Elephant Dropping (9781301895199) (45 page)

‘Same as this
morning.’

‘Ok I will
try,’ she agreed and reached for the phone. ‘Shouldn’t you be
checking on your mechanics?’

Patel sat
there. ‘I just did.’

She put the
phone down. ‘Do you want me to do this or not?’

‘Yes of
course.’

‘Then off you
go,’ she waved at the door.

He laughed.
‘I’m going to miss you,’ he got up and walked out.

Azizza felt the
tears close. How could he be so casual? ‘To hell with you,’ she
muttered angrily.

Patel came back
from the car park and asked. ‘All done?’

‘What’s the
sudden hurry?’

‘No hurry,’ he
lied, ‘I just want to tidy things up.’

He called his
bank in Mombasa. Announcing himself as N.J.Shah, and arranged a
transfer of dollars to a bank in England. ‘Yes a hundred thousand,’
he confirmed, ‘thank you.’

‘I thought you
were going to South Africa?’

‘I am, but my
family has needs, I hope to buy them a house.’

‘You can’t live
in England,’ she said.

‘No not yet,
but in a few months that may change. Britain like any country,
welcomes investors,’ he said, not elaborating, and then changed the
subject. ‘And what are you going to do? Want to invest with me?’
and he smiled.

She laughed at
him. ‘With a crook like you? Never.’

‘It’s not such
a bad idea, I can make you even richer.’

She studied his
face, emotions in turmoil and shook her head.

‘What are you
going to do?’

‘I’m not going
to tell you.’

He teased her.
‘Oh my sweet, why, I’ve told you my plan?’

‘What you have
told me is a bunch of lies.’

‘Ok lie to me
then, try me out,’ he challenged.

‘I’m going to
buy shares in a mobile phone network, and a large farm just outside
Tanga,’ she announced flippantly.

He laughed.
‘You, a farmer?’

‘Yes,’ she
nodded, ‘you can come there and hide.’

Patel grinned
in appreciation of her wit.

There was a
knock on the back door interrupting them; it was one of the
mechanics. Patel went to check on the work.

Azizza went to
the window to watch him, a realization had set in. He was the only
thing she wanted, she had never felt more alive than when they were
scheming together. He intrigued her in a way no other man had ever
done. She always did his work first, enjoying his admiration and
praise. They had got so close during Golden Palm that they were
almost able to read each other’s thoughts.

Now, she
sighed, it was all coming to an end. She had only ever been drawn
to fiddling the system. Azizza had no great aspirations to own a
big house or a more fancy car, her needs were simple, she took
lovers when she felt an urge, ate when she was hungry. Patel was
something different; he aroused in her an insatiable desire.

Patel examined
the mechanics work carefully. He started both cars, and left them
running. The engines idled smoothly without a hitch. ‘Good,’ he
said to them and fished in his pocket for the money. Handing over
the agreed amount, the mechanic took it and then asked for more.
Patel ignored him busying himself rearranging the carpet over the
modified fuel tank. The mechanic stood behind him patiently. ‘Just
add something bwana it was difficult job. That funny tank, what is
it for?’

‘Never mind,’
Patel handed over another five hundred shillings.

The mechanics
grinned. ‘Thank you sah,’ and gathering up their tools left on foot
down the driveway.

Back in the
house, Patel’s intuition had him badgering Azizza about her share
of the money. ‘I’m concerned that you use the money wisely, and get
out of Malindi. When they investigate, you could lose it all.’

‘Oh don’t worry
about me, I know what I’m doing. What happens to this house?’ She
changed the subject.

‘It was part of
the factory sale agreement. They take possession next week.

‘What about the
equipment, the rest of the title deeds and the other office?’

Patel thought
for a moment. ‘Tomorrow, I want you to submit more deeds to the
bank, only leave the money there to cover the interest rates for
the week, this will give us time before anyone starts raising
questions.’

‘And the rest
of the deeds, what do we do with them?’

‘We should get
rid of everything in the house and the other office, after you have
arranged my final transfer.’

Azizza was
startled. ‘I thought you said another few days?’

Patel shook his
head. ‘I’m getting nervous I want to pack this thing up now. I have
a few more things to do in Mombasa then I’m gone. Come on.’ he
stood up, ‘I want to test my car, and I’ll buy you lunch. Let’s get
out of here.’

