Patel was torn between being elated and the obvious anomaly that the article was not proof that Nicholls was in fact dead. Ordering a coffee he rang Kamau in Kenya.
‘Hello Kamau, it’s Patel.’
‘Oh I didn’t recognise this number,’ Kamau replied.
‘It’s temporary. Now I have just read the article in the Nation.’
‘I expected to hear from you earlier, ’Kamau complained.
‘Yes very good, but where is the body?’
‘Probably inside a few fat crocodiles,’ Kamau’s voice rising as he sensed a difficulty.
‘How can you be sure of that?’
‘Look, what is the problem Patel? We did what you asked. The mzungu is finished.’
‘I appreciate your help, I just wanted to be sure; after all it has cost me a lot of money.’
‘You wanted a rush job, and its done. The guy is a professional and the balance is due. I hope there won’t be a problem with that?’
‘No there will be no problem. Have you spoken to your contact?’
‘I’m due to meet him this evening to settle up as per our arrangements. When do I get the balance?’
‘I will arrange it now direct to your account.’
‘Good,’ Kamau was relieved, ‘you don’t mess about with these people. Are we done, I’m very busy.’
‘Yes thank you,’ said Patel and rang off. His instincts told him things were not right, but he did not take Kamau’s warning lightly. With a sigh he rang the bank in Malindi to arrange the transfer of the money. The bank clerk was most helpful, until he asked for the password. Patel puzzled asked. ‘What password?’
‘This account has to be accessed by your password sir.’
‘Ahhh yes, damn, sorry I forgot, let me call you back.’
Patel rang off, furious. That conniving little bitch. He called her up. ‘Hello Dear, it’s me,’ he said cheerily.
‘Where the hell have you been and what’s with this new number?’ Azizza demanded.
‘It’s just a precaution,’ he replied smoothly. ‘Listen, I need you to do something urgently.’
‘I’m sure you do,’ she replied acidly, ‘you had better explain yourself first. Let’s start with where are you?’
‘I told you I had urgent business to attend to. Listen, I need you to transfer money to Kamau at immigration. It’s really urgent. ‘His request met with silence, the phone clicked off, he called her back.
‘What are you doing in Tanzania?’ she demanded, having read the number this time before answering.
‘Checking on your password,’ he retorted.
She laughed in delight. ‘Wanted to run away did you?’
He chuckled. ‘How could I bear to leave you my dear?’
‘So? Explain yourself.’
Patel lowered his voice. ‘I can’t tell you much on the phone, but I have arranged for Kamau to do an important job for us and he must be paid today. I don’t need the password; just the money needs to get to Nairobi as soon as possible.’
‘And what if I refuse? You still haven’t told me why you’re in Tanzania and a few other things it seems.’
‘Listen, we don’t have time to argue. Refusing to do the transfer would be a very silly thing to do,’ he replied, mildly, ‘all our hard work down the drain.’
‘A drain, oh, you mean like Lugard’s falls?’
He laughed. ‘My dear, it’s only three hundred thousand.’
‘You’re a bad man, Mr Patel. Why should I trust you now?’
‘Trust the money.’
‘Oh I do, but I’m not sure I want to share it with you anymore, I might end up swimming with crocodiles.’
Patel grinned. Boy this chicka is tough! ‘Now Azizza my dear don’t be cross now, this is a cause for celebration that silly expatriate is now out of our way. I will be back in a few days and will explain everything. You will see how brilliant I am; after all I’m trusting you with your password aren’t I?’
She scoffed. ‘Brilliant, like this stupid NGO organisation. What are we going to do with that now?’
‘My dear we are still on course, the NGO organisation makes it easier for us to move money around, have I ever let you down?’
‘Ok maybe, but you must not do this disappearing act again.’
‘I wouldn’t dream of it dear. See you soon.’
Azizza breathed a sigh of relief. Patel was still on the hook, he still needed her password. When she read about the incident at the falls, she knew intuitively he had something to do with it, and was under no illusions that he could make her ‘disappear,’ if she gave him reason enough. By the same token she realised that if he had disclosed his true intentions to her, she would have resisted the idea of doing away with Nicholls. Now it was done, distasteful as it was, it was a brilliant solution to the over talkative Evans.
