“Don’t laugh,” Matt defended him with barely suppressed humor. “I believe I’ll add those ‘Pearls of Wisdom’ to my collection of finer knowledge.”
Jason shrugged off their friendly mocking. “Go ahead and laugh. Just remember… I started college as a psychology major before switching to veterinary.”
“I thought it was criminal justice,” Miranda said.
“Psych was my first major, criminal justice the second.”
“How many have you had?” Letta asked.
“Three. And generally speaking, working with animals is far more rewarding than analyzing humans. Though psych comes in handy occasionally.” The last he emphasized with a glare to Matt and Miranda.
“Okay, okay.” Miranda smiled good-naturedly. “I concede to your higher wisdom and will never doubt your skill again.”
“Where’s my pen?” Jason patted his pockets. “I need to get that in writing.”
“Don’t push it.”
Matt laughed along with everyone else while his gaze strayed to Neil standing at the end of the bar. The punk downed the last of his beer and tossed money down next to the empty bottle. Just the signal he’d been waiting for. Neil was leaving.
With a mumbled excuse about the men’s room, Matt got up and headed toward the restrooms. About halfway, he pulled a fast one and ducked out the side door instead.
Stepping into a darkened alley, he aimed straight for the street just in time to see Neil exit the front door. When the punk reached the alley, Matt stepped out and began walking beside him. “Want to have a word with you, Neil.”
At first startled, his soon to be informer looked ready to fight, but then his surprise turned to recognition and his expression wary. “Look, brah, I meant no harm with your bokkie. She’s just a pretty girl at the bar.”
“Really? And I thought you were just a volunteer at Katanga.”
Neil stopped and turned to face Matt. “What’s your game, man?”
“You were with Diana on festival day.”
“So?”
“The two of you disappeared into the stable. Three came out.”
The punk gave a nervous glance up the road toward the bar, then began walking again. Without a word, Matt followed him past a coffee shop, then a local attorney’s office where they rounded the street corner and stopped.
Neil managed a belligerent tilt to his chin in an effort of false bravado. “You looking for trouble?”
“I’m always looking for trouble.” Matt looked him square in the eye. “It’s where the money is.”
“No money here. Go look somewhere else.”
Time to tread carefully. Neil had a direct connection to the men of Glory Hill. Coming on too strong or too fast would scare him off. “My nose is rarely wrong, friend. It’s my bread and butter. You see, I like living higher than a janitor’s salary pays.”
“Not my problem.”
“Maybe not.” Matt leaned back against the chipped stucco wall of the corner building. “Maybe I need to talk to that third guy from the stable. Shouldn’t be too hard to scare him up.”
“Non, brah! Boss don’t like intruders.”
“I’ll take my chances.”
“He’s mean as a snake. Won’t like you poking around.”
“Then how’s a guy to get in on the action?”
Neil’s weak chin stuck out a notch. “Ain’t no action.”
“Don’t try and smoke me, brah. I’ll go around you.”
At that threat, his uncooperative mole turned calculating. “You might work for me. I could use someone inside Katanga.”
“You pay well?”
“Depends on the work.”
“What about Diana?”
Neil snorted in disdain. “Women don’t make good partners. They start getting mouthy and ask stupid questions. She’s losing her usefulness.”
“Her loss is my gain.”
“How much access you got at Katanga?”
“I’m the janitor, man. I can go anywhere.”
With a nod, Neil foolishly began to warm up. “Need new eyes and ears, someone to supply information. You good at snooping around?”
If he only knew. “Found you, didn’t I?”
“You got a problem working without the high-ups knowing about it?”
“If that means suckering Graham, then I’m your man.”
A smile that could only be described as malicious crossed Neil’s thin lips. “You don’t like him?”
“Struck him off my Christmas card list my first week at Katanga.”
Neil took the bait. “Graham’s got control issues. Making noises about causing trouble.”
“Problem with some people is they don’t realize the value of a sweet thing,” Matt stated. “As long as the money’s flowing, don’t make waves.”
“You might work out, brah. I’ll be in touch when something comes up.”
“Don’t wait long,” Matt replied. “I’m an impatient man.”
Chapter 23
“I swear, if Graham gets any edgier, he’s going to blow a gasket.” Jason shook his head as he, Letta, and Miranda entered the clinic from their early lunch break.
“A little grumpy is normal for him,” Letta said. “But the weekend crew said he came in and snapped at everyone.”
A wave of guilt assailed Miranda. She suspected the reason for Graham’s tension, and though she believed he deserved whatever stress he endured, she felt bad for those suffering around him. Not that there was anything she could do about it. The best she could hope for was to keep Katanga out of the coming scandal.
Letta tapped Jason on the shoulder. “What’s the psychology major say about his behavior?”
Miranda curbed a groan. Stirring Jason’s curiosity only invited trouble.
“Mine’s a refined talent,” he answered with a droll shrug. “And I can’t read Graham. I specialize in the art of lust. It’s much more interesting, and he doesn’t qualify.”
“Really?” Letta had an impish smile growing. “I have a date tomorrow night. May I borrow you long enough for a read?”