TWENTY-FOUR

Rubia went
through his in-tray, impatiently dealing with only the most
pressing matters before going in pursuit of Patel. He tried Fimbo’s
mobile, there was no reply for the third time. ‘Bastard’s avoiding
me,’ he muttered to himself.

Abruptly his
door opened and a very frightened secretary walked in followed by
two armed policemen.

‘You are under
arrest,’ the taller one of the two informed him, pointing a nasty
looking machine gun.

Rubia glowered.
‘What is this? Some sort of joke?’

‘Joke, I will
show you joke.’ The big cop moved quickly round the desk and
upended his chair throwing the director to the floor. He pulled
Rubia’s right arm up behind him, handcuffed it and shouted. ‘Get
up!’Rubia struggled to his feet in shock, the cop spun him round,
cuffed his other hand and pushed him. Rubia fell forward onto his
knees and face, painfully crying out.

The other cop
yelped in delight. ‘Good joke.’ He peered over the desk at the
commander struggling to get up.

Rubia got to
his feet, eyes bulging in rage, shocked and almost speechless. ‘How
dare you!’

The cops sat
down impudently and smiled at one another. ‘Sit, you are to wait
for the minister.’

‘What minister,
what the hell are you talking about?’

Rubia’s
secretary wrung her hands. ‘I’m sorry sir.’

He snarled.
‘Get out woman!’

‘What
minister?’ he stepped round the edge of the desk.

The cop waved
the gun at him. ‘Stay there!’ He ordered.

He moved back.
‘I demand an explanation.’

‘You demand
nothing. Sit down,’ the cop warned.

Rubia perched
on the edge of his desk, his handcuffs preventing him from righting
his swivel chair.

‘I said sit
down,’ the cop repeated.

‘I can’t,’ he
kicked the upturned chair in angry defiance.

‘I show you.’
The cop moved towards him menacingly.

At that moment,
Rupert Omollo the minister and his bodyguards swept into the
office. He quickly weighed up the situation. ‘Take those handcuffs
off immediately,’ he ordered. ‘I’m sorry Joe, overzealous idiots,’
he said in greeting.

Rubia said.
‘What the hell is going on Sir,’ as he righted his chair and
slumped into it.

Omollo turned
to the others. ‘Wait for me outside,’ and sat down opposite Rubia.
‘I’m sorry about those two, they misunderstood my instructions.’ He
then took out a sheaf of printed papers from his briefcase.

‘I want those
two buggers heavily reprimanded, how dare they!’ Rubia said as he
massaged his wrist.

‘Reprimanded?
You have made a right mess of things and now I have to clean it
up,’ Omollo replied firmly.

‘What are you
talking about?’

‘The British
Embassy called me this morning; they are poised to start a full
investigation into the disappearance of a Mr. Nicholls.’

‘They can’t
prove anything,’ said Rubia defiantly.

‘Nevertheless I
must be seen to take certain steps. You are to be placed under
house arrest until this thing blows over.’

‘House arrest,
you can’t be serious. I didn’t do this on my own as you know.’

Omollo rebuked
him. ‘You would be wise to keep your mouth shut, it’s the only way
I can give you any protection.’

‘Protection,’
Rubia snorted, ‘let me get on with the job.’

‘No, it’s too
late for that, you have been far too reckless.’

‘Sir, I know
how to fix this,’ Rubia tried to reason.

Omollo stood
up, opened the door and asked the cops to come back in. He then
addressed Rubia pedantically from a prepared text. ‘It’s my duty to
inform you that you are, with immediate effect, suspended from your
role as head of the anti-terrorist unit and are to be placed under
house arrest until further notice. All activities from this office
are now suspended and during this time you will not communicate in
any way with former co-workers over any cases to do with this
office. Is that understood?’

Rubia leaned
forward frowning and incredulous. ‘I can’t believe this,’ he
mumbled shaking his head.

‘Omollo frowned
you only have yourself to blame.’ He stood up haughtily the meeting
over. ‘Put the handcuffs back on him, empty his pockets and take
him to the van.’

They did as
instructed, half-dragging Rubia as he resisted. ‘You can’t do this!
He shouted as they took him down the stairs, his secretary weeping
silently. The two cops and Rubia climbed into the back of a
windowless van and quickly departed.

