Diamond Legacy (4 page)

“Been working here long?” Matt asked as they stepped inside a lift.

“A while,” the kid mumbled.

As they headed up, Matt tried again. “They treat you good here?”

The two-way radio crackled, and the teen fiddled with a dial on the top, ignoring his question.

He wasn’t getting much out of this one. If everyone around here kept this closed-mouthed, finding information might prove a challenge.

At the third floor, the doors slid open, and the kid pointed down the hall. “Graham’s the fifth office on the left.”

“Thanks for the ride.” Matt took off down a hallway filled with opaque glass doors. As promised, number five read
Warren Graham, Employment Director
.

He took a deep breath to settle into his new role, rapped twice, then stepped inside.

“You Bennett?” asked a heavy-set man with a full white beard. He slammed a filing cabinet closed and carried a few folders with him to his desk.

“Yeah,” Matt fired back. “You Graham?”

“Don’t get cocky.” A leather executive chair groaned under the man’s weight as he sat. “I don’t care if you have friends in high places. They won’t get you any special treatment around here.”

“Not expecting any.” Matt settled into a substantially less comfortable chair in front of Graham’s desk. “And for the record, there’s no such friend. I needed a job and knew somebody that knew somebody. I called in a favor.”

“Guess that’s why you’re the new janitor and not some hoity-toity with a fancy title.” Graham let loose a hearty guffaw and shoved a stack of papers toward Matt. “These outline the job. Got a problem hauling trash, mucking stables, or following orders?”

Matt ignored the display of attitude and lifted the top sheet of paper, a flyer on safety. “Not as long as it comes with a steady paycheck,” he replied evenly.

“We expect more than a full day’s work around here,” Graham continued.

“Won’t hear any complaints from me. Hard work is good for what ails you.” At least that was what his dad had always believed.

“Keep in mind that non-friend of yours won’t prevent you from getting fired.”

If he were to guess, Matt would say Graham didn’t like being forced to offer a job. Too bad. That was the price paid for government concessions.

“I’ll manage,” Matt declared drily.

Graham sat back in his chair. “Let’s get straight to the point. We have strict rules around here. Break one and it’s over for you.”

The warnings were getting downright old. “You got a handbook listing all the no-nos?”

“In those papers,” Graham said with a flat stare. “Activity goes on here day and night with supply shipments and animal deliveries. Security is tight and some areas off limits. If you want to keep the job, always operate for the benefit of Katanga. Is that clear?”

“Maintain privacy and expect controls.” Matt nodded. “Check.”

Graham leaned forward, elbows on his desk as he cracked his knuckles. He stared hard at Matt, animosity clear as daylight. No doubt he debated hiring him despite government persuasion, but Matt waited, knowing Graham couldn’t refuse.

“Haul your ass down to the end of the hall,” he finally said. “Fill out some paperwork and Rob Jenkins will get you a badge and uniform. He’ll show you around the facility.”

Matt grabbed his papers and stood. “Been a real pleasure getting to know you, Graham,” he said with a forced smile.

“Yeah,” his new boss snorted. “It’s the start of a beautiful friendship. Now get the hell out of my office.”

* * * *

Four people perched high atop a manmade safety ridge in Katanga’s oasis pool. They were soaking wet, muddy, and a little bruised, not to mention humbled from being outsmarted by a hippopotamus. Estelle had quickly turned into the most difficult patient Miranda ever had. The hippo was beyond unhappy. She was in pain. And any animal with a jaw capable of opening four feet wide and lower incisors twenty-eight inches long, well, they had the kind of deadly force no one took lightly.

Leaning back against the ridge, Miranda pulled the tight hair band from her head and tried to rub life back into her brain. Four hours into this operation and they still couldn’t coax a stubborn hippo past a camouflaged gate she was supposedly unaware of. What was left to try?

She gazed out over the exceptional pool, a mammoth-sized enclosure that mimicked Estelle’s natural habitat, complete with rocks, soil, and grasses that thrived inside the Okavango Delta, her native land. Everything a normal hippopotamus could ask for.

Unfortunately, nothing about Estelle was normal.

“Unbelievable,” Jason said in exasperation. “She’s the most contrary female I’ve ever met.”

“Ha,” barked Senga, one of two Katanga employees sitting with them. “My wife could give this surly one lessons.”

