Cross Country

department.”
    “Nice to meet you,” I said, not quite sure yet if that was true or not. How could I know? I half expected to be beaten up and to have my nose broken next.
    “It’s our understanding you’ve been following a local man known as the Tiger,” de Bues said, throwing me for a loop. What could this businessman possibly have to do with a killer for hire?
    “That’s right,” I said. “I came here from Washington, where he had committed a couple of savage murders. Savage by our standards anyway.”
    “Then, we might have something to talk about. Sit down,” Mr. de Bues said. It was clear he was used to giving orders. “Your reputation as a policeman precedes you, of course. Your record for solving difficult cases.”
    “How about you tell me what this is about first? And why your attorney is here.”
    De Bues’s demeanor didn’t crack. In fact, he smiled.
    “We’d like to help you find the Tiger. And, given that this is a rather . . . irregular situation, I want to make certain that I don’t say, or offer, anything illegal in this meeting. Is that honest enough for you? Please, sit down, Detective.
Sit
.”

Chapter 102
    “WHY WOULD YOU want to help a murder investigation?” I asked. I was genuinely curious.
    “Unilight International has a considerable interest in Nigeria. Our cosmetics and skin-care business alone has grown enough to justify the expansion we have planned in the southeast. This is true of many multinationals, not just the oil companies.”
    “In the Delta?” I asked.
    “Port Harcourt, yes. And, of course, Lagos. Whatever relationship we now have with local factions seems to be irrelevant to some of the Islamic extremist organizations that are now moving into the region.”
    “Are you saying the Tiger is Islamic? Because that’s news to me.”
    “No, I have no idea about that. I doubt that he’s a religious man. But it’s no secret he deals in goods that bankroll these groups — conflict diamonds, lifted crude, that sort of thing. Essentially, he creates inroads for them and makes life more difficult for all foreign corporations. And, as I’m sure you know,
Tiger
is the local term for ‘killer for hire.’ ”
    “And you want somebody to help you get the killer, or killers, out of your way?”
    De Bues looked over at his lawyer, who nodded, and then answered. “We want to help with your criminal investigation, that’s all. We’re the good guys here, Dr. Cross. Just like you. This is not a ‘conspiracy,’ like in one of the
Bourne
movies.”
    “Why not go through the local authorities?”
    He smiled again, that nonsmile of his. “You condescend to me, Dr. Cross. The political situation, as we both know, is complex here. It is fair to say that civil war is almost inevitable for Nigeria, but war is like fire, yes? Even as it burns something away, it leaves fertile ground.”
    It seemed like every day in Africa, I was falling a little farther through the looking glass. This conversation was turning out to be no exception. The CIA had directed me to a multinational corporation — or maybe a clique of them — for help in a brutal murder case?
    I stood up. “Thank you for the offer, Mr. de Bues. I need to think about it.”
    De Bues followed me to the door. “Please, Dr. Cross.” He held out a business card. “At least take my number. We do want to help you.”
    “Thanks,” I said and left it at that.
    De Bues shook his head as I walked to his door. “You don’t understand, do you? This part of the world is about to explode. And if it does, Africa could go the way of the Middle East. That is the key to your murder case, sir.”

Chapter 103
    FRUSTRATED AND CONFUSED more than ever, I took a car service to Adanne’s office. Then we drove to her parents’ house, brainstorming about the case, Unilight’s involvement, and the Tiger’s whereabouts.
    My next stop would be to check local records — schools, hospitals, crime reports — any instance of an Abidemi Sowande from 1981 to the present.
    Adanne had good suggestions for getting access to state-level information. She wasn’t surprised that the multinationals were frightened and looking for help anywhere they could find it.
    “Maybe your murder investigation is heating up,” she said. “It feels like it to me.”
    “Yes, to me too.”
    Adanne took my hand and that was a distraction I needed. “If you’re good,” she said, “I might even sleep with you again tonight.”
    I leaned in and