Black Mamba

by Tierney James

  Dage decided to humor the old man and followed his instructions. It took him several tries to tie the sock after spilling rice on the floor. With the heat came a relief Dage hadn’t expected.

  “You probably can buy a ready-made heat sock in Gaborone. They carry them in pharmacies.”

  Dage removed the sock and stared at the man who shivered in the room constructed of concrete blocks. He went into the next room and retrieved a blanket from one of bunks.

  “Here,” he said wrapping the threadbare fabric around the doctor. His next gesture was to hand him the bottle of water. “Drink.” The bottle wobbled in his trembling hands, so Dage held it to his lips for him. “Why did you help me after what we’ve put you through today?”

  “I am a doctor, and you needed my help.” His wobbly smile revealed a newly chipped front tooth. The water trickled down his chin.

  Another guard entered the room. “Should we try and question him again?”

  Dage stared at the doctor who lay down on his sagging bed then over at the guard. “No. You and your men can go. I’ll wait for the next shift and inform Baboloki you tried.”

  The guard raised his chin in acknowledgment and exited the room.

  “Dr. Girard?” Dage walked to the door and checked to see if the others had left. “I think it is time for a change of scenery.”

  Chapter Twenty-Five

  Tiki torches placed strategically around the campground blazed with flickering flames. The heavy dose of African romance wasn’t lost on Chase. Tourists paid good money for this kind of atmosphere, and Camp Kubu had mastered the brand beautifully.

  Quiet laughter floated intermittently into the darkness, followed by the roar of a distant, hungry lion. The cool breeze forced him to admit not wearing a jacket over his long-sleeved tee shirt might be a bad idea. He leaned against the railing constructed of twigs. Folding his arms across his chest, he continued to listen to the friendly chatter.

  The meal turned out to be a nice surprise for the guests. The British anticipated creepy- crawler cuisine and expressed pleasure to the camp director.

  “What was the meat entrée, Peter?” the younger of the two British women asked.

  “It is a traditional Botswana dish called seswaa. It’s a meaty stew served over thick polenta or, as some locals call it, pap.”

  “Explain polenta. That actually sounds Italian,” one of the German men chuckled.

  “Could be. It’s a paste or dough made of cornmeal. Some bake it, but we fried it. Quite a process.”

  Tessa laid her hand on her stomach. “Well, I want the recipe. Is it labor intensive? I’m afraid I’m not a very good cook.”

  “I’ll second that,” Chase chimed in. Tessa shook her head.

  Peter continued, “It’s boiled stew meat with plenty of onions and pepper. Once the meat has cooked for two hours, it is shredded and pounded with salt to add more flavor.” He lit his pipe. “The leafy greens we call morogo.”

  Baboloki twirled his wine in a glass with the Okavango logo stenciled on the side. “I appreciate the traditional foods of my country.”

  Chase wedged himself in next to Tessa, who scooted over on the rattan settee. “The mopane worms were a little out there, but I’ve had worse.”

  “Yes. These beautiful multicolored caterpillars are a local delicacy. I haven’t had them for a long time.” Baboloki drained his glass. “It is an acquired taste.” The ladies cringed and shivered almost in unison. The president chuckled and smiled broadly. “Thank you for sharing your portions, ladies.”

  Stretching his arm to rest on the back of the settee, Chase toyed with Tessa’s hair, when she shifted her questioning eyes to him. To jerk away would indicate displeasure, and they had already established they were involved. Hair like hers begged to be touched. His wolfish expression led her to lay a hand between them. In seconds, she’d managed to pinch him so hard, he jerked his leg to the side.

  “What’s the matter?” To an outsider, she’d appear genuinely concerned.

  Chase squeezed the back of her neck. “Got a cramp in my leg. I’ll take care of it later.” This time he sent her a warning glance, drawing a serious expression. Her mouth appeared pouty. She drove him crazy.

  Tessa chose to pat his thigh at that instant. “I think he overdid it today. Still thinks he’s twenty-five.” A light chuckle went through the group. She turned to the camp director. “Any news on Keeya? I’m worried. This is hostile country at night.”

