‘What in the hell!’ He exclaimed as he stood and read the item.
‘How on earth did my car end up there? Where is this place?’
‘In the park in Tsavo East, the other car-jacker must have driven it there while Gem and I were locked in the boot.’
‘But why? I don’t understand.’
‘It seems to me, that when they couldn’t find you, they staged an accident leaving your car as evidence.’
Brian sat down. ‘Evidence of what? I don’t follow; it must be a Kenyan thing.’
Firdus put his hand on Brian’s shoulder. ‘Listen, you told your people in the bank that you were going to drive through the park didn’t you?’
‘Yes,’ Brian nodded.
‘Here is what I surmise happened. Once the pursuers realised you had been refused entry, they had to chase the car only to find you gone and Doug and Gem an unwanted complication. So they decided to split up, one to get rid of my nephew and his girlfriend and the other to take your car to Lugard’s falls, where they had evidently planned to get rid of you anyway. This item in the paper has been pre-written. You are now officially missing presumed dead from a simple misadventure. A typical tourist accident that incidentally, has happened before at those falls.’
‘My God,’ breathed Brian, ‘everyone thinks I’m dead! I must get hold of my sister, before the news gets to her.’
‘Sister?’ asked Doug. ‘You have a sister, where is she?’
‘In England, I sent her an e-mail before I left Nairobi. I had a feeling things were not right, she will already be anxious.’
‘You might have shared that with Gem and I before you invited us on this “joyride”. Imagine if we had gone into the park with you,’ Doug said crossly.
‘Now, now,’ said Firdus, ‘if you had not been with Brian he would have been killed.’
‘Your uncle is right. I owe you my life and I’m sorry I have put you and Gem at risk.’
Doug said gruffly. ‘It’s ok, we will get through this.’
Firdus took charge. ‘I made some phone calls while I was in Malindi. I wanted information on this new terrorism unit. A man called Joe Rubia is heading it. As I recall he was a trainee while I was an instructor at Kiganjo, the police college - very bright and ambitious. He passed out with honours and went into the G.S.U. for further military training; from there he went to Britain to a counter terrorism unit. From all reports, he is a bad bastard to get on the wrong side of. He was appointed by the current minister for state security, Rupert Omollo, who, as it turns out, I was at secondary school with. We were never close buddies, but at least we are not complete strangers. I can’t think that he had a hand in this and am more inclined to think that Rubia is using his power to earn money running a hit squad. This would be entirely in keeping with his ambition and greed. I recall an incident in the college when we had a thief in one of the dormitories. Rubia allegedly caught the thief, a junior, and beat him half to death. Later it was rumoured it was Rubia who had been stealing. So we are dealing with someone who is cunning and utterly ruthless, he wouldn’t have the job otherwise.’
Brian looked incredulous. ‘Let me get this straight. The head of state security hires a hit man to run the country’s counter terrorism unit?’
‘I’m not sure Rubia is a hit man himself, but his unit has been pursuing you. Patel or his associates must have paid someone a lot of money to get Rubia’s unit on your case.’
‘If he gets his money, then surely there is no point in continuing to pursue me?’ asked Brian hopefully.
‘Yes, except you, my nephew and his girlfriend are loose ends. The killers will still be looking for the three of you and Rubia has unlimited resources at his disposal.’
Brian’s shoulders slumped. ‘I really don’t know what to do. I’m completely out of my depth here.’
‘The problem is, I agree very complex, so we will deal with each thing as it arises. You mentioned your sister. The solution there is to let her know that you are alive as soon as possible. You will have to go into Malindi to call her. My land rover is known around town and by now they will be looking for Doug’s bike, so you can’t use those. But I can drive you to a place called Ganda, a small village outside Malindi, where you can catch a bus into town.’
‘Ok, but much easier, I could call her on my mobile,’ Brian suggested, not liking the idea of going into Malindi one bit.
Firdus shook his head. ‘No you can’t use any known network an international call can be traced. There is a place in Malindi run by Somalis where you can make untraceable calls. I would suggest that we have lunch first, and then Doug or I can drive you to Ganda. It’s best you catch the evening bus and hole up overnight while you make contact with your sister. How well do you know Malindi?’
