Page 6 of Quinn

Major entities: Reyansh Aranid,

Gemi Fadhlan, Harto Solei.

Number of other entities: Unknown but

Estimated to be around sixty.

Cartels currently dealt with: Unknown.

When Daly asked us to prepare for landing, I closed the folder and fell into thought as we descended.

Connor’s concern had not only been about the lack of information about the drug dealers, but more so, their business. It was one of the reasons he’d kept reminding me not to change the location for our meeting.

We usually chose to conduct business in hotel rooms, or in the case of Popondetta—at the compound, where it was out of view of prying eyes. They were with men we’d known for years though, men who could be trusted.

Connor still didn’t fully trust Eddie and the men I was meeting with were unknown to The Kumul Cartel. Since what had happened to Jake was still fresh in his mind, he’d made the decision for this one to be held somewhere more public. I hadn’t objected. Jake’s kidnap and brutal beating had left me shaken and wary.

The plane touched down at the airfield and Logan taxied to a stop near the terminal building. Waigi and Mala had reached the front of the cabin, and after we each grabbed our overnight bags, the steps were lowered, and we found ourselves stepping into the searing heat and humidity of the capital.

We strode toward the terminal, a large tin shed which resembled an aircraft hangar, and passed through to the taxi stand.

A red Datsun 200B station wagon, dented and scratched, that looked more like it belonged in a wrecking yard, sat waiting. When we strode closer, the driver stepped out from behind the wheel.

“Tarvois Hotel,” I instructed while opening the lift up door to access the rear luggage area and throwing my bag inside. Mala and Waigi added theirs and Mala slammed the door closed.

The driver climbed back in behind the wheel, I slid into the front passenger seat, and the other two men settled in the back.

We all wound the windows down as the driver pulled away from the kerb and into traffic. We quickly discovered that we’d hired ourselves a guy who believed there were only two speeds to a car—flat out and stopped. I was convinced he fancied himself as a racing car driver with the way he took the turns on the steep road leading down to the capital. I hung onto the frame of the window as I was thrown back and forth in the seat, and when I turned to check out the pair in the back seat, I saw them holding on for grim death.

When he came to a stop, I’d never felt so relieved to see the hotel. I handed him a ten kina note, way more than the trip was worth, and left, or more appropriately—fled the vehicle. Waigi and Mala scrambled out, we grabbed our bags and headed into the hotel.

“We’ll get checked in and then head across the road to the club. I need a stiff drink after that.”

Waigi and Mala grumbled their agreement and we strode to the front desk where a young woman greeted us with a smile.

CHAPTER TWO

QUINN

Present time

Mala entered the hotel room and his eyes shifted to the unconscious girl on the bed. I held her on one side while Waigi, who professed to know a little traditional healing, stripped the rags from her back and checked the gunshot wound.

“Connor said he’ll get the plane on its way immediately and we should expect Logan, Daly, and Barry in less than an hour. He said we’re to wait here at the hotel so Barry can assess the girl before she’s moved.”

“Thanks.” I pulled a twenty kina note from my wallet and handed it to Mala. “Can you head back downstairs and buy a pair of panties and a meri blouse. She’s about the same size as your daughter, Iliana, so find someone similar in the marketplace and ask them to help you.”

Mala slipped back through the door and Waigi and I returned our focus to the young girl.

“The bullet seems to have gone straight through and there’s not a lot of blood. I don’t think it’s hit anything, but look at her back, Quinn.”

I leaned over the girl and inhaled a sharp breath. Her back was criss-crossed with welts, some old scars, others more recent and still weeping with signs of early infection.

“I’m gonna kill the bastards that did this. Get a bowl of warm water, some face washers, and towels. We’ll get her cleaned up before Mala gets back.”

While Waigi rummaged through cupboards in the small kitchenette of the room, I stripped the remaining rags from the girl’s body. I took comfort in the fact her breathing remained even.

I threw the rags to the floor and Waigi came to the bedside with a dessert bowl of warm water along with a couple of face washers and towels.