Dying to Live

by Michael Stanley

  “I’ve told you everything I know.”

  “Professor, I’d like you to think about this very carefully. We’re very close to the culprits now. Your evidence will clinch it for us and see them brought to justice. But, without it, we may not be able to make the case stick. They’ll be free. And they’ll know that you are the one person who can send them to jail for a very long time, or to the gallows.” Kubu paused. “And they’ve already killed at least two people, probably three.”

  “Are you threatening me?”

  “Not at all. I’m asking you to consider your personal safety. These people are smugglers, biopirates, murderers. What would you do in their position?”

  Thabo looked uncomfortable and started playing with a pen on his desk.

  Kubu let the silence grow.

  “I haven’t done anything wrong,” Thabo said at last. “I’m a consultant. I give people advice, the benefit of my expertise. That’s how I make a decent living. Professors don’t earn as much as they should.”

  “I understand, Professor. No one is accusing you of anything.” At least not yet, Kubu added to himself. “I’m asking you to help us get to the bottom of this matter, to get these people put in jail before they strike again.”

  “Well, I actually did tell someone about Collins’s work. He was interested in life-extending plants, and I told him about the Bushman who had a very long memory. I told him I thought that it was highly unlikely to be due to some herbal remedy, but he was keen to get as much information as possible, and was willing to pay well for it.”

  Kubu nodded. “That’s why you set out to find who Collins’s subject was. Why you made the trip to Ghanzi and New Xade.”

  “Yes,” Thabo said. “But I had no idea that it might lead to Heiseb’s death! I was just trying to help set up a deal. I’m sure you can confirm that from Collins himself when you find him.”

  Kubu shook his head. “We’re almost certain that Collins is also dead.”

  “Why would they do it? Collins was the link to Heiseb. Heiseb was the link to the plant. Why kill them?”

  “We’ll find out, with your help. Now, exactly what did you tell Chan, Professor?”

  Thabo looked surprised. “Who is Chan? I don’t know any Chan. I was helping a man called Gampone, Jonah Gampone. He’s a businessman.”

  Kubu didn’t answer. His view of the case had suddenly morphed. Gampone. The man who’d said he’d like to live forever, who’d paid Thabo for information on Collins and Heiseb, who’d consulted Ramala, and who had connections to Chan and his Chinese contacts. All along Gampone had been playing not a double game but a triple one.

  CHAPTER 52

  Kubu was totally distracted as he drove back to his office, nearly having an accident just outside the university by failing to yield to traffic in the circle, and then narrowly missing some pedestrians on a zebra crossing farther down the road.

  If I weren’t driving, he thought, I’d kick myself.

  In retrospect, it was obvious that the kingpin had to be Gampone. He was well positioned to know about the trade in illegal goods, his business allowed him to move stuff around the world, and he had all of the right contacts.

  “Damn!” Kubu said out loud.

  As soon as he reached the CID he headed for Mabaku’s office, but he met Samantha in the corridor, coming in the opposite direction.

  “It’s Gampone,” he told her. “Where’s the director?”

  “He’s with the commissioner about the Chan issue. What about Gampone?”

  “Let’s get some tea and go to my office.”

  Soon they sat down with their tea and a few cookies and Kubu filled Samantha in on his meeting with Thabo. He could see the puzzlement fading from her face as all the pieces fell into place for her also.

  “So there was a connection after all,” she said. “And it was Gampone. He was involved both in the rhino horn smuggling and the search for the magic plant, but there was no connection between the two operations. He kept them completely separate.”

  “Don’t forget his business. That was also separate, and it’s what gave him the contacts he needed for what he was really after. The problem is that it’s going to be really hard to bring him down.”

  Samantha looked surprised. “But we have all the pieces now!”

  Kubu nodded. “But what can we prove? Gampone was out of the country when Ramala was killed, and I’m sure he didn’t go after Heiseb himself.”

  “How do you know?”

  “Because Gampone would never have wanted Heiseb dead, nor Collins. They were his only connection to the plant. Ramala was a desperate plan B, and Hairong screwed that up by killing him at Gampone’s house.”

  “What about Chan, then? Where does he fit in?”

  Kubu shrugged. “My guess is that he’s in trouble over the rhino horn smuggling. Why were they moving it through Gaborone anyway? He was Gampone’s contact with Hairong and so on, but I doubt we’ll get anything useful out of that.”

  “So we get Hairong to confess.”

