VANGUARD(23)

“There was no torture, Ms. Swenda. This man experienced an unfortunate accident.” Jaros shrugged. “Totally unintentional. Just ask his fellow residents, they will tell you it was so. As I said earlier, detainees generally do not perform jobs of responsibility, such as this one did. Accidents like this only happen when they perform skilled labor.” He smiled serenely. “Too many did not survive anyway.”

The executive team stood silently in the middle of the room until the guards took the man away, his frantic eyes fixed on Sophie until he was out of sight.

“It grows late,” she said, her voice sounding far away in her own ears. “Thank you for the maps, Commandant. They will make our job easier. My colleagues and I will return to our base to begin planning. Tomorrow, we will present our recommendations on how we wish to proceed, if that is acceptable to you.”

“Very much so.” Commandant Jaros’ frightening smile returned. “You are a surprising and talented woman, Ms. Swenda. I look forward to our next meeting.”

Sophie nodded stiffly and gestured to her colleagues to leave.





Chapter 5





February 7, 2014





The team had been in Parnaas for about a week. Sophie was working late into the evening on ideas for expanding the living areas of the camp. She’d been doing her best to convince Jaros that people stacked like cordwood inside flimsy shelters weren’t good for business.

She heard a rap on the doorframe and turned to see Anjali. She waved her into her quarters, figuring she could use some girl time.

“How goes the battle?” Sophie asked.

“We’re getting there,” the slender Indian woman replied. Anjali and the rest of the medical team had some tough challenges on their hands. “If we could get more space from the Commandant, it would help.”

Sophie tapped the papers on her desk. “I have a working plan here. Under normal circumstances, we’d split this monstrosity up into five or even six smaller camps. Maintaining a camp of this size is nuts. Then again, so is the Commandant.” She grimaced. “Since he refuses to allow us to split up the camp – says he doesn’t have enough guards and fencing to accommodate more than one facility – I’m working on getting more space. I think he’ll agree to a phased expansion.”

“That’s good news. Medical needs more room to isolate these pneumonia cases. Plus dysentery is making a comeback. But at least we can manage that.” Anjali paused for a moment. “How are you doing, Sophie? Personally?”

“I’m wondering what the hell I’m doing here.” Sophie rubbed her eyes. “Not on this mission. These last few days have been amazing. The team is working together better than I’d envisioned. Imagine if we could do this all the time. One global aid organization instead of thousands of small ones competing for donations.”

“I know the mission is successful. I’m asking about you. No news on Vanguard?”

Sophie shook her head, a lump in her throat. “No sign of him yet. No guarantee he’s here.” She stopped, her voice rough. “No guarantee he’s alive.”

“We’ve only been here a week.”

“And he’s been missing for nearly five months.” Sophie’s lips trembled at the corners. “I’ve sworn to find him no matter what it takes. But maybe he doesn’t want to be found.”

“Nonsense,” said Anjali. “From what you’ve told me of Vanguard, he’d never abandon his family without a word. Nor do I think he’d do that to you.” Her voice softened. “Do you honestly think he would object to you rescuing him from this camp? After everything we know about this place?”

“You have no idea the sorts of things he objects to,” said Sophie with a wry smile. “I’ve told him once in my life that I loved him. And that was ten years ago under highly emotional circumstances.” She looked down at the desk covered in her notes and sketches. “So yes, I have concerns about overstepping the boundaries of our relationship here. If I bump into him one day in the camp, it’s not like I can say, ‘Oh, hey, this is a crazy coincidence! When did you get here?’”

“That’s something I want to talk to you about,” Anjali said. “Both Will and I agree that if we do find Vanguard in this camp, you need to keep your distance at first.”

Sophie gaped at her. Not going to him if – when – she found him was like telling her to breathe underwater.