She consulted some notes on her iPad and said, “Nadege was born in Rwanda forty-three years ago, but his parents escaped the political and social unrest, fleeing to London where Nadege was raised among the elite of London society. Schooled at King’s College of London, he graduated cum laude with a PhD in political science. He’s traveled extensively his entire adult life—moving back and forth between Africa, London, and the United States. He began as a professor and somehow insinuated himself into London politics for a time. Long enough to forge political ties in his home of Rwanda anyway. He falls off the face of the earth about seven years ago, leaving a wife and three small children in London, not showing up on my radar until Ella gave Brody his name a month or so ago.”
Ella speared Brody with a look. He raised an eyebrow and shrugged. He cleared his throat, and Ella knew the action hurt him. “You were in trouble. Shit was speeding up. I needed Vivi. Hell, you needed Vivi.”
She couldn’t be mad at him. “Thank you.”
He nodded and turned his gaze back on Vivi.
Vivi and the rest of the team looked at Ella.
“Nadege came on the scene with Dresden shortly after I entered his tender, loving care. Nadege is well spoken, attractive, a big man with big aspirations. He has no conscience, which Dresden adores in his subjects. He’s also a master strategist, and he’s formed solid bonds with tribal leaders all over Africa. When you speak with him, he comes across as sane. When you see him deal with his people, he’s a despot. He controls his people with fear and rage. He’s made a fortune in his own right through diamond mining and running guns for Dresden.
“Diamonds are the trade in Africa. Diamonds and people. Money doesn’t mean much, but diamonds mean power. And to reach the upper echelon of that power scale, you must go through Dresden. Nadege is intelligent enough to realize that he’ll get further with Dresden than without him, and he’s effected a change in the scenery of terrorism in Africa. He owns a lot of land as well. Possession is everything. His hands are on it; it’s his. Rumors are that terrorists are setting up shop to train all over Africa.”
Ella drew in a rough breath. She remembered a time when she’d made a pickup for Dresden in Burundi from Nadege. His courier had been missing four fingers from his left hand and his right ear. He’d handed Ella the bag full of diamonds and fallen to his knees pleading for mercy. Nadege had laughed and laughed and laughed. “Tell your Boko Haram leader I let you live because I’m gracious, but if he interrupts my supply line by invading any more villages, I’ll kill you all. Tell him, and I’ll continue to let you live.” She shuddered.
“Nadege controls all terrorism in Africa, and if Al-Qaeda, Boko Haram, or anyone else thinks to step on what he considers his, he destroys them. They don’t move unless they’ve approved it through Nadege. That’s the kind of control we’re speaking of. Yes, they’re training all over the continent. Because he allows it. There are rumors of other activities going on in Africa as well. Always there are rumors.”
“You’re telling me he’s stronger than Al-Qaeda?” King asked in disbelief.
Ella glanced at King. “He’s not as diversified or as zealot-driven, but yes, he’s stronger—in Africa at least—than Al-Qaeda. Might is right in that area of the world. And right now, Nadege, with Dresden’s backing, has the might.
“Nadege brings us to Dr. Gabrielle Moeller. Twenty-eight years old, graduate of Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine. Said to show great promise, she was slated to perform her residency at Walter Reed Medical Center in Bethesda, Maryland, but never followed through. She’s the daughter of Harold and Caroline Moeller, deceased some twelve years ago. Her father was at one time the ambassador to China, and he was a two-time senator from Maryland. Gabrielle Moeller went to an all-girl private Catholic high school, and here’s where things really get interesting—she met Anna Beth Caine at Saint Pius, and they became inseparable until two years ago when they both disappeared off the face of the earth.”
“Lots of people falling off the face of the earth, Vivi,” Rook said, an edge to his voice that displayed his concern.
“Yeah, Granger. They disappear, but they don’t realize I’m the one looking for them,” Vivi said with a grin.
Rook grunted.
Vivi huffed. “I really hate when you do that.”
Ella just wanted her to hurry the hell up. She needed to get to Jude. It was a driving mantra in her head. Every second her teammates traded loving quips or secret grins was another second she was without him.
“Okay, what’s the connection between Moeller, Anna Beth Caine, and Dresden?” Allie Redding tossed out.
“I’m not sure where Moeller falls in other than her connection to Anna Beth. And let’s talk Anna Beth Caine,” Vivi said, taking a deep breath and once again consulting her iPad. “Born twenty-six years ago, second daughter of Noah Caine,” Vivi said, pulling her glasses down as she looked each person in the eye. “Our Piper.”
Everyone nodded. By the pall in the air, everyone understood the weight of his picture on the board.
“Anna Beth is Caine’s second daughter. Cameron, married name Markov, was born two years previous. The Piper’s wife died in childbirth with Anna Beth. Caine took the loss hard and moved his daughters to the Maryland countryside, buying a property that butted up against… Anybody?” No one answered, and King made a motion with his hand to hurry Vivi up. She huffed
