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  “So you’re saying someone could have entered this compound and caused the damage,” concluded Rose.

  Thabiti trudged round to the back of the car. “Not to the engine, and not to the winch strop, which was locked in this metal box in the back. And only Kumar has the key.”

  Rose held her hands up in surrender. “My head’s swimming. What I need is a refreshing cup of tea.”

  They wandered along to the Dormans coffee stand and found Chloe seated at one of the tables. She was leaning back in her chair with large sunglasses covering her eyes. Rose expected Thabiti to make a joke, but he remained silent and brooding.

  “Chloe, are you sleeping?” Rose demanded, peering down at her.

  Chloe started in her chair and sat up slowly. “Aw, my head’s sore. Please don’t shout.”

  Sam grinned, “Ah, you had a late night celebrating?”

  “It’s all right for some,” Thabiti mumbled under his breath and turned away.

  Chloe removed her glasses, displaying pink-tinged eyes. “Who got out of bed on the wrong side this morning?”

  “Well, at least he got out,” quipped Rose. “Sorry, I didn’t mean to snap. Have you heard on the jungle drums that Mayur Chauhan is dead?”

  Clearly Chloe had not, as her mouth formed a large ‘O’. “Sit down whilst I buy everyone drinks and then you can tell me all about it.”

  While they waited, Rose described how she found the body.

  Chloe tapped her foot. “Why didn’t someone check on him during the night?”

  “Your drinks are ready,” one of the Dormans staff shouted.

  Sam jumped up. “I’ll get them.”

  “I guess,” said Rose, “that nobody wanted to disturb him and thought that letting him sleep would be the best cure.”

  Chloe persisted, “But surely he would have cried out in pain?”

  Rose took her tea from Sam, who had already added milk and removed the tea bag. She took a grateful sip of the hot liquid. “Not necessarily. We know the headquarters was noisy last night and the medical staff probably joined in the fun. They’d worked hard helping at guard posts as well as treating injuries.

  Anyway, if Mayur died of internal bleeding, as we think he did, the loss of blood would have caused him to slip into unconsciousness before he passed away. His painkillers might have helped mask his pain.”

  The group was sombre and silent as they drank. Rose thought of it as a toast to the departed Mayur.

  Thabiti glanced at his companions and looked down. “I wonder when Jono left the medical tent? I saw him this morning emerging from his tent in camp and chatting to Lavi. I didn’t sleep very well last night, probably because I was worrying about the accident, and it was very noisy. Lots of people seemed to be up late.” He squinted in Chloe’s direction. “So I’m not sure when Jono returned.”

  “Then we should ask him,” stated Rose. “But first we all need breakfast as it could be another long day.”

  Chapter Thirty

  Many competitors and supporters had also decided to have breakfast at the Rusty Nail in the centre of headquarters, including Jono who sat alone, hunched over a table, away from the main crowd. Rose hesitated, considering it might be too intimidating if Sam, Thabiti, Chloe, and herself all descended on him.

  Chloe must have noticed. “I’ll cheer up Thabiti and leave you and Sam to chat with Jono.” She pulled a protesting Thabiti into the breakfast queue and thrust a paper menu into his hand. Rose heard her say, “I’m starving. What do you want?”

  Sam nudged Rose. “Go and sit with Jono. I’ll order for us both, and then join you. Is an egg and bacon roll OK?”

  Rose kept her eyes on Jono as she answered, “That sounds great. I have a tab open so put the order on that.” Weaving between tables, Rose pulled out a chair and sat down next to Jono.

  He stared at his untouched breakfast roll, twirling his penknife in his fingers. “Mayur’s dead.”

  “I know,” replied Rose. “I was the one who found him.”

  He looked at her with hollow eyes and a haunted expression. “Was he dead when I left… or did I leave him to die?”

  “I don’t know,” Rose responded. “Tell me what happened last night. Why didn’t you sleep in the medical tent?”

  “Mayur had been in a foul mood all afternoon. Then Lavi brought us both some chapatis and hot lentil soup. I was really grateful as I hadn’t eaten all day and the soup was delicious. But instead of being appreciative, Mayur shouted at her and she ran away. I was furious with Mayur, but he told me to go to hell, so I left him alone and returned to camp.”

