Rhino Charge

by Victoria Tait

  Ollie replied, “The family who own it, who would prefer to remain anonymous, bought a twenty-year lease from the Borana Conservancy. They built the main house for themselves for when they visit Kenya, and there are various self-contained cottages. It’s very upmarket and exclusive, and the family expect high quality food and service. We’ve already employed a top class chef from the Suffolk Hotel in Nairobi.”

  Marina smoothed her t-shirt. “It sounds rather intimidating.”

  Ollie leaned towards her. “You’ll be fine. There’ll only be the family staying at the beginning, as well as a small yoga retreat in the studio. There is one other thing. They have a high end solar and generator set up which is rather complex, so they do need someone who knows a bit about electrics and mechanics. The installer is willing to teach you how to use and repair the system.”

  Marina’s eyes bulged. “I’m no good at that sort of thing. It’s more Thabiti’s area of expertise. He’s our team mechanic.”

  Thabiti looked up to find Ollie assessing him. Ollie turned back to Marina. “That’s excellent. The family would prefer a couple.” Ollie blushed. “Not that you have to be romantically attached or anything, but there are some roles they would prefer a man to oversee and for others they prefer a woman’s touch. They can be a bit demanding, but the pay is excellent.”

  Marina turned to Thabiti. “What do you think?”

  He looked at Marina with a feeling of being trapped. What was she volunteering him for? “What exactly are your proposing?”

  Marina was beaming. “That you and I spend a month looking after an upmarket lodge on Borana Conservancy. The money is great, enough to support me for the rest of the year. So then I’ll be able to stand up to my father, and tell him I’m not giving up my job or marrying some man he’s chosen for me. Please, Thabiti. This means a lot to me.”

  Thabiti looked around. He could leave now, but Marina would never speak to him again. This job was clearly important to her. He muttered, “I’m not very good with strangers. I don’t mind sorting out electrical issues or dealing with security, but I don’t want to serve drinks or be gracious to people.”

  “Don’t worry,” chuckled Ollie. “The family won’t expect you to eat with them or anything like that.”

  Thabiti remembered Pearl. “But I can’t leave Pearl at home or at the Cottage Hospital for a month.”

  “Who’s Pearl?” asked Ollie.

  “My sister. She recently suffered a personal tragedy.”

  “Well, I’m sure she can join you. There’s lots of space and it might be good for her.”

  “Fantastic.” Marina clapped her hands. “Talking of safaris, I really need to get out of here. How long are you around for?”

  Ollie checked his watch. “Oops, I should have been at a meeting five minutes ago. And then I’m catching up with friends for supper, so I’m here a while.”

  “Do you mind if I borrow your car and take Thabiti and some friends out for a game drive and sundowners?”

  “Sure.” He tossed her a set of keys on a beaded key ring. “I’ve parked near the entrance. It’s one of the safari Land Cruisers, with the company logo on the side.”

  Chapter Forty-Three

  Rose and Sam weaved through the mostly empty tables towards Thabiti and Marina. Staff from the Rusty Nail Caterers wandered around with dustbin bags, collecting empty paper plates and scrunched-up napkins. They tipped the contents of used paper and plastic cups onto the sandy ground before adding them to their black sacks.

  Rose watched a stocky man leave as they approached. She asked, “Who was that?”

  Marina grabbed Rose’s arm. “My… sorry, our, new temporary boss. Thabiti and I’ve been offered a month’s work looking after a luxury family home and lodge in Borana.”

  Thabiti’s lips were pressed together in a slight grimace.

  Sam looked across at him. “You look less enthusiastic about the proposal.”

  Thabiti looked up, and back down. “Well, it happened a bit too quickly. One minute I was eating a muffin and the next, Pearl and I will be joining Marina to tend to the wishes of an overprivileged and filthy rich family in their new safari lodge.”

  Marina stiffened and glowered at Thabiti. “If that’s how you really feel, why didn’t you have the guts to tell Ollie? Now I’ll have to go back and say to him that you don’t want to go, and I might lose the opportunity.” She groaned. “And that means I’ll have to return home with my family so Da can introduce me to a ‘nice Indian man’.”