‘Not well at all, and the police know what I look like.’
Firdus scratched his head. ‘That could be a problem.’
‘I can go with him uncle,’ Doug offered.
‘No the two of you can’t risk being seen together.’
‘I could wait for Brian in Ganda and direct him by phone. We bought new mobile phones in Voi - Gem has one also - I’m pretty sure they can’t trace us through those,’ said Doug.
‘I don’t know much about this new technology, but I do know that Rubia will have access to all phone networks. Can you be sure he can’t trace you?’
Doug nodded. ‘There is no record anywhere these phones belong to us, they should be safe provided we don’t use them to call other numbers.’
‘Ok, what do you think Brian?’
‘It seems like a workable solution,’ he agreed.
‘Do you have any cash on you?’
‘A little, but I can get some from the ATM in Malindi.’
‘No, I will give you some money, you’re dead, remember?’
‘Oh shit,’ Brian muttered.
Doug drove him in after lunch. They tested the mobiles at Ganda, curious kids crowded the car watching them. ‘First thing is to get yourself a room somewhere, the bus will drop you in central Malindi by the market - there are small hotels and guesthouses in that area, try the Sunlight Hotel, it’s next to a hardware shop called Malindi Tools and Sons. The place to make your phone call won’t be hard to find, ask discreetly. Look out for undercover cops by their shoes, they can’t resist wearing those hobnailed boots. Once you’re safely in a hotel call me, ok?’
‘This is like a bad cartoon, Tools and Sons, they sell sex aids?’
Doug chuckled. ‘That’s good, stay loose - hidden fears act like a magnet to cops. I will wait here for your call.’
‘Thanks.’ Brian boarded the bus, a converted truck with chickens in baskets and bunches of bananas tied to the roof, a picture of what looked to be a rocket emblazoned on its side, embellished with the words “scud missile”.
‘Shouldn’t be hard to find this bus again, good luck and keep your head down,’ he yelled out to Brian as the bus departed in a cloud of dust, horn blowing merrily.
The driver drove at breakneck speed, on corners the body leaned in the opposite direction to the cab and each time it did, Brian hung on for dear life waiting for whatever remaining bolt to snap and send them all to kingdom come. Miraculously this did not happen and the bus arrived at Malindi market. The other passengers scrambled for the door, chatting happily.
Brian sat thinking about what to do, his nerves raw from the ride. A passing backpacker gave him the answer and he needed clothes anyway. As he got off the bus several hawkers descended on him offering tours of the town.
‘No thank you,’ he waved them away and dived into a nearby clothes shop. He bought a small backpack from a display lined up on the pavement outside. Slinging the pack over one shoulder he then headed for the second-hand clothes stalls, where he bought fake ray ban sunglasses, a variety of shirts, two pairs of jeans, a stained yellow baseball cap with no logo, and a pair of worn desert boots. He hardly bargained at all he was so nervous. He stuffed all but the cap and the sunglasses into his b
ackpack and then asked directions from a stall owner to the Sunlight Hotel.
‘I take you there,’ the man offered and Brian gratefully accepted, it would be easier to follow someone, than walk around looking obviously lost. The man led him across the Market Square and down a nearby alleyway into the old town. After a walk of a few hundred yards he pointed out the entrance to the hotel. Brian made to tip him but he waved the money away. ‘No problem mister, welcome to Malindi, you come buy more clothes yes?’
Brian smiled. ‘Yes, thank you.’
Paying in advance, he got a room with the minimum of fuss on the second floor. It was clean but simple with an adjoining bathroom, two single beds, mosquito net, chair and a square of linoleum on the bare cement floor. A single louvered glass window overlooked the courtyard below. It was mercifully quiet after the noise and bustle of the streets. Sitting on the bed, he called Doug.
‘Hello, yes I made it to the Sunlight Hotel. I’m in room three, talk to you tomorrow, thanks.’