That sparked a round of laughter and, before long, they were back at work. Mondays were usually busy, making up for a weekend skeleton crew. There were charts to file, data for computer input, and medicines to prep for dispensing. Most of the work didn’t require serious concentration, and Miranda’s thoughts quickly turned to more interesting topics. Like why Matt had disappeared for so long Friday night. She didn’t buy that bathroom excuse and would bet anything Neil was involved.
Not that Matt would tell her. She questioned him several times and got nothing. He even managed to give her the slip on Saturday. She saw him here, just couldn’t pin him down.
He underestimated her determination. The man was hiding something, and she had a burning desire to find out what.
Well, that wasn’t exactly the reason for the slow burn. More like the memory of a warm night breeze across bare skin, and the heavenly pressure of being totally consumed. It was alarming the way she had completely lost herself to his lovemaking. She had answered the need she saw in him and discovered a need of her own. If she wanted to keep what little sanity remained, she needed to resist a repeat performance. The man could reduce her to a quivering puddle with just the touch of his lips. That alone should be incentive enough to keep her distance. He did her a favor by avoiding her.
Only she didn’t want to avoid him. She’d never felt so conflicted in her entire life. And dealing with it like she had in the past wouldn’t work. Job and animal welfare always came first. It was an ethic she’d proudly inherited from her father. He’d made sacrifices, their whole family had, and she didn’t intend to break tradition.
More than one personal relationship had failed because of it. It was a price she’d willingly paid. Now, she wasn’t sure, and it scared her. Her father sacrificed his ability to walk in order to stay true to his life’s passion. How could she do any less?
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Yet here she was, struggling to maintain focus. Instead of working a plan to save Katanga, a place so vital to everything she believed in, all she could think about was exploring an intense attraction to a man who threatened its existence. She was caught in a balancing act with too much at risk to even contemplate pursuing a relationship that was doomed from the start.
She should be glad for the weekend spent apart. It gave her time to gather her senses and gave Matt a chance to grapple with his past. Only she wasn’t the least bit glad. She knew first hand that he shouldn’t dwell so long on his demons. They had a way of paralyzing life. He already had retreated into himself, avoided her, and refused assistance.
Enough. It was time to take charge. Katanga needed her. Matt needed her, whether he wanted to admit it or not.
Lunch hour was in full swing. Matt would assume she’d be in the cafeteria with the others, freeing him up to move around without detection. Well, he’d be wrong. She grabbed a running list of needed supplies and headed for maintenance.
After a brief stop to chat with Myra, Miranda hurried through the hallways. When she rounded the final corner, she smiled in satisfaction. The supply room door stood open. And the lights were on. Someone was inside.
She waltzed right up to the door and found Matt working at unloading several boxes, checking each against a shipping manifest.
“How delightful,” she said. “You’re here.”
He twitched a little in surprise, but kept on working. “Why aren’t you at lunch?”
If she’d had any doubt, that proved it. He was actively avoiding her.
“I ate early,” she lied. “So, you ready yet?”
“Ready for what?”
“To tell me why you disappeared for so long on Friday night.”
He frowned at her, but still stocked the shelves. “I told you. I ran into someone I knew and visited for a bit.”
“Uh, huh. That’s a good story. If I didn’t know you better, I might believe it.”
“You might as well. It’s all you’re going to get.”
“Look, Matt. I know you think you are trying to protect me. I appreciate it, really. But who’s protecting you? Who’s out there watching your back?”
He stopped working then and turned toward her. “I don’t need help.”
His curt response wasn’t going to fly. “You’re being obstinate.”
Anger darkened his tawny eyes, and he took a deep breath, as though trying to control an urge to argue. And lost.
“Damn right I’m being obstinate,” he replied harshly. “I accepted your help earlier, and I thank you for it. But the stakes have changed. The risk is too high for anyone but me.”
“Why is it okay for you to take insane risks?”
His jaw went rigid, and he returned to slamming bottles of window cleaner on the shelf. He was smoldering, trying to ignore her, but she could tell by the way he ground his jaw that it wasn’t working.
She waited patiently and it paid off.
He stopped what he was doing and gripped the wire shelving in his fists. “Listen to me, Miranda. I’ve been on my own for a long time. I’ve worked cases where I’ve walked the edge of a nightmare. I survive because nothing interferes with my concentration.”
He pushed off from the shelving and turned her way. “Now you’ve come into the picture, and suddenly I can’t do anything right. I can’t focus for worry you’re going to get hurt. I can’t protect you because you place yourself in jeopardy with no regard for consequences. And all I can think of is kissing you and how I should never have allowed you to get involved in the first place.”
Miranda’s breath caught. He was thinking of kissing her? She swallowed against a sudden jump in her pulse. Then another thought occurred to her. If he was that distracted, his odds of getting hurt were too high. “Doesn’t IDS have other agents to help you?”
“No.”
She was going to have to resort to more drastic measures. And lie.
“You know, if you offered me assurance Katanga won’t suffer negative consequences, I might be more inclined to step out of the picture.”