Omollo pocketed
Rubia’s mobile and going through the drawers in his desk, he found
a gun, which he put in his briefcase. He spoke to the secretary.
‘You are to lock this office and inform all personnel in Mr Rubia’s
unit that they are suspended on full pay until further notice. I
want a list of all employees, their mobile phone numbers and job
descriptions forwarded to my office today. Do you understand?’

The secretary
nodded dumbly. ‘Yes sir.’

‘Once you have
locked the office, you are to give the keys to my bodyguard. An
armed policeman will be left here to guard the building.’

The minister
hurried downstairs and got into his Mercedes. ‘The Good View
Hotel,’ he told the driver, as one of his bodyguards joined him.
Two escort cars, one in front and one behind fell into line. The
entourage travelled at high speed, sirens and headlights blazing,
as the traffic moved aside for them. A few minutes later, the cars
swept into the hotel forecourt and in a practiced move, the escorts
were out and shielding the minister as he walked into the hotel. He
asked the receptionist. ‘The conference room is ready?’

‘Yes, Sir,’ she
said as the hotel manager appeared.

‘What an honour
Sir,’ and beckoned him to follow.

‘I would like
some coffee,’ the minister told him as he fell in step, ‘and please
inform Mr Fernandez in Room 25 that I am here,’ he said imperiously
as he walked into the conference room and sat down at the head of
the large table.

Firdus soon
joined him. Omollo waved him to a chair and spooned three sugars
into his coffee spilling grains on the immaculate top. ‘Rubia has
been arrested,’ he stirred his cup aggressively.

‘Ahh, good news
Sir,’ Firdus responded carefully.

The minister
slurped his coffee. ‘I have told him he will be under house arrest,
but not before we interrogate him. Do you have any questions you
want to ask him?’

‘Me? No, I
don’t think so,’ Firdus replied.

‘Why, surely
you want to catch these crooks - Golden hand?’

‘My main
concern was my nephew’s safety and I thank you for that sir, but
I’m retired now,’ he explained.

‘I want you to
come out of retirement,’ Omollo said flatly. ‘I’ve gone to some
trouble for you, and I expect you to reciprocate.’

‘Yes Sir, and
I’m grateful for your help, but I have been out of the system for
some time. I’m sure there are others much better qualified than
myself, such as Detective Katana.’

‘No,’ Omollo
shook his head. ‘I don’t have time to assign a new team. You have
instigated Rubia’s removal, so you can follow up this investigation
until I find someone suitable, or rather you do.’

‘What is it
that you want Sir?’ Firdus asked.

‘I want to
catch that Indian; we can’t let him get away with this, this theft
- Golden hand.’

‘Yes Sir,
Golden Palm I understand. This is a job for the fraud squad; you
must have many people who would be better at this than I
would.’

‘Fernandez I’m
a busy man, besides, all the people involved in this case were
under Rubia and I can’t trust them, can I?’

‘Sir, I’m not
the right man for this job.’

‘I’m going to
make you the right man,’ Omollo said with finality. He reached down
and picking up his briefcase slapped it on the polished table.
Opening it he fished out two new legal pads. He slid one across the
table at Firdus. ‘Write down the questions you want answered by
Rubia,’ unclipping a ballpoint from his jacket, he tossed it onto
the pad.

‘Sir,’ Firdus
protested.

‘Listen,’
Omollo puffed himself up, ‘as you have so rightly pointed out the
powers of my office to me this morning, you can either agree to
help me catch these crooks and I can arrange everything you need,
or would you rather join Rubia, make a decision - I don’t have time
to waste,’ he tapped his nails on the table the noise echoed in the
room.

Firdus looked
at the minister. ‘Ok, give me time to think. I will need Katana,
the detective from Voi on the case.’

The minister
scribbled on his pad. ‘Done - what else?’ An hour later the meeting
over, the minister got up, and shook hands formally with Firdus.
‘This is Rubia’s mobile phone,’ he said handing it to him. ‘Now you
have all his contacts, all information you gather must be relayed
to me and me alone. This is my direct number.’ He wrote on the back
of a card and handed it to Firdus. ‘I will assign you an official
driver and fill out the paperwork authorising you to conduct this
investigation under my office. Keep a list of all your expenses,
funds will be made available to you. If you need an office to work
from I can arrange that also. Don’t let me down Fernandez.’ He
gathered up his things and quickly left.