She was reminded of what a good team they made, and the fact that he wasn’t too upset about the password was an emotional affirmation to her that she was needed. She arranged the transfer. The clerk informed her of Patel’s request. ‘Yes,’ she said, ‘he was just forgetful, no problem.’
Patel still in Dar-es-Salaam as Shah, arranged the rest of his day, including meetings with some transport companies at the port. After a light lunch he returned to the hotel for an afternoon nap before his meeting at four with John.
He hailed a cab and went to check on his car. Inserting his hand and arm into each of the tanks, feeling around, they were quite dry. ‘Good,’ he muttered.
‘See no leaks, I told you,’ said John.
‘Yes and you were right,’ agreed Patel.
‘Good, can we settle your bill in the office,’ John said.
Patel did not answer but went round to the front of the car and turned on the ignition. ‘The fuel gauge doesn’t register.’
‘No, we had to remove it in order to accommodate the partition, you’ll have to keep topping up the tank,’ John said over his shoulder as he strode towards his office.
‘I see,’ Patel sighed and followed him across the yard.
He drove out of Dar-es-Salaam getting into Tanga after dark, topped up the tank and pressed on to the Kenyan border on a dirt road. The big 4x4 held the road well. At the border as Noordin Shah, he paid a three-month fee to the Kenyans in order to cross in his Tanzanian registered vehicle. The customs man was sleepy and drunk and waved him though with an impatient grunt. Patel got into Mombasa before midnight and booked himself into a hotel. Tired, he crawled into bed and slept, glad to be back in Kenya.
THIRTEEN
In the evening Kamau sat in the bar in Nairobi and waited for Rubia. He had collected Patel’s funds from the bank and the cash was now in the boot of his car. Ill at ease, he fidgeted as he watched the car park from his barstool. ‘Mr Kamau?’ A well-dressed man walked up and spoke to him.
‘Yes. Who are you?’ Kamau asked.
‘Sir, I’m from the counter terrorism office, my name is Daniel. I have been ordered to collect you and take you to an appointment with Chief Inspector Rubia.’
‘Really, and why didn’t he tell me you were coming?’
Daniel shrugged. ‘Those are my orders. If you have his number you can confirm it.’
Kamau, thumbed through his mobile. ‘Hello Joe, yes, there’s a guy called Daniel here, says I’m to go with him to meet you?’
Rubia answered. ‘Yes sorry about that, but I’m on a stake out and can’t come to you right now.’
‘Why don’t I give the package to him?’ Kamau suggested.
‘It’s not that simple I need to talk to you, I need your help with an immigration matter.’
‘I’ve had a long day, we can talk tomorrow.’
‘No, I need to see you now it won’t take long.’ Rubia hung up.
Kamau frowned at Daniel. ‘Where is this place, is it far?’
‘No, not far Sir.’
‘Ok, but I’m taking my car,’ Kamau was adamant.
‘No problem sir, just follow me.’ He made h
is way to a large black 4 x 4 with heavily tinted windows.
As Kamau looked at the car, a sense of foreboding came over him. He climbed into his own vehicle and followed Daniel down the highway. The black car travelled at a leisurely pace and Kamau began to relax, after all it was a useful thing to be working with a powerful man like Rubia. The 4 x 4 turned on a roundabout and headed for the road out of town towards Naivasha. Kamau rolled up his window to the cold air as the two vehicles climbed towards the escarpment road. He switched on his radio and fantasized over what he would spend his money on, maybe a farm, nothing too big, a few cows and a retirement patch for his old age. Lost in these pleasant thoughts in the warmth of the car he did not notice a second car join the entourage and keep pace following them.
The indicator light went on and the big car pulled over. Kamau followed it onto the grass verge, the other car pulled up behind and drove up close - too close - its headlights blazing into his car. Suddenly the 4 x 4 aggressively backed up boxing Kamau’s vehicle in. The lights went out. Kamau sat in his car unsure what to do. He rolled down the window. ‘Hey, what’s happening?’
‘Evening Kamau,’ Rubia said pleasantly, his breath vaporizing in the cold air as he stood beside the window.
