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  Rose didn’t know what to say, so she felt that it was better to just listen.

  “I thought he had grown out of it at secondary school, as he didn’t get into trouble nearly as much, and he did really well on the sports field, particularly rugby. But he only became more devious and better at concealing his actions. I found this out when one of my workers brought his daughter to me. She had refused Mayur’s advances, so he’d sexually and physically assaulted her. I snapped and banished him to work in the UK. I guess I thought that out of sight was out of mind.”

  Kumar shook his head. “But he still contacted his mother, begging to be allowed home. She eventually persuaded me that if he found a steady, calm, but intelligent, girl, Mayur would settle down. She said he wanted to start a family and join the business. It was she who suggested Lavanya as a potential wife. Now I think about it, I bet the two of them hatched the plan together. Mayur probably only wanted Lavanya because she had been unobtainable at school, and he knew she loved Jono.”

  Rose sat up in surprise.

  Kumar leaned towards her and said, “Oh, I know all about Jono now. Lavanya told me about him last night. And about Mayur tormenting her and telling her she loved a killer, a criminal, and that she’d never see him again. But when Jono returned to Kenya, apparently Mayur was even worse. I only asked Jono to join the team at Mayur’s suggestion. For once I thought he was being thoughtful and involving an old friend. How wrong could I have been?”

  Rose crossed her hands in her lap. “And did you know about the abuse? That Mayur hit and burnt your daughter-in-law?”

  Tears welled in Kumar’s eyes. “Not at first. I denied it. I knew he shouted at her and made her cry. When I saw the marks, I just thought she was clumsy. But my younger son confronted me a few weeks ago. And he told me he couldn’t stand by as Mayur’s violence against Lavanya escalated. He said he would report Mayur to the police unless I did something about it. So I asked him to give me time to think about it, and I have been doing so this weekend. I’d decided to return Lavanya to her parents, or if not there, any place she wanted to go to. Somewhere she would feel safe.”

  Kumar ran the back of his hand across his eyes and sniffed. “I told her this last night and she broke down. She said she’d been thinking of running away, but wasn’t sure where to go. She wanted to help people, and be somewhere Mayur wouldn’t find her. Apparently she’d applied to join a congregation of Catholic sisters, who she said used love and compassion to bring medical care, education, and relief from poverty in remote areas in Kenya.”

  Rose said, “I know the Congregation of the Sisters of Mercy. They do excellent work here and internationally.”

  Kumar laid his hand on the table, “But Lavanya is a Hindu. Why would she want to give up her faith?”

  Rose placed her hand over Kumar’s. “Perhaps she didn’t see it as giving up her faith, but as an opportunity to help people. I’m sure there are Hindu organisations in India who do similar work, but how would Lavanya get there?”

  Marina stood beside Rose and uncharacteristically asked, “Can I speak?”

  Kumar looked up at her in surprise. “Of course, my dear.”

  Marina twisted her fingers. “It’s just that we were discussing religion around the campfire a few nights ago. I mentioned my own struggles with the Hindu faith, in that it tends to segregate people by the caste into which they are born. And that I find it hard to comprehend that a person’s actions do not affect this life but the next.”

  “ Lavanya didn’t say much, but I think she agreed. She will always be considered beneath us for being from the Shudra caste. And it was because of this that she had to give up her medical training and her dreams of becoming a doctor. She was told to marry Mayur.” Marina kept her eyes on the ground.

  Kumar placed a hand on her arm. “You young people see things differently, so perhaps you are right. Perhaps she sees her calling as helping people and she cannot do it within the confines of her current religion.”

  Rose leant back and said, “Unfortunately, she won’t be able to help many people from the confines of a prison cell. Did she tell you last night that she killed Mayur?”

  Kumar looked directly at Rose and said simply, “Yes.”

  “So will you go to the police or wait for them to approach you? They may be on their way now.”

  “Yes, yes, of course. But what do I tell them? That my son beat his wife and I stood by and did nothing until he pushed her to the point where she killed him? And of course they will expect me to pay.”

