Chapter 23

"What do you mean she left?" Derby raged as Jason informed him that Sophie was no longer at the lodge.

"She left sometime early this morning in the company of a young white woman, a black man and somebody that sounded like that body guard of hers." Jason said calmly. He had worked with Derby long enough for him to be used his boss's rages.

"He's dead." Derby said. "I was told he was dead."

"Yes sir, I did do a scout of the place and found both our guys tied up in the basement. It seems the body guard was wearing a vest and managed to get away from them."

"What the… I am working with complete idiots… First idiot number one allows those two assholes escape and now this…" Derby said loudly his fury rising within him.

"I am assuming that they are taking her directly to Johannesburg to fly her home sir, I have made sure that the airport is watched and if they make their appearance we will know." Jason said having made arrangements prior to calling his boss in the hopes of mitigating the fallout.

Derby was silent for a short while then nodded.

"Finally somebody with some intelligence." He said his voice dropping in pitch and volume. "You are right, they will be under instructions from the husband to get her back to him."

"Yes sir that is what I figured." Jason agreed.

"Very well. Jason you get back here ASAP and pick me up. Make sure your guys understand they are not to touch her. Understand? If she comes to any harm there will be consequences." Derby said and before Jason could answer he dropped the call.

Eliot had come to the same conclusion as Derby had, foreseeing his response to Sophie's disappearance and knowing somebody would have seen her leave with him and the others. The plan was simple, Sophie, Parker and Nate would head back to Johannesburg to take care of Derby once and for all and Eliot, Sterling and Hardison would take care of Derby's latest "Shipment". Sophie, Parker and Nate had left early that morning to head to the airport in Upington to get a flight to Johannesburg's OR Tambo International Airport and prepare for Derby's arrival. Eliot and the others had headed off to the compound where they hoped that the girls were. Eliot was fairly certain that Derby had not had the time to move them. Sterling had got a call from Charles informing him that he and a team of agents where headed up to the compound as well, acting on Sterling's previous information. Sterling had confirmed with the man that he and Eliot were also headed that way with another agent to try to effect a rescue of the girls. Although Charles was not happy with Sterling and the others heading into the compound without waiting for his arrival, it was clear that they were going to go ahead anyway. Sterling had agreed to wait for his agents to arrive and arranged a meeting place.

"Eliot, getting on the plane now. Be careful will you please?" Nate said as Eliot answered his phone.

"I will. What's your plan? You know he is probably going to have the airport watched?"

"Yes but I doubt they will look for her arriving on a flight. As for a plan, I don't have one yet."

"Well just don't do anything stupid." Eliot hissed.

"I won't…" Nate replied then hung up.

"Ok…here we go." Nate whispered as he, Sophie and Parker boarded the plane.

Next chapter is going to be all action I promise. Hope you enjoying the story so far