Chapter 16
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Jack and Sam entered the interview room where Amadi sat looking beaten but not down. The expression on his face was hard and unreadable. Sam sighed heavily; this interrogation was not going to be easy.
Jack walked directly to the table and sat down opposite Amadi. "Where's Dornvald?"
She was taken aback that Jack was so direct but she knew that he must have a reason so she decided to put on her poker face and wordlessly took the seat next to Jack.
Amadi sat perfectly still and made no indication that he even knew that they were in the room and continued staring straight ahead.
"I asked you a question. Where. Is . Dornvald?" Jack's tone was menacing.
Amadi didn't even flinch when he responded in a language that Sam could only guess was spoken in Makeba.
Jack gave him a humorless smile and said, "Very clever. You wanna try that again in English this time?"
Once again, Amadi responded in another dialect.
Sam could see Jack's jaw clench but when he spoke his voice sounded assured and confident. "Let me put it in a way a man like you can understand. We have you and Dornvald for the murder of Adisa Teno and the attempted murder of two federal agents. One of which is the son of the Deputy Director of the F.B.I." This was the first time that Amadi's expression changed, if only for a split second. "So needless to say, you are number two on his shit-list. Sorry, Dornvald is topping the charts on this one. But I'm guessing you are used to coming in second."
Amadi quickly glared at Jack before returning his gaze to the wall behind them.
"Of course, we both know that you're not the brains in this operation. It's Dornvald I want. So here's the deal: I can arrange to have the death penalty taken off the table so you serve a life sentence. It's death by lethal injection or life imprisonment in exchange for Dornvald's whereabouts."
Amadi's eyes refused to acknowledge that he had even heard the offer.
"Now it would be very easy for you to remain here and serve your sentence in one of our American prisons full of civil liberties and all that. I even hear they have cable TV now." Amadi's expression remained stoic, until Jack added, "Or the Deputy Director could see to it that you are extradited back to Makeba." This got Amadi's attention and his eyes shifted to Jack. "And I don't know if you have been following the news but it seems that the rebels have managed to take the presidents home. It seems highly likely that they will be gaining control of the government and I am sure they will welcome the return of such a popular fellow as yourself. You were one of Dornvald's favorites to dispel his brand of justice were you not?"
Sam could clearly see the inner turmoil boiling within Amadi before he replied, "I am not afraid to die."
"I'm sure you're not." Jack shrugged his shoulders and added, "But how do you feel about slow torture because something tells me that those in charge would prefer for your death to take awhile."
It was clear that this was not a happy revelation to Amadi. Sam saw a flicker of fear cross his face. As was usually the case, the biggest bullies were able to dish it out but not take it.
"I think this might be a good time for you to consider where it is you want to spend the remainder of your life. Something tells me that you stand a better chance here," Jack said, his voice was determined and confident.
Amadi swallowed hard and it took him quite awhile to respond. "I need time to consider this."
"Yeah? Well, guess what? Time's up. You tell me where I can find Dornvald right now or I walk out of this room and tell Victor Fitzgerald to get your plane ticket." Jack grinned and added, "One-way, of course."
Amadi sat still and Sam could almost see the wheels in his mind spinning, each second feeling longer than the next. As the time stretched on, she could also see that Jack had grown tired of waiting.
"Okay, let's go," Jack announced as he stood up and headed to the door with Sam following his lead.
Just when she was sure that Amadi would just let them walk out the door, he spoke up. "Keyser Building, Apt. 42."