  Thabiti pinched his nose and closed his eyes. “I told you. I find it really hard being around strange people. If they start telling me what to do, or they get annoyed with me, I know I’ll just shrink into my shell and be of little use to anyone.”

  Rose squeezed Thabiti’s shoulder. “You’re going to have to learn to stand up for yourself. Your mother isn’t here anymore to shelter you from the world, and you have Pearl to protect. Besides, this will be a great opportunity for you to gain some independence, and consider what you want to do with your life. I think learning how to deal with people in small doses is a good idea and, Marina, you’ll do most of the of the face-to-face work, won’t you?”

  Marina nodded enthusiastically. “Exactly. Ollie mainly wants you there to deal with all the new electrical equipment. I wouldn’t have a clue where to start.” She patted his arm. “Look, I really do appreciate you helping me out, and besides, who knows, it might be fun. Just think of all those safaris we can go on.”

  “Did someone mention safari?” Chloe appeared and stood next to Rose.

  Rose turned to Chloe and tilted her head. “I’m sorry I left you. Have you been OK?”

  “Yes, perfectly. Frank’s wife Wendy found me and asked if I could help double-check some guard post checklists. The scoring’s far more complicated than I realised. Anyway, there’s a bit more time to get it sorted since the results and prize-giving have been delayed until half past nine tomorrow morning.”

  Marina sat up. “Have they? Why have they done that?”

  Sam’s tone was sombre. “As a mark of respect for Mayur.”

  Rose added, “And to prevent the winning teams celebrating loudly and drunkenly tonight.”

  “Has anyone seen or spoken to Jono?” Chloe clutched her bag to her chest. “Marina told me her Uncle Deepak was behind the sabotage, but that it was actually Jono who did the damage. I know he shouldn’t have, but I do hope he won’t be arrested again. Not after all he’s been through.”

  Rose glanced across at Sam, took a deep breath, and said, “The situation has changed.”

  Chapter Forty-Four

  Rose, Sam, Chloe, Thabiti, and Marina huddled around a small circular table as Sam explained, “The results of the autopsy revealed that Mayur did not die as a result of his injuries from the car crash. He was suffocated.”

  Chloe crossed her arms. “Where? In the medical tent?”

  Rose leant back. “I presume so.”

  Sam turned to her. “Mama Rose, what did you see this morning when you entered the tent? Was the zip fastened?”

  Rose thought back. Her early morning visit seemed a lifetime ago. Closing her eyes, she tried to recall each step. “The tent flap was open, so I held it back and peered inside. There were two beds and the one on the right was unoccupied and in disarray. I noticed a glass of water had been knocked over beside it, because there were small puddles on the floor. And a blanket had fallen from one of the beds.”

  “Mayur was on the second bed, on his back and only partially covered by the sheet and I could see the exposed top of his hip. I also saw that his injured arm had been strapped up, but his forearm was bruised and free of the sling. His skin had the waxy look of death and his eyes were open and bloodshot. It gave me the feeling that he fought death.” Rose opened her eyes. “I didn’t know he literally fought it.”

  Thabiti wrinkled his forehead and nodded his head from one side to the other. “How do you suffocate someone?” He looked at Sam. “Apart from usi
ng sheer strength and your own body weight.”

  Sam glared at Thabiti who quickly looked down.

  Thinking aloud, Rose said, “If Mayur was asleep, the killer could sneak up on him and catch him unaware, and that would give them a huge advantage. He was a strong man and I watched him drive down that slope yesterday. He certainly had courage and determination. He must have fought his attacker.”

  Jumping in, Chloe said, “But he was injured. Not just his arm. His whole body must have ached, particularly his head and neck. And he may have been drowsy from the effect of painkillers.”

  “He wasn’t drowsy when I overheard him shouting at Lavanya and Jono,” retorted Rose.

  Chloe clicked her fingers against the table edge. “You never said anything. When was that?”

  “Last night while you were busy partying. I went to check on Mayur and Jono in the medical tent, but I didn’t go in as I heard them yelling at each other.” Rose looked at Marina and Thabiti. “I didn’t want to get involved, so I followed Lavanya back to the Bandit Bush Hog’s camp and found you two sitting with Kumar.”

