“Is it not clear? I’m trying to figure out who’s after you and how they got the information for that attack on your compound.”

“No. You’re testing me. Trying to see how far I’ll go to get rid of Auma’s people. If I’m willing to risk starting a war. Or murder a bunch of children.”

“What do you want from me, Nick? You said no to the gunships and I’m trying to work with that.”

“By turning me not just into a narcotics manufacturer, but a poison narcotics manufacturer.”

“More surgical, though, isn’t it? I doubt they’d share their ajali with their sex slaves.”

“If it’s such a great idea, then why wasn’t it plan A?”

“Because it forces me to fly Gideon Auma to a camp full of his armed worshippers with nothing but a Glock and a lucky rabbit’s foot in my pocket.”

“So, you were going to kill all those girls because you were concerned with your own personal safety.”

“No. I was going to kill all those girls because I was concerned with our personal safety. I think it would be more realistic if you came along, don’t you? I mean, you being the hostage and all.”

Ward’s face froze somewhere between fear and confusion. Not surprising, but a little disappointing.

“Feels kind of different when it’s your rich ass on the line, doesn’t it, Nick? And it’s not just a bullet in the head, either. You know as well as I do the kinds of things Auma does to people. My best guess would be crucifixion. But when he’s nailing me to that cross, at least I’ll have the comfort of knowing you’re right there with me.”

Ward didn’t seem to have a response, instead just swallowing some excess spit as Rapp broke into a grin. “Relax, Nick. I’m just fucking with you. I’ll go myself. But I would appreciate your people whipping up a batch of ajali for me.”

“It… It seems risky,” Ward stammered. “I’d have to contact someone outside of this compound and then they’d know I hadn’t been kidnapped.”

“But you’re the smartest guy in the world, right? I’m sure you can figure out a way to do it without tipping our hand.”

“But wouldn’t it be safer for you to manufacture it? Not a very big ask for Irene.”

“No. Not a very big ask,” Rapp said noncommittally.

“What reason is there to involve me, then? So you can see me get my hands bloody? Is it just cruelty?”

Again, Rapp smiled. “I’ve spent the last twenty years of my life drowning in cruelty, Nick. It doesn’t hold all that much fascination for me.”

“Then why?”