Page 8 of Devlin

“I’m heading down to Sweswe. We’re working on adding more sanitation facilities. It’s the smallest village, but it’s likely the next to see an influx of refugees.”

Mia nodded, a shadow of understanding crossing her face. There were always more refugees. Yet no matter how thin their resources stretched, they would always find a way to welcome them.

“Good morning!”

Both she and Ravi turned as Doreen Ateenyi, Ravi’s second-in-command, approached and then waved. The Ugandan woman’s bright smile was as radiant as the sun overhead. She held a master’s degree in public health, and Mia knew it was only a matter of time before another camp sought her expertise.

Mia continued, entering her office to find her second-in-command, Farid Hussein, already at his desk. The South Sudanese refugee had worked tirelessly over the years, rising to a position of leadership through sheer determination and skill.

“What did the good Dr. München have to say today?” Farid asked as Mia dropped into her chair.

“We’ll have some visitors,” she replied. “Actually, several visitors. A mission group will be arriving, and some of them want to assist with food preparation and distribution.”

“Do you know which village you’ll assign them to?” Farid asked, his brow furrowed thoughtfully.

“I’m thinking Bulit or Mukondo,” she said. “Mukondo might need more help, but if there’s a large enough group, we could split them between the two.”

Farid nodded. “Mukondo could use the extra hands. I’ll make sure everything is ready.”

Mia leaned back, grateful as always for Farid’s insight. “That’s not all. We’ll also have an on-site inspection,” she added, watching his expression carefully. “Margarethe Gunther from the WFP is coming.”

Farid’s face lit up with a broad grin. “Having her back in the camp will be a delight.”

Mia couldn’t help but smile. Margarethe could sometimes look like a battalion general, but she had a heart of gold and had been a source of kindness over the years with Mia. “You’re right. It will be.”

“Anyone else coming?” Farid asked.

“I’m not sure,” Mia admitted. “Margarethe’s bringing a team, but she’ll take care of them.”

“Excellent,” Farid said, standing. “Do you want me to handle inventory today?”

“Yes, focus on the main camp storeroom here. I’m planning to check the village warehouses.”

“Do you want me to go with you?”

“No, thank you. You’ll be busy here. Besides, it’s good for me to make rounds and keep a clear picture of what we have on the ground.”

Farid nodded, his confidence in her unshakable, before heading to the warehouse. Left alone, Mia closed her eyesbriefly, her mind heavy with unanswered questions. She didn’t want to believe anyone she worked with could be involved in the food thefts, but the logistics didn’t add up. Refugees couldn’t do it alone, especially if food was leaving the camp.

Inhaling deeply, she gathered the items she’d need for her inventory review, tucking them into a satchel slung across her body. Keys in hand, she stepped outside and headed to the Jeep. She would retrace much of where she went last week when she’d made the trip at night. But the camp felt very different in the light of day when the shadows were chased away by the sun.

5

The plane’s engines hummed as they touched down in Germany, marking the first leg of their journey. Devlin and his team disembarked alongside a contingent of military personnel stationed at a nearby base. With quiet anticipation, they were escorted to the airport transport area. Waiting for them there was Margarethe Gunther.

Devlin had read Margarethe’s background report from Sadie in preparation for the mission. Margarethe was a mid-fifties woman of medium height with a sturdy frame that spoke of resilience. Her steely gray hair was cut into a short, no-nonsense style that suggested practicality over vanity. But her eyes twinkled with an unexpected warmth, drawing him in as she greeted them. Her voice, soft and measured, carried a quiet authority.

“Welcome,” she said with a smile that offset her businesslike demeanor. She ushered them into a meeting room tucked away in the airport. “We only have an hour before our plane to Uganda departs. It’s a humanitarian flight, so we’ll take supplies.”

Inside, the room held a modest table laden with sandwiches and water. Devlin, Todd, and Cole didn’t hesitate to partake, grateful for the meal after the long flight.

Margarethe settled into one of the chairs, her posture relaxed but alert. “All right, gentlemen," she began, her tone pragmatic. "We won’t spend much time exchanging pleasantries since it’s unnecessary for the mission. That said, I know your leader, and he assures me you’re a highly skilled team, adept at military operations, with insight and investigative skills that will be invaluable to me. I trust his judgment.”

Devlin leaned forward slightly, listening intently as she continued.

“Let me give you a rundown of the situation we’re walking into. When we arrive at the camp, I’ve already informed the director that I’ll be bringing a team for security purposes. We’ll be auditing inventory and distribution procedures—something I’ve done many times before. It’s a believable cover and won’t raise suspicion. Due to other obligations, I can only stay a couple of days, but you’ll be able to do what you need to do.”

“Does the camp director know why we’re really there?” Devlin asked, his voice steady.

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