“I have a matter of some importance to discuss regarding a flight coming into Kigali from here in New York. I need help from your agency setting up a surveillance team.”

“Perhaps you should talk with the chief in the local station in Kigali. This is the main office for the entire country. I will transfer your call over to that office.”

‘Thanks for your help. Todd wasn’t surprised that he had been given the wrong number. It was just part of working in a large bureaucracy. He had dealt with this type of issue more than once over many years in this office. After a few clicks and hums, the phone started ringing again.

It was now nearly 1:30 am New York time, 8″30 am Rwandan time. The phone rang and was quickly answered by a man’s voice. This is the Kigali Police Station.”Joseph Tankengi here,” the man answered in perfect English.

Hello sir, this is Todd Jacobson in the United States with the F.B.I. I need to talk to someone in charge. “That will be Chief Mugabo. I will connect you to his office. “Thanks very much sir.”

The chief was gently drying off his lean face after washing it again in cool water. He had a thin coating of red dust on his brown face after his long and dusty bike journey. He stood looking in the mirror on the back of his office door at himself dressed in his perfectly pressed uniform.

His assistant and deputy chief walked quickly to his desk and picked up the phone.

“Hello, this is Todd Jacobs from the FBI in the U.S. Is the Chief of Police available?”

“Yes, one moment.” He placed his hand over the mouth piece of the phone and whispered to Chief Mugabo, “It’s someone named Todd Jacobs from the FBI.”

Chief Mugabo walked quickly across the small office to his desk and picked up the phone after hearing his assistant Chief whisper, “we have a call from the United States sir, it must be important.”