NIGHTHAWK: AFRICAN ICE
NIGHTHAWK: AFRICAN ICE is a sequel to NIGHTHAWK CROSSING. Wanted by the FBI for murder and smuggling, Joseph Branson, Chief of the Midlake Indian Tribe, flees with his wife Hazel to the Maldives in the Indian Ocean where he is a business partner with Igor Romanoff, one of the world’s biggest arms merchants. All this is carefully watched by the CIA.
Joseph and Igor begin trading weapons for raw diamonds sourced from conflict zones in Africa (Blood Diamonds – African Ice). Joseph sets up a system to cut and polish the diamonds and profit from the added value. In the process, they wind up dealing with African Jihadists establishing the Central African Caliphate threatening to engage much of Northern and Central Africa in genocide.
Selling the cut high grade diamonds takes Joeseph to Colombian Cocaine processors who trade immobile US Dollars for more mobile diamonds.
In the meantime, Hazel returns to the Midlake Indian Tribe and runs for Chief to replace Joseph. She is opposed. Her life is threatened and she kills.
Inspiration for NIGHTHAWK: AFRICAN ICE by C. Edgar North
Many who read NIGHTHAWK CROSSING asked for a sequel. At the end of NIGHTHAWK CROSSING Joseph fled the country with his wife Hazel to avoid arrest for smuggling and murder. Why not place him with Igor, his Russian partner and have some more adventures?
One of my hobbies has been gemology and in my work history I visited diamond cutters in India and precious gem cutters and polishers in Thailand and Sri Lanka. I have also worked in 5 countries in Africa and many of the Caribbean states and am aware of the some of the undercurrents at play.
“Blood Diamonds” aptly labels the process of trading raw diamonds (African Ice) for weapons – common in many African states.
Hazel’s return home to America gave the opportunity to build a story on her push to assume leadership of her tribe and consider resuming cross-border smuggling. Midlake First Nations Reservation is like any small village – politics can be rough.
