Cargo: A Leine Basso Thriller by D.V. Berkom

two.”
    “Tell me about the two brothers. The smaller one seems less inclined to follow orders.”
    “You’d be right about that. Sefu, the big one with the machine gun, has something to prove, whereas his brother Kibwe isn’t such a bad guy.”
    “Could be a way to leverage that, don’t you think?” she mused.
    “ Ja , definitely.”
    “I noticed they weren’t too interested in your bribe. What’s Wang like when things don’t go his way?”
    Derek gave her a rueful smile. “He can be a ruthless shit when money’s involved. Obviously, a reward has been offered for my safe delivery to interested parties.”
    Leine could work with greed. At least it was something. She wiped the perspiration from her forehead with the back of her hand. The hot, muggy space was like being locked inside a dirty humidifier. Thankfully, they weren’t above decks. The temperature in their little prison could have been much worse.
    “Since we have a bit of time, let’s get to know each other,” Derek suggested. “Maybe I’ll be able to figure out why they’ve decided to keep you locked up in here with me.” Derek folded his arms across his chest and studied Leine. “I’ll go first. You’ve been around guns, obviously, and not just your normal, everyday handguns. I’ll venture a guess you were in some kind of military unit at some point in your life, yeh?”
    Leine shook her head. “Nope. My turn.” She held his gaze. “There’s more to your being here than just skimming a little off the top.”
    Derek’s attention shifted to the floor for a second and then back to her.
    “I’m right. What’s your great sin? Did you betray Wang?”
    Derek shrugged, paused. “He might look at it that way.”
    Leine leaned her head back. “Ah. Then it’s even more important we escape before pulling into port. Betrayal is a worrisome accusation when the aggrieved party has triad connections. Things don’t normally end well for the accused.” For all of Derek’s earlier bravado, the look in his eyes telegraphed his concern.
    “How do you propose we do that?”
    “I haven’t figured that out quite yet, but I will. Are you interested? Because if not, I’m fine going it alone.”
    A look of annoyance crossed Derek’s face. “Well, of course I’m interested. Jesus, I knew I should’ve skipped that meeting with Wang.”
    “Tell me about poaching. What’s your motivation, other than money?” Leine asked. “You say you have plenty. With the exception of career criminals, I’ve met very few wealthy people pursuing a way of life that could land them behind bars or face down in a ditch somewhere who were solely in it for the money. At least, very few who are as successful as you say you’ve been. The luster of gold wears off, while the challenge dies with achievement.”
    “I live for the hunt.”
    “Not good enough,” Leine shot back. “Not much challenge locating game in a helicopter now, is there?”
    Derek nodded. “When I first started, poaching was hard work. Dangerous work. It took skill and gave game a fighting chance. I only took what I needed to fill orders.” He gazed past Leine at some far-off memory. “Nowadays, they track them by air and use machine guns. No skill in that. And no way to replenish the herds, either. Shortsighted bastards.”
    “And this is how Victor Wang operates?”
    “Yeh. He’s got a traveling safari camp and uses a helicopter to scout game for his clients. Some of ’em actually prefer hunting from the air.”
    “Pretty tough to outrun a chopper.”
    “You could say that.”
    “And you decided to stop doing things his way, is that it?”
    He shrugged. “That’s part of it.”
    “Not only did you skim profits, but you attempted an end run around Wang with one of his clients. Am I close?”
    Derek smiled. “You must have a crystal ball. I figured I could work things better than Wang. His business practices aren’t what I’d call sustainable.”
    “Greedy without a view to the