Rhino Charge Read online

  Marina ignored her question. “Jono went to college in the UK and quiet cousin Aatma went to Leicester, a British university. My older cousins and their friends were already working.”

  “So what happened?”

  “Cousin Vadhana went to the UK and stayed with Aatma. And they both visited Jono. It was winter and very cold and frosty. Jono was driving too fast down a hill and the car didn’t make the turn. The speed limit was thirty miles per hour and the car was travelling at forty-five. The coroner concluded that in normal weather conditions, at that speed, the car would have stayed on the road.” Marina stopped. She was shaking and rubbed her hand against her mouth.

  “A coroner means someone died. Was it your cousin Vadhana?” Rose laid her arm around Marina’s shoulder.

  Marina nodded. “She was eighteen. It happened twenty years ago when I was only a toddler, but the family continue to mourn for her.”

  “And Jono was responsible for her death?”

  Marina swallowed. “He was driving and Vadhana was in the passenger seat. She was killed and Jono was knocked unconscious. Aatma, in the back seat, only suffered minor injuries. Mum told me what happened, but the rest of the family refuse to talk about the accident.”

  Rose thought of the slumped form of Jono over the breakfast table earlier. “Reuniting Jono with his old school mates, at a driving event, must have reawakened the nightmare of the crash.”

  Marina sniffed. “I think it’s worse than that. The one time I managed to get cousin Aatma to talk, he told me Jono had no memory of the accident. While he was unconscious, he was operated on to remove the swelling on his brain, and he needed six months rehabilitation, by which time Aatma was back in Nairobi.”

  “Jono has been very self-absorbed and sombre since we arrived at the Rhino Charge. His guilt must be huge and the reason it’s taken him twenty years to return to Kenya.”

  “That and the fact that Uncle Deepak would have killed him. You see, Vadhana was his youngest child and was, as the saying goes, the apple of his eye. He was devastated by her death and it affected everyone around him. Mum said he lashed out at his workers, forgot deliveries, and nearly drove the business to the wall. It was Kumar Chauhan who kept it afloat with the assistance of my cousins. And then there was a huge row and Kumar walked out. After that, the business nearly collapsed, especially when Kumar set up in competition. Uncle Deepak hasn’t forgiven him and I don’t think my cousins have, either.”

  That accounted for nearly everyone. “Where was Mayur?”

  “He was working in London, and I don’t think he joined his father’s company for several years. I remember him returning to Kenya and marrying Lavanya. She was at the school on a scholarship and stayed in Nairobi to finish her education. And she was training to be a doctor, but her family decided it was better for her to marry Mayur.”

  Marina wrinkled her nose. “Can you believe it? She was a bright girl with a promising future in a respectable profession. She could be saving lives now, not tending to the needs of her father-in-law.” Her voice was bitter.

  “Is that why you were so defensive when you were asked to look after the children in your camp?” Rose opened her water bottle and drank. She was hot sitting on the rock, and the bushes behind her only provided limited shade.

  Marina crossed her arms. “I’ve made it abundantly clear to Baba that he’s not finding me a husband. I am quite capable of doing that myself, and I won’t be forced into an arranged marriage.”

  “Does he respect your wishes?”

  Her arms dropped to her side. “No, he’s completely ignored them. He has ‘a nice young man’ for me to meet on our return to Nairobi. He’s also ordered me to give up my safari work and even threatened to send me back to India to get married if I don’t comply.”

  “Have you talked to anyone about it?” Rose wished she had a hat or sunglasses to shade her eyes from the sun.

  “I tried talking to Mama, and she understands, but tells me it’s my father’s will and I must accept his decision. And there’s nobody else I can speak with. Can you believe I have this huge family with aunts, uncles, and cousins, and yet I’m on my own? Even my brother won’t go against my father.”

  “So you have to decide what you want to do.”

  “I know, but I’m not sure what that is. I hoped the lodge work would provide me with the answers, but it hasn’t.”

  Rose and Marina both stared into the distance without speaking.

  Marina broke the silence. “I don’t understand why Vadhana’s death, twenty years ago, is causing Thabiti problems?”