  “You crafty fox,” quipped Thabiti.

  “Don’t be rude,” snapped Rose.

  “But you were all coy asking after Mayur. You didn’t tell us you’d visited him.”

  Crossing her arms, Rose said, “Well, I didn’t actually see him. And I didn’t want to further upset Kumar or Lavanya. Anyway, he wasn’t drowsy then. And I doubt he was later when he shouted at Lavanya again for bringing supper for him and Jono. Jono told me that’s the reason he left the medical tent last night.”

  Chloe leant back, lacing her fingers together on her lap. “Here I was thinking he’d slipped peacefully into unconsciousness, when in reality he spent the evening winding himself and others up, and getting himself murdered.”

  Thabiti’s brow was still wrinkled. “But how? I don’t understand how he was suffocated.”

  Sam gave Thabiti a pitying look. “Someone of my size could have leant on him as he was lying down and pushed the air out of his lungs.”

  Thabiti added quickly, “And probably crushed a few ribs.”

  Sam growled and Thabiti hastily pushed his chair back.

  “Can I continue?” Sam raised his eyebrows at Thabiti who slowly nodded. “Leaning on Mayur to remove the air from his lungs would not be enough, though. I would also have to close his airways by sealing his mouth and nose.”

  Marina leant forward. “How would you do that?”

  Sam took her right hand and held it up against his huge hand. “I could probably use my hand to cover both his nose and mouth, but yours is too small. You would need one to cover his mouth and one to pinch his nose.”

  Marina cried, “But even if he was drugged, he was bound to wake up if I did that.”

  “I agree.” Sam nodded slowly. “He would have struggled and thrashed around. You would soon lose your grip.”

  Politely, Thabiti asked, “So how else could it have been done?”

  “With a pillow,” announced Rose. “The one I spotted thrown on top of the empty bed.”

  “It wouldn’t be quick,” stated Sam.

  Rose nodded. “It would take several minutes. The brain utilises twenty percent of the body’s oxygen, so when the air supply is cut off, it soon stops functioning. But the heart continues beating even after the brain is irreversibly damaged. The killer must have been very determined, as the process could have taken as long as five minutes.”

  “It would be quicker if they used duct tape,” Chloe declared. “I watched a programme where it was used to seal the mouth and nose. Much easier and cleaner.”

  Rose conceded, “I haven’t seen the medical officer’s findings or his report, so I’ve no idea if there are remnants of duct tape on his mouth.”

  Thabiti bit his lip. “Surely someone would have heard him struggling. What about the medics? Didn’t they check on him?”

  “I’m not sure. I think that’s where we should start, Sam,” suggested Rose.

  “Start what?” Thabiti frowned. “If you become embroiled in another murder case, Craig will kill me. He told me to keep an eye on you.”

  Marina turned to Thabiti and slapped his thigh. “Oh, I’m sure she’ll be OK. After all, she has us to help her. Don’t you. Rose?”

  Pink spots appeared on Thabiti’s cheeks.

  Rose leant forward and covered his hand with hers. “I’m just trying to help Kumar find some answers and justice for his son. The police won’t arrive until tomorrow, when everyone will be getting ready to leave. Nick West is concerned they will try and pin the murder on the easiest target, and that could be you, Thabiti.”

  Marina put a hand around Thabiti’s shoulders and drew him to her. “We all need a break. Let’s go on a game drive. I’ve commandeered a car.” She shook Ollie’s car keys in the air.

  Chloe clasped her hands together. “About time. Why don’t I get some food and drinks for sundowners. Who wants to help?”

  Rose turned to Sam. “I do think we need to speak to the medics. They may even have left.”

  Sam nodded.

  “What time is it?” Rose asked.

  “Half past three,” responded Thabiti, checking his watch.

  Rose said, “Shall we meet up in an hour? Give us all time to get organised. Chloe, can you fetch a jumper and my fleece jacket from the tent?”

  “Chloe, I’ll help you with the food and drink,” offered Thabiti.

