“But don’t approach,” Lee said. “If they see you, they may hurt you.”
Her father scoffed. “You didn’t see me coming.”
“No, sir,” Lee agreed.
“Do you need any food or water?” Her father turned to Nhiari.
“We’re good,” Lee answered for her.
When he continued to look at Nhiari, she nodded. “We are, Dad. Do you want a lift home?”
“I won’t risk you breaking your cover for me. It’s a nice evening for a walk. I’ll call your mother and let her know you’re safe and she can pick me up away from here.”
Nhiari helped him to stand and then hugged him. “Thanks for coming after me, Dad.”
“Always.” He squeezed her. Then he eyed Lee. “If any harm comes to my daughter, I’m coming after you.”
Lee held out his hand. “I would expect you to.”
Some kind of man speak went on between the two of them as her father clasped Lee’s hand and they both nodded. Nhiari rolled her eyes. She wasn’t a child.
Still the little girl of her past would have been thrilled to have two men protecting her. Not that her father hadn’t when she was at school. He hadn’t known about her troubles.
“How long will this take?” her father asked.
“I’m not sure, Dad. A few more days at least, maybe a couple of weeks.”
He scowled but kissed her cheek. “Take care, child.”
She walked him to the entrance of the cave and watched him walk away. She smiled, her heart full at the way he moved through the bush without a sound. When the darkness swallowed him, she turned back to the cave. Lee was rubbing his throat. “Did he hurt you?”
“I’ll live,” Lee answered. “He took me by surprise as I walked out.”
“Thank you for not hurting him.”
“When I realised he was your father, I couldn’t.”
She wasn’t digging further into that comment. Instead she switched on a light and went over to the table where all their information was spread.
Lee placed the gas cooker on his tailgate and started preparing dinner. From the looks of the food he retrieved, it was something with ramen. “Do you need a hand?”
“No, I’ve got this. We might need to move tomorrow, though.”
“Dad won’t tell anyone where we are.”
“I need to pick up more food and check in with a couple of people, anyway.”
Which reminded Nhiari. “You said I could call Dot.”
“Tonight, after she’s had time to get home.” He didn’t look at her as he said it.
“How do you know she’s not at home?”
He continued to prepare dinner.
“Lee, what are you hiding from me?” She moved over to him.
He sighed. “There’s a tracker on her phone.”
