Impossible Odds

those kidnappers also had family and friends. Any one of them could be a source of information passed on about Jess to somehow use against her or against her negotiators.
    “I think we should all keep in mind that her kidnappers might try to get personal information on her, to force ransom negotiations in one way or another, and we shouldn’t help them.”
    “So we need to keep this quiet?”
    “Please. Completely. You can never tell where something could leak out. Her NGO is putting together a Crisis Management Team, and as soon as I have a number for them, I’ll put you in touch.”
    Erik could hear the concern in her father’s tone, but the older man kept his voice strong. “I’m so glad you’re there for her, Erik. Please, if there’s anything I can do . . .”
    “Just keep up good thoughts, John. We’ve got no reason to think this was done to make a public statement of some kind.”
    Of course he didn’t know that for certain. And he couldn’t tell if his words sounded as hollow to her father as they did to him. If so, he noted that John Buchanan was the kinder of them for not mentioning it.
    There was little more to say but to exchange awkward assurances. After he hung up, he found the call most notable for what John Buchanan didn’t say: You promised to take care of my daughter! Erik wouldn’t have blamed an anguished father for jumping to that thought, but he heard nothing but concern in her father’s voice. It eased the guilt but didn’t make it go away. The older man’s generosity of spirit made him feel as if he had swallowed a lump of iron.
    Shortly after he hung up on that call, his cell phone rang again.
    “Hello?”
    “Is this Erik Landemalm?”
    “Yes, who is—”
    “Agent Matt Espenshade with the FBI Legal Attaché Office in Nairobi. But please call me Matt. Anyway, we’re responsible for investigating major crimes against Americans here.”
    “. . . Yes. Uh, hello, Matt.”
    “I just want to check in with you, let you know we’re on this.”
    “Holy . . . I mean, who called you? I just found out myself!”
    “Yes. Now while we wait to be contacted with their ransom demand, is there anything special you need from us?”
    “Is there going to be a ransom demand?”
    “If there’s a crime against an innocent American citizen, there will be an FBI foreign office responsible for that region. It’s our job to oversee live investigations. That’s why you’re hearing from me and not someone from the Agency. The CIA goes after political players, military players. We step in when American citizens get snared in local crime.”
    “I’m serious; is there going to be a ransom demand?”
    “Of course that’s what we hope for.”
    “But will there be one?”
    “Well, these things tend to resolve one of two ways: ransom or rescue.”
    “Then you mean one of three ways, yes?”
    “Let’s think positive.”
    Erik felt the wiggle room in that reply, and his stomach sank. “Okay.” He exhaled a deep breath. “Well, I’m amazed you guys responded so fast, that’s all. And that’s great. It’s great. But listen, first of all you need to understand that Jess isn’t some idiot backpacker, taking risks out there for nothing. This is her life’s work. She didn’t even want to go near the Green Line, but she felt pushed to do it. And now this has happened.”
    “We know about her background. I’m working on this along with my full staff. I want you to know that when we open a case, it will not end until she is back with you. Now, what can we do for you at this point? Have you been in touch with her family?”
    “I’ve spoken with her father, but I don’t know how he and Jess’s family will hold up. Can someone from FBI contact them to assure them you’re on this case?”
    “We’ve already sent a car over there with colleagues of mine who are trained to take care of situations like this.”
    “Oh. Wow. Thanks. I appreciate . . .”
    It hit him then. He felt a sudden rush of dread. He had no proof this guy calling himself “Matt” was an FBI agent at all. What if he was a snoop from the media?
    Far worse, what if this “Matt” person was from the kidnapper’s organization, using a ruse to extract information? And there was Erik, chatting away as if he actually knew the guy. The dread surged so abruptly he nearly got sick to his stomach.
    He asked the person calling himself “Matt” for a callback number so he could verify his identity, then hung