Читать книгу Diamond Legacy - Monica McCabe - Страница 15

Miranda thought she could sneak into the animal nutrition area, commonly known as The Tank due to metallic walls and a deep square shape, but should’ve known better.

“Where’ve you been?” Jason asked the second her foot crossed the threshold. “It’s not like you to be late.”

She opted for a convincing lie. “Got trapped in a conversation about the States.”

“Been there, done that.” Jason scooped up a glob of liver-colored vitamin paste and smeared it on chunks of raw meat for the big cats food supply.

She’d missed lunch, but the vile smell of that paste effectively killed her hunger. Miranda tied on a wrap-around apron and washed her hands before joining Jason and Mikal, Katanga’s nutritionist, at the wide stainless steel table. Letta pushed her way through the double doors just then, carrying another tray of meat cut in smaller chunks for the servals and young cheetahs.

“There you are!” Letta said, sliding the tray onto the table and shoving it in place with the others. “We feared you were lost.”

“I’ve learned my way around,” Miranda replied. “It’s names I struggle with.” She pulled on latex gloves and dug into the smelly paste. “It can be embarrassing.”

“Too many for you to remember.” Mikal waved off her worry. “For us this is easy, only you and Jason.”

“You’ll learn them all,” Letta said, “right about the time you’re ready to leave.”

“Please, I don’t want to think about leaving yet.” Miranda wrinkled her nose as she smeared the heady mix onto a hindquarter of wildebeest. Zoological care wasn’t for the squeamish. “Only five weeks and there’s so much to see before we go.”

Letta sat down at the lab computer and began clicking at the keyboard, logging in the day’s carnivore menu selections. “Keep in mind, to go any distance you really should fly. The roads are deplorable.”

“She’s absolutely right,” Matthew said from the doorway.

Miranda jumped in surprise and fumbled a scoop of paste, the spoon clattering as it bounced against the stainless steel table. Jason shot her an odd look as Matthew strolled in carrying paper towels, foil, and trash bags.

“Road maintenance isn’t high on our government’s list of priorities,” he continued as he stashed the supplies into a cupboard. “Have a bush pilot friend who owes me a favor, though. He could show you the Kalahari by air. Just say the word and I’ll arrange it.”

Now why would he make an offer like that? Such generosity on the heels of his earlier anger was suspect.

“That’s very kind of you,” Miranda replied, “but our time is limited.”

“Are you kidding me?” Jason exclaimed over her reversal in attitude. “Didn’t you just say we have a lot to see?”

She grabbed a paper towel to wipe up her mess and met Matthew’s eyes across the table. Nothing devious in the good humor she saw there, but she didn’t trust him. There was an ulterior motive at work here, and it was keeping her out of his way.

“We’ve an obligation to Katanga.” She leveled a pointed glare at Matthew. “Until it’s fulfilled, we won’t be thinking about sightseeing.”

Jason made a choking sound. Letta appeared speculative as she glanced from Matthew to her. And Mikal ignored them all and continued coating the meat with the vitamin paste.

“Obligation can require sacrifice,” Matthew replied with an agreeable nod. “An unfortunate consequence of duty, don’t you agree, Miss Parrish?”

She narrowed her eyes, refusing to bite. Instead she joined Mikal and ignored him all together.

“I assume introductions aren’t necessary?” Letta said perceptively.

“We’ve bumped into each other once or twice,” Matthew said.

Big understatement. Her body still tingled from their tight squeeze in the closet. The absurd attraction that sprang to life whenever he drew near complicated everything.

“A couple of times, eh?” Letta wore a knowing little grin.

“Roz introduced us.” Matthew shut the cupboard doors and joined them at the table. “Phew, that stuff smells foul. You don’t actually plan on feeding that to anybody, do you?”

“Carnivore gourmet,” Jason volunteered. “Big cats need vitamins, too.”

Matthew eyed the coated meat with distaste. “Poor suckers.”

“They seem to like it well enough.” Jason started on the next tray. “So, are you serious about this scenic flight offer?”

“I can arrange it,” Matthew replied, in spite of Miranda’s warning look. “Think you can talk her into it?” He thumbed Miranda’s direction.

“Don’t worry about her,” Jason said with confidence. “She won’t be able to resist a walk on the wild side.”

“Excuse me, you two.” Miranda leaned forward, fists on the table. “I’m standing right here and fully capable of making up my own mind.”

“You may as well give up, Miranda.” Letta’s dark eyes danced with merriment. “It’s two against one. Three if there’s room on that plane for me!”

Miranda faced a losing battle and rising aggravation at the look of triumph on Matthew’s face. “Tell me, Mr. Bennett, we’re strangers to you. Why make so generous an offer?”

“Because I’m fascinated,” he said with a sly grin. “Never met a zoo dentist before.”