Brian breathed a sigh of relief, at least he felt safe in the room and he examined his new purchases. One of the shirts was missing a few buttons, but otherwise the clothes were ok. He would have to buy socks for the boots and wondered idly who they had belonged too - at least he would feel different in someone else clothes. He tried on a few combinations, satisfied that he looked like any other traveller, and decided not to shave, anything to look different.
He waited until dusk before daring to venture out. The earlier receptionist was out, so he asked an old man at the desk where he could make an international phone call, the man just shrugged his shoulders and peered at him curiously. Brian had not expected this and in a moment of panic fled back to his room.
He sat on the edge of his bed his head in his hands, paranoia flooding his mind. Tempted to call his sister, he scrolled through his office mobile trying to buck up the courage; he flicked through the numbers until he came to one he did not recognise, puzzling over it, he remembered it was Lucy’s number. Impatient with fear and indecision, he recklessly called her number from his new mobile. The phone rang for an age and he almost clicked off. ‘Ni nani?’ a female voice enquired.
‘Lucy? Is that Lucy?’ Brian asked.
‘Yesis, who is you?’
‘Lucy I’m Brian, you remember me? I took you for an ice cream and you helped me buy a pair of shoes.’
‘Ahhh Birin! It’s you, but you have different number?’ she demanded. ‘Where you musts come to Malindi now!’
‘I am in Malindi,’ Brian replied smiling.
‘You are in Malindi? Why no call me?’
‘Lucy can we meet at the ice cream place?’
‘Ahhh gelati, yesis I see you now. Ahhh Birin, my lucky man!’ Lucy abruptly hung up.
Brian laughed, it would be good to see her again and she would know where he could make a phone call. He caught a tuk-tuk to the restaurant, ordered a pizza and waited for her. His tension eased and he even stopped scanning feet for hobnailed boots.
He tucked into the delicious food and watched each tuk-tuk for
Lucy. His anxiety returned as he finished his meal, it had been forty minutes since he had made the call. He ordered a coffee and asked for the bill, getting increasingly uneasy as the time passed. It was silly of him to rely on her, he knew nothing about her - she could be leading the police to him right now. Despite his anxiety he waited and put off making a decision to leave. He didn’t know where to go anyway.
A tuk-tuk pulled up outside the restaurant and Lucy dressed in a bright yellow summer dress got out. Her long smooth legs and neat sexy figure drawing the eye of every man in the place. She stood theatrically for a moment in the restaurant doorway looking for Brian, he waved to attract her attention. She hesitated, and then walked over to his table.
‘Hello Lucy,’ he greeted her.
She took in his unshaven face, tense rumpled appearance and scuffed boots. ‘You have been on safari,’ she announced eyeing him curiously.
‘Yes I have. Are you hungry, what will you have to eat?’
Lucy brightened and sat down. ‘Hice cream, a milkyshake, chocolalate.So you back and come to looks me,’ Lucy smiled at him showing perfect white teeth. ‘I’m so sexy for you to miss for long time. Your heart its heavy for me, hey?’
‘Yes, I don’t know many people in Malindi and I remembered how kind you were, helping me to find those shoes.’
‘Yes, they nices shoes, did you looses them?’
‘In a way I did,’ he agreed.
Their conversation was interrupted with the arrival of Lucy’s order, which she attacked with her usual gusto, hissing at the coldness of the ice cream. ‘You came from Nairobi? Hiss, ohhhh,’ she asked between mouthfuls.
Brian laughed, enchanted again at her spontaneity.
‘Yes it was a long drive.’
‘Where your car?’ Waving a long spoon at him.
‘It’s not here,’ he told her.
‘You take me for a drive, after,’ she said arching her eyebrows and sucking on a double straw, her face like a pixie’s.
‘Maybe, but first, I need to call my sister in England, do you know where I can make a phone call?’
‘You don’t have mobile?’ She asked puzzled.
‘Yes I do but it’s expensive.’
‘But you rich mans.’ She countered.
He laughed. ‘Even rich men have to be careful.’
‘Hmmm, ok. I know a place. Your sister, she beautiful and has many childrens?’
‘Yes she has two children.’
‘Oh she must be very young, only two,’ noisily sucking out the last of her milkshake.