  Marina gasped, “But surely they won’t charge you as well. You didn’t kill your son.”

  Kumar grunted, “But I didn’t stop it, either. But that’s not what I meant. The Kenyan authorities will expect me to pay to prosecute my daughter-in-law for murdering my son.”

  Marina exclaimed, “But you can’t do that, can you?”

  Kumar looked up, “I need justice for my son. And besides, if I don’t pay there will be no trial and Lavanya will be left to rot in prison without any hope of being released. The process takes long enough as it is.”

  Marina extracted a plastic chair from the pile behind Kumar and sat down opposite Rose. She asked, “What’s it like in prison?”

  Rose answered, “Cold and bare. My only experience is visiting the women in Nanyuki prison. Their accommodation is overcrowded and they have to fight for a space sharing a mattress, otherwise there is only the concrete floor. And there isn’t enough food to go round. Prisoners can buy extra rations, but for that they need someone to visit regularly and leave money at the shop.”

  Marina shivered despite the warmth of the sun. “I can’t see Lavanya fighting for her corner. More likely she’d just curl up in one and wither away.”

  Rose leant across and laid a hand on Marina’s arm. “I know, it’s not very pleasant, and I agree with you that Lavanya might not survive, but she does have considerable inner strength. After all, she put up with Mayur’s verbal, emotional, and physical abuse for many years.”

  Marina jumped up and her chair fell back. “But Mr Chauhan, surely you won’t pay to send Lavanya to jail and almost certain death?”

  Kumar wiped tears from his eyes. “But my dear, what else can I do? It is the law.”

  Marina righted her chair and Rose said in a small, calm voice, “Of course, the police don’t know Lavanya killed Mayur. We and Lavanya are the only ones who know that.”

  Marina turned round and leant against the table which wobbled. “Yes, that’s right. Please Mr Chauhan. There has to be another way. I know you want justice for your son, but what about Lavanya? Doesn’t she deserve some justice and some understanding after all she’s suffered? Please don’t give her up to the police.”

  Kumar leaned back and looked up at the cobalt-blue sky. “I don’t disagree with you. I know Lavanya acted out of a combination of desperation and self-defence, seeing only pain and suffering ahead of her, in her marriage and her life. But what alternative is there?”

  Rose rubbed her chin and said, “Well you once punished your son with banishment. Is it something you would consider for Lavanya? She mentioned joining the Catholic mission. I might be able to help find her a place there. I don’t think she would have to become a nun, not at first anyway, but she would be safe and helping some of our poorest communities.”

  Sam and Nick West strode into camp between the leleshwa bushes, accompanied by two overweight policemen.

  “Good morning, Kumar,” said Nick. “These gentlemen would like to speak to you about the death of your son.”

  Rose stood and offered her chair to the senior officer.

  He sat down, looked up at Rose and sneered, “And I’ll have a coffee and a steak sandwich with chips, please.”

  The other police officer, who had taken Marina’s vacant seat, said, “And I’ll have the same.”

  Kumar’s shoulders slumped as he pulled three thousand bob notes from his pocket. He handed them to Marina and said in a monotone voice, “Would you min
d fetching the officers’ order?” He turned to the policemen and asked, “So who killed my son?”

  Chapter Sixty-Two

  Nick, Rose, and Sam walked through the leleshwa bushes out of the Bandit Bush Hog’s camp.

  Nick turned to Rose and said, “I’m sorry you couldn’t find out who killed Mayur, but now the police are here, perhaps it’s better to leave the matter with them. Thank you for all your help.”

  He held his hand out to Sam, who shook it. “And thank you for helping Rose. Can I leave you to liaise with the Narok police? Let me know if you need anything or if they want to speak to me again, although I’m not sure what I can add.”

  Nick left them as Marina returned with a paper bag hanging from her arm.

  She carried a cup in each hand. “Please, take these,” she beseeched Sam.

  Sam grabbed the cups and Marina let the bag slide to the floor.