“It’s true.” Kiv nodded solemnly.

“Wow, that’s rough.” Jason looked at Senga with bleary-eyed sympathy. “Remind me not to ask for an introduction.”

While her companions shared a laugh, Miranda scooted to the edge of the ridge. She glared eyeball to eyeball with the agitated hippo.

Estelle huffed her disdain from the security of the pool.

Clearly the hippo liked causing trouble. But Miranda knew obstinate. It was a technique she’d used extensively the last few years, an end result of one dismal dating experience after the other. Lucky in love she wasn’t, but her job was another story. That she had control over. She understood her clientele. And there was no way she’d let a devious hippo win the day.

She pushed back from the edge and sat up, brushing dirt from her shirt. “Estelle knows,” she said. “She knows and refuses to cooperate.”

“Not possible,” Senga said in heavily accented English. “She new to pool.”

“She senses our intent.” Miranda twisted her hair back into its usual ponytail. “Animals are intuitive. Unfortunately, rational behavior doesn’t come with the package. We’re going to have to think of another way.”

“Another way?” Jason snorted in disgust. “Let’s rehash. Sweet hay she turned down with a swish of her big round nose. Tapes of a distressed baby hippo revealed no maternal instinct whatsoever. And prodding her with the long poles only inspired her to bite one in half. What’s left? Lasso her and ride her into the rodeo stall?”

Senga’s brows dipped at the absurd suggestion. “Not good plan.”

“No, indeed.” Miranda glanced back over the ridge and hesitated, debating the wisdom of her next move. That is, until Estelle grumbled loudly, snorting in anger and pain.

“I have one more idea.” Three heads swiveled Miranda’s direction as she inhaled deep, mentally going over her plan. “We dart her in the water.”

Jason whistled low and shook his head. “Too risky. She might drown before we get her harnessed.”

“Not if we drain the pool,” Miranda said. “When the water becomes shallow, we shoot the tranquilizer and push her toward the harness.”

Jason eyed the size of the pond with a calculating gleam. “Timing will be crucial.”

“True,” Miranda agreed, pleased with his quick grasp of the possibility. “Once the anesthesia takes hold, our patient will be easier to manipulate. Plus, we confuse her by herding her the opposite direction of the pen.”

Jason eyed her with an admiring gleam. “Too groggy to fight, disoriented by the change in direction, she’ll be putty in our hands. Brilliant!” He snapped his fingers. “Besides, I got nothing else. It’s worth a try.”

Senga glanced between them in apprehension. “Your Washington zoo pay much money for Estelle. Albino hippos hard to find.”

“Please,” Miranda reassured him with a smile. “Try not to worry. We’ll take good care of Estelle.”

“The risk,” Senga persisted, “it is high, yes?”

“Senga, my friend,” Jason said as he clapped the man on the back, “your hippo is in fine hands.” His head pointed Miranda’s way. “Doc is the best there is.”

“Please, easy on the praise,” Miranda said. “It upsets my equilibrium.”

“Your…what?” Senga looked confused.

“My balance, my—” She shook her head. “Never mind.” Miranda rose and stood next to the ridge, gazing down. “It’ll be fine, just wait and see.”

She hoped she sounded more confident than she felt. The plan could very well be as dangerous for the crew as it was for Estelle. Hippos had thick layers of skin and fat. You could never be sure how much drug entered their bloodstream.

Miranda gave a long appraising study of the pool, judged their best options, and made a decision. “Jason, get help to move the crane and harness to that shallow edge.” She pointed to the far side of the pool. “Set it up right there, near those flat rocks. Find some padding to cover them, and we’ll use them as a table.”

She turned to the other two men. “Senga, you’re in charge of draining the pool. Kiv, you will help me restage the dental lab by those same rocks.”

Heads bobbed in agreement. In their faces, she saw her father’s steadfast belief in her ability. He loved debating skill and technique with her. That’s how she knew this would work. There’s no way she’d let him down. Success wouldn’t come easy, but Estelle would live to see another day, pain free and in a better mood.

“All right,” she said. “Let’s get cracking. We’ve an unhappy girl to outsmart.”

Matt tugged at the ill-fitting uniform and rolled his shoulders in an attempt to stretch the fabric across his upper arms. The pinch was a bit uncomfortable, but he’d known worse. He slammed the locker door shut and made his way back through the employee lounge.

