“Oh, no!” Faith said. “I was actually interested once you showed me. And we didn’t come to accuse you either. And no one’s been whispering about you, at least, not that we know of. But we do want to find out who killed Solomon and Roy, whether that’s one person or two. So we’re just trying to see what we can find out.”
At that moment Mary walked out onto the veranda.
“Oh, hello,” she said tight, spotting Richard. “Hello, Faith. Hello, Laura. How is everybody?” She looked like there was nothing she wanted to more than turn around and march back inside, but her manners wouldn’t let her.
“We’re okay,” Laura said. “We’re trying to work out who the killer is—”
“Or killers are,” Faith interjected.
Laura nodded. “Before we get on the minibus and go back to Nairobi.”
“Well, it is not me.” Mary gave Richard a pointed look. “Certainly not.”
“We believe you,” Faith said, and she really did have faith that Mary wasn’t the murderer. “Do you have any ideas who did it, though?”
“No. But the Bible says that what is done in the dark must come to light. So I will wait patiently until that time comes.”
Richard scoffed. “Yes, the Bible is usually the number one investigative tool in murder inquiries.”
Faith, eager to avoid a replay of the scene on the boat, hurried to say, “Mary, have you seen how Jasmine’s doing?”
“We heard she was drinking a lot,” Laura said. “Not that anyone could blame her.”
Richard, with a huff, went back to his birdwatching.
Mary shrugged. “I called to her from outside her door but she would not reply. It was totally silent in there. She must be asleep.”
A moment of quiet followed. Then Faith looked at Laura, wondering if she was the only person who had begun to think the worst. Sure, Jasmine could have been asleep. But for some reason, the phrase ‘silent as the grave’ had immediately popped into Faith’s mind.
Laura shrugged, looking casual. Faith wondered if she was just experiencing paranoia, due to the whole safari trip being so fraught with difficulty.
“Maybe we should go try and talk to her,” Faith said. “See if we can help in any way.”
Mary quickly said, “It is a shame she is among strangers at this tragic time. I did not want to intrude. Perhaps nobody should intrude.”
“I think we could just check on her,” said Laura. “Just to see if she’s okay.”
“Maybe, some might say, that people should be left alone when—”
Richard snapped, “Oh, do stop bleating. You’re scaring all the birds away.”
Laura and Faith went back inside, and headed to Jasmine’s room.
Faith felt a gnawing inside her stomach. “Why do I feel like something dreadful is going to happen?”
“Because you’re too jumpy,” Laura said, flashing her a grin. “She’ll just have drunk herself silly and knocked out on the bed. At least I’m hoping that’s what’s happened. If she’s drunk we might actually get some info out of her.”
Faith, despite the butterflies in her stomach, saw the funny side. “That is if she doesn’t puke on you. Or tell you she loves you.”
“Oh ha ha,” Laura said as they came up to the door. She gave it a tap but there was no answer.
The twisting feeling in Faith’s gut was squeezing all the harder, like someone wringing out washing by hand. As Laura pushed open the door, Faith’s heart started beating faster, too.
Sure enough, when Laura opened the door, Jasmine was lying on the bed, motionless.
“She’s dead,” Faith whispered.
Laura burst out laughing. “No, she’s not,” she said loudly. “She’s just way over the drink drive limit. Come on, Jasmine. Wake up.”
Jasmine didn’t stir.
“Are you… sure?” Faith said. Jasmine really did look pale.
“Of course I’m sure.” Laura marched over to Jasmine and pinched her on the toe.
Jasmine started awake with a huge gasp and flinch that made both Faith and Laura jump.
Laura started laughing. “See?”
Jasmine had been frightened, but anger quickly clouded her expression. “What are you doing in my room?”
Laura sat down on the bed like Jasmine was her best friend and she had every right to be there. As much as Laura would cry at a TV commercial or over the smallest argument (though she was getting more resilient since working with tough kids), she certainly wasn’t shy. “We’ve come to talk to you.”
Jasmine turned over and pulled the sheet up over her face. “I don’t want to talk to you,” came out in a big muffle.