  Sam placed two egg and bacon rolls on the table and sat down. He and Jono exchanged nodded greetings.

  Rose pulled her plate towards her and asked Jono, “Do you know what time it was when you got back?”

  “I think around half past nine. The bar was busy, but our camp was quiet and I didn’t see anyone.”

  Sam bit into his roll and used a napkin to remove the egg yolk which ran down his chin.

  Jono mirrored his action and bit into his roll.

  Rose did the same, considering Jono. On the plane journey to the Mara he had appeared relaxed, jovial, and carefree, but ever since they entered headquarters, his manner had changed. He was withdrawn, even morose. Something was troubling him, and Mayur’s death had not improved his disposition.

  She looked across at Chloe and Thabiti, who were both concentrating on eating. Thabiti was her priority at the moment. She had to clear him of the accusations that he’d neglected his mechanic’s duties.

  She placed her partially eaten roll back on the plate. “Jono, Sam is concerned that someone tampered with your team’s car.”

  Jono’s eyes narrowed. “By doing what?”

  Sam wiped his mouth and answered. “Mostly small things like a nail in the spare tyre and emptying one of the spare fuel cans. But before scrutineering, someone interfered with the engine, and of course, someone cut the stitching on the winch strop.”

  Jono gulped and dropped his sandwich. “But I thought the officials said it was an accident. And that Thabiti hadn’t taken the care to check it.”

  Sam finished his sandwich and sat back. “I know they did, but I disagree with them.”

  Rose leaned forward and said conspiratorially, “We think someone else, possibly a member of Deepak Seth’s team, deliberately interfered with your team’s car to prevent you taking part. I doubt they intended to injure or kill anyone, but just wanted to stop you finishing.” She paused and looked intently at Jono who leaned back. “Do you have any idea who could have done this and why?”

  Jono clenched his hands together, hesitating. In a tense voice he said, “I know there’s no love lost between Kumar and Deepak Seth. It’s got something to do with business and happened many years ago. Kumar told me Deepak is so obsessed with beating his team at the Rhino Charge that they usually push themselves too far and fail to finish or wreck their car. I think Rhino Force have only beaten the Bandit Bush Hogs once.”

  Colour returned to Jono’s cheeks and he ate another mouthful of his breakfast. He swallowed and added, “Kumar is generous and gives people a chance. That’s why he accepted my suggestion that Thabiti join the team, and you saw how he overruled Mayur and allowed Marina to take part.”

  Jono was into his stride. “That really annoyed Mayur. You see, he resented his father who is successful, generous, and well liked. You heard how he wanted to move and modernise the business, but Kumar refused to consider his plans. Besides, Kumar still runs the business, which Mayur also resented.”

  Rose decided it was time to steer the discussion back to possible candidates for sabotaging the car. “But what about the relationship between Kumar and Deepak? Could it have caused enough resentment for Deepak to resort to underhand means to beat Kumar’s team? And if he didn’t actually damage the car himself, could he have persuaded someone else to do it for him?”

  Jono cocked his head to one side. “I really don’t think Kumar was
bothered by Deepak, although he might have been amused. I’ve watched him this weekend greet Deepak and laugh when he only receives a grunted response.”

  Jono’s brow furrowed. “I don’t know Deepak that well, but he comes across as a bitter old man. So could he have persuaded someone to tamper with our car? Yes, he could.” Jono looked down at his partly eaten roll and pushed his plate away. Rose realised he was sinking back into his own troubled world.

  “Thank you for your help.” She collected her half-eaten roll and rejoined Chloe and Thabiti.

  Chloe looked across at Jono. “He doesn’t look as if he was much help.”

  Rose sat down and said, “Well, he admitted Deepak Seth is desperate to beat the Bandit Bush Hogs, and his grudge against Kumar is large enough that he could have instructed someone to sabotage the team’s car. But we’re no nearer to finding out who.” She finished her breakfast and pondered her next move.