Two women occupied the room, one eating lunch at a table and the other pushing buttons on a microwave. Both looked up when he entered.

The blonde at the table flashed a flirty smile. “New here?” she asked him.

“How can you tell?”

“You’ve got that pained look of someone who doesn’t like uniforms.”

“Busted.” He pulled up a chair. “You ladies eat here often?”

Tittering laughter grated across his ears, and the blonde sent a look of interest his way.

“It beats driving all the way into town,” she said. “Besides, the view just got a little better around here.”

“Diana!” Her lunch companion rolled her eyes.

“Well, it did.” She smiled boldly at Matt. “I work the library records counter. We don’t see many handsome, rugged types in there. Only moldy scientists and stuffy lab researchers.”

“Records, huh?” Matt smelled a lead. “You mean like animal origins or shipment details?”

“That and research study results or technical papers. Boring mostly.”

This might be the start of something revealing. “I bet you—”

“Bennett!” Rob Jenkins yelled from the hallway. “We’ve got ground to cover.”

Bloody hell. For the sake of his audience, Matt stood with a heavy sigh. “Nice guy, gonna be a real gem to work for.”

The comment sparked another round of annoying giggles as Matt slid his chair back in place. “Nice seeing you ladies,” he said with a tip of an imaginary hat.

He stepped out into the hallway as Jenkins flipped to the last page on a clipboard. He scribbled a signature and handed it over to a waiting lad.

“We’ll start touring on admin floor.” He glanced up and frowned, taking in Matt’s straining shoulder seams. “Sorry, it’s the largest we had on hand. I’ll order a bigger size next week.”

Matt shrugged, then grimaced at the pinch. A better fitting uniform would be nice, but he didn’t plan on being here long enough to worry about it. It shouldn’t take more than a couple weeks to pick up the diamond trail and track it to the source.

Jenkins started down the hall and Matt followed.

“Janitors are some of our busiest employees,” Jenkins began. “Endless chores around here. From administrative offices to the stables, your day will be packed with manual labor.”

For the next hour, he backed up those words with a laundry list of duties. They twisted through a maze of hallways, offices, and supply rooms, all while Jenkins explained the inner workings of Katanga.

Matt only half listened. The other half mapped out locations to survey later. Places like Victor Keyes office, director of Katanga, and the customs department where international travel papers were generated, even the library. He’d leave no stone unturned.

Finally done with the upper floors, they exited the stairs into the Grand Rotunda. Noise and commotion intensified as Jenkins droned on about Katanga’s high standards, their expectations, and the rule of three Cs. Courtesy, cleanliness, and control.

They kept moving toward the Okavango wing and passed a group of school children on the way. Matt made a pained face, setting off a round of youthful giggling. Jenkins glanced back, but Matt only shrugged, which made the kids laugh even harder.

Amid all the laughter, an unexpected pang of regret struck Matt. It was a damn shame really. Katanga offered incredible opportunities. It appeared organized and lucrative. A beehive of tourism and education.

Limitless potential wasted by running conflict diamonds. It made no sense.

They’d reached the end of the Okavango Hall and entered a vast medical suite. “Our state-of-the-art veterinary,” Jenkins said with pride. “The doctors here are highly trained in research and wild animal care.”

A set of double doors with glass windows beckoned, and Matt found himself gazing into a modern exam room. Two workers in white lab coats tended a baby chimpanzee on one of the many tables. One fed the infant from a baby bottle while the other took the monkey’s measurements and noted the results on a notepad.

“Her mother was killed by poachers.” Jenkins had stepped up to the adjoining door, his voice a mix of sadness and contempt. “She was brought to us by a southern farmer who found her hungry and crying at the edge of his land.”

“What will happen to her?”

“If possible, she’ll be released back to the wild. But as young as this one is, she’ll likely form too strong a bond with her human caretakers, become domesticated. Odds are better she’ll find a home in a zoo or research facility. Perhaps help us better understand her kind.”

Sympathy for the monkey tugged at Matt. He stared at her through the window, wishing he could tell her the pain of being orphaned at a young age never faded. Learning to live with it took time. Some memories were etched in stone, like the sound of your mother’s soft voice, her gentle laughter, forever followed by her screams of terror.