  Kubu shook his head. “I doubt that, too. A confession sends him to jail for life at best, but if he just denies everything, we can’t prove much, and there’s no link to Gampone.”

  “Well, what about Sin and the other one?”

  “Maybe. But even then it just becomes their word against Gampone’s.”

  “At least we can throw the book at Gampone for the rhino horn smuggling!”

  “Perhaps so, but his lawyer will say he was helping us, and we can’t deny that. He’ll get off with a light sentence, if anything at all.”

  “Dammit! We’re always hamstrung by having to follow all the rules while the criminals can do what they damn well like and get away with it! What can we do?”

  But Kubu’s mind was elsewhere. “I need to think this through. Call me when Mabaku comes back.” He leaned back and put his feet on the desk.

  Samantha took the hint and left him to it.

  * * *

  IT’S THE PLANT, Kubu thought. It’s at the center of everything. Where is it? What does it do? Does it even exist? If we could follow it, somehow it would lead to Gampone.

  He closed his eyes and relaxed. Soon he was snoring lightly, and a kaleidoscope of different thoughts and images flashed through his mind. Every now and again, a frown creased his face and his eyes fluttered, then he slept again.

  Suddenly he woke up.

  Of course, he thought. There is a connection between the rhino horn smuggling and the search for the plant. They aren’t independent at all. The rhino horn itself does nothing—it’s not an aphrodisiac and certainly doesn’t cure cancer. And the plant is just something rare growing in the Kalahari, probably with no fantastic properties at all. The connection isn’t the items, it’s us. It’s our greed to have them.

  He picked up his half-drunk tea, but it was cold. He checked his watch and saw that it was after five o’clock. Then his thoughts returned to greed.

  Heiseb had the plant but wouldn’t share it with his friends at New Xade. He wanted it just for himself. As for the rest, they preyed on the greed of others to feed their own. Collins was excited about his academic theories, until he realized the commercial potential of the plant. So he went to Ross, who spotted the huge profits it could make for him. And it may be as much that greed as concern for Collins that has Ross trudging about the Kalahari. And Ramala was the same. He was a run-of-the-mill witch doctor wanting more. Then he realized what would sell—a secret potion for long life. And Gampone is the greediest of all, willing to do anything to get what he wants.

  And that gave Kubu an idea.

  * * *

  IT WAS AFTER eight o’clock by the time Kubu reached Gampone’s house. It was dark, and Kubu wondered if Gampone was out. Could he have gotten wind of what was up? If so, Kubu’s plan would collapse.

  He pressed the bell, wondering whether his trip was going to be a waste of time. But after a few moments, Gampone opened the door.

  “Assistant Superinten
dent? This is very late to call.”

  Kubu nodded. “We need to talk, and it’s urgent. May I come in?”

  Gampone hesitated, then nodded. “We can go to my study.”

  “There’s no one else here?”

  “No, I’m alone.”

  “Good.” Kubu followed Gampone to his study and took a comfortable chair. There was a glass of red wine next to the chair Gampone chose.

  “Ah,” said Kubu. “You’re having a nightcap. I’ll join you.”

  “Of course.” Gampone fetched a glass for Kubu.

  “Now, how can I help you, Assistant Superintendent? I’m an early riser, and I’ve got a lot of catching up to do now. I thought the smuggling issue was resolved.”

  “I’m not here about that,” Kubu said. “The smuggling was really always a sideshow, wasn’t it?” He took a sip of the wine. Not bad, he thought.

  “What do you mean?”

  “That was never what you were really interested in, and neither was your business.”

  Gampone appeared puzzled.

  Kubu sighed. “Let’s not waste time. I know all about Collins and Heiseb and smuggling his body to China. I know all about Chan and Hairong and his thugs. And I know all about Ramala. That was a real mistake, killing him here, wasn’t it?” He smiled. “You can’t get good help these days.”

  Gampone’s face was blank. “I’ve no idea what you’re talking about.”

  “Of course you have. I have Hairong and his friends in jail. Chan is detained. Thabo has told me everything. It’s all cut and dried.”

  “I’m not talking to you without my lawyer.”

  “Rra Gampone, I’m not here to arrest you. I want to see if we can help each other. Do you have the plant?”

  “What plant?”

  Kubu sighed. “Rra, please. Did you find Heiseb’s plant? The one he used to heal wounds, cure diseases, extend life. Do you have it?”

  Gampone took a large sip of wine. “You said you know everything. Why are you asking me these questions?”

