&n
bsp; “She was upset we were leaving.”
Sam looked at her. “What is it?”
“Nasha. They can’t find her.” Remi turned on the speaker and shifted in her seat, looking back at Amal. “Did she say anything to you?”
“Just that she’d miss me. What about up in her tree?”
“We’ve searched everywhere,” Wendy said.
Remi glanced out the rear window, seeing the supply truck behind them. “Oh no … Sam, stop the car.”
Sam braked and again looked at Remi as Pete pulled to a stop behind them. “You don’t think …?”
“Think what?” Wendy asked.
“Hold on,” Remi said. They got out of the Land Rover and walked back toward the truck.
Pete hopped out, following them around to the cargo bed. “Something wrong?”
Sam unhooked the canvas covering, pulling it up. “Stowaway,” Sam said.
Nasha braced herself in the corner, a look of determination on her face as she stared back at them. “Are you mad at me?”
“She’s here, Wendy. We’ll call you back.” Remi dropped her phone into her pocket. “Nasha … I thought you liked it at the school.”
She bit at her bottom lip, then in a rush said, “I have to go back to Jalingo.”
“Why?”
“I promised. My friend’s there all by himself.”
“Chuk?” Sam asked, surprising Remi he even knew who Nasha was talking about.
Nasha nodded.
“We can’t leave him there,” Remi said.
“No,” Sam replied. “I’m just trying to figure out the logistics. I don’t think Kambili’s going to willingly give him up. If we’re lucky, we’ll find him out on the street.”
But once they reached Jalingo, the street where they’d first been accosted by the boys was surprisingly empty of pickpockets. Sam took a quick look around. “Pete, we’ll need you to stand guard while Remi and I go in. The rest of you wait here.”
As they walked off, Remi heard Lazlo saying to Amal, “I’ve been meaning to ask you about this jump rope rhyme you taught to Nasha. A bit of Latin, I believe.”
“Latin? I don’t recall teaching her any.”
“Pity, that. It reminded me of something. Nasha, what was that rhyme …?”
Remi, figuring Lazlo was reflecting on his lost youth, hurried after Sam and Pete. A few minutes later, they descended on the Kalu shop, only to discover that Kambili wasn’t there.
But neither was Chuk.
“He’s with Kambili,” one of the boys said.
“And Scarface,” another added. “They’re taking him home.”
“Home?” Sam looked over at Remi.