Tortured Spirits (37 page)

Leaning to one side for a better look out the window, she saw flames below: dozens of bonfires in the street. Smoke billowed out the windows of a factory as well. Fire trucks had been dispatched in a wide radius to combat the fires, and scores of figures ran down a street.

They're rioting. They know Andre is free!

The helicopter circled the dark tower, and she glimpsed a helipad below. The aircraft descended and touched down on the roof.

The soldier on Maria's left threw a lever bolt into the unlocked position and opened the hatch. He hopped out and faced her, beckoning her forward. Unable to use her hands for support, she scooted across the seat, and the man gripped her bicep and helped her down without too much force. The spinning blades above whipped air around her, blowing her hair in her face, even as they whined to a stop. From this angle, she saw glowing hazes all across the city.

The soldier who had sat on her other side jumped down and grabbed her other arm, and the two men led her across the roof to two glass doors in a square structure that slid open, admitting them. Crossing the carpeted floor to a pair of elevators, she saw a door marked Aircraft Control. The first soldier palmed a button between the two elevators, and
a door slid open. They boarded the elevator, which serviced thirty floors. The lead soldier pressed a button numbered 20, and the door closed and the elevator descended.

On the twentieth floor, they followed a hallway to a room protected by a security scanner and two wall-mounted cameras. The first soldier swiped his ID card, the door unlocked, and he pushed it open. The second soldier guided Maria inside, where half a dozen khaki-clad police officers spoke on telephones and pecked at computer terminals, hurrying from one station to another with the frenetic energy of drone bees.

The soldiers stood Maria at a counter and spoke to a middle-aged attendant in French. “Be careful. She's supposed to be dangerous, believe it or not.”

You bet your ass I am.

The middle-aged attendant called to a uniformed black woman who came over. Maria appraised the woman. Late twenties, straight, shoulder-length hair.

I might be her if I grew up here.

“Empty your pockets,” the female soldier said.

Maria removed her cigarettes from her pants pocket.

“The cross,” the woman said.

Maria took off the gold cross from around her neck and added it to her belongings.

“You're not a soldier. Take that uniform off.”

Maria looked around the room at the men. Few of them paid any attention to her. She unlaced her combat boots and removed them. At least her toes felt better. Then she unbuttoned her camouflage shirt and dropped it on the
floor and stepped out of the cargo pants. She stood before the soldiers in a gray muscle shirt and black panties.

“This way,” the woman said.

Maria and the two soldiers who had brought her in followed the female soldier into an anteroom. Through the glass in another door, she glimpsed a dozen female prisoners in civilian clothing standing, sitting, and lying in a number of jail cells. But the woman took her through a different door, which led to a row of empty cells.

“What's wrong?” Maria said. “You don't want me to spread the word to the other ladies that Andre Santiago is free?”

The woman opened a cell door and nodded for Maria to enter. “We're protecting you for your own good.”

Maria entered the cell and sat on the lower bunk. “I don't need protection, girlfriend.
You
do.”

The woman studied her, then left with the other two soldiers.

Maria glanced around the cell: a sink, an exposed toilet, and a dirty towel were the amenities. A security camera looked down on her. She stretched out on the bunk, folded her arms behind her head, and willed herself to remain calm.

Mambo Catoute watched Malvado storm into the war room, Maxime trailing him. Using her cane, she rose a moment later than the other people around the table, including Buteau and Solaine, who had been frantically juggling laptops and cell phones to coordinate their troops
just moments before. Only Russel seemed calm to her. The man had participated in conflicts all over the world and had evacuated President Seguera from Manila, only to kill him at Malvado's request.

“What
is going on?” Malavado said. “I want reports from everyone, starting with General Buteau! How did Santiago escape from El Miedo?”

Buteau folded his hands on the table as Malvado sat and glared at him. “The rebels constructed a narrow tunnel beneath the prison. Security tapes show two of them dressed in military uniforms entering the cellblock through a storage closet. They killed all but two of the guards on duty and liberated Santiago and the priest. They escaped through the same tunnel, but my two surviving men apprehended one of them at the tunnel: Maria Vasquez.”

A cold look of satisfaction swept over Malvado's features.

“We have her in custody at the Ministry of Defense,” Russel said.

Score those points,
Catoute thought.

“How is it you never discovered this tunnel?” Malvado said.

Buteau made a face. “I don't know. The tunnel was three-quarters of a mile long, with tracks that carried rather unusual transportation dollies. They must have spent ten years digging it.”

Malvado shifted his gaze to Russel. “I expect El Miedo to be full very soon. I want you to do whatever's necessary to make it secure.”

“I'd be happy to, Mr. President.”

“I don't care if it makes you happy or not. I just want
it done. General, kindly explain the fires burning in the jungle outside the prison.”

“As soon as I received word the prison had been compromised, I ordered troops there from our central base and engaged rebel forces. We destroyed three of their vehicles and killed twelve of them. We don't know how many escaped.”

“How many casualties did we suffer?”

“Eight, in addition to the seven in the prison.”

“Then I would say they won this battle, wouldn't you? Especially since Andre Santiago is free.”

