by Dan Fletcher
David was glad in a way that he wasn’t able to go to Caitlyn’s funeral. At her mother’s request he had made the arrangements for Caitlyn’s body to be flown back to Ireland.
Somebody coughed to get his attention and David realised that Deputy Director Tanui was standing right beside him.
“I’m sorry about Damo.” They were both staring down at the coffin, “I know that you two were close.”
“It’s not your fault, sir,” David looked over at him, “What’s happening with Abasi?”
They seemed to be sticking with ‘Peter Abasi’ even though they now knew that his real name was Maliki. When the Commander’s residence was searched they found enough incriminating evidence in a vault behind his study to put him away for the rest of his life.
“He’s being held in Kamiti Maximum Security Prison until a trial date can be fixed,” replied Tanui. “The tape recording of Gupta’s confession that you sent to your Aunt will be used as evidence. That was good thinking on your part.”
David thought it fitting that Abasi was being detained where he had first recruited Gupta all those years ago.
“What about Councillor Wei?”
Tanui sighed and threw some dirt on the coffin, “Diplomatic immunity. The bastard’s already left the country and I don’t expect that he’ll be coming back anytime soon.”
“So that’s it? He just skips the country and there’s nothing we can do about it?” David unclenched his fists. It still hurt when he tensed his shoulder muscles.
“I’m afraid so, it’s up to the Chinese authorities to follow up on the report I sent them. But I wouldn’t hold your breath. Wei’s family is well connected and trading ivory is so embedded in their culture that it isn’t really considered to be illegal over there.”
David didn’t know what to say. The rain started to get heavier and came down in sheets.
Tanui produced a black umbrella and held it above their heads, “Come on, I’ll walk you to your car.”
They walked between the weeping willows that lined the path of neatly clipped grass. Either side of them, rows of identical white tombstones marked the final resting place for thousands of Kenyan heroes. Soon there would be one more above Damo’s grave.
“We did discover something about Abasi’s past.” Tanui spoke up to be heard above the rain bouncing off the canopy, “His Swahili servant was interviewed, a man called Jozi. He’s known Abasi since he was thirteen. They lived together on the streets in Mombasa before a British family called the Masons took Abasi in. Apparently he slit the throats of the parents and two children in their sleep when he turned eighteen. Then he stole a small fortune from their safe and burnt the house down. According to Jozi, Abasi used the money to fund his poaching enterprise. The police in Mombasa are checking with the local school to see if there is any record of a ‘Peter Mason’. That’s the name he was using then.”
David shook his head woefully, like the Maasai God depicted on Abasi’s medallion the two brothers had been opposites, good and evil. The world seemed out of balance with Abasi still alive and Damo dead, even though he would probably rot to death in jail. In Kenya life meant life.
“Has the President made a statement yet?”
“No and I don’t expect him to.” Tanui sucked in his cheeks, “Moi’s been seen to campaign against poaching for years, he’ll want to distance himself as much as possible from any political backlash.”
As David remembered it was Moi who had lit the twelve tonnes of ivory in front of the world’s media. Abasi being convicted of smuggling certainly wasn’t going to look good for him in the eyes of the public. The lawn walkway ended between some flowered borders next to the gravel car lot. They made a beeline for his LandRover that was parked near the exit.
“Have you got any further finding out who the mole is that was supplying Abasi with information?”
“No, but detectives have been going through Abasi’s telephone bills,” replied Tanui. “Looking for any numbers that match our records. Hopefully something will turn up.”
They reached the battered old LandRover and David found the key for the door. Surprisingly, only the wheels and windscreen wipers needed replacing when he found it outside the supermarket near the airport.
“Thanks,” David got in behind the steering wheel and closed the door. He wound the window down a fraction.
“There’s something else I wanted to talk to you about.” The Deputy Director leant towards the jeep, “I’ve been offered the job as the new head of the GSU. Minister Kamotho put my name forward at Professor Mutungi’s suggestion. When I phoned the Professor he said that it was your idea and I should thank you.”
The Professor had come to see him earlier in the week at Headquarters, he was trying to organise a medal or some sort of commendation but David had refused. Being in the public spotlight was the last thing he wanted.
“I just mentioned that you might be the right person for the job.” He managed a fleeting smile, “To tell you the truth, I couldn’t think of anyone else when he asked me.”
“Well thanks anyway.” Tanui remained serious, “I’m going to need people that I can trust, people who can think for themselves. I’d like you to come and join me. It would mean a promotion and a significant pay rise.”
David was honest with him, “I’m not sure what I want right now. I’m going to spend some time with my family before I decide what to do next.”
His mother would be waiting for him with Kiira and Aunty Farisi. David hoped that bringing his father’s killer to justice would bring his mother some sort of closure.
Although so far it hadn’t worked for him, the recurring nightmares had got worse if anything. Perhaps it was because of the tremendous guilt he felt. Not just because Caitlyn and Damo had died, but that he had come so close to pulling the trigger and executing Abasi. The line between right and wrong seemed very blurred.
“Promise me that you’ll think about it at least?”
“OK,” right then David would have said anything to get away. He started the engine. “I’ll give it some thought.”
Watch out for the other books in this series;
Divided They Fall
Part II in the David Nbeke Series
And
Swahili Sunset
Part III in the David Nbeke Series
