“They visit my parents in Tennessee every summer.”
“What about Bobby?”
“Robert,” she corrected. “He’s setting up his new law business in Nevada City, a few miles from Grass Valley, where we live.” She didn’t make eye contact. “We’re excited.”
“Oh? We are?” With Handsome’s condescending tone, Chase admitted the almost moment with Tessa had evaporated. And she’d be very careful next time. Probably a good thing.
“Can we go?” Tessa pushed by them both and ran down the steps toward the water.
Handsome’s brow wrinkled. “Was it something I said?”
Chase jammed his index finger into Handsome’s stomach. “Stop getting in my way.”
“Aren’t you two already playing house?” He nodded toward the tree house then cut his eyes back to Chase.
“Not even close,” he fumed through clenched teeth.
A chuckle escaped Handsome’s thick lips. “That would explain why you’re such a—”
“Tessa and I are—friends. Nothing more.”
“So that is what friendship looks like.”
Chase eyed him from head to toe. “Tessa is…”
“Hot.”
“She is that,” he growled. “She’s also a good woman.”
“Are you trying to change all that?”
“Screw you. We wouldn’t even be here if it weren’t for you. She’ll fall for a sad story every time. You’re proof of that. When this is all over, I’m cutting her from field duty. She gets caught up in all this”—he waved at the surroundings—“and gets romantic notions in her head.”
“Aww. Poor Captain Hunter. Hero worship is such a drag.”
Chase noted the voice change from amused to cynical. There was no love lost between them. Handsome’s interest in Tessa continued to be based on how she could help him. Maybe he felt an obligation to protect her at the same time. A sense of relief came over him. Someone else might need to keep an eye on her.
“Are you a little jealous, Handsome?”
Handsome chewed on his bottom lip. “You do appreciate you’ll break her heart—and you’re a total jerk? You’re messing with pure gold. I would hate to have to feed you to—”
“Save the threats.” Chase moved toward the steps. “Let’s go. We’ve got things to do.”
Handsome caught up and pushed in front of him at the bottom of the steps. “What Dage said, about Keeya giving birth the day of the massacre… Tessa told me yesterday you have my birth mother.”
The time had come to let him in on the secret. “Keeya’s your mother. We discovered this after we arrived. The day at the clinic when she saw Dr. Girard and you, the pieces came together for her. You must look like your birth father.”
Staggering backward, Handsome took on a ghost-like gaze. “My mother? Keeya is my mother?”
“Yes. We had her taken away from here to protect her from being used against you by Baboloki. She’s suffered enough over the years. She is free and is waiting for us.” Chase took a deep breath and put his hands on his hips. “This has to be a shock. Dr. Girard never knew she survived. He was surprised, too, the other day when he saw her.”
“Where? Where is she, Chase?” Handsome spoke so softly, Chase stepped closer to hear. “I-I want to see her.”
“Then we need to get going. She needs to be moved to a safer place.”
He never had believed he’d see the day when this giant of a man would stutter and take on the appearance of a helpless teddy bear. A fleeting ounce of sympathy touched him until he remembered all the times Handsome had put him in harm’s way or tried to undo a plan, not to mention putting Tessa at death’s door.
“You stay out of my way this time, Handsome. I know what I’m doing and if we’re lucky, you and Keeya will come out okay.”
“And my father?”
Together, they moved toward the dock where a speedboat bobbed and the engine puttered softly.
“Carter and Sam are on it. Vernon and Zoric are with Baboloki. There are a lot of moving parts here, so don’t screw it up.”
Chase tagged along with Tessa to finish up the interview with Baboloki’s secretary. A good thirty-minute delay in her work schedule didn’t appear to give Naledi any concern since she got to talk about herself. Tessa even took some pictures of her working. The woman shut down after Tessa asked about the earlier confrontation with the president.
Chase slipped away to corner Peter in his office and asked some rapid-fire questions about the area politics while Vernon got the president and some of his men moving away from camp in a government truck. Peter sat down at his desk and gave a dismissive glance toward the door.
