The Liberian Agenda Read online

  “This is part of your life too. You belong at my side,” he said.

  She jabbed her finger into his chest again and looked up at him. He winced at the tiny pain and the serious look in her eyes. “Do we have a deal, mister?”

  Joseph crossed his fingers behind her back and nodded his head. ”Yes my lady. We have a deal.”

  ***

  A few weeks later, Sonia sat on the couch with her mother in her parents’ living room. Her father played with David. She’d dreaded telling them about her decision to go to Liberia with Joseph, but she couldn’t put it off any longer.

  “So, we’d just be moving to Liberia for two years. We’ll come back to the U.S. a couple of times each year to visit with you, and you could come visit us too,” she said.

  “Liberia? Is it even safe there?” Her mother wrung her hands. “They've been reporting on the news about pockets of unrest there. You're going to put yourself into that sort of danger? What about my grandson?”

  “Ma, the house is very well guarded. And Saye and Fatima hired this great nanny to help me take care of David. He did really well there the last time we visited,” Sonia said.

  “But what about your job, your friends, your life here in the U.S.?”

  “Part of my life is being with my husband. This is a great honor for him and David and I should be by his side. I've already asked my firm for permission to take a sabbatical and they've agreed. Other lawyers at the firm have taken sabbaticals to do public service, take political positions, and things like that. The firm was pretty open to the idea,” Sonia said.

  “But what will you do while you’re there? You'll go crazy sitting there in the mansion for two years while your husband helps to run the government of Liberia,” her mother said.

  “Well, Joseph and I have friends there -- Tyrone and Tara Nkrumah. You met them at the wedding. Plus, President Sirleaf requested my help in negotiating business deals for the Liberian government. It's also a great opportunity for me to explore my interest in writing. I’ve always wanted to write a book. Plus, I’ll get to spend more time with David. That's something I couldn't do if I were here working all the time,” Sonia said.

  “You seem to given this a great deal of thought,” her father said.

  “I have, Daddy,” Sonia said.

  “Well, if it's something you really want to do and you've thought it through, then we shouldn't stand in your way. We’re going to miss you and my little buddy here an awful lot though. And we're going to worry about you both,” he said.

  “Yes, we are. I don't think this is a good idea at all. Are you sure he isn't forcing you to do something you don't want to do?” her mother asked.

  Sonia rolled her eyes. Why did her mother always have to act as if she couldn’t make a single good decision for herself? “Of course not, Ma. This is something we’ve decided to do as a family.”

  “Okay. Okay. Since you’re dead set on going, I can’t stop you. But I don't like it.” Her mother folded her arms and rubbed them with her hands. “I don’t have a good feeling about this at all.”

  Her mother’s words sent a strange feeling of foreboding through Sonia. Her mother’s “feelings” had proven accurate time and time again over the years. Like the time her father travelled to Israel and the American embassy was bombed. Her mother seemed to have a sort of sixth sense about these things.

  She wondered, for the tenth time, whether she’d made the right decision. But it was too late to turn back now. Joseph had already accepted the position and she’d already taken the sabbatical from work and shipped the majority of her and David’s clothes and other necessary items ahead. For better or worse, they were going to Liberia. She’d just have to make it work.

  Chapter IX

  A year later, Sonia sat in the living room of the Saytumah family mansion, paging through an American magazine.

  Fatima walked into the room. “Are you okay, Mrs. Saytumah? Can I get you anything?”

  “Please, call me Sonia. I'm okay,” Sonia sighed. “I guess I'm just a little bored.

  “Where is David?” Fatima asked.

  “The nanny has him. Do you have time to come sit with me for a while?” Sonia asked.

  “Of course, Mrs. Saytumah. I mean Sonia.” Fatima joined her on the couch.

  “So, how has working with Joseph been for you? Is it very different from working with Dwe?” Sonia asked.

  “Well, my duties are still the same. But Joseph is much more even tempered than his father was. That is not to say that I did not enjoy working with Mr. Saytumah, but he could be a little unpredictable at times.” Fatima covered her mouth with one hand. “Oh, but I should not say such things.”

