Hot Ice (24 page)

‘Mum told me a little…how you shot the leopard, screwed Marie and broke Mum’s heart.’

‘In a nutshell…yes. I heard later that she woke up Zuckerman in the night and told him everything. There and then the two of them drove back to the city, where June handed over my file. The bastard flew straight out to the site with a geologist. Hendrickse was signed up before noon. A red racing car did the trick. It was so much less than we had offered. Then Zuckerman got a team of top lawyers together to sue for the karakul farm on behalf of the boy.’

‘Did you love my mother?’ Chris asks.

‘No, but I never lied to her either. She’d been in love with me ever since we met. A geologist’s life is less than exciting. Pretty women don’t sit around in the bush, but whenever I went back to the city, which was four or five times a year to sell a claim, she was always waiting for me. She was so loyal and it was so easy.’

‘So you just took and gave nothing in return.’

‘Not true. I’d asked June to marry me, but she made a few impossible conditions: I had to give up prospecting, she wanted to go back to England. I couldn’t live like that, but June wasn’t fond of the bush. She picked the wrong man.’

That sounds like Mother, Chris reasons. She always wants to be in control and she hates the
countryside. She doesn’t even enjoy our garden, but that is not for Kelly’s ears.

‘When I reached the city I learned what had happened, but I didn’t worry too much because I didn’t think Zuckerman could win,’ Kelly is saying. ‘So we got on with mining the first level.’

‘My poor mother,’ Chris interrupts him. ‘She got a lifetime sentence for a moment of jealous spite.’

‘Do you want me to continue?’ He sounds cold.

‘Yes.’ Watching Kelly now, she begins to understand her mother’s jealous fury. Kelly is still an attractive man. He must have been highly desirable. Mum probably knew that Marie would leave Kelly if he lost his shirt.

‘I couldn’t believe my good fortune when Marie followed me back to the cottage I’d bought near the mine. You can’t imagine the effect she had on men…it was something one can’t describe. She had the looks and the figure, but it was more than that…some sort of a magic she let loose so that you couldn’t think straight when you were near her.’

‘And then?’ Chris urges, sensing an unhappy ending.

‘One day I came home early to find she was in bed with Visser. So there we were…the three of us…at each other’s throats. I owned the cottage, but I couldn’t stay there, so I found lodgings in the village nearby. We carried on with the business. We didn’t have much choice, we’d both sunk every cent we owned into that mine. Then…out of the
blue…we started to get reports about the case drawing to a close with the odds in Hendrickse’s favour. He won and within a week, we were out on our necks. We lost everything.’

He has told his story in a detached tone. Now he shrugs and grins.

‘I went back to dredging. I knew I would eventually get back where I was, but Visser took it badly. When he got into trouble, I knew it was my fault.’

‘So what happened to Marie?’

‘The day Hendrickse won the case, she moved back to the city, married Zuckerman and they sold out and moved to London. Visser took it badly. He was in love with her.’

‘And Visser?’

‘You read about Visser’s fate.’ He breaks off and sighs. ‘Enough questions. We have a hard day tomorrow, Chris. You’d best get some sleep.’

‘Thanks for telling me, Kelly. Are there any scorpions, snakes or man-eating lions around?’

‘Sure! But they know I’ve got a gun. I’ll take first watch and I’ll keep the fire burning.’

Curled up beside the fire, feeling safe, Chris falls into a deep sleep.

Night cloaks the bush under a brilliant star-strewn sky, but in the east comes a glimmer of oyster-grey. All at once a francolin gives its
kraa-kraaa-kraa
call to announce the dawn. The birds begin their chorus, proclaiming their space, until the air hums with their noisy song. Grey turns to red, sending a strange, mystical glow over the land.

‘Welcome to the morning,’ Kelly says, as Chris wakes in the chilly dawn.

‘Morning? But surely…why didn’t you wake me to keep watch?’

‘You need to sleep more than I do.’

She sits up cautiously. ‘I’m stiff all over,’ she says, trying to smooth back her hair. She reaches into her pack for a precious ‘wipe’ and cleans her face and neck.

