Chapter 4 - Page 29 - 2000 Acres

   Early the next morning, Jim hired a guide to drive him everywhere he needed to go. His first stop was the American Embassy. He needed information about Africa-specifically, the value of land in the area, and the name of a good realtor. The Embassy personnel contacted sources in the region and sent Jim to one firm after another. Nobody had what Jim was looking for.

   Jim talked to Mario and Chuck only once before they boarded the plane to go to the United States. That was the last time he saw them.

   At the end of the week, Jim was awakened by the high pitched tone of the ringing telephone. Pushing the covers back and dropping his legs over the side of the bed, he turned on a lamp, then picked up the phone. “Hello,” he mumbled.

   “Good morning, sir,” the hotel manager replied. “I’m so sorry to wake you at six o’clock in the morning, but I have a man here who insists on speaking with you.”

   Jim rubbed the sleep out of his eyes and scratched his nose. “It’s all right,” he said sleepily, “but who is the man, and what’s his visit about?”

   The manager cupped his hand over the phone while he asked the man the questions. Jim could hear a muffled conversation, then the manager uncupped the phone. “He says his name is Jackie Short and he wants to talk to you about a land deal.”

   Jim stood up with the phone in his hand. “Tell him I’ll be in the lobby in about fifteen minutes.”

   Jim didn’t have time to take a shower. He quickly donned a pair of comfortable, sloppy jogging pants and a pullover shirt, brushed his teeth, then rode the elevator down to the first floor.