Page 15 of Jael

He jogged with the boys back to the field while stealing a quick look at a building being constructed nearby. It was the beginning of what would become a multipurpose area for these boys and other kids from the slums. He’d worked hard to get support for the new building that would house a library and study space to help get these boys and more through school.

Once they were gathered at the side of the field, rough with stones and dirt, he clapped his hands to bring them in, and they started running through drills. A couple of times he found his mind wandering to Adisa, but he couldn’t let himself get distracted when there was a whole group in front of him that needed guiding.

He jogged down the sideline, calling out encouragement or instruction. Then, he noticed someone standing on the other side, watching.

Ekele noticed her too and ran over to Danny.

“She’s back,” he said.

“Who is?”

“Don’t know. She was here earlier asking for you. We all thought you knew her.”

Danny squinted, but the most he could tell was that she looked like a Westerner. “Guess I better go find out. You guys keep going.”

He didn’t hurry as he rounded the field. When he got closer, the woman put her hand on her forehead to shade her eyes in the light. Her white hair made her head glow like a halo. When she dragged her braid across her shoulder, his stomach plummeted.

“What could she possibly be doing here?” he muttered. “God, this is a challenge I don’t need right now. Please let me be dreaming.”

“Jambo,” she said with a wave, and what he’d prayed was only an apparition in the shimmering heat became a solid form. “Habari gani?” she added with a disarming smile he knew was a tool she used to get what she wanted.

“We speak English whenever we can” was all he gave her as a greeting.

“My apologies. Let me start again. Hello. How are you?”

“I’ve been better.”

“I hope that’s not due to my presence. My intention in coming here was not to upset you.”

“You can’t take all the credit. My life does consist these days of things other than the bureau.”

“But you’re not happy to see me.”

Danny looked out at his boys to keep a level head and give him time to find a response. “Did you expect me to be? You took advantage of the help I offered.” She may want to act like there were no hard feelings between them, but he wouldn’t ignore the past. Not when it could bite him again.

“You were a criminal, Danny. Did you really expect me to play fair with you?”

“Was that too much to ask?”

“I’m sorry we didn’t agree on all the outcomes, but in the end, we both got what we wanted.”

“Did we? Because I recall you promising I’d never have to see you again.”

A soccer ball soared through the air, and Danny jumped to catch it before drop-kicking it back.

Deborah watched it bounce once before one of the boys trapped it with his feet and they started playing again.

“I bet you’re happier having soccer balls speeding toward your head than bullets,” she said.

“I am. But I take it you’re not here to see what I’ve done with my life.”

“I already knew what you were doing.” Her eyes were steady on him, watching for his reaction to her bluntness.

“Which leads me to the pressing issue of why, when you said you’d forget I existed once I walked out of your office, do you know where I am and what I’m doing?”

“You should be flattered I kept tabs on you.”

“I’m not.”

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