Faith really didn’t want to upset her further, but justice was at stake. “Do you have any idea who could have wanted your husband dead, Jasmine?”
“No.”
And then it hit Faith for the first time – wouldn’t Jasmine actually be the most likely suspect? After all, the first suspect investigators often looked at in a murder investigation was the romantic partner. She’d stand to gain a great deal financially. Though wouldn’t that money have been accessible to her, even if Roy had been alive? Perhaps not. Or perhaps she had another lover, one with no money, and wanted to run away with him, and with Roy’s fortune?
“I know this is upsetting,” Laura said. “But we have to find out who did this.”
The cogs in Faith’s mind were running at super speed. Let’s say that were all true. But what about Solomon? Why would Jasmine want to kill him? There was no reason. Unless… unless Jasmine had tried to kill Roy at the Elephant Orphanage, and Solomon had spotted her? So she’d had to kill him, then bide her time until she could try and kill Roy again. This time she’d succeeded. So she’d go back to America, scoop up Roy’s fortune, and run off with the lover she adored.
Maybe.
Faith walked to a chair on the other side of the room, thinking hard about how she could tread carefully and still get the information they needed.
“Jasmine, I want to be real with you,” Faith said, sinking down into the chair. “Roy didn’t seem like a very nice husband.”
Jasmine threw the sheet off, and sat up, her eyes burning like flames. ‘You knew nothing about him. How dare you say that.”
The fire in her eyes seemed genuine, and her voice was heavy with the emotions of love and loss. Maybe she had really been in love with the difficult man.
“I’m sorry,” Faith said soothingly. “I didn’t mean to disrespect his memory. I only meant that it seemed you had to compromise quite a lot, and sort of…” She couldn’t quite find the phrase.
“Manage him,” Laura finished for her.
“He was my baby,” Jasmine said, then her voice cracked and her face creased up. “He couldn’t help it. He just needed a lot of attention. It was fine. He was happy. It was fine.” Then her expression clouded. “You! You both killed him, didn’t you? That’s why you’ve come here. That’s what you’re going to tell me. You killed him because you thought I wanted him dead and you wanted to help me escape him.”
“No!” Laura said.
Faith watched Jasmine carefully. To spout such rubbish, she must have been more drunk than she looked. Or maybe just so deeply wrapped up in grief she couldn’t think straight. Or both.
“That’s not true at all,” Faith said evenly. “We certainly didn’t kill him. We’re trying to find out who did.”
“Get out!” Jasmine screamed suddenly. “Out, out, out!”
“All right,” Faith said, getting up out of her chair. “We’re gone.”
*****
Chapter 14
“Oh, come on,” Grandma Bessie said. “I’m fed up with you both snooping around and grilling everybody. I know you mean well, but it’s certainly not your job to find out who killed these people. Join in, at least for a little while.”
“Oh, all right,” Faith said. Secretly she was glad to have a break from investigating, and join in the game of blackjack Grandma Bessie, Arthur, Yale and N
athan were playing. A thousand different theories were wrapping themselves together in her head, knotting and tangling until she couldn’t unpick them. It was a relief to sink into the comfortable chair in the lounge area and think about nothing more important than winning the next hand.
Laura didn’t look so pleased, but Faith was sure Laura certainly knew better than to argue with Grandma Bessie when she spoke in her authoritative tone. “All right,” Laura said, sinking into the chair next to Faith. “I’m in.”
“Atta girl,” Grandma Bessie said, dealing them their two cards each.
Faith grinned, especially when she looked down and saw her hand – a Jack and a Queen. “What’s at stake?”
“Dignity,” Nathan said with self-mocking gravitas, like he was a warrior heading into battle. “Pride. Honor.”
Laura rolled her eyes, then looked down at her own hand – a ten and an eight. “Looks like I’ll be sleeping in the gutter tonight then. I’m sure I’ll go bust.”
“That’s no way to talk,” Arthur said kindly. “Maybe luck will be on your side.”