  Peter nodded after puffing on his pipe. “I got word someone saw her with a man later in the day. I’m assuming she found friends to stay with. The Okavango is one big family at times.”

  “I’d like to see that information, Peter,” the president interjected. “She has been an employee for a long time. I want to make sure she is all right. This is not like her to take off without telling anyone.” Chase noted the concern in his voice, but guessed the president made a habit of putting up a good show for others.

  “I didn’t write it down, Mr. President. All I got was she seemed to be following the man and in no way seemed coerced. At the time, no one knew we were searching for someone, and I got the information secondhand. We have had workers wander off from time to time without giving us warning. Some of these people decide they are done for the day and leave if their job requirements have been completed. I wouldn’t worry too much about it. Sounds like she is safe.”

  Baboloki nodded then stood. “I’m calling it a night. I have some paperwork to attend to before retiring for the night.”

  “Where is your security guy? Dage I think was his name?” Chase withdrew his arm and wove his fingers through Tessa’s so she would stop patting his thigh to irritate him.

  “I told him to take care of some things in Maun. He’ll be back tomorrow if there’s a plane available. If not, he’ll have to find another way.”

  “Good show. Don’t want to lose any more guests.” Peter stood and accompanied the president to the steps. “I’ll have someone walk you to your quarters, Mr. President.”

  “Headed that way, too. We can escort the president, Peter.” Chase stood and leveled a look at Carter who pushed himself up then pulled Sam to her feet. Extending his hand for Tessa, resulted in her ignoring the offer and scooting to the edge of the cushions herself. Before she could ignore him further, he grabbed her elbow. “Night, everyone. See you in the morning.” Chase pressed a finger to Tessa’s back then ushered her near the president.

  “You don’t mind, do you, Mr. President?” Tessa cooed, taking the arm he offered her.

  “I never mind two beautiful ladies walking me to my quarters.”

  Sam stepped up on the other side and slipped her arm through his as well.

  “Besides, these two gentlemen look like they are used to protecting what is important.”

  “I think we’ll tag along, too. Long day,” one of the Germans announced as they meandered up.

  By the time they’d started down the path to their tents, the British guests called after them to wait up. Flashlights shone like beacons of safety.

  Even though the group surrounded the president, flashlights revealed guards stationed nearby with appropriate firepower to dissuade intruders or hungry animals.

  Chase’s thoughts turned to Handsome since he presented a bigger danger than a Cape buffalo or a sneaky hyena. He’d helped behind the scenes with the dinner, but Chase preferred him to be visible. There were still trust issues concerning his loyalty, methods, and future plans.

  Dr. Girard’s disappearance under mysterious circumstances left a lot of unanswered questions. This alone might cause Handsome to blame Baboloki but not enough evidence indicated his guilt.

  “Good night, Mr. President,” the group, one by one, offered.

  Chase could see the lights on in his fancy apartment-style quarters and several guards waiting for him. When he stepped onto the deck, his secretary joined him, said a few words then came downstairs to head to her own tent.

  The Germans and British spl
it off next, leaving the four Enigma agents to go it alone. Zoric and Vernon stayed behind to keep an eye on Handsome’s coming and goings under the pretense of a nightcap with the camp director who appeared willing to talk about the job bestowed upon him. Nothing like being told you’d appear in a magazine spread to open a person up.

  Chase invited the other two agents up onto their deck. “Looks like the president has plenty of security in case Handsome decides to do a little investigating on his own. His intimidation techniques can be a little overwhelming.”

  “Sounds like Dage may have been sent back to check on the doctor,” Sam offered.

  “I figured as much. Too bad we didn’t find out sooner.” Carter nodded at Sam.

  “I’d say we’d go have a look, but we’re trapped here in the middle of nowhere. I wouldn’t want to be in the Okavango, trying to navigate my way out, in the dark with hippos leaving the water to graze on land.” Chase gritted his teeth, trying to come up with a solution.

