Diamond Mine by Felicia Rogers Page A

spotted Hannah. Unfortunately, he couldn’t save them all. He was only one man. To save all of the hostages, he would need an army. And even then, it might not work.
    Without governments reviewing their laws and cracking down on illegal human trafficking, half the people in the camp would be recaptured and sold into slavery, or worse. There was always someone willing to pick up the slack. If not Tapiwa today then it would be someone else tomorrow. He was just one cog in the mechanism. Biashara Githinji probably had dozens of camps just like this one, all doing the same thing.
    Hannah’s concern over Melanie and her refusal to leave a man behind brought back memories. Sighing deeply over what he was about to do, he walked to the jeep and settled behind the wheel.
    She had avoided the blanket and instead taken a seat in the passenger side of the jeep. The sound of her chewing reached his ears.
    She said, “This isn’t right.”
    He raised a brow.
    â€œIt just doesn’t make any sense. Why would anyone think it would make more sense to put the wheel of a vehicle on the right-hand side and then top it off by making you drive on the left-hand side of the road?”
    A laugh escaped him. “Some things never change.”
    She faced him. “And what does that mean?”
    A grin spread across his face as he leaned against the door. “Nothing. I’m just glad to see you’re the same, still questioning everything.”
    She shrugged. “Humph. I haven’t even begun to question.”
    He sensed that once she started, the words wouldn’t be directed at the idiosyncrasies of driving habits in different countries, but rather toward him.
    To head her off he said, “Hannah, we need to talk.”
    â€œYes, we do. But not now. I’m going to finish this sandwich, which is great, by the way. I can’t believe you still remember what I like after all this time.”
    â€œI never forgot anything about you,” he mumbled.
    She gulped but didn’t comment. Instead, she said, “After lunch I have plans to make. They didn’t exactly give me free reign to roam the compound, so I’m not sure what I’m up against. All I know is I have to rescue Melanie. Who knows what they have planned for her and the children.”
    He could have argued with her. He could have bonked her over the head and dragged her away, kicking and screaming, but he knew no matter what he did, she would still come back. She would return to free her friend. So he did the only thing he could do. “Tell me about her.”
    Hannah’s grin expressed deep feelings. “Melanie, well, she’s one of my best friends in the whole world, and she has been for the last eight years.”
    The timing meant she must have met Melanie soon after his departure. He refrained from stating this fact as he listened.
    â€œShe was there not long after you disappeared. Following your departure, my stepfather was transferred to another town. Melanie was my new neighbor and my new best friend. Her grandmother lived beside us. I didn’t know it, but Melanie was filthy sticking rich. We stayed friends through college and beyond. When she married, she and her husband became missionaries in Africa.
    â€œKorzan, Melanie’s husband, sent me a letter and a ticket to come for a visit. He said Melanie suffered from extreme homesickness. I was stuck in a rut myself, so I hopped on a plane to surprise them. Only I was the one surprised. I arrived to find Korzan missing. I only had a few hours with Melanie before Tapiwa and his men showed up.”
    She fiddled with her tattered shirt and studied her sandwich.
    â€œWhile we rode to the compound, Melanie explained the last couple of years. She’s been living alone and in fear. Tapiwa threatened that if she told about Korzan, then she and the children would be next. When I showed up, Tapiwa believed she’d told. And that was that. His men took