Yale put his arm around Laura. “And you can have some of my dignity if I win. You know, I’ll share.”
Laura giggled. “How generous of you, darling.”
“Oh, goodness,” Grandma Bessie said. She’d never been one for mushy gestures, though Arthur was softening out her hard edges somewhat. “Right, Faith, your turn. Stand or twist? Or double down on the dignity.”
“Stick, stick, stick!” Faith said, sure she was going to win.
Grandma Bessie looked at Nathan. She had a slightly mischievous glint in her eye that Faith just loved. It was so good to see her grandmother having fun after all those years working hard at the tearoom. “Twist or stand?”
Nathan looked down at his Queen and five. “Meh. I’ll twist.”
Grandma Bessie slapped down a seven.
“Oh, man!” Nathan said. “I’m bust.”
Faith gave him a comforting pat on the arm. “I’m willing to share my honor and pride,” she said with a grin, then looked at Grandma Bessie to see her reaction, which didn’t disappoint – a satisfying eye roll and only half mock exasperation.
“You know what?” Arthur leaned back in his chair as if he’d had an epiphany. “I don’t want this trip to end.”
“What makes you say that, Arthur?” Faith asked.
“Well, I know of course that tragic events have occurred,” he replied in his trademark soft voice. “But… I find it rather strange, but nevertheless, I cannot help but feel a sense of dignity about this indeed. I know we have been joking around about it. Yet it is indeed true in a sense. We are continuing with life and enjoyment, and even adventure, in the face of these tragic events. I believe that is to be celebrated.”
He looked around at them all.
“I am also very impressed by your vigor, Faith and Laura, and your desire to see justice served. In fact, I have been impressed by you all.”
Faith looked at Grandma Bessie, expecting her to look uncomfortable and disengaged – she had never been one for heartfelt talks, either. But Grandma Bessie held the deck of cards in her hand and was listening intently to Arthur.
“You, Nathan, being so passionate about your landscaping and your determination to chart your own course. You, Nathan, for reaching out to Greg in his time of need. You, Laura, for your devotion to children who need assistance in achieving their goals. And you, Faith, for your willingness to get stuck in. Your bravery. Chasing down dreams and tasks others would run from. And you, Bessie.” His expression became even more gentle. “For reminding me that there is plenty of life left to be lived. Thank you. Thank you all.” His eyes began to well up. “Excuse me,” he said, clearing his throat as he stood up. “I will just get a drink from the bar. Would anyone else like anything?”
Everyone else was rather stunned, in a pleasant way, and did not speak for a moment.
Yale was the first. “I will have a beer please, Arthur. And thank you, for bringing us all along on this trip and being an all-round great person.”
“Very well,” Arthur said, avoiding eye contact as he still looked in danger of crying. Then he left.
Everyone shared warm smiles once he was gone. It was a lovely moment, and no one wanted to ruin it by talking.
That was, until Nathan said, “I think I’ve got a little bit of my dignity back now.” He puffed out his chest in such an amusing way that everyone laughed.
Faith reached over to pat Grandma Bessie on the knee. “You’ve got a good one there, Grandma Bessie. Don’t let him go.”
Grandma Bessie had the most lovely serene smile on her face. “I know,” she said, in a voice little more than a whisper. “I won’t.”
“Right,” a booming voice said from the doorway. Everyone turned to see a policeman with a huge gun strapped around his neck standing in the doorway. His finger hovered near the trigger. “There has been a murder here. Where is Mary Mbiti?”
He had such a commanding presence that everyone stood up. He didn’t look at all friendly, and his thickly accented voice had an authority in it that no one dared disobey.
“I’ll… I’ll go find her,” Faith said, tripping over her words. Adrenaline had started to pump through her body. Her heart rate practically tripled when three other policemen followed in the door behind him, all carrying their own enormous guns. “R..right now. Just one second. Please…. Sirs.” Then Faith dashed away into the back of the tented camp, looking for Mary.