  “It’s late,” Tessa added. “Even captors need to sleep. Wherever he is, they think he can’t be found and have lots of time. I’m betting they’ll be careful once the word spreads about the medical clinic and the missing doctor. That will be all over the place by dawn.”

  “She’s right,” Chase agreed. “Someone always sees something around here. We’ll probably never know who spotted Keeya this morning. At least they didn’t recognize who she was.” He couldn’t stop a yawn. “See you guys in the morning. Zoric and Vern hope to remind Handsome of his promise not to go crazy until we can sort this thing out.”

  “It seemed to have a calming effect on him when I told him his mother was still alive.” Tessa unzipped the tent door while Chase waited for his agents to leave.

  “Wrapping your arms around him didn’t hurt, either,” he said, joining her inside. “I swear we need to bottle whatever it is you have to calm that beast.”

  “It’s called kindness.” Tessa removed her sweatshirt then searched through her bag. “I could have sworn I put my pj’s in here this morning.” She sighed spotting a lump under the covers. “Robert always complains I leave pj’s and socks under the sheets.”

  She started to pull back the blanket when Chase jerked her back into his arms.

  “Excuse me,” she snapped. “You’ve been a little too touchy-feely all night. Keep your hands to yourself,” she warned as he pushed her aside.

  “That lump moved.”

  “I’m not playing that game tonight, Chase.” The beam from the flashlight picked up movement where her hand had touched moments earlier. She sucked in her breath and grabbed the hem of Chase’s tee shirt.

  “Give me that flashlight, Tess,” he ordered in a low voice. She obeyed without question. He hammered the moving object several times then retrieved his hunting knife from his duffel bag. He stabbed the lump over and over then slit the blanket open to find blood.

  “Oh my gosh. Oh my gosh.” She covered her mouth as if trying not to scream while stomping her feet in a nervous dance.

  Chase pulled the dark-gray creature out slowly to make sure it could no longer strike. “Well aren’t you a bad boy?” The snake lay limp. “I believe we have a young black mamba.” With his free hand, he pulled back the covers and laid it on the sheet he’d ripped with his knife.

  “Young?” she squealed. “It’s six or seven feet long.” Her voice pitched near hysteria.

  “They can grow as big as fourteen feet. These guys are one of the most poisonous snakes on the continent. We would have never made it to a doctor in time for an antidote. And he most certainly would have struck both of us. They’re known for striking multiple times.”

  “I am terrified, Chase.” She doubled her fists over her heart. “Those things can slither in and out of our tents?”

  Chase exhaled slowly to control his rapid heartbeat. Once again, Tessa had been on the brink of disaster. “Like most snakes, they tend to stay away from people. I can’t imagine this guy lived around here.”

  “Are you saying someone brought it in here and wanted me dead?”

  “Kind of looks that way.”

  Chapter Twenty-Six

  Dage helped Dr. Girard into a small apartment on the outside of Maun. Not even the president knew of its existence. A second cousin had purchased it five years earlier and died suddenly, leaving it to Dage, his only living relative. He rarely came here and when he did, there remained a certain sense of concealment since it had remained in his cousin’s name all these years.

  Although he’d been loyal to the president, a certain amount of caution padded his common sense. The ruthlessness of his boss became mundane over the years. Most of the time he looked the other way in order to keep his position at the top of the favored list. Somewhere along the line, he’d begun to question the man’s mental state.

  “Where are we, Dage?” Dr. Girard obeyed his instructions to the letter as he slipped into Maun by hiding in the floorboard of the back seat. The tan Jeep, although old, retained a certain well-cared-for appearance. He had saved a long time to purchase it and knew buying another one would be almost impossible for him. He’d parked the car at a friend’s house who owed him a favor. With a little money incentive, his friend handed over his own car keys. Dage reminded him of his power in the government and left him a promise to return in a few hours.