‘I’d do anything for a shower.’

‘Your wish will be granted this afternoon, with
luck. We’re moving towards a camp I have on the outskirts of Ghanzi. The shack is primitive and so is the shower, but it works.’

‘Sh! Hang on…listen…isn’t that a helicopter?’

‘It’s been searching around for the past hour. I’m surprised you didn’t wake before.’

Chris wonders why Kelly sounds different. Twisting her head, she watches him quizzically. His eyes are laughing, his grin is wide and happy. Chris smiles to herself. ‘You’ve shaved. You look much younger without that white stubble.’

‘I feel lighter. Now that I know who I am…’

‘Who are you?’

‘I’m Dad. Don’t interrupt. Now that I know who I am, you will do as you are told and eat this nutritious oryx
biltong
.’

‘Yuck, Kelly. It stinks,’ she yelps as a piece lands in her lap. ‘I’m sure that’s what I smelled last night.’

‘Could be. I left it hanging in the Acacia thorn tree. Birds and beasts alike are wary of those thorns. I have little stores of dried meat all over the place.’

‘How disgusting. But where is the rest of the boar?’

Kelly gestures towards his larder up amongst the thorns. ‘I saved you a piece.’ He digs into his haversack. ‘This should keep you going for a while.’

The drone of the helicopter is nearer now. They listen in silence for a while. The aircraft circles half a kilometre away and then moves westwards until
they can no longer hear the engine.

‘How about moving on?’ Kelly suggests, as if he is giving her a choice.

‘Sure.’ Sighing, she picks up her pack.

‘Who is it who wants to find you so badly?’ Kelly asks, as he sets up a punishing pace.

Chris takes a while answering. ‘It could be Jim Stark. We must avoid him.’

‘He’s not a friend?’ he asks guilelessly.

‘It’s not that simple, Kelly…Dad. I’m not sure about him at all.’ Chris tries to calm down and hide her anxiety.

‘I think it’s time you confided in me.’ Kelly’s deep rumble seems to lend a sense of security. ‘Just let me get the basics under my belt.’

Chris hardly knows where to start, but half an hour later she’s given Kelly a rough idea of her progress in the investigation.

‘So to recap, Chris, you came to Africa hoping that Freeman would reveal his hand and tell you who runs the laundering scam,’ Kelly says.

‘Sort of…yes.’

‘He wouldn’t play, but Joubert helped you by giving you access to police records. You hit on Visser mainly because he was there at the time, he’d been convicted of theft and later his death seemed highly suspect…to say nothing of the missing diamonds. They were rumoured to be worth at least ten million pounds.’

‘Yes, and there’s something else. Freeman fears for his life from someone he described to Petrus as “that bloody accountant.”’

‘There’s nothing here that will convince the police. So tell me about your tenuous link between Visser and Skoog.’

‘I only know what I read in the newspaper: Skoog became very wealthy three years after the shipwreck. Then there was the strange way he described Visser’s death at the time. I can’t believe he would watch his exhausted friend go under without trying to save him, or at least throw a lifebelt.’

‘Good thinking.’

‘When I started to investigate his business methods I found out about the armoured cars that deliver the cash to Skoog, and how Skoog always pilots the plane himself on his trips to the interior. His schedule fits my theory. Add to that the fact that he tried to kill me, and I’d say he’s guilty.’

‘He’s certainly guilty of something. So shouldn’t you be back in your London IT department, tracking the money routes to find where Ulf Skoog’s cash supply originates?’

‘That’s next on the list.’

‘Look here, hon. You’re a lawyer and you have a business degree. You’re highly qualified, but not as a cop. This is police work. You have no experience of sleuthing and you keep running into danger. You’re supposed to be using your financial and
legal training in order to solve these problems, and as I see it, your brief is to find out how the gems are laundered. Not who…nor why…just how.’

Kelly doesn’t even turn around, which is lucky because he doesn’t see her expression. He keeps up his punishing pace, while telling her how to run her business and the investigation and soon he’ll be telling her how to run her life, when he knows nothing about her, or anything else. But why tell him about the investigation if she doesn’t want his help? Chris sighs.