“My staff is going about their daily chores of cleaning the quarters, laundry, and food prep for the day. While I have them occupied, I really need to get some work done.”
When he exited the office, he saw that Handsome had wrapped Dage in a tattered bedspread and lifted him onto his shoulder. The man squirmed and moaned, frightening some plovers to fly up from the river bank. This in turn led to shrieks from tree-bound monkeys. On his way to the boat, he stepped a little close to a palm and banged his captive’s head into the trunk. This took care of his squirming.
He laid the body next to Tessa’s feet when he reached the dock then eased down into the boat, setting it rocking. After dragging the covered Dage after him without much finesse, Handsome secured him under a row of seats, unwrapping him enough to make sure he didn’t suffocate.
When Chase ran up, Handsome lifted Tessa into the boat. With his hands still on her waist he winked at her seriousness and patted her cheek before turning his gaze back up to Chase who joined them by hopping on board then pushed in between him and Tessa.
“Let’s go,” Chase demanded with a shove against the man’s chest. “Don’t make me sorry I’m helping you.”
“Whatever you say, Captain Hunter. Guess I’m in your debt.”
“Again.”
Chapter Twenty-Nine
Baboloki beamed at his photographers who would be witness to a demonstration of how he could handle the male spotted hyena lunging at him from his chained post. A baboon, also chained to a post, bared his teeth with a shriek of displeasure. The Nigerian stood rigid, to the side, eyeing him, and waited for instructions.
“Are you familiar with the Hyena Men of Nigeria, Mr. Zoric?” It gave him pleasure to finally see some kind of expression on the ghoulish face of the photographer.
With narrowed eyes, Zoric offered him a look of contempt. “Barbaric treatment of animals can end up being a death sentence for the abuser.”
Baboloki glanced over at the snarling hyena. “Yes. But in this case, I have a certain connection with these animals.” He waved his hand in the air to show disregard for the concern. “The herbal medicine I take gives me strength, fortitude, and insight to handle these beasts.”
“Insight?” Vernon lowered his camera after snapping several pictures of the president standing near the hyena.
“I become one with the hyena, and he believes I will not harm him while we perform.” He removed his tan-colored vest and shirt then tossed them to one of his guards. His bare chest revealed impressive muscles for a man his age, along with some nasty-looking scars, perhaps from wounds inflicted by these very beasts he claimed to control. He snatched a red tee shirt from a nail near the hyena and pulled it over his head.
“What are these herbs, Mr. President?” Vernon continued. “Native drugs?”
Baboloki bristled. “I do not need drugs, you fool. The beast within me controls the hyena. My people will learn from me that all they must do to live a healthier, stronger life is to take advantage of the herbs and medicine that are all around them. This Nigerian sells his herbs to the locals when he travels after such a performance. It is a good living, or so he tells me.”
The Nigerian helped the president into garb that resembled a long skirt-like apron over his short pants with layered strips of red leather around each edge. Gold and green
tassels, tied throughout the design, caught the breeze and floated up like wisps of hair. After tying the costume in the back, the Nigerian handed the president some chain ankle bracelets that tinkled like they might have tiny bells embedded throughout the links.
“Doesn’t using herbal medicines run the risk of a serious illness going untreated?” Zoric stepped back to set up his video recorder.
“Some of these herbs are for malaria, an illness not always treated properly out here in the swamp. There are natural remedies in every homeland. Even in your America, the weeping willow bark eases a headache when chewed. That is but one example. There is also the vinca used in the treatment of cancer.”
“Are you afraid these humble people will think, they, too, can be a Hyena Man or approach another wild animal because of the herbs they buy?” Vernon snapped a quick picture of the Nigerian.
Again, he waved away the possibility of fear. “To be a Hyena Man, you must be either trained for many years or a descendent of these men.”
“Which are you, Mr. President?” Vernon repositioned his camera, this time toward the hyena and baboon.