‘Oh it’s you,’ Kamau said and made to get out of his car.
Rubia held the door shut. ‘Switch your engine and lights off,’ he instructed. Kamau did as he was told the radio going silent. Rubia leaned in the window, his deep voice loud in the inky blackness. ‘Where’s the money?
‘In the boot.’
‘Keys?’
He held them up. A hand, not Rubia’s took them. He shivered and it wasn’t just the cold air. ‘You’re on a stake out’- the immigration man asked in the uncomfortable silence - hinges squeaking the noise of the boot opening was sinister, ‘it’s all there,’ Kamau said.
‘I’m sure,’ Rubia said, his so face close to the immigration man’s, he could smell booze on his breath. Rubia turned away from the window. ‘Count it,’ he ordered into the darkness. A pen light flashed on behind the car.
‘So you want help with immigration?’
‘Yes, I need to know who hired you,’ Rubia said evenly.
‘I can’t tell you that.’
‘You can’t tell me, or you won’t?’
‘It’s not right,’ protested Kamau weakly.
A voice called out. ‘It’s all here Sir.’
‘Good. Kamau, my friend, it’s not for you to know what is right or wrong, just tell me who the client is and you can go home.’
The immigration man revealed all he knew about Patel as Rubia quizzed him closely.
‘Now I told you we were on a stakeout. The traffic is blocked behind and ahead, we have word gangsters are going to lay an ambush on this road. So what you need to do is take the old road to Naivasha.’ Kamau was startled as his passenger door opened and Daniel lit by the interior light climbed in beside him. ‘Daniel will accompany you, he is armed and has a radio, so don’t worry.’
‘Naivasha at this time, why can’t I drive back down the road?’
‘Not possible. You will be safe with Daniel.’
‘I need to call my wife,’ said Kamau stalling.
‘No time!’ He slammed his palm on the car roof. ‘Now go! Get out of here, the gangsters are coming!’ The 4 x 4 made room for him and Kamau turned towards the escarpment road. He was shaking with fright.
‘This is a dangerous road,’ he said to Daniel.
‘No problem Sir, it’s not safe for you to stay on this main road, there could be some shooting.’
‘Really, who are the gangsters?’
Daniel did not answer, instead, he thumbed his two-way radio and spoke a few brief words in a dialect that Kamau did not understand. Kamau concentrated on driving, slowing down and swerving round potholes. At one point he made to pull over. ‘I need to call my wife,’ he explained.
Daniel urged him on. ‘Keep going Sir, it’s not safe to stop here, you can call her from Naivasha, it won’t be long.’
They continued in silence with only the occasional hiss and crackle from Daniel’s radio. About half way down the escarpment, they rounded a corner to find a huge lorry jack-knifed across the road, headlights blazing. ‘Blast,’ Kamau said. ‘Now what do we do?’
‘Pull over and wait here,’ Daniel said as he got out to investigate, but instead of walking to the lorry he walked to the driver’s window, pointed a gun in Kamau’s face, reached in and took the keys from the ignition.
‘What the hell are you doing?’ Kamau tried to retrieve his keys.
Daniel hit him across the side of the face casually, the gun butt splitting his upper lip. ‘Behave yourself.’
Kamau began to wail. ‘What? Please don’t kill me, please.’
Two men from the lorry walked up and joined Daniel.
‘Listen I have money, please.’ Kamau pleaded.
One of the men grinned and slapped Daniel on the back in greeting. ‘Aha, he has money,’ he bent down to peer at Kamau as he made a futile attempt to get out, only to find the way blocked by the second man.
‘Do you have the woman?’ Daniel asked.
‘Yes she is a sweet one,’ the man laughed, an ugly cackle.
‘Get her. Ok sir, this is it,’ Daniel announced to Kamau.
‘No, no,’ Kamau wailed, ‘look what I have.’ He reached into his pockets and took wads of cash out. ‘Please don’t hurt me.’ The onlooker gleefully snatched the money. The other man appeared in the headlights dragging a young half-naked woman behind him. She was struggling for all she was worth as she tried to release his grip, her screams echoing down the valley in a blood chilling repetitive rhythm. He slapped her very hard twice and she collapsed in the road unconscious. Breathing hard and trying to kick her awake he called to his companion. ‘Give me a hand,’ the two of them half-carried, half dragged her round to the passenger door.
