WAR: Intrusion by Vanessa Kier Page B

from such a variety of countries that it had developed a unique command structure. “What else do you have for me?”
    “Nothing,” Tony said with disgust. “I followed that Kwesi fellow away from the airfield, but all he did was park that hideous lorry behind his house, then disappear inside. His children have been playing in the yard all morning, but their father hasn’t come out. I’m so bloody bored, I almost asked the kiddies if I could join their football game.”
    “I have a better job for you. Why don’t you work some of your magic and search Dr. Kirk’s private quarters at the bungalow? Even if she finishes in the next few minutes I reckon we won’t be back at the clinic for another hour.”
    “I thought you’d never ask. Anything else you need me to do?”
    “No, just stay alert.” Lachlan explained about the vandalism.
    Tony whistled. “Do you think it was a direct attack against the doctor?”
    “Possibly. She hasn’t mentioned receiving any threats, and there’s been no attempt to interfere with her restocking the clinic, so it’s unlikely to be the start of a campaign to run her off. Still—”
    “I know. Don’t rule anything out. No worries. I’ll look for any evidence that there’s more to the story.”
    The idea of Tony going through Dr. Kirk’s things bothered Lachlan so much he almost rescinded his order and told Tony that he’d do the search himself. If he didn’t know better, he’d call the emotion jealousy. But he didn’t get jealous. Besides, even if he was starting to like the woman, he could never fully trust a doctor. So he had no right to feel jealous and possessive.
    Once he’d ended the call with Tony and checked that Dr. Kirk was still busy, Lachlan grabbed his rucksack, then found a spot where no one in the classroom would be able to spot him. Pulling out his field laptop, he transferred the photos of the loan document to the computer, then uploaded them to WAR’s secure server. He sent an email to the research department, copy to Kris, requesting a background search on Sani Natchaba and his business, with particular emphasis on whether SN Investments had been linked to the rebels.
    That done, he pulled out a map and marked off this area as having been searched. Where had the weapons gone after being delivered to the airfield? With their limited resources, WAR didn’t have access to any satellites with advanced imaging features and the local government had never bothered to create a detailed map of this region. What satellite images WAR had gained access to had failed to show any rebel camps or military installations nearby. He and Tony had found no evidence of large lorries moving equipment over the roads. Since most of the roads intersecting the jungle were dirt, any transport would also be at the mercy of the weather.
    Without the photos as evidence, Lachlan would have dismissed the idea that weapons were coming into this remote spot. But Lars, his team’s tech guru, had agreed with the other techs at WAR’s headquarters that the photos had not been doctored. So the weapons must be some place within easy driving distance. He had pegged the clinic as the most likely location, yet he’d not found any weapons. Perhaps Dr. Kirk’s storage room was underground. Few buildings in Africa extended below ground level, but with Layla’s Foundation being so security conscious, an underground storage facility made sense. It would also make an excellent hiding spot for the weapons.
    He or Tony would have to return to the clinic tonight and search for a hidden entrance.
    After a few more minutes of fruitless speculation regarding the ultimate destination of the weapons, Lachlan put his map away. He settled underneath a shady tree within eyesight of the SUV and closed his eyes, listening with half an ear to the interaction between Dr. Kirk and the local women. The women treated Dr. Kirk with a combination of respect and sisterly teasing that led to frequent bouts of