Siren in the Wind Book One of the MIT Series

Chapter Twenty-Two

The ringtone indicating Mandla Nkosi's call pushed Max to jump out of the shower and snap up the phone. Mandla wouldn't call without a damn good reason.

"How are you, sir?"

"I'm sitting on some interesting news and pondering how this might affect our plans. Where are you?"

"Back at our base."

"Do you have eyes on the woman?" Mandla asked, putting Max on edge. It had been two days since the barbeque and all seemed quiet.

"One of my men is with her, and one is watching her place. What's happened?"

"It may not be much, but I like to keep a close eye on what goes on in my country, even if it is all the way up on the northern border."

Northern border. Were Khalid's men filtering in from Zimbabwe or Mozambique?

Mandla's baritone voice continued, "Kris Muller's anti-poaching team was ambushed two days ago. Poachers shot at the five-man squad and the rhinos they were protecting. Kris Muller was the only survivor."

Max swore as he grabbed a towel. "Do you think it's related to Khalid?"

"Rhino poaching is carried out by criminal gangs, sometimes linked to extremist groups with sophisticated multinational networks. Al-Shabaab funds its activities through elephant and rhino poaching. As far as I know, Khalid is linked to gunrunning but isn't linked to any poaching networks. More than 120 Rhinos have been killed in the last 200 days, which is tragic for our people and our animals. The poaching syndicates are well organized and well-funded."

"Who funds them?" Max asked, rubbing the towel through his hair.

"Wealthy businessmen. Illegal wildlife trafficking is one of the world's top criminal activities."

Something didn't sit right. Would Khalid target Kris Muller to get to Abby?

"I need details on the attack. Was Muller injured?"

"His left arm was grazed by a bullet, nothing serious. He's heading back to Johannesburg," Mandla replied.

"Send me the details." This wasn't good. Muller was a potential distraction. Abby already felt guilty for lying to Kris about what happened to Megan in the UAE.

***

Reading a book on the sofa, Abby greeted Max with a smile. John yelled out a greeting as he rooted around in the kitchen.

"Are you eating again, bro?" Max asked.

"None of your business, hoe."

"Make me some muesli. I haven't eaten breakfast."

"Make your own damn birdseed," John grumbled. "I'm heading to Lizzy's soon."

Max sat on the edge of the sofa. "Are you enjoying your book?"

"It's an interesting book. Irena's Children." She flashed the cover, then paused. "You know what I'm reading, of course you do."

"I haven't researched it as I stalked you on camera if that's what you're referring to." Max smiled.

"It's a novel about a woman who rescued thousands of children by smuggling them out of the Warsaw Ghetto in World War II."

"Sounds heroic," Max said.

"I've just started, seems good so far." Abby paused. Max seemed different, more reserved if it was possible. Reserved and distracted. "What's wrong? Have you heard something?"