait for someone to get killed before we start asking questions.”
    Amiri frowned. Eddie began to argue, but Max held up his hand and gave him a sharp look. The young man grimaced, fingers digging into the van seat. The temperature jumped another several degrees. Amiri understood how he felt. They both stared at Max, but all he did was mutter, “Mother hens,” and reach behind his seat for the weapons Duna had brought. He gave Eddie a handgun, which was quickly stashed in his backpack.
    Amiri refused to take a weapon. Max did not push. He slipped the gun into the back of his pants, under his T-shirt. Amiri folded Rikki Kinn’s photograph, and placed it in his pocket. He caught Eddie watching him, but the young man gave him a faint smile, and that made Amiri feel less a fool.
    Their return to the airport was quick. Duna took a different road around the terminal, heading directly to the airfield. They were stopped at the entrance by a UN guard, but their names were on a list. Duna drove through and parked three hundred feet from a cargo plane being loaded with supplies stamped with the Red Cross logo.
    “One more thing,” Max said to Duna, as they left the van. “Why did Larry call in outside help? Why not rely on the UN to protect her? They managed it yesterday.” When Duna hesitated, Max’s expression darkened and he said, “Never mind. Wait for me, okay? I’ll be back in a minute.”
    The three men from Dirk & Steele walked to the airplane. Eddie watched his feet. Amiri gazed up at the sky, patient.
    “You two would be good in a monastery,” Max muttered. “Vows of silence, and all that.”
    Eddie smiled. “And?”
    “And it’s a fucking mess. Duna doesn’t know shit. Nothing we can use. Coleman left him hanging dry for our arrival. Regardless of the guns.”
    “The timing is peculiar,” Amiri mused.
    “Yeah. It also bothers me that he’s been so secretive. People go missing, you tell someone. You don’t bury it.”
    Eddie jammed his hands into his pockets. “Coleman held out on Roland.”
    “Roland is not easily deceived,” Amiri said.
    Max grunted. “As soon as I get out of here, I’m calling him. Maybe he can pry something useful out of his old buddy.” He clapped Eddie on the