  Sitting up, she tapped the table with both hands and announced. “I need to find Marina and get to the bottom of what happened to her Uncle Deepak, and why he’s so bitter.”

  Chapter Thirty-One

  Rose stood under the gazebo at the entrance to Deepak Seth’s Rhino Force team camp. Marina’s bossy cousin, Elaxi, the plump woman who had wanted Marina to entertain her children on Saturday evening, demanded, “Can I help you?”

  “I’m just looking for Marina.” Rose cast her gaze around the camp.

  Elaxi stood with her hands on her thighs, blocking Rose’s way, and asked, “Are you one of those Bandit Bush Hog’s supporters?”

  Rose crossed her fingers. “I’m an official.” She wasn’t telling a lie and she felt guilty about the deception, but it was important to find and speak to Marina. She was certain that whatever troubled her Uncle Deepak was at the bottom of his feud with Kumar, and possibly the sabotage of the Bandit Bush Hog’s team car.

  Elaxi suspiciously pointed Rose towards Marina, who was sitting outside a small blue tent reading a book. As Rose approached, Marina looked up and asked, “How is Thabiti?”

  Rose pressed a finger to her lips. “I told your cousin Elaxi that I was an official. I’m sorry to disturb your reading, but I’d like to chat with you.” Rose watched a group of men, including members of the Rhino Force team, play cricket with some children, encouraged by older men and women who stood or sat watching the game.

  “Shall we go somewhere quieter and more private?” Rose asked.

  Marina hesitated. “I’m not supposed to leave our camp. At least not until Baba calms down and lets me.”

  “And do you always do as he tells you?”

  Marina put the book down and looked up at Rose as she said, “I know I’m twenty-two and act as if I’m independent, but my relief work doesn’t give me enough to live on, not in Nairobi anyway. So I have to tread a fine line and know when not to cross it.”

  Rose knelt down. “I really do need to talk to you. It’s about Thabiti, and I need your help to clear his name.”

  Marina looked around and sighed. “If you don’t mind a bit of a walk, I know a great place. Wait here.” She grabbed a bag and crossed to the central marquee where Rose watched her rummaging in a cool box and some baskets. As she returned to Rose, she shouted to her mother, “I’m going for a walk.”

  “I’m not sure your father…” Marina strode out of the camp without letting her mother finish.

  Both women were silent as Marina confidently led Rose on a path around team camps to the perimeter fence. She held the plastic mesh fence down as Rose clambered over.

  “It’s not too far now,” Marina promised and set off again.

  They trekked up a sparsely vegetated slope, scrambling the final few metres onto a large rock. They walked along it, stepping over cracks onto adjacent rocks, until Marina pushed her way through some bushes and they emerged onto a rocky escarpment overlooking the far-reaching Mara plain. Rose drew in her breath. It was such a contrast with the busy camp they’d recently left.

  “How did you find this place?” she asked.

  “I spoke with the local askaris and asked if there was somewhere quiet with a good view, and they told me how to get here. I wanted to bring Thabiti, but he’s too preoccupied at the moment. I can’t say I blame him, although I’m not sure I’d want to hang around in camp, not with everyone whispering behind my back, thinking I caused the accident which killed Mayur.” Marina sat down and dangled her legs over the edge of the rock.

  “Is that the Mara River?” Rose sat beside Marina.

  “Yes, meandering its way through the reserve to join with the River Talek. You can spot clumps of tents and the buildings of various lodges from up here.”

  “It’s very brown. I know there hasn’t been rain for several weeks, but I don’t remember it like this. And where is all the game?” Rose asked.

  Marina swung her legs and replied, “It’s such a shame. I’ve done relief work at some of the Mara lodges and they are very worried about the future.”

  Rose turned towards Marina. “Are they under pressure from the people living on the edge of the reserve?”

  “Exactly. There’s a growing population which sees this great expanse of land kept aside for wildlife and foreign tourists. It’s understandable they want a part of it. But the problem is thousands of cattle are spilling into the Mara each night, and although it’s illegal, nobody’s stopping them. That’s why the ground’s so brown. It’s mostly sand, as the grass has been lost to over-grazing by cattle. And the sad result of that is the wildlife is now leaving.”