“Our coastal patrol located the boat Miriam Santiago sent to transport Santiago off the island, and we destroyed it with one of our helicopters. There's no telling how many men were on board.”

“Or if they were even from Pavot.”

Buteau didn't respond.

“At least your men apprehended the woman. I want them rewarded for that.”

Buteau nodded.

“I'll interrogate her as soon as I leave here,” Russel said.

He never misses an opportunity to prove he's essential,
Catoute thought.

But Malvado ignored Russel. “Shut down the airport and the shipyards. No one leaves Pavot Island and no one arrives. All business stops until my enemies have been punished. Colonel, what is the situation in Pavot City?”

Solaine sat straight. “We have riots in our cities. Buildings are burning. I've ordered all units to bring the
situation under control.”

“Use rubber bullets and gas.”

“Some of them are firing at us.”

“Dead civilians do me no good. Living civilians can become undead slaves. I don't care how many casualties you suffer, I want every Pavotian who's rioting to be taken alive to El Miedo.” He glanced at Catoute. “Begin administering Black Magic to them. I want them converted as soon as possible.”

Catoute bowed. “Yes, my lord.”

“William, inform Pavot News I intend to address the people immediately.”

“Of course, Mr. President.”

“I'm going to declare martial law. Any citizen who does not wear the black snake will remain in their homes until further notice. I want Jake Helman's face on-screen until he's captured. Offer a reward of one million dollars to anyone who provides information leading to his arrest and two million dollars for information resulting in Santiago's arrest. I want them both brought to me.”

Russel held up his cell phone. “I've already received dozens of calls from representatives of the US companies doing business here. They're alarmed, to put it mildly. A public crackdown right now could cause them to pull up stakes. If you publicly acknowledge Santiago's escape and subsequent capture or execution, the world will turn against you.”

The balls!
Catoute thought. Buteau and Solaine held their breath.

Malvado narrowed his eyes at Russel, who offered no reaction. “Anything else?”

“Now that we have Vasquez, there's no reason to search for Helman. He'll come to us. I guarantee it.”

Malvado stood. “I
am
declaring martial law. Our retaliation will be swift. By dawn, these riots will be squashed. Within twenty-four hours, all other matters will be settled. None of these companies will fold shop. As for your public relations recommendations, I concur. We'll continue to run cooking shows throughout the night. Bring Vasquez here when you've finished with her. But I warn you: if Helman
doesn't
come for her, you'll suffer in his place. I would hate for that to happen.”

Russel bowed his head. “Yes, Your Excellency.”

Malvado looked around the table. “Return to your command posts. We'll meet again in the morning.”

The men in the room filed out, Maxime and Russel together.

Malvado turned to Catoute. “What is it?”

“Forgive me, lord, but I wonder if I might ask what you intend to do with Helman.”

Malvado frowned. “I
will
see him harvesting my drugs as a zonbie. What business is it of yours?”

“I've promised him to Kalfu.”

Malvado's lips twisted into an angry smile. “Who are you to promise anyone on Pavot to Kalfu? Wasn't he satisfied with your granddaughter?”

“It was no act of generosity on my part. Kalfu demanded I give this man to him.”

“What kind of man incurs the wrath of a Loa?”

“I don't know. Kalfu doesn't share information with me.”

“What will happen to you if I refuse?”

“Kalfu will be most displeased.”

“What do I care what he does to your wretched old soul once you've died? You'll be of no more use to me then anyway.”

“Quite right. But he'll also be displeased with you.”

Malvado grunted. “Do you ever feel you've made a deal with the devil?”

Catoute suppressed her desire to laugh. “Every day.”

“When we have Helman, give him to Kalfu with my blessings. It's the woman I want.”

“Yes, lord. That brings me to my second point. If Russel's right and Helman comes for Vasquez, it would be easier for me if he came for her in the Black Church.”

“You would deny me my vengeance?”

“Not intentionally. I'd do my best to preserve Vasquez for you, but Kalfu is wily. It's possible he might claim her as well without warning me.”

Malvado pouted. “Bring the bitch to me first. I'll make my decision after I've seen her.”

“Thank you, lord.” Seeing the fear of Kalfu creep into Malvado's features, Catoute believed she had succeeded in her entreaty.

The van stopped at the edge of the jungle near the cliffs leading to the beach.

“This is as far as we go,” Shandre said.

They got out of the van, and Shandre and Stephane stretched a net covered with foliage over it.

“Thank you for your help, gentlemen,” Andre said. “I'm sorry for the loss of those brave souls outside El Miedo.”

“Thank us by leading us,” Stephane said. “Tonight was just the opening salvo. Malvado will unleash his dogs in full force.”

“That's why we have to stop him,” Jake said.

Shandre aimed his flashlight at the jungle. “There are other vehicles here. A
lot
of them.”

Peering in the darkness, Jake saw pickups, SUVs, vans, and simple automobiles hidden in the foliage. “At least they're not olive green.”

Emerging from the jungle, they gazed behind them. Above the trees, flares lit up the sky like fireworks, and helicopters became visible in the distance.