  “Somebody deliberately sabotaged your team’s car. It was mostly small things, so I don’t believe they actually meant to harm Mayur. No, I think they just wanted to prevent your team taking part, or if you did, stop you from completing the Rhino Charge.”

  Marina looked down and drew a circle on the rock. “But why now?”

  “From what you’ve told me, Jono is the trigger, and being on Kumar’s Bandit Bush Hog team may have rubbed salt into an old wound. I’ve heard that the Rhino Force team were desperate to beat them and Jono’s presence could have provoked one of them to damage your car.” Rose prepared herself for the crucial question. “Who do you think is the most likely candidate amongst the Rhino Force team?”

  Marina shuffled her bottom. “I really can’t believe any of them would do that.”

  “But if we don’t find out who did, it will be Thabiti who takes the blame,” countered Rose.

  Marina fiddled with her water bottle. “I can’t imagine my oldest cousin Hinesh dirtying himself with such work, and I doubt he’d know how. There’s the mechanic Uncle Deepak flew in from the UK, but he’s a bit straight-laced, so I doubt he’d agree to sabotage another team. My brother might work for Uncle Deepak, but he’s not bothered whether they win and just enjoys being part of the team. So that leaves bespectacled cousin Aatma.”

  “Do you think he would be capable?” Rose probed.

  “I don’t know. He’s clever and very secretive. But I like him, probably because he’s also a loner like me, and prefers his own solitude away from the rest of the family. He never puts himself forward and can usually be found reading a book. But he and Uncle Deepak haven’t been getting along well for the past few months. I’m not sure why.”

  “I think we need to find your cousin Aatma.”

  Chapter Thirty-Three

  Sam, Thabiti and Chloe remained at the breakfast table after Rose left.

  “I’m worried about Rose,” said Chloe. “I know she’s just trying to help you, Thabiti, but she could get herself into trouble if she starts asking too many questions.”

  “Then all the more reason to get to the bottom of this car business and clear Thabiti’s name.” Sam stood. “Will you excuse us? We have work to do.”

  Chloe gathered up her bag. “I’m going to lie down for a bit and hope my head stops banging.”

  “Thabiti,” called Sam. “Get up. We need to find Frank Butler.”

  Thabiti sighed. “Do we have to? I’m sure he’ll still blame me.”

  “Perhaps, but if he formally records my findings we have a better chance of proving your innocence.” Sam tugged at Thabiti’s t-shirt.

  As they left the catering area, Thabiti kept close to Sam, with his head bowed, but he still felt the stares from other competitors. He waited outside the registration tent while Sam entered and asked, “Can I speak with Frank Butler?”

  Thabiti kicked at a stone on the ground. He had been so excited about the Rhino Charge and being offered a place as a mechanic. And he’d enjoyed the routine of working at Mr Obado’s garage each day, learning how the team’s car worked and assisting with other vehicle repairs. Solving a problem with a car, such as a rattling noise or an underperforming engine, gave him a real buzz.

  Life was so much better when it had a purpose. He preferred repairing vehicles to drifting about at home or completing crossword puzzles with Craig. That wasn’t fair. Craig had helped him de
velop a routine and given him a reason to get out of bed each day when he really needed one.

  Would he return to those lazy mornings, or would he be arrested and thrown into a pit of a prison in Nairobi? What then? Who would look after Pixel? Could he persuade the authorities to move him to Nanyuki jail where his friends could visit him? And what about Pearl? She was still struggling to come to terms with all that happened around Ma’s death, and he didn’t want her to slide back into her melancholy.

  Life had been looking up. He scuffed an image in the sandy ground with his toe. It looked like a wonky heart. He thought of Marina. Was he to be denied her support and companionship? He knew her family were overbearing, but could they actually stop her from seeing him? But would she want to if he was accused and convicted of killing Mayur?

  “Thabiti.” The voice repeated, “Thabiti.” He looked up at Sam, and across at Mr Butler who didn’t meet his eyes.

  Mr Butler checked his watch. “Can we get on with this? I’ve loads to do if we’re to post the results this afternoon.”

