Manari hung up the phone and glanced over at John. “There will be a delay in arranging transportation to the island. In the meantime, I have been instructed to allow Mandy Fields to interview the prisoners.
John blinked. “The Mandy Fields? Mandy of the Fields Show?”
Manari stretched. “Yes. Apparently, she put in a request to the Triad to interview the prisoners before transport to the island.”
Frowning, John leaned against the door frame of the small office. With the prisons full, Manari had a small warehouse converted into a temporary jail. The Triad had actually bought the entire city block and then erected a security fence around the entire area. Patrols and other security devices discouraged the curious from approaching too close.
“Do you think it wise?” John inquired.
Manari snorted. “I really don’t care. It will create a fervor with the people—a fervor we can exploit.”
“So it’s all about money?”
The Italian gave John an incredulous look. “Of course it is.”
Thinking of the wheat deal he had almost brokered, John decided to say nothing. “What if the kids won’t participate?”
Manari frowned. “Well, let’s go ask them. Shall we?”
They left the small front office and made their way to the makeshift prison. Six guards stood around the metal room placed in the center of the warehouse floor. Most faced outward, but at least two stood facing inward.
“Open it,” Manari ordered.
One of the guards nodded and moved towards the door. He tapped in a combination in the keypad and the door swung open. John followed the Italian inside. He leaned against the door frame, adopting a neutral expression as he watched the drama unfold.
The three prisoners had stood to their feet when the door opened and now, as one, they backed up against the further wall. Only Neesha seemed to show any real defiance. The other two looked properly cowed for people who would most likely die in the next week or two and knew it. These two, John knew, had planned actions of mass murder. Neesha, he wasn’t so sure of. Thinking about doing something wasn’t the same as actually doing it. The other two had other evidence to support their intentions, but Neesha did not. It was troubling.
“I’ve got some exciting news,” Manari began. “Mandy Fields has requested to interview each of you on her popular talk show, The Fields Show. This is a great opportunity. Unfortunately, I can’t force you to participate.” He shrugged regretfully. “But it would be a good idea if you decided to go on the show.”
Ali didn’t say a word. He just glared malevolently at Manari. John revised his impression of the young man. He wasn’t cowed at all.
Sylvester, however, shook his head. “No way, man. I ain’t no circus clown for no African witch. She can go—”
“I’ll do it,” Nessha interrupted abruptly. Her feral grin sent a chill of apprehension down John’s spine. Here was a girl who had already accepted her fate and now intended to take as many of her enemies as she could with her. John had seen it in battle many times. Soldiers who realize they won’t survive and so decide to create as much devastation as they could before the end.
“Excellent.” Manari rubbed his hands together. He glanced at the young men. “Would either of you reconsider? It might make the rest of this trip more tolerable.”
Ali just glared, murder in his eyes. Sylvester shuddered. “No way, man. Like I said. I ain’t no circus clown.”
“Very well. Neesha, come with me.”
As the girl brushed by John, he had to twist aside as she attempted to jam an elbow in his gut. Manari just laughed.