She frowned and scooped up another round of liver paste. “We’re a boring lot, mostly.”

“What?” Jason looked at her in confusion. “You’ve always said—”

“Never mind,” Miranda cut him off and pointed at Mikal who was up to his elbows in raw bloody meat. “That’s our reality. Little glamour involved.”

“Speak for yourself,” Mikal joked. “I’m a master chef, a culinary artist to many discriminating palettes.” He lifted a tray of wildebeest for display. “The real challenge is serving the clients without becoming part of the entree. Grab a tray, Jason. Time to feed the kitty cats.”

With a rueful shake of his head, Jason grinned at Matthew and asked, “Want to trade jobs for a day?”

“I’ll stick with mucking out stables,” Matthew replied. “I’ll live longer.”

Jason and Mikal filed out and Matthew made to follow. He stopped at the door, though, and glanced straight at Miranda. “If it’s the wild side you’re looking for, you know where to find me.” With a disconcerting wink he disappeared through the door.

Miranda stared in bewilderment at the now empty doorway.

“My-oh-my,” Letta said as she fanned her face. “You’ve made quite an impression on Matthew Bennett.”

“Hmph.” Miranda grabbed the disinfectant spray and began cleaning the table. “Not likely. We don’t know each other at all. We’ve hardly spoken.”

“Really?” That one word was full of doubt. “Maybe he seeks to change that.”

“More like he’s playing nice to the visiting Americans.” Miranda threw herself into scrubbing, reaching far across the oversized table.

“Somehow I doubt this.” Letta grabbed a stack of dry towels and set them on the counter within close reach. “His eyes are hungry as they follow you.”

“You think so?” Miranda paused, thought better of it, and went back to scrubbing. “I didn’t get that.”

“Then you are blind, my friend.”

“Sometimes that’s the better option.” Romance clearly wasn’t on the agenda, no matter how tempting the man. Besides, he posed a threat to a place that made a difference in animal welfare. That wasn’t something she could ignore.

But to be fair, Matthew wasn’t the problem. It was Graham and Keyes and maybe others. It made no sense to risk everything this place had accomplished. Stopping them was paramount. And it had to be done without jeopardizing Katanga.

“He’s most attractive,” Letta said slyly.

“I don’t deny that,” Miranda replied. “But I’m only here a few weeks. It’s pointless to pursue something that holds no future.”

Her friend shook her head. “Sometimes we have no choice. The heart does not heed boundaries.”

“Well, thankfully, the heart’s not involved.” And she planned on keeping it that way. “Now, let’s talk about something more interesting. Tell me about the diamond industry. It’s big in Botswana, right?”

Skepticism crossed Letta’s face, but she accepted the change of conversation. “Our entire economy centers around diamonds in one way or another.”

“Are the mines the largest employers?”

“One of them, but unfortunately pay is low, and it’s hard to sustain a family. Many work long hours away from home, isolated behind security fences.”

Miranda grabbed a towel and began polishing the steel tabletop. “Don’t they have representation? An organized group to help improve working conditions?”

“Botswana is progressive but a long way from fair.” Letta sat back down at the computer to finish her notes. “Government officials claim concern over the more appalling aspects of the industry, some take measures to monitor human rights violations. But the sad truth is mine owners have absolute control.”

“Wouldn’t that kind of treatment be an open invitation for theft?”

“Smuggling is a problem,” she replied as she typed. “Workers can earn more money in a single run than a year spent in the mines. Yet the risk is tremendous. If caught, the penalties are severe. Then there’s organized crime.”

“Have you ever seen any of that?” Miranda asked, steering the conversation.

“Diamonds are not an issue in my village. Cattle are.” She flipped to the next page in her notebook. “But I’ve been in Gaborone four years and never encountered anything.”

“What about suspicious activity?” Miranda persisted.

Her friend stopped typing and looked at her with a perplexed frown.

She’d pushed too hard. “I’d only been in the country a half hour when I saw a thief busted at the airport,” Miranda said, hoping it explained the interrogation.

“Truly?” Letta shook her head. “The closest I came was in college. I had to clear security to work the city’s annual reception for the diamond industry. Not this year, though. Its three weeks away and I’ve not applied.”

Miranda blinked. “What kind of reception?”

“A massive one. The Kimberely Process was implemented a few years ago, and they want to praise its success. Many countries signed the agreement to import only certified, conflict-free stones, and all will be here. Hotels will overflow with international diplomats, politicians, and industry officials. Getting around town will be a complete nightmare for weeks.”

A strange feeling settled in the pit of Miranda’s stomach. Diamond smuggling, corrupt employees, huge cash deposits, and an event of international proportions. No matter how one looked at it, the future of Katanga appeared grim.