‘Yes, how? That’s the million dollar question,’ she answers, putting away pride. ‘I can’t help hoping that I will find out who is running the show, or any small fact that might lead to Sienna which I could pass on to the police. She was my best friend for years. She still is, I suppose. The thought of her imprisoned somewhere…’

She breaks off and sighs.

‘I should have gone back to London, but I was hoping you might point me to Visser. Then Jim arrived and…’

‘What’s Jim got to do with it?’

‘He followed me to Walvis Bay. I was ill, so he took me to a hotel at Kasane for a few days.’

‘Sounds to me as if he’s in love. Are you in love with him?’

She ducks that question. ‘But what if he’s not, Kelly? What if he’s running the show, not Visser. I must tell you something else. On our last night at
the hotel Jim went out and came back much later dragging a heavy suitcase. I broke it open the next morning while he was out and a fortune of diamonds spilled out all over the bedroom floor. I left in a hurry, I can tell you.’

‘Well, he couldn’t have been recruited by Freeman, he’s too young.’

‘True, but he might be a buying agent.’

‘Then why is he always in London? You seem to suspect everyone.’

‘Anyone who lies about their feelings just to keep tabs on me.’

‘But what if he loves you?’

‘Then why does he lie?’

‘Well, I don’t know Chris, but there is such a thing as being sworn to secrecy.’

‘Maybe you’re right…I’m no good at this. I even suspected you.’

Kelly smiles at her. ‘I think you’re on the right track with Visser. Herman Visser was very much alive last time I heard from him and that was years after the wrecking of
Rainbow’s End.’

‘Wow!’ Chris collapses on her back on the sand. ‘That’s fantastic. Why didn’t you say so? This news makes everything so worthwhile. I was worried about wasting company money. Can we have a water break?’ She takes a swig of water and shakes what’s left longingly.

‘Don’t lie in the sun like that, Chris, you’ll spoil your skin. Pull your hat over your face.’

‘Whoa there, Kelly. Are you trying to make up for lost time?’ She sits up and peers at him, shading her eyes with her hand.

‘Drink your water.’ Kelly looks concerned and slightly embarrassed. ‘We have to move on. I think we’re being followed.’

‘I can’t think of a more unlikely place to follow someone.’ She shudders all the same.

‘It could be a hungry lion, which is not a problem because I have a hunting rifle and a gun. People are more difficult to deal with, especially lovesick young men.’

‘Oh, come on, Kelly…’

‘Dad!’

‘Dad it is, but stop teasing me.’

‘I have good ears for the bush…years of practice. The helicopter landed and took off again some time back. After that it stopped searching and made off in the direction of Maun. Some time later, I heard jackals snarling as they were chased off the remains of our
biltong
. Since then there’s been a steady trail of disturbed cries…birds mainly…some distance back, but moving in our direction…keeping up.’

‘Let’s go.’ She jumps up, fired with adrenaline.

‘I was going to tell you about Visser,’ Kelly says. ‘I never thought that he had died and as it happened I was right, but this will have to wait until we get back. It’s too hot to talk and we have a long way to go.’

This has been her worst morning by far. The sun hangs overhead, intent on sucking her dry. Chris feels dehydrated, her tongue is swollen, her nose is sore and her throat is on fire. Her legs are so weak she can hardly walk and every breath hurts. The sun blazes down, baking her, and the sparse thorn trees give little shade. The sand is so hot it burns her feet through the soles of her boots.

By the time they reach Kelly’s camp, at four p.m., her limbs have turned to lead and her mouth is parched. Each step forward requires a massive effort of will. She stumbles through a gate, only vaguely aware of having arrived, and sees before her a cluster of whitewashed rondavels with thatched roofs and a large dam glittering in the sun. It must be a mirage.

‘Well done, Chris. We’ve arrived.’

‘Thank goodness,’ she croaks. ‘Water, please.’

‘All the water you want…and a cold shower.’

Chris flops down on a bench under a tree and closes her eyes.

