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enough food on his table for his family?”
    Natalie threw up her arms. “He’s not after me for a handout. He didn’t even want me to bring him here.”
    “I’m not saying that he’s lying.” He clenched his jaw. He hadn’t wanted to start an argument, but it was a possibility that had to be addressed. “But what if he took advantage of an opportunity?”
    “He told me about his sister, Aina. They dragged her away, Chad.Along with his mother and father. They shot and murdered his grandfather—”
    “Just consider the possibility. A story like his could go a long way in helping him receive political asylum in the States.”
    He’d seen enough of Africa to know that there was often a fine line between truth and lies, and that embellishments were more often than not rolled into the facts. And there was nothing Natalie could do to change things even if the existence of the Ghost Soldiers was proven to be true.
    “I have to consider the fact that he’s telling the truth.” She rubbed her temples with her fingers. “But I’ll also concede that the upcoming election has me on edge.”
    “Which is all the more reason not to overreact.”
    “Maybe.” Natalie started walking back toward the exam room. “I need to get going. I was planning on throwing a party for my boss tonight at my house, but I can still make sure Joseph rests tonight.”
    “And then?”
    She stopped and shrugged. “I don’t know. The authorities are occupied with the upcoming election. I doubt they have the time or resources to investigate Joseph’s story.”
    He reached out and gently squeezed her forearm with his fingers. “Don’t get involved in this, Natalie. If you have to, call your boss or your senator back home—or forget about it for all I care. But don’t get involved.”
    A hint of anger registered in her eyes. “You’ve turned cynical.”
    He dropped his hands to his sides. “No. I’m a realist. I decided to return because of my love for the people. It’s the corruption and suffering I hate. And as much as I’d like to take it all away…realistically, I know I can’t.”
    “Joseph mentioned something else too.” She stared down the hall at the examination room. “He overheard two of the men speaking in English. They inferred that they’d be in power in four more days, that President Tau would be taken care of, and that they had the supportof this district behind him. Which sounds to me like the election’s being set so the opposition wins.”
    “The election is rigged?” Chad’s stomach muscles clenched. “That’s hard to believe. The UN has an election committee in place to ensure something like this doesn’t happen. Forget about this. Just go home and make sure Joseph gets some rest.”
    “I’ll go home.” She turned and caught his gaze. “But if Joseph is telling the truth, then the lives of a whole village—and perhaps the entire country—are at stake.”

FOUR
    MONDAY, NOVEMBER 16, 8:14 P.M.
    NATALIE’S HOUSE, KASILI
    “So what are you saying, Patrick? That the United Nations is using the Republic of Dhambizao as a poster child for fair and peaceful African elections?” Natalie set another bowl of homemade salsa on the wooden table next to the vegetable tray and frowned.
    As she’d expected, Patrick Seko had waylaid the conversation to fit his own political agenda, leaving little openings for topics other than the country’s upcoming elections. But while she hadn’t wanted a political debate at tonight’s birthday celebration, if Joseph was right and there were plans of a presidential takeover, it wouldn’t hurt to find out everything she could about the election. And Patrick was the perfect place to start.
    “ ‘A poster child.’ I like that.” Patrick picked up a handful of fried plantain chips and popped one into his mouth. “And yes, that’s exactly what I’m saying.” His tall, burly stature hovered over Rachel’s tiny figure as she stood beside him finishing a plate of