‘Yes she is younger than me.’
Lucy, toothpick in her mouth, studied him. ‘After you call your sister, we go your hotel, yes?’
‘Let’s see.’ He called the waiter over and asked for the bill.
Lucy scowled. ‘Where your wife here in Malindi?’
‘No, no wife,’ he shook his head. ‘I’m divorced.’
Lucy brightened at this news, and then frowned. ‘She took alls your money, you lies to me, you not rich mans.’
Brian smiled. ‘I have no wife.’
Lucy nodded confidently. ‘I know you are my new mans.’
Brian paid the bill and they left the restaurant.
‘You follow me, it not long way, we walk,’ Lucy announced striding ahead and ducking down an alleyway into the old town. He dutifully followed the movement of Lucy’s hips and buttocks in the yellow dress, her long legs accentuated by high heels. She’s gorgeous, he said to himself. A few more turns and Lucy stopped outside a kiosk that had mobile phones on display.
Barking out questions to the kiosk attendant, he replied in kind. Lucy gave him a withering look and then strode on. ‘Stupid mans.’ She flung over her shoulder.
The attendant grinned at Brian, ‘Amigo! Jigi jigi,’ and laughed.
They emerged from the old town near the market where Brian had earlier bought his clothes. Lucy crossed the road without looking, just missing a cyclist with no lights. The two swore at each other in passing, each blaming the other. She stopped outside a shop that had household goods on display in the window, above the entrance was a sign. “International calls, cheep rate, little money.”
‘Here,’ she pointed at the sign, and turned to look at Brian.
He made the call, Lucy breathing over his shoulder, not wanting to miss a word. Again it was the answer machine, he had anticipated this might happen and had composed a message in his mind.
‘Hi Sal, it’s Monday night, I’m ok despite what you might hear. Do not tell anyone that I have called you. I’m in danger from some people who are stealing from the bank where I work, but I will get through this. Try not to worry, I will call you soon, love you.’
Lucy was silent, watching him closely, picking up on his serious mood. They stood together on the pavement outside the phone shop, Brian lost in thought. ‘Which hotel you stay?’ she asked.
‘One he
re in town.’
‘We go your hotel?’
Brian sighed. ‘Lucy, thank you for your help, but I’m in danger, there are some bad men looking for me.’
‘Bad men polices?’
He nodded. ‘I don’t want to get you involved.’
Lucy looked sideways at him weighing up this information. ‘You buy me beer tell me your newses.’
Brian hesitated. ‘Beer where?’ He could certainly use one.
‘Come,’ she stepped out into the road and forced a tuk-tuk to an emergency stop, the driver stalled it abruptly and yelled at her, she snarled back and climbed in. ‘Birin come,’ she called. He hesitated, and then got in beside her. Lucy gave the driver an address, smiling sweetly at the scowl on his face. He looked like he wanted to throw them both out, then shaking his head he restarted his taxi and drove them to a beer garden. She paid the fare.
‘Lucy I’m not sure I should be in a place like this.’
‘No problems, here I have many friends,’ she announced airily as she walked in the entrance, winking at the bouncer. Lucy selected a table and snapped her fingers at a waiter. Ordering two cold beers she sat down and patted the seat beside her. ‘Sit here,’ she commanded. He chuckled as he sat down. ‘Why you laff?’
‘You amuse me,’ he replied.
‘Pffft,’ she snorted. ‘Mens you all the same, so tell me?’
‘Tell you what?’
‘You troubles you fool,’ she said pushing her face close up to his and looking pitifully at him.
‘Lucy,’ he explained, ‘I work for a bank and some bad men are stealing the money and they want to kill me because they think I know about the theft.’
‘Noooo,’ she said eyes wide, ‘how much money they thief?’
‘Much money,’ Brian answered distracted, as the beers arrived.
The waiter put the bottles on the table and stood poised with an opener. ‘Two beers,’ he said looking at Brian.
‘Birin gives money,’ ordered Lucy.
‘Oh right,’ Brian paid.
Lucy drank from the bottle, sucking on it suggestively and smiling with her eyes on Brian.
‘You know where this money is?’
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