“I am both, of course. Although Botswana is my country, my home, I was born in Nigeria where I lived until I was ten. At that time, my family sold me as a slave to a military man in South Africa. He discovered my potential and raised me as his son until I entered the army.” He smiled and spread out his arms. “The rest is history, as they say.”
The president stood erect after attaching the chains on his ankles and slipping his bare feet into a pair of ragged flip-flops. The Nigerian retrieved a thermos from a backpack and handed it to one of the guards who poured a small amount into a disposable cup and drank from it then tossed it in the dirt.
“So, are we going to get a demonstration, Mr. President?” Zoric inquired, turning the camera toward the leader.
Another short cup was filled with the liquid and handed to the president who downed it in one gulp. He savored it momentarily and waited for some magical effect to empower him. The Nigerian easily approached the hyena and gave him a palm-sized piece of meat sprinkled with some wet herbs. When the jaws of the beast snapped at the food, the man dropped it to the ground where it was quickly scarfed down.
“The herbs help the animal relax and increase his interests in the performance.” The president didn’t hesitate to move alongside of the hyena who lay down then gazed up at his master. He reached down and stroked the hyena’s back and spoke softly. “He enjoys this.”
“Aren’t you afraid he’ll turn on you?” Zoric started filming.
“No.” The Nigerian unfastened the chain from the post and handed it to the president.
The heavy-duty chain remained connected to the hyena who seemed to take his cue and jumped to his feet. He lunged away and Baboloki jerked him back. This went on for several minutes until the animal lunged toward the president and rested his front paws on his shoulders. Both Zoric and Vernon jumped out of the way.
The president understood they believed the hyena would rip his head off with the vise-grip jaws. Instead, the animal appeared to rest his chin on his shoulder. Baboloki rubbed his neck and under his chin. The macabre dance between the two continued until Baboloki dragged the animal back to the post and reattached the chain.
“You see, nothing to it,” Baboloki panted, sweat pouring down his face and shoulders.
Zoric and Vernon stopped their filming and stared in awe at the dictator. In that split second, the hyena leaped toward Baboloki, growling with a viciousness absent moments before, and grabbed at his apron costume. He was jerked back under the strength of his jaws, but somehow reached behind him and untied the apron. The animal staggered back under the sudden release, and Baboloki rushed to get away.
His guards moved forward as did the Nigerian, terror in their eyes at what had nearly transpired.
“A-are you all right, Mr. President?” Vernon stammered.
Baboloki faced the animal and glared. He held out his hand toward one of the guards without ever taking his eyes off the hyena who tossed his head back and forth, the apron becoming a new toy.
A guard laid a revolver in the president’s hand and in a blink of an eye, Baboloki unloaded it into the animal. He stared at the lifeless body for a few seconds then turned to Zoric and Vernon.
“And that is how I deal with traitors,” he announced then sauntered back near the guard to return the weapon and spoke over his shoulder to the disgruntled Nigerian. “Get rid of it. Next time you bring me an untrained pet, I may have to shoot you.”
The Nigerian nodded and set about removing the hyena. The baboon squatted and observed the hyena in a strange silence. One of the guards retrieved the skirt apron and placed it in a burlap sack before going out to the Land Rover.
Baboloki slapped his hands together and laughed from deep in his throat. “Shall we move on? Our guide looks a little anxious to stay on schedule.”
~ ~ ~
The speedboat eased into the dock at the clinic location. The soft putter of the engine drifted with the ripples of the water into the tall papyrus grass across the channel. A large splash downstream revealed a bull elephant entering the Okavango. He disappeared somewhere on their side but seemed to be far enough away for little concern.
The scent of burned thatch caught the morning breeze, eroding the scent of simmering meat in cooking pots. Through the trees, a burned-out clinic lay in shambles like a dead cyclops, ugly and no longer of any use.
Handsome killed the engine and let the boat drift to the dock where he managed to tie it up. Chase put his hand on the weapon hidden under his safari vest to be ready in case they were surprised by poachers or Baboloki’s goons.