Kamau sat in shock. ‘No please, I have children, have pity.’
Daniel spoke sharply. ‘Listen to me! We can do this easy or we can do this hard, it’s up to you sir.’ He handed some pills over to Kamau. ‘Now take these, you won’t feel a thing.’
‘What what are they?’
‘Sleeping pills.’
‘You want me to sleep?’ Incredulous, despite his fear.
‘Yes and when you wake up it will all be over,’ Daniel smiled reassuringly. ‘If you don’t take them we will have to force you,’ and pointed the gun in Kamau’s face.
‘How can you be so heartless a young man like you?
‘It’s over Sir, I will shoot you if you don’t take the pills.’
‘I can’t swallow,’ Kamau gasped, his mouth dry.
‘No problem,’ said Daniel and handed him a half bottle of whisky, ‘this should help.’
Kamau took a swig. ‘May you rot in hell,’ he said staring directly into Daniel’s eyes as he swallowed them. ‘You bastard,’ he swore, ‘you bloody bastard,’ and took another swig. Suddenly his body went rigid and he gasped for breath, the blood from his cut spraying the windscreen. Daniel stood back watching in fascination as Kamau went into death throes, gurgling and spasmodically moving violently, then all of a sudden he was still.
Daniel looked at his companions. ‘He is gone,’ he announced and poured the rest of the whisky over the lifeless body.
‘What happened, what was that?’ the second man asked in awe.
‘A heart attack, nasty eh. Ok, get the girl in the car,’ Daniel ordered. They bundled the almost lifeless body of the woman in beside Kamau.
Daniel turned the steering wheel and took the car out of gear. ‘Is this the right spot?’
‘Yo, non-stop to the bottom,’ one of them answered.
The three of them grunting with effort, pushed the car over the lip of the escarpment. Lights still blazing, it toppled down going end over end in graceful slow loops, crashing through trees and dislodging boulders on its way. The lights flickered and went out only the noise marked
its progress down the slope, then there was silence and the watchers exhaled, one of them gave a half hearted cheer. Even these hard men were shocked at the violence they had just witnessed. Incongruously, the noise of a mobile phone ringing reached them from below, it rang eerily until the caller gave up.
‘Wild eh,’ muttered Daniel to his companions and tossed the keys over the cliff. ‘Let’s get out of here!’
The men trotted over to the lorry, climbed in, gunned it into life and headed back down the escarpment. In the cab Daniel used his radio. ‘Ok sir, you can release the traffic we are on our way.’
‘Good,’ came the crackling reply. ‘Where was the woman from?’
‘From the Rise and Shine bar in Naivasha, a Ugandan, illegal immigrant,’ he answered.
‘Excellent, good work’ said Rubia. ‘The boys will meet you in Naivasha. Come to my office in the morning.’ He then told his driver to take him back to Nairobi, pleased to have cleaned up this loose end. With Kamau out of the way it mattered little if they found the stupid mzungu. Now he wanted to go in pursuit of Patel. Follow the money, always follow the money.
FOURTEEN
Early on Monday morning Azizza took a call from a very anxious Evans. ‘Have you read the papers?’
‘Yes Evans, I have.’
‘It’s terrible. Nicholl’s car has been found at this falls place, he must have been eaten by crocodiles by now!’
‘It’s possible,’ she agreed.
‘What are we going to do? I told him not to drive through the park, I warned him.’
‘Do? It’s sad yes, but we carry on as normal. What’s the problem? Pull yourself together,’ she told him.
‘I don’t know what to do.’
‘About what?’ She asked getting impatient.
‘About Nicholls, he was supposed to be here this morning. He was a nice man he said I had potential.’
‘I’m sure he was right, anyhow, it looks like you will get your Mercedes back now.’
‘Oh, I hadn’t thought of that.’ Evans brightened.
‘Yes it is good. I will see you later on.’ She shook her head - what a fool - and busied herself with more loan applications.
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