“Mary?” she called out, standing in the corridor that led off to all the rooms. Images flashed through her head of Mary lying on her bed, face down dead. Faith wouldn’t be at all surprised, at the rate this vacation was going. Trepidation crept into her voice. “Mary?”
“Yes?” a terse voice called from inside a room. Faith’s chest sank with relief. Then Mary was at her doorway, trying to produce a suitable smile but failing miserably, leaving her with a bared tooth grimace that made her look like she might snap Faith up in her teeth like a wild animal. “Faith, what is it?”
“The police have arrived. With guns. They are asking for you.”
“Oh. Well, thank you.” Mary looked comfortingly reassured, and Faith dared to believe everything just might be all right.
“They look… slightly intimidating,” Faith understated.
Mary closed the door behind her and laughed. “You would prefer a flock of little lambs? There is a killer among us, Faith. I, for one, do not mind being intimidated, as long as the murderer is intimidated also.” Then she hurried along the corridor and Faith followed behind, still feeling a knot of dread in her gut.
When they reached back in the main room, everyone was standing in an orderly line, facing the police officers, who strutted up and down with their guns, staring at everyone in turn. Faith gulped.
“Join the line,” one of the policemen barked.
Faith hurried to comply with his orders. She clasped her shaking hands behind her back, hoping against hope that nothing was going to turn nasty.
“I am Mary Mbiti,” Mary said. “You called for me.”
The main policeman looked up at her, his eyes lighting up. “Good day, Miss Mbiti. May I speak to you in private?”
Faith smiled inwardly as they headed off to a quiet corner and sat down on the soft, plush chairs. It looked like Mr. Policeman had a little crush on Mary, as his manner had already softened, and his voice had lost all those sharp edges. His affection for her could only help defuse the situation.
“Is everybody here?” another officer barked.
“No,” Nathan replied. He had his chest stuck out, not in a defiant way, but it gave him a proud, steadfast look. “We are missing many people, both staff and visitors.”
“Come with me.” The officer grabbed his arm and jerked him forward. Nathan held his composure, and the officer said, “You will locate everybody and bring them back here.”
Laura cast a very worried glance in Faith’s direction, but Faith gave her a suppo
rtive smile back. She was daring to believe that everything would be okay. To calm herself, she tried to play out scenarios in her mind. She judiciously ignored the catastrophic ones that seemed to pop up: the police officers opening fire, spitting bullets forward and back over the line of tourists until they were all bleeding on the ground, or Nathan being accused of murder and hauled away to languish in a Kenyan jail with no hope of release.
Instead, she chose to make up positive scenarios: the policemen grilling them with their expert tactics until they found out who the killer was, them handcuffing the murderer and dragging him – or her – away to a cell to face justice, everyone else free to go. Maybe they could even carry on with the safari and spot some more animals. The whole experience had been overshadowed by the two tragedies. Faith could have done with some more lighthearted rides out in the safari buggies, spotting giraffes and lions and elephants and rhinoceros.
Faith distracted herself with these wishful imaginings until Nathan and the police officer returned. Jasmine, tear stained and bleary, came in with them, along with Richard, Greg, and Sophie. Christian the bartender had joined the line also, and some other staff.
“Excellent,” one of the police officers said, striding up and down in his heavy army-style boots. “Everyone is here.” His words sounded welcoming, but there was a look in his eyes that made Faith want to shiver. “Let the questioning begin.”
*****
Chapter 15
The policeman who had been sitting with Mary returned to the group, and Mary returned to the line. He was obviously the boss, by the way the others looked at him with deference, watching his every move. As he walked up and down the line, he exuded a very rare kind of confidence Faith had not often seen. He looked like he owned the camp. Or perhaps the whole game reserve. Or maybe the whole country. Or even the whole world. He had this natural air of authority that demanded respect. Even though his aggression had cooled, his manner clearly told the story that disobedience or disrespect would not turn out well for whoever dared to try.
Consequently everyone was silent, waiting for his next word.
Banana Whip Safari Trip: A Culinary Cozy Mystery With A Delicious Recipe (Slice of Paradise Cozy Mysteries Book 4) Page 9