  Marina stood. “I need to get changed and check my camp to make sure nobody else has been murdered. I’ll meet you all at four-thirty at the entrance to headquarters. Look for a tan-coloured, long wheelbase safari vehicle with a canvas roof, and ‘Kifaru Safaris’ and a Rhino head logo on the side.”

  Chapter Forty-Five

  Sam and Rose arrived at the medical tent to find both ends tied open so air could pass through and cleanse the interior. As Rose suspected, the tent had been cleared and cleaned, with the beds stripped down and the floor washed. Two thin blue mattresses lay across the bonnet and roof of a rusty, white 4x4 car with Amref printed on the side.

  Rose found the paramedic who’d examined Mayur’s body in the morning packing plastic boxes into the back of the 4x4.

  “Hello again,” she said, but was met with a blank look. “We met this morning when you confirmed that Mayur Chauhan was dead.”

  “Of course.” The paramedic lifted another box into the vehicle.

  “Are you leaving tonight?” she asked.

  “No, first thing in the morning. It will take us at least six hours to get to Nairobi in this old vehicle.”

  “Did you hear that the patient died from suffocation, and not as a result of his injuries from the car crash?”

  The paramedic stopped his work. “Well, I know nothing about that. Did he have sleep apnea? Nobody told us if he did.”

  Sam pulled at his throat. “What’s sleep apnea?”

  The paramedic pushed a plastic box to the far end of the car’s boot. “It’s a sleeping disorder where the patient repeatedly stops and restarts breathing. It’s more common than you think.”

  Rose tapped her fingers together. “Usually the actual cause of death from that is a heart attack, but the medical examiner didn’t say anything. When did members of your team check on Mayur?”

  “My colleague checked on both patients at eight o’clock before we went to supper. She heard them shouting at each other. I looked in when we returned, but it was quite late, around midnight. Mr Urquhart must have discharged himself, as his bed was empty, and Mr Chauhan appeared to be asleep, so I didn’t disturb him. I didn’t visit again until you called me this morning.”

  She asked, “Did you all go to supper?”

  “Yes, we were given vouchers to eat at the Rusty Nail. Yesterday was tiring, so after supper we relaxed and watched the antics of the competitors and spectators. I had to treat someone’s hand after they’d cut it on a broken Tusker bottle.”

  Rose was annoyed by the apparent lack of concern for
a dead patient who had been in his care. “So nobody checked if he was alive after eight pm, and he could have been dead when you looked in at midnight? You didn’t actually check if he was breathing?”

  The paramedic stepped back and twisted his head. “We did our job. And it was hard work yesterday. We had no reason to closely monitor the patient, as he was full of life and shouting at his wife or Mr Urquhart most of the evening. To be honest, we were relieved he was sleeping peacefully.”

  Rose spotted Jono peering into the tent from the far side. “Hi,” she called. “Are you looking for something?”

  Jono scratched his jaw, “I was just looking for… my team top. I thought I left it here.”

  “I’m sorry,” said the paramedic. “We didn’t see it when we cleaned the tent earlier.”

  What had he really been looking for, Rose wondered. There was much she had to discuss with Jono. He now knew he had not directly caused Mayur’s death, although he may have contributed to it. Mayur was only in the medical tent because of the accident. So had that been the opportunity the killer needed?

  Rose also had the nagging feeling that Jono’s return had triggered more than just sabotaging a car.

  “Jono,” she called, “I’ve noticed you’ve been under the weather recently. Why not join us? We’re going on a safari shortly, and a trip away from camp might do you good.”

  Jono’s eyes darted from left to right. “I don’t think I can, I…”

  “Nonsense,” interrupted the paramedic. “I doubt you slept a wink last night looking at the state of you. You’re stressed out. Take this as your doctor’s orders. Go on a nice long drive, see some nature and reconnect with the world.”

  “OK,” he replied in a toneless voice. He dropped his chin to his chest.

  Chapter Forty-Six

  Rose and Sam wandered back through the centre of the headquarters. Three 4x4 vehicles passed them, jammed with people. Children rode on the roof racks of two of the cars, dangling their legs over the edge, whilst a blonde-haired girl poked her head out of the sunroof of the third car.