  Rose continued her search, but couldn’t spot the usual herds of zebra or impala. “Did I read something about the Marsh Pride, which became famous after a UK TV documentary, Big Cat Diaries?”

  Marina leaned back and stuck her legs out into space. “What a disaster. The pride has split up as the two stars of the show, Sienna and Bibi, were killed by Maasai herdsmen. They laced a cow carcass with poison in retaliation for the pride killing three cattle. Because of that TV series, tourists come specifically to see the pride.

  And I have to explain that we can’t control our own people and we’ve allowed them to illegally kill the very animals they’ve travelled so far to see. Is it any different from poaching for ivory?”

  Rose tilted her head from one side to the other and said, “Remember, the Maasai lifestyle and economy is based around cattle.”

  “It was based around cattle,” Marina corrected. “But if the tribes actually consider where their wealth is coming from now, it’s not cattle. They earn a fortune from the conservancy fees visitors pay to visit the Mara. And then there are those tribespeople who earn a living directly from tourists. Many work in the numerous safari camps, and there are village tours and tribal dancing, and some women make beaded necklaces and bracelets which they sell direct to visitors.”

  Rose chewed her thumb. “It does seem rather short-sighted. And what a tragedy if we lose this iconic reserve. I remember when Craig and I first visited in the early 1970s. The Grammaticas were setting up their first camp. They spent each weekend here with a team clearing vegetation and setting up tents for visitors.

  We joined them one weekend and it was magical beside the Mara River. And the vast green plains were teeming with wildlife. Mind you, even back then there were tribal battles over cattle between the Maasai and Kipsigis.”

  “Do you miss Craig?” Marina asked.

  “I do, and I miss those times when everything was an adventure. It seemed so much easier, and we could travel where we wanted and people were happy to see us. I find travelling so much harder now, and dangerous, with crazy drivers and an ever-increasing number of police roadblocks. Also, prices have risen and everything is so expensive. One of the reasons we’ve enjoyed helping with events such as the Rhino Charge is that we get to visit new, and old places. We couldn’t afford to stay in the Mara now.”

  Pulling herself back to the present Rose knew it was time to forget the view and the fate of the Maasai Mara and tackle the immediat
e problem of Thabiti.

  Chapter Thirty-Two

  Marina removed two bottles of water from her bag and opened a packet of Oreo biscuits, which she offered to Rose.

  Rose twisted a black biscuit disc in her fingers and said, “Your family is hiding a secret which I believe is causing Thabiti a great deal of trouble.”

  Marina choked. She swiftly opened her water bottle and washed down the biscuit. “What do you mean?”

  “Well,” she said, “you told me a family tragedy triggered Kumar’s departure from your Uncle Deepak’s business which, if it didn’t create an actual feud, initiated a deep-seated animosity between them. Then your father shouted that the Bandit Bush Hogs were a team who ‘had a habit of killing people in car accidents’.”

  “Baba, had no right to say that. Uncle Deepak would be furious.”

  “Why?” she turned to Marina. “What are you hiding?”

  Marina took another drink of water and replied, “If you really want to know, you’d better hear the whole story.”

  Rose ate her biscuit expectantly.

  “They were all at school together in Lavington, in Nairobi,” Marina began.

  “Who were?”

  “My cousins, Uncle Deepak’s children. You’ve met bossy Elaxi in camp. Then there is my oldest cousin, Hinesh, and quieter, bespectacled Aatma. Mayur Chauhan was with them. And Jono Urquhart.”

  “Jono, in the Bandit Bush Hogs, was at school with Mayur and most of the Rhino Force team?” At last she felt she was getting somewhere.

  “He was also friends with cousin Vadhana, Uncle Deepak’s youngest daughter, and Mayur’s wife, Lavanya.” Marina nibbled around the edges of her biscuit.

  “Talk about keeping it in the family, and being all the better for burying a secret.” Rose knew how secrets could fester and had a habit of bursting forth when least expected, causing renewed pain for those involved. “Am I right?”