  “Nonsense,” Sonia said. “I’m the one who asked. Joseph has certainly been busy lately. I don't think I've seen him for more than five minutes since they swore him into his new position.”

  “Yes. We have been very busy. There is much work to be done in rebuilding Liberia,” Fatima said.

  “I know. And I don't mean to be selfish or whiny, but I guess I thought it would be a little different -- that I’d be playing more of a role. The last time we were here, the President requested my assistance in negotiating business deals for Liberia. Although I’ve gotten to do some of that, it's not exactly steady work. As a partner in a corporate law firm, I'm used to having a lot more to do on a daily basis. It’s a little hard for me to just lie back and do nothing.

  Fatima raised her eyebrows. “Many women would kill for the opportunity to relax and enjoy their home and their children. To not have to work so hard just to survive.”

  “I know. I know. I shouldn't complain. It's just that, at times like this, when David isn't here, I sort of miss my old life,” Sonia said. “What do the other ministers’ wives do to stay busy?”

  Fatima shrugged. “Some of them just sit back and enjoy their position. They stay home and tend to their children, plan parties and other social events, and shop. A few of them do volunteer work.”

  “Volunteer work? What sort of volunteer work?” Sonia asked.

  “One of the ministers’ wives volunteers at a rape crisis center. You met her at the installation ceremony – Mrs. Dagher,” Fatima said.

  An image of a beautiful, dark-skinned statuesque woman appeared in Sonia’s mind and made her smile. She had liked Mrs. Dagher. She was friendly and had a wicked sense of humor. The idea of doing volunteer work appealed to Sonia. She’d have to give her a call and set up a lunch date with her.

  “Can you get me her number?” Sonia asked.

  “Yes, ma’am. I’ll get that for you right away,” Fatima said.

  “Thank you, Fatima. And thanks for sitting with me and listening to me rant. I’m sure you have tons of work to do,” Sonia said

  “It was my pleasure. Call me if you need anything else,” Fatima said.

  “Thanks. I will,” Sonia said.

  ***

  A month later, Sonia and Tara hung out in the Nkrumah mansion’s family room.

  “So, how have you been?” Tara asked.

  “I've been good. I’ve been volunteering a lot lately at the rape crisis center. That work can really tear your guts out. It’s unbelievable what some of those girls have been through and what they’re still dealing with. But it's given me something meaningful to do, which I really needed. Joseph has been missing in action since we got here. He's been so busy, I feel like I only see him at night for quickies in the dark and at social functions,” Sonia said.

  Tara laughed. “Well, at least you’re still having sex. I’ve heard some of the ministers’ wives complain they don’t even get that. Although I suspect their husbands are getting those needs attended elsewhere.”

  Sonia chuckled. “Not Joseph. He comes home to get what he wants.”

  Tara fanned herself. “Sounds hot. Now why can’t I find a man like that?”

  Sonia reached over and patted Tara’s arm. “You will, girlie. You will.”

  The news came on the radio. They listened to
the announcer talk about pockets of unrest in the countryside. Sonia frowned. She had noticed that security around the mansion and the rape crisis center seemed to be tighter – more noticeable.

  “I'm a little worried about all of this unrest in the countryside. Are we safe?” Sonia asked.

  “Well, in Liberia, ‘safe’ is a relative term. But you are protected in the Saytumah family compound and here. And, so far, the unrest has only been in the countryside -- not in Monrovia. If you were in danger, Joseph would be among the first to know. I’m sure he would send you and David out of the country,” Tara said.

  “But what about him? He’s not invincible,” Sonia said.

  “Well, you know how men are. He would stay and fight for his country. He would feel it was his duty,” Tara said.

  A servant ran into the room. He spoke quickly in a thick Liberian accent and waved his arms around -- clearly agitated about something. Tyrone and Tara turned to look at Sonia with grim expressions on their faces.

  Sonia felt a chill go down her spine. “What? What's happened? I couldn't make out much of what he said.”