  She shook her arms. “Ow, those were hot and the bag was getting heavy.”

  Sam balanced one coffee cup on top of the other and bent down for the bag. “I’ll take these to the policemen and check if Kumar needs any help.”

  Marina peered after Sam through the gap in the leleshwa bushes. “What do you think Mr Chauhan is telling those awful policemen?”

  “Shh,” chided Rose.

  “I don’t know how you can be so calm. They were really rude to you,” Marina whispered, but her voice was still loud.

  “It’s best to just ignore people like that… but I hope I don’t have to be interviewed by them.”

  Sam pushed his way back through the leleshwa bushes and said, “I think they’re nearly finished. I hope Kumar’s all right, as he’s very red in the face. I’d say he’s rather angry.”

  Marina did whisper this time, “But what has he told them?”

  “I gather very little,” replied Sam. “But then what can he tell them? He’s spent most of his time in his camp. I heard him say he didn’t know anyone who would want to kill his son.”

  Rose looked at Marina who was completely still and staring at Sam with her mouth open. Rose breathed deeply and relaxed. Surely this meant Kumar had decided banishment was a better punishment than a Nairobi jail.

  And if these policemen were anything to go by, she doubted he would want them, or anyone else, sneering at him as they washed his family’s dirty laundry in public.

  Sam looked at Rose and then Marina. “Have I missed something?” he asked.

  “That’s what I want to know.” Chloe jogged up to them. She stopped and placed her hands on her hips, panting slightly.

  “Hi, Chloe. What have you been up to?”

  Chloe caught her breath. “I’ve been packing up our things. Wendy Butler caught me and said the hire company wanted to take down the officials’ tents. I’ve left everything in a pile by the entrance to the official’s camp so I hope it’ll be all right.”

  Chloe stepped back from the gap in the leleshwa bushes as the two policemen emerged. They ignored the women and spoke solely to Sam. “There was little the victim’s father could tell us, and he wasn’t particularly cooperative. We’ll keep the case open, but I’m not sure there’s much else we can do, not now that potential witnesses are leaving the scene. Is there anyone else we should speak to?”

  Sam looked over the shoulders of the policemen at Rose, but she gave a barely perceptible shake of the head.

  “Not that I can think of,” replied Sam. “Would you like me to walk you to your car?”

  “No thank you. We can make our own way. We better head back to Narok and stop by the check point we set up on the Mara to Narok road this morning.” He looked around and smiled. “A profitable venture, I should think.”

  They strode away.

  Marina’s face was contorted. “Profitable venture indeed. Taking bribes from everyone leaving the Charge more like it. I doubt they’re interested in any hard work, like finding Mayur’s killer. They only want to take advantage, and make a quick profit from people who have long journeys and don’t want to be delayed with police bureaucracy. Mind you, I’ll have to be very careful driving back.”

  Rose looked across at Sam who was staring at her.

  He asked, “Well?”

  She responded quickly. “Let’s go and check on Kumar.”

  Kumar was still sitting at the table, although the events shelter had been dismantled and two of the camp staff were trying to force its covering into a travelling bag.

  He turned round as Rose, Sam, Chloe, and Marina approached him. “It’s done,” he called. “I couldn’t throw Lavanya to those wolves of policemen. They had no interest in truth or justice. And they would have tried to bleed every shilling they could from me. I will visit Lavanya when she has recovered and discuss our proposition. Could you see if there is a vacancy at one of the Sisters of Mercy’s missions?”

  Rose stepped forward and cupped Kumar’s hands in her own. “You are both brave and compassionate. May whichever god is looking down on us bless you.”

  Sam stepped forward. “I think I have an inkling of what happened, and it was better I didn’t know before I spoke to those policemen, but it’s clear you knew, Mama Rose, and you didn’t want to be interviewed by them.”

  Kumar looked up at Sam. “This is to go no further.”

  Chloe and Marina edged forward.