He stopped then and stared at her. “I don’t believe you.”
“Why not?” She began to warm to her story. “It’s not like I want to face ruthless warlords and greedy diamond smugglers.”
“You can’t help it.” He stared at her with certainty. “Curiosity gets the better of you.”
“I can try.”
His eyes narrowed, and he stepped closer. “You know, I’ve just come to the conclusion that you’re the chaos factor in this investigation. I normally reserve that for the bad guy. But you are driving me past crazy. One minute I want to ship you home to keep you out of harm’s reach, the next I’m thinking of doing things to you that would turn those cheeks crimson just to hear it.”
He took slow steps toward her all the while staring at her lips with barely suppressed hunger. The room’s temperature began to rise as her imagination shifted into overdrive, wondering at the possibilities. What scared her more than anything else was her inclination to discover what he had in mind.
She seriously contemplated asking when Roz ambled into the room and went straight to Matt, reaching upward in her way of asking to be held.
He checked his forward momentum and gave in to her request, lifting her onto his hip. He stared at Miranda across the top of the monkey’s head.
“Just do me one favor,” he said pointedly. “If you stumble across anything even remotely suspicious, promise me you’ll come find me first. Do not under any circumstances consider investigating on your own.”
“If I promise that, will you tell me where you were Friday night?”
Matt shook his head.
“That’s not fair.” The least he could do is toss her a bone. After all, he was asking something of her.
Roz tried to steal Matt’s attention by tapping him on the head with her palm. He absently patted her back, but kept his eyes on Miranda. “Life’s rarely fair. And if you don’t promise, I’m taking back that offer of an aerial safari.”
Her chin dropped. “You wouldn’t do that to Jason and Letta!”
“I most certainly would.”
“That’s blackmail,” she said heatedly.
“Whatever it takes.”
Tired of being ignored by Matt, Roz pushed from his shoulders and reached for Miranda with one hand. The other she had fisted tight against her chest. Given the chimp’s penchant for thievery, Miranda was instantly suspicious and tapped the closed fist.
Roz shook her head.
“What have you stolen this time, girl?” Miranda gently grabbed Roz’s hand and pried open her closed fist.
And blinked at the glitter of a rough-cut diamond.
Her eyes met Matt’s in stunned surprise.
Unwilling to relinquish her prize, Roz tugged her hand back, but Miranda finagled the stone despite the monkey’s noisy protest.
Matt swung Roz to the floor and took the diamond from Miranda, then held it up to the light. “Can you get her to show us where she found it?” he asked.
Miranda dropped to one knee and signed to Roz, pointing to the diamond. Show me where.
Roz chattered and shook her hands.
Take me, Miranda signed.
She could swear Roz huffed with impatience, but she turned to head out the door and they followed. Down the hall they went, past the clinic, and came to a stop at a door to the veterinary garage.
Matt pushed it open, and they stepped inside the cavernous room. Silent and empty during the lunch hour, they continued to follow Roz down a wall of cabinets and containers. They passed a Jeep with the hood up, a couple of empty parking stalls, and reached the end where a pickup truck sat parked.
There were at least a million places for contraband to hide.
Where? Miranda asked Roz.
She led them around to the rear of the truck and pointed up toward an empty c
age sitting in the bed. Matt dropped the tailgate and climbed up while Miranda lifted Roz to join him.
Show him, she signed.
The monkey chattered and ambled to the cage where she grasped a corner bar, trying to shake it. Matt examined the cage, opening the door and sifting through the hay that lined the bottom.
Roz chattered at him and grabbed the corner bar again.
“I think she’s trying to say it’s the bar.” Miranda climbed up and leaned close to the cage, running her fingers over the cool metal. It felt loose and she twisted it, surprised at how freely it moved.
Matt shifted to join her and began working the bar. When he pushed down and twisted, the spring-loaded metal rod came loose in his hand. “Very clever.” He showed her the hollow bar. “I think Roz just answered how contraband is smuggled out of the country.” He tried its neighbor using the same trick and it too came free.
“Animals are legally shipped to zoos all over the globe.” Miranda met his gaze. “Could they possibly have a network that wide?”
“Maybe, but not likely. The diamonds probably leave on specific runs. Do international deliveries go through a central livestock clearing house?”
“Katanga is government registered. They create certificates of origin as well as authorizing shipments. Depending on how far they traveled, there’ll be pit stops for food and water.”
“So major airports like Johannesburg or London have agricultural service centers?”
“Absolutely.”
Matt replaced the bars and climbed down. He circled the truck and tried to open the driver side door. It was locked. “Bloody hell,” he muttered under his breath. He shook his head and looked at Miranda with a sour expression.
“Let me guess.” She crossed her arms and smiled with little humor. “You want me to take a peek at the computer and see which delivery company is onsite today?”
He heaved a sigh. “Yes, Miranda, I do.”
Chapter 24
Miranda handed him the name of the vendor working the Center that day. “It’s Panjami. They just returned stamped papers from delivering a pair of hyenas to the airport.”
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