The Garden of Burning Sand by Corban Addison Page A

Obviously, they want him to be seen.”
    Zoe scanned the walls again and noticed a tubular device mounted on a stand at the corner of the property. “They have cameras, too. Maybe his father is a government minister.”
    “Or an industrialist. He’s obviously worried about a break-in.”
    “Robberies aren’t common in Kabulonga,” she objected.
    “But when they do happen, people often end up dead.” He took a breath and let it out. “Go home and get some sleep.”
    “Promise me you’ll keep me in the loop.”
    He laughed drily. “I’ll call you if anything interesting happens.”

Chapter 7
    At nine fifteen on Saturday morning, Zoe sat in the CILA conference room tapping her fingers on the table, waiting on Joseph. At her request, Mariam had summoned the response team for an emergency meeting. All but Niza had arrived in casual attire, and Zoe had briefed them on the events of the night before. Joseph, however, had yet to show up. She had left two messages on his mobile, but he had not returned her calls.
    By nine thirty even Mariam was showing signs of irritation. “This isn’t like him,” she said, checking her watch. “I’ll send an SMS.”
    Suddenly, Zoe heard a horn and saw the nose of Joseph’s truck pull into the drive. A minute later, he sauntered in with an insouciance that belied the tension in the room.
    “Sorry to leave you in the dark,” he said, “but I was busy, as you’ll see.” He found an empty chair and smiled at them. “The suspect’s name is Darious Nyambo, son of Frederick Nyambo, founder of Nyambo Energy Company, Ltd. Darious is thirty-one and a television producer at ZNBC. Frederick was Minister of Energy and Water Development under President Mwanawasa. I had breakfast with a friend who works at the Department of Energy, and he gave me the scoop on the Nyambos. Frederick is the leading private investor in the coal and hydroelectric sectors on both sides of the Zambia–Zimbabwe border. His holdingsand government connections make him one of the most powerful men in Zambia.”
    “Any relation to Patricia Nyambo?” Mariam asked.
    “She’s his wife.”
    Zoe leaned forward in her chair. “You mean the High Court judge?”
    “Exactly.” Mariam’s voice was grave.
    Zoe’s eyes went wide. “Why have I never heard of Frederick?”
    “He keeps a low profile,” Joseph replied. “You saw the security at his house. According to my friend, he’s a businessman, not a politician. He peddles influence quietly.”
    “All of that makes for delicious gossip,” Niza broke in, “but what proof do you have that he’s the assailant?”
    Joseph nodded. “I took photos of him and his SUV and showed them to our witnesses. Dominic and Given both recognized the SUV, and Dominic felt strongly that Darious is the man he saw. Given wasn’t quite as certain, but she agreed that they look a lot alike.”
    “That’s enough for probable cause,” Zoe said, glancing at Mariam.
    Niza held out her hands, as if trying to stop a runaway train. “Darious might have picked the child up and dropped her off, but what do we have linking him to the rape itself? For all we know, he took her somewhere and another man raped her.”
    “We have Dr. Chulu,” Zoe disagreed. “And we have DNA.”
    Niza rolled her eyes. “You act as if that’s a simple proposition.”
    “You act as if it’s impossible,” Zoe shot back.
    Mariam spoke up: “Sarge, what do you think?”
    “The child witnesses are a problem,” he said calmly, “and we don’t have firm evidence of age. I would say we stand a fifty percent chance of getting assigned a magistrate who won’t consider DNA in a case involving the son of Patricia Nyambo.” He looked at Mariam. “Thatsaid, we should talk to the Director of Public Prosecution. If he agrees, we should co-prosecute.”
    “What?” Niza exclaimed. “You just shot holes in the airplane, and now you’re telling us to take off. We need something more, a lot more.”
    Sarge