  Sam led the way to parc fermé and Thabiti trudged along behind. What good would this do? Surely Sam was providing more evidence of his incompetence.

  “If this is to be part of the formal investigation, your other team members should be here, particularly your team captain,” stated Mr Butler.

  “That would hardly be appropriate since we recently lost a team member, and I don’t think we should disturb Kumar Chauhan at the moment.” Sam’s voice had a hard edge. “Jono Urquhart is in a world of his own, and I doubt the runners George and Marina know much about the technicalities of motor vehicles.”

  Mr Butler’s posture was rigid. “There’s no need to take that tone.” His voice softened. “OK, show me what you’ve found.”

  “It’s mostly small things. Firstly, there’s a nail in one of the spare tyres.” Sam reached into the back of the car, dragged a tyre towards him and found the offending nail.

  Mr Butler scratched his neck. “Nails, glass, and pieces of wire often find their way into tyres.”

  Sam raised his eyebrows. “But not ones which have been inflated and put directly into the back of a vehicle.”

  “Point taken.” Mr Butler made a note on the clipboard he carried. “Anything else?”

  Sam lifted a jerry can out of the back. “This was empty. I believe someone poured the diesel away.”

  “Or forgot to fill it up in the first place,” Mr Butler countered. Thabiti felt his cheeks burn and he turned away from the car. This was a waste of time, as he would still be blamed whatever evidence Sam provided.

  “Have you spoken to Mr Obado?” Sam drew himself to his full height and widened his stance.

  Mr Butler’s jaw tightened. “I haven’t had a chance yet.”

  “But you are one of his customers?”

  “Yes.” Mr Butler leaned back.

  “And have you ever found his work slovenly or for him to forget simple procedures?”

  “Well, no.”

  Sam brought his feet together. “I called Mr Obado, who is appalled at what happened. And he personally checked the vehicle and all the parts, including the spare tyre and fuel cans. He said the winch strop was brand new and arrived two weeks ago from the UK, via Kesom freight. When I examined the winch strop, the stitching had given way, but not all the threads were frayed. I believe some of them had been cut.”

  “Are you accusing someone of deliberately tampering with the strop?” Mr Butler sucked in his cheeks.

  “Well it’s either that or Mr Obado received a faulty one from the UK. Besides, he confirmed Thabiti’s testimony that they tested the strop and winch cable last week.”

  “That’s a serious allegation.”

  “With serious consequences.”

  The two men eyed each other.

  Thabiti felt his legs shake and his mouth was dry. His voice cracked as he asked, “What about the electrical connectors?”

  “What about them?” asked Mr Butler sharply.

  “Someone deliberately unhooked them before the scrutineering.” Thabiti showed Mr Butler the photo he’d taken.

  Mr Butler looked at Thabiti and back to Sam. “Neither of you did this?” They stared back at him.

  “And someone hid our team’s safety equipment,” added Thabiti.

  “OK, I agree, it does look like someone tried to stop your team taking part. But the winch strop is a serious matter. Do you have any idea who might have done this?”

  Thabiti looked at Sam and away again as Sam said, “We’re not sure, but at the moment, I would like you to clear Thabiti of neglecting his duties and causing the accident which injured, and potentially, killed Mayur Chauhan.”

  Mr Butler hesitated. “I’ve known Mr Obado a long time, and you’re right, he would not send a car to the Rhino Charge without meticulous preparation and checks. Was the car transported here directly from Nanyuki on a truck?”

  “Yes,” confirmed Thabiti as he twirled his phone in his hand. “And it was unloaded at the Bandit Bush Hog’s camp where it stayed until scrutineering, and after that it was parked in here.”

  “Ok, this is what I can do for you.” Mr Butler held his clipboard to his chest. “I’ll write an official report stating the facts you’ve given me. And I will express my opinion that the incidents were not due to any neglect or omission of the mechanic’s duties, but as a direct result of sabotage by a person, or persons unknown.”

  Thabiti sank to his knees and held his head in his hands. He felt drained, but he had been cleared. The accident was not his fault.

