Cold Tap
Cold–Tapping – the pirating of crude oil or finished petroleum products from pipelines or other petroleum production facilities. Cold–tapping is most prevalent in West Africa, specifically Nigeria.
Cold Tap follows two distinct plotlines. These lines intersect during the BP–Macondo eco disaster in Venice, Louisiana.
In 2009, Darias Rhodes, a would–be entrepreneur, happens upon a new live–enzyme bioremediation technology. He and his business associates become involved in the market development of this technology, first in wastewater management and then oil spill remediation.
Meanwhile, in Abuja, Nigeria, Andrew Numaah, the deputy minister of energy, and Ruth Numaah, the lead council for the Ministry of Health and Human Welfare, are about to retire after gaming the system for over one billion dollars.
Four days before the Numaahs are to depart for Frejus, in Provence, Andrew is assassinated.
Ruth Numaah and her two adult children want revenge. Their quest is assisted by a family friend, the commander of the Nigerian Mobile Police force.
Jake Numaah and his friend Liz Anderssen are working on the Macondo disaster as interns for the National Spill Response School. They are stationed in Venice, Louisiana. Darias Rhodes is also in Venice, observing and obtaining oil samples and data. He becomes acquainted with Jake and Liz.
Shortly, Darias is enlisted in the Numaahs' plot for revenge.
The plot also takes the reader through the frustration of trying to develop a market for a new technology in a desperate, corrupt, third world country, Nigeria.
The story wends its way from the United States to Abuja, Lagos, and Port Harcourt. From Frejus to Belize and Trinidad and Tobago.
Cold Tap follows the Numaahs' preparation to exact the ultimate revenge.
-- D.S. Speer