  “There’s been a coup. Rebels have taken over the Presidential mansion. They escorted the president to the airport and sent her into exile at gunpoint,” Tyrone said.

  Sonia couldn’t believe her ears. The very thing she feared the most seemed to be happening. Her throat tightened. “A coup? Oh my God. I’ve to get back to the mansion. I have to get to my son. Joseph -- oh my God. Is he okay? Where is he?”

  “At the Presidential mansion, I imagine,” Tara said drily. “Joseph is doing just fine. He’s the one who executed the coup.”

  Sonia drew her brows together. No. She couldn’t have heard that right. “What? No. That can't possibly be true. What are you talking about?”

  “Sonia, it was Joseph who led the rebels that took over the Presidential mansion. Did you know about this? How long has he been planning this?” Tyrone asked.

  It was Joseph who had done this? No. Hell no. That had to be wrong. She shook her head, grabbed her purse from the coffee table and rose from her seat. “No. There must be some sort of mistake. I have to get back to the house.” She turned toward the door, but Tara stood up and grabbed her arm, stopping her.

  “Wait a minute,” Tara said. “You can’t leave yet. We don’t know if it’s safe out there.”

  Fury and frustration rose swiftly within Sonia. She whirled on Tara so quickly that the woman released her arm and took a step back. Sonia narrowed her eyes and stabbed a finger in Tara’s direction. “No! You wait a minute. I don’t know what the hell you people are talking about and I’m not wasting another second trying to figure it out. I have to go see if my husband and my son are okay and you can’t stop me.” With that, she stalked out of the living room and out the front door.

  “Sonia!” Tara called after her.

  Sonia kept going. She walked up to the limousine parked outside, got in and ordered the driver to take her home.

  The streets of Monrovia were in pandemonium. Although there were always throngs of people walking the streets -- especially in the downtown area -- the number of people milling about had tripled. Some were celebrating, others protesting. Traffic was almost at a standstill.

  At one point, they passed through such an angry mob that Sonia feared for their lives. Men ran up to the limousine and started pounding on it with their fists. The driver pulled his gun out, thumbed off the safety and laid the weapon on the seat next to him. The men backed off.

  ***

  When she got back to the Saytumah family mansion, the first thing Sonia did was track down the nanny and check on David. He was playing with his toys in the nursery -- happy as could be. She picked him up and held him tight, finally releasing the breath she didn’t even know she’d been holding. She closed her eyes as relief flooded through her body and some of the tension eased. He’s safe. Thank you God.

  Not wanting to let him go, she walked over to the rocking chair and sat down. At first, David squirmed restlessly. But, when she picked up a book from the table and began reading to him, he snuggled up to her and let her rock him to sleep. She put David down for a nap under the watchful eye of the nanny and then went in search of her husband. But he wasn’t home.

  She paced back and forth in the living room waiting for Joseph. All kinds of thoughts and horrible scenarios ran through her mind. Where was he? Was he dead? Lying in a ditch? Had he been taken prisoner?

  An hour later, he walked into the room. Sonia ran into his arms and burrowed her head in his chest. He held her while the words came flooding out of her mouth. “Joseph! Oh my God. Are you okay? What the hell is going on? I was at Tara and Tyrone's house when a servant ran in and told us there had been a coup. They said the Presidential mansion had been taken over by rebels and that you were leading the coup! Oh baby, I was so scared. I knew there had to be some mistake.”

  Hearing nothing but silence, she pushed back a little and looked up at him. Something was wrong. “It was a mistake, wasn't it?”

  He looked back at her, a hesitant expression on his face. He took her by the hands and led her over to the couch. “Sonia, come sit with me.”

  Sonia let him draw her down onto the couch. He sat down next to her and continued to hold her hands in his. “There was a coup. But you do not have to worry, my lady. We are safe.”

  “What do you mean, ‘we are safe’? If there was a coup, how could we be safe?” She didn’t understand. Then it hit her. She snatched her hands out from his, jumped up off the couch and turned to fully face him. “So it is true. You were the one who executed the coup. Why Joseph? Why did you do this?”