  Chapter Thirty-Four

  Rose was reluctant to leave the peace of the escarpment and return to the bustling headquarters. At the Rhino Charge camp, the cricket match had finished and most of the participants had left. Three children still ran around playing tag.

  “Wait here,” requested Marina. “I’ll fetch cousin Aatma.”

  Marina returned and beckoned to Rose. “Come in. Aatma is here with my older cousin, Hinesh, but the rest of the family, including Uncle Deepak, are away visiting friends in another camp.”

  They found Aatma reading a book, and Hinesh bent over some paperwork, at the table in the central marquee. Marina had told Rose that Aatma was forty, but up close he looked older. His shaved head did little to conceal his thinning hair and his eyes were red-rimmed and surrounded by sallow yellow skin.

  Aatma looked up and grinned at Marina. “You’re in trouble. Your father was furious when he found out you’d disappeared. He was all for finding that young man of yours and giving him a beating.”

  Marina bristled and replied, “I’m not fifteen and Thabiti has enough problems at the moment.”

  Turning to Rose, Aatma asked, “Do you mind if I smoke? I try not to when the family are around as they disapprove.” He cradled a mug of black coffee in his left hand.

  Rose sat down and asked, “Were you out celebrating last night?”

  “Something like that.” Aatma dragged on his cigarette. “Thabiti’s your team’s mechanic, isn’t he? Is he being blamed for causing yesterday’s accident?”

  Marina’s face reddened and she retorted, “You mean is he being blamed for Mayur’s death? He did nothing wrong. It’s just that he’s an easy target.”

  Aatma shrugged his shoulders. “I’m sure it will soon blow over. We all know the risks involved when we sign up for the Rhino Charge.”

  Rose was irritated by Aatma’s indifference. “Risks are one thing, deliberately interfering with a car and its equipment is quite another.”

  Aatma blew out smoke and eyed Rose. “Are you telling me someone tampered with the winch? Who would do that?”

  Rose’s eyes narrowed as she stared at Aatma. “We wondered if you might be able to tell us.”

  Aatma shoved his chair back and knocked over his coffee cup. Black liquid sloshed onto the table. “Hey, lady. Don’t start pointing the finger at me. I haven’t been near the Bandit Bush Hogs or their car.”

  “Then you c
an confirm you didn’t damage their car or the winch equipment.”

  Flustered, Aatma leapt to his feet. “I had nothing to do with this.”

  “Aatma, calm down.” Marina’s voice was soothing. She’d found a cloth and was mopping up the spilt coffee.

  He turned on her and sneered, “It’s easy for you to say. None of this affects you.”

  Marina bristled and threw down the cloth. “It does, actually. Whilst Thabiti is accused of neglecting his duties and causing the crash, Baba has banned me from seeing him.”

  Cousin Aatma paced up and down in front of the mess tent and lit another cigarette. “Sorry Marina, I didn’t mean to snap at you. I get rather uptight about car accidents.”

  Rose looked across at Aatma and asked, “Is that because of the one you were involved in twenty years ago?”

  Aatma stopped. “How do you know about that? What has Jono Urquhart been saying?”

  Marina answered him. “Jono hardly says anything at the moment, he’s so miserable. I told Mama Rose about cousin Vadhana and the crash.”

  Aatma’s hand shook violently. “You shouldn’t have.”

  “Why?” Marina flopped into a chair. “Mama Rose thinks what happened yesterday is connected to your crash.”

  “My crash? Why do you call it that? How can the two be connected?”

  Rose leaned back, laced her hands together and declared, “Because I believe Jono Urquhart’s return is the trigger which resulted in Mayur’s death.”

  They all jumped as Hinesh slapped his hands on the table. “It’s a good job Mayur Chauhan is dead or I would kill him myself. Can you believe it, he’s been muscling in on the Belmont Hotel group’s account and he’s seriously undercutting us. The manager at the Suffolk sent me these figures, Aatma.”

  Hinesh waved the papers in the air. “There’s no way he’s making a profit at these prices. And I bet Kumar knows nothing about it. He thinks he still runs the business, but Mayur did plenty behind his back. I for one won’t be grieving over his death.”