Joseph emerged from the trees. “Welcome,” he called. Several other villagers followed Joseph.
Chase moved his finger to the trigger of his weapon.
Joseph continued, “We have been waiting for you. Our other guest is safe and comfortable.
“How many people know about this?” Chase jumped up on the dock then extended a hand to Tessa.
Handsome pulled Dage to a sitting position and shoved him back against the seat.
“Everyone.” Joseph’s smile widened as he motioned for others to approach from the clinic grounds. “Yes. It was the wish of Keeya. These people have suffered much because of Baboloki. They will protect her. No worries.”
Handsome lumbered up onto the dock and extended his hand. “Thank you, Joseph. She is a special lady.”
The group of villagers gathered close, staring at Handsome as if he might walk on water any minute.
“Your mother is anxious to talk to you,” Joseph chuckled. “We had to convince her not to be in such a hurry.”
“You brought her here?” Chase fumed. “Joseph, we told you she needed to be in hiding. This was reckless.”
“I tried to do as you ordered, sir, but Keeya would have none of it. Besides, she is safer with her people than hiding in the bush. The soldiers will not return because they have destroyed everything of value to them. They have even taken our good doctor.” He shrugged.
“They are right.” Dage moaned as he twisted in his seat. “They think they have Dr. Girard. How they will use him is yet to be determined. If they can prove he has Keeya’s child some place, he is still of some use. When I released the soldiers so I could hide the doctor, my instructions were to find a connection between the child in the picture and the Kifaru. They are not stupid men but do not have the resources to pick up the trail of the child—in this case, Handsome. Hiding in plain sight is not such a bad idea.”
“She will be discovered, Joseph,” Tessa warned. “Where is she?”
“With my grandmother.” A young woman glanced shyly at Handsome then focused on Tessa. “They were friends. My grandmother was working in Gaborone the day of the slaughter. She took my mother, then a child herself, to the doctor that day. That was the reason they survived. There were others.”
“Like us,” Joseph interjected. “But we were
all afraid to say anything. We feared the soldiers would come back.” He fanned his hands out toward the gathering. “We all have families, now. This is our home. We do not want to lose it again.”
“I don’t like it.” Chase frowned.
“Is it true, Handsome? Are you the Kifaru?” the young woman asked shyly.
Handsome ignored the question and faced off with Chase. “These people cannot protect Keeya without more suffering. If Baboloki finds out, they will pay dearly. He is not one to forgive and forget.”
“This morning”--Joseph stepped closer—“when I went to check out the fishing lines, I saw soldiers patrolling the waters. I watched them pull into shore, several times, and get out to search. They never stayed long. They pulled up alongside me and asked if I’d seen a woman walking about all alone or with someone unfamiliar.”
Handsome ran his hand across his brow, wiping away sweat. “What did you tell them?”
Joseph laughed. “I told them if they were walking about in that area, then the crocodiles must have eaten them. It was an island and offered no shelter. They asked how to get back to the place with the airstrip.”
“And you told them?” Handsome sounded cross.
“I told them where an airstrip was. Just not the one I’m sure they wanted. We’ll see where they end up tonight.” Joseph and the others laughed good-naturedly. “Those men were not from the Delta or the Kalahari. They could not find their way back to Maun without GPS.” More laughter from everyone.
Tessa gently touched Chase on his lower back, drawing his sharp gaze. “Let’s go talk to Keeya. Together with Handsome, she should make this decision as to what to do next.” He reached back and grasped her hand before moving forward. She didn’t try and twist free.
“Someone needs to stay here with Dage.” Chase nodded toward the boat.
An elderly man stepped up and blew on a whistle. “Let me. I will use this if there is trouble. I owe Dr. Girard mine and my family’s lives many times over. Now I know the truth. If it were not for him saving our Kifaru, this day would never have come. The good doctor tried to protect my father so long ago. I did not know it was our Dr. Girard until yesterday.”
Black Mamba Page 23