  “There was growing unrest in Liberia. President Sirleaf made a lot of progress since she came in, but we Liberians are an impatient people and it was not happening fast enough. Poverty in this country is tremendous. We still do not have running water or electricity in parts of the countryside. Unemployment is still over fifty percent. President Sirleaf wanted to maintain a democratic system. The Liberian army was getting restless as were the people. It was only a matter of time before someone else staged a coup. Liberians need a firm hand. I thought that, if I executed a coup, at least I could make sure President Sirleaf left the country alive. I did it for Liberia, and to protect her safety,” he said.

  “But what about us? What about your son? You put us all in danger by doing this. What did you think we would do, stay in Liberia and live happily ever after? What about my life back in New York? Did you even think about that before you went and executed a coup? Now that you’re president of Liberia, what are we supposed to do?” Sonia asked.

  “Your life is here with me. By my side. You and David belong here. David is a Liberian by blood. You are my wife,” he said.

  “What?” Sonia stared at him, not quite believing the words that were coming out of his mouth or the utterly resolute and matter-of-fact tone with which he said them. Then she looked into his eyes and she knew. The mask was gone and she saw, for the first time, who her husband really was -- a manipulative, conniving, megalomaniac.

  “You bastard,” she said. “You planned this all along, didn't you? You never intended for us to go back to New York.” Her voice broke and she shook with fury. “You planned to take over the country from the very beginning, didn’t you?”

  When he just sat there, staring at her, she became even more enraged. She threw her hands up and began to pace back and forth. “Well, I don't care what you do. I’m going back to New York. To hell with you. You can stay here and run your country and do whatever the hell you want to do. I’m taking my son back to safety and to his grandparents who must be going crazy with worry right now.”

  Joseph rose from the couch and glowered at her. “You can do whatever you want, but you are not taking my son with you.” His voice was dangerously quiet.

  Sonia stopped pacing and stared at him, her heart constricting in her chest. “What? What do you mean?”

  “David is not leaving the country. I
f you want to be with him, you will have to stay here with me,” he said.

  “You would keep my son from me? What gives you the fucking right to do that when it was me who gave birth to him, me who breast-fed him, me woke up in the middle of the night with him? What gives you that right?”

  “I am the president of Liberia. I can do whatever I want to, and you had better start thinking about that,” he said.

  Sonia saw red. “You fucking bastard! I hate you!” She flew at him and tried her level best to claw his eyes out.

  Joseph grabbed her by the wrists and pushed her backward. Hard. She landed on her behind on the rug. Dazed, she looked up at him, breathing heavily. He stared down at her for a moment, then stalked out of the room. She stared after him in disbelief.

  This couldn’t be happening. Who was that man and what had he done with her husband? It had all been a lie -- their marriage, the life they’d built together. The man she loved, the man she thought she had married, didn’t exist. It all had been a lie.

  She lay there on the floor and cried -- the sobs racking her body, the pain of his deception and betrayal so intense she thought she would die.

  When she had no tears left, she wiped her face and headed to the nursery. David was sleeping peacefully – blissfully unaware of the havoc taking place around him. She crawled into bed with him.

  ***

  Back at the Nkrumah family mansion, Tyrone and Tara sat in the situation room reporting the recent events to their handler.

  “We have now received verification that Joseph Saytumah has executed a coup and taken over the Presidential mansion,” Tara said.

  “What is the status of President Sirleaf?” Ben asked.

  “She is alive. Joseph had her escorted to the airport and put on a plane bound for London,” Tyrone said.

  Ben sighed. “That’s a relief. How did this happen? Your assignment was to keep this from happening.”

  “Well sir, we didn’t expect for Joseph to pick up where his father left off in terms of the coup. We expected for him to carry on with the arms business since he ran it for his father prior to his death, but it was much more likely for Saye to try to execute a coup. We did not believe that Joseph and Saye had amassed enough political power yet to pull it off. Joseph just took over his father’s position a few months ago. We just didn’t see this happening for at least another year,” Tara said.