Kelly goes inside and returns with a jug of cool water with slices of lemon in it. He brings up a table and hands her a glass.

‘It’s all so civilised.’

‘We’re only five miles from Ghanzi. This place suits me fine when I’m prospecting in Botswana,’ he replies. ‘I like it here.’

The water soaks in and Chris revives enough to look around the camp. There are four fairly large
whitewashed rondavels built in a crescent with a connecting wall, plus two more thatched roofs supported by pillars; one covers a large sink and a shower, the other a
braai
area. The washroom has a bamboo fence low enough to peer over. Beyond a thicket of thorn trees is a large shed made of corrugated asbestos sheeting and there the land has been burned and flattened into what looks like a rough runway.

‘I can’t believe it.’ She laughs. ‘You’re so well organised.’

‘Go on, have a shower. There’s a
vlei
full of water over there. I pump it into one of the tanks when the rainwater gets low. Don’t worry. I’ve plenty to do out back. Call me when you’ve finished. No one ever comes here, Enjoy yourself. Just don’t try to swim in the
vlei
, you never know when the odd crocodile comes visiting. I’ve put out a soap and a towel for you.’

Chris strips off behind the bamboo frame and turns on the water. It’s divine. She sings as the cool flood cascades over her, streaming over her body, her face and her hair…soaking into her pores…reviving her.

‘Well, well, you had me really fooled this time, Chris.’

She yelps, loses her balance and lands
half-crouched
in the grass.

‘Jim!’

‘Your past lover inconveniently turns up to save you, only to find that you’re shacked up with someone new. Or maybe he’s not too new. Pretty ancient, I would say.’

‘No, he’s not new at all.’ Sullen and resentful, she glowers at him.

‘Why the hell did you run away?’

‘Because I found the diamonds, which proves you’re involved, which is what I’ve always suspected.’

‘How did you manage to break the case?’ he asks mildly.

‘It broke with the weight of the diamonds.’

‘Are you all right, hon?’ She hears Kelly calling from the doorway.

‘Hon?’ Jim apes him. ‘So you’re into the stars and stripes.’

She grabs the towels and wraps it around her. ‘Get lost Jim and stop following me.’

‘You should have told me about you and Kelly.’

‘And you…and the diamonds?’

‘I sold a certain group some equipment. They paid me with diamonds. I came to Kasane to collect them. End of story. I found Kelly for you… remember? If I’d known what was going on, I wouldn’t have. Just how long have you known this old guy? Don’t you prefer someone your own age?’

His eyes switch to a spot just behind her.

Looking around she sees her father watching them with a quizzical expression.

‘It seems you know my daughter. I’m Dan Kelly. Who the hell are you?’

Jim seems to have lost his tongue as his sullen leer vaporises. He stares from Kelly to Chris as if hypnotised, his face brick red, his eyes smarting. Pulling himself together, Jim produces a polite smile.

‘James Stark, sir. How do you do.’ He holds out his hand.

‘OK, James. I’m about to find us some food. I’ll need enough glowing embers to
braai
a small buck. You’ll have to do it, Chris is exhausted. You’ll find a bricked-up grate and plenty of wood round the back. Don’t set light to the thatch. I presume you’re staying for a meal? You must be hungry. It is you who’s been following our trail, isn’t it?’

‘Yes, sir. Certain facts led me to believe that Chris might be in some danger with you.’

‘What sort of facts?’

‘The transfer of mineral rights at a price far below their value to Visser,’ Jim says, leering at Chris.

‘If you want to know why, I’ll tell you over a meal. Just make sure the fire’s good enough.’

Kelly walks off, shouldering his rifle and the two of them watch him in silence.

‘You didn’t say that Kelly was your father,’ Jim begins hesitantly. ‘How come you didn’t know where your father was?’

‘My parents split. I’d never met him until a few days ago.’

‘Listen, Chris. I’ve been poking around my contacts for you. I haven’t found much, except that this diamond laundering is big…very big. It involves several African governments and it’s all controlled from London. They…whoever they are…have very substantial resources. They could put you out of the picture just by clicking their fingers. Life means nothing to them.’