  “Lavanya killed my son. His abuse of her, both emotional and physical, was too much. I think the catalyst this weekend was Jono, her old flame. She snapped and somehow suffocated Mayur.” He bowed his head and rubbed his temples. “Such a waste. Two lives ruined.”

  Marina asked nervously, “But Mr Chauhan. Mayur was large and strong and Lavanya, well, she’s so timid and petite. How could she have done it?”

  Rose replied, “I don’t think we shall ever know. I can only guess that she crept back to the medical tent when Mayur was asleep and caught him off-guard. She may have used a pillow and Mayur was partially incapacitated with an injured arm. I guess she clung to him like a lioness which has jumped on the back of a large buffalo.”

  Kumar held up his hands. “And that, everyone, is the end of it. I would appreciate it if you did not discuss this further, even amongst yourselves. Please respect my wishes on this matter.”

  Rose, Sam, Chloe, and Marina each murmured their ascent.

  Marina collected her bag from beside the pile of chairs. “Well, If you’re ready, Mr Chauhan, I would like to get going. We have a long drive back to Nairobi.”

  Rose announced, “So this is the end of the 2016 Rhino Charge.”

  Chapter Sixty-Three

  On Friday morning, Rose and Chloe once again flew over the Aberdare Mountain range, and their pilot was Jono Urquhart. He was flying tourists down to Wilson Airport so Rose and Chloe were squashed together at the back. They exited the mountains smoothly and flew on over the Great Rift Valley and its escarpment before landing at Wilson Airport.

  They waited patiently by the plane while Jono escorted the tourists through the single storey departure building.

  Jono opened the door of a black Land Cruiser Amazon. “Ready, ladies?”

  “Are you driving?” enquired Chloe. “Whose car is it?”

  Jono’s eyebrows drew together. “You might think it ironic, but Kumar gave me Mayur’s car. So now I’ve no excuse not to drive. If it’s OK, I’ll drive us back to Nanyuki in it this afternoon.”

  Jono turned left onto the slow-moving Langata Road and the source of the queue was soon apparent.

  “Is that allowed?” exclaimed Chloe.

  Ahead of them two Maasai herdsmen casually shepherded their cows down the centre of the road, seemingly oblivious to the oncoming traffic.

  Rose chuckled. “Believe it or not, they have the right of way.”

  It took them a further twenty minutes to travel the relatively short distance to the Karen Hospital where they found Lavanya in a private room on the second floor. She was reading the Bible.

  Jono scowled and said in a disdainful tone, “So you’re rea
lly going ahead with this mad scheme?”

  Lavanya held his gaze. Her skin was pallid, but her cheeks had filled out. “What choice do I have? Kumar has been very generous, and I don’t want to rot away in prison. Besides, now I can help people, which is what I’ve always wanted to do. And perhaps my experience will be useful in helping other women in similar situations.”

  Jono pleaded, “But what about us?”

  She placed the Bible, open but upside down, on the white sheet. “It was just not meant to be. We are destined to tread different paths. This is mine, and you now need to discover what yours is.”

  Lavanya turned to Rose. “Thank you for everything, and this opportunity of starting a new life. Do you know, I feel a calling, and a strong desire to do this?”

  Chloe stepped forward and asked, “How is Kumar?”

  “He visits me most days, but he seems much older. He told me he’s handing the company over to his younger son, who is going to begin discussions with the Seths to merge their businesses. Maybe something good will come of these events after all, if the rift between the two families can be healed.”

  She looked down, fingered the Bible, and then looked at Jono. “Kumar’s sponsoring a school reunion. I think he hopes it will bury any lingering ghosts. Will you come?”

  She was once again a vulnerable young woman. Her eyes pleaded with Jono.

  “And spend time with you? I wouldn’t miss it for the world.”

  Chapter Sixty-Four

  On Saturday morning, Rose drove herself and Dr Emma back to Ol Pejeta Conservancy to check the progress of Ringo, the orphan Rhino.

  She drove the back, less-used route to the conservancy.

  “What a state this road is,” exclaimed Dr Emma. She was thrown sideways as the car lumbered over a deep furrow.