  “A safe place, Dr. Girard.” He pulled down the shades of the ground floor apartment. Most of the other units in the building were visiting teachers from Gaborone. Efforts to make the building hospitable enough to attract people to work here guaranteed Dage a safe hideout for the doctor.

  “Thank you. You are a good man,” the doctor said pulling out a folding chair from the table. “Why are you helping me?”

  It took only seconds to secure the five-hundred-square-foot apartment. He ran the water in the sink until it cleared. “I’ll make you some tea then clean your wounds.”

  Dr. Girard remained quiet until the chipped china cup of steaming tea was set before him. Dage returned from the bathroom with a first aid kit and true to his word, cleaned his wounds then administered some antibiotic cream before bandaging his ear and head.

  “Let me make you more tea, Dr. Girard. I’ll see if I have something to cook. There may be noodles or rice.”

  The doctor watched him, reminding him what he’d done. President Baboloki would kill him if he found out. He needed a way out if this went sideways.

  He cooked without another word until he set a plastic plate filled with brown rice before the doctor. “It’s all I have.”

  The doctor took a moment to say a blessing over the food and finished by asking for protection, not for himself, but for Dage. “This is delicious. I’m in your debt.”

  “No. You are not. There was no need to burn the clinic down to get answers. Those people in the Okavango need you.”

  The doctor continued to eat slowly. His swollen lips prevented him from putting too much in his mouth at any one time. He could barely open it. “Yes. It will be difficult to raise money for another one. It took many years to get this far.” The doctor’s eyes watered.

  Dage regretted being a part of this madness. “Dr. Girard, I need to know. Has the Kifaru diamond returned to Botswana?”

  A sudden look of terror crossed the man’s face. Did he expect another beating?

  “I’m not going to hurt you. I’m trying to protect myself. If the president suspects I have double-crossed him, then I’m a dead man. So, I’ll ask you again—is the Kifaru in Botswana?”

  Dr. Girard pushed his plate away and motioned for Dage to sit down. “I have a story to tell you. You have done me a favor tonight.”

  “Sir, I was in charge of your poor treatment. I did you no favor. I have a responsibility to right a wrong done to an innocent man. I’m tired of being the muscle behind a monster. Talk to me.”

  “The story began over thirty-five years ago.” He squeezed his one good eye shut. “Or was it longer?”

  “Take your time, doctor.”<
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  ~ ~ ~

  Tessa stretched out on the king-sized bed like a spoiled feline then threw her arm out to touch Chase. Rolling over to watch him sleep in the first rays of morning light, she discovered him gone. A wave of panic engulfed her, and she sat up with such speed, her hair fell from her rubber band into her eyes.

  “Chase!” she called while moving the covers off her body. Cold morning air slammed against her bare arms and neck as a figure moved to her side.

  “I’m here.” He sat on the edge of the bed, not close enough to touch her, but near enough to let her know there wasn’t anything to worry about.

  Tessa eased back under the covers and stared at him. She managed to stack up some pillows behind her back. “I thought you’d left me.”

  “Not a chance.” He offered his boyish charm and grabbed at her covered foot like he might tickle her. She pulled away. “Pretty nice digs, huh?”

  The night before, Chase had hurried to warn Carter and Sam of their uninvited guest. They were okay. Since Carter had a radio, he contacted Vernon and Zoric. Handsome came almost immediately after informing the director of what had transpired. They were escorted to one of the tree house villas, much like Baboloki’s, for the remainder of their stay.

  Tessa tucked the covers around her chest after noticing Chase’s glances lingered on her body a little too long. They’d slept in the same bed without touching most of the night, thanks to an abundance of pillows. Once she’d heard an unusual sound and snuggled closer to his back.

  “I fixed coffee. Want some?” he announced. “This is not the cheap stuff, either.”

  “Yes. Thanks.” At least the job took him away from the bed. Talk about a knight in shining armor. “Does the inside bathroom have hot water, or do we have to wait until night for this one, too?”

  “I took a shower, and the water is not hot but quite warm. I’m going to miss taking you to the bathroom.” He laughed when he brought her the coffee on a small woven tray.