  “My daughter is very ill. I thought you might be able to help me.” He shrugged. “Maybe then I could help you too.”

  Gampone took his time replying. “What if I do have something? Maybe I can help you. But what do I get out of it?”

  “I’ll leave here with it. Hairong hasn’t confessed yet, and I can make sure it takes a while before he does. You have money. You can make a new start somewhere else.”

  Gampone said nothing for some time. “Let’s have another glass of wine,” he said at last. He refilled the glasses. “What’s the matter with her? Your daughter.”

  “Complications from HIV.”

  Gampone considered that, taking a sip of wine. He’s judging me, Kubu thought. So be it.

  “I do study plants, Rra Bengu. I have some remedies—”

  Kubu interrupted. “I’m not interested in your remedies. Do you have Heiseb’s plant or not?”

  “It’s not that simple.”

  Kubu put his glass down on the side table and stood up. “It seems we don’t have anything to discuss, Rra Gampone. Please don’t try to leave. I’ll have men watching you.”

  “Please sit down, Assistant Superintendent. I said it wasn’t simple. I didn’t say it was impossible.”

  Kubu hesitated, then resumed his seat and took another sip of wine. “I’m listening.”

  “I have a sample of Heiseb’s potion. It should be enough to help your daughter now, but she’ll need more. And we need it too, Rra Bengu, you and I, to live the sort of lives we deserve. The world needs it, and the world will pay for it. Whatever we ask.”

  “What are you saying?” Kubu knew very well, but he wanted to reel in his fish slowly lest the line break.

  Gampone’s eyes glittered. “Your thinking is so small, Assistant Superintendent. What are you paid? Barely enough to support your family decently, I’d guess. Now you want to give me a chance to get away in exchange for some potion—a once-off to help your daughter.” Gampone smiled. “Yes, I can start a new life somewhere else. But we could both have a new life right here!”

  Kubu shook his head. “Rra Gampone, I don’t want anything to do with murderers and smugglers. I came to you because I’m desperate. Otherwise I’d be here with a warrant for your arrest.”

  Gampone shook his head. “I had no choice. I had no way of getting what I needed except by using Chan’s thugs. But they’re idiots! If you and I were working together, we’d need none of that. You have contacts, the authority of the police. Together we could identify and farm the plant, live very long lives—maybe forever!—and be fabulously wealthy!”

  Kubu shook his head. “It’s nonsense. We’d be caught. There are laws about biopiracy.”

  “Not if you’re on the inside.”

  There was a long pause. At last Kubu said, “I know the head of a pharmaceutical company in the US. I know he’s interested. We could use him to sell it.”

  Gampone nodded and smiled again—the smile of someone who knows he’s won.

  “I do have contacts,” Kubu continued pensively. “I have a very loyal constable at New Xade, and others who’ll do what I want. But no one gets hurt in the process, is that agreed?”

  Gampone nodded quickly. “Of course not. That was never what I wanted.”

  “Then why on earth did you kill Heiseb?”

  “You think I’m an idiot? Of course I didn’t kill him. I told Hairong to kidnap him, make him point out the plant, and then keep him on ice. They roughed him up and killed him by mistake.”

  “And Collins?”

  “They followed him to get to Heiseb, and he was there when they grabbed the Bushman. He saw Hairong take Heiseb into the desert and come back with plants. Then Heiseb tried to get away, and Collins managed to get out of the vehicle and ran to help him. But it was too late; Hairong had broken his neck. They couldn’t let Collins go after that. But they made him tell them everything he knew. I have all that information.”

  “So what happened to him?”

  Gampone shrugged. “They buried his body somewhere away from the road and abandoned his vehicle.”

  Kubu digested that. “And Ramala?”

  “He claimed to have the secret! He also had connections with the Bushmen—or at least his father did—but the stuff he sold was rubbish. He was a charlatan.”

  “So you killed him too.”

  “I was overseas! I thought Hairong could manage it; I certainly gave him enough money. But the idiot brought Ramala here! When he told me, I made them move the body, but it was too late. You already knew he’d been here. How did you find out?”

  “I’ve known it all for some time. But it’s more complicated than I thought. We can’t let Hairong talk. I could arrange an accident in jail. I’ve no sympathy for him after what he’s done.” He paused. “Now, do you actually know where the plant grows? You said Hairong made Heiseb get some.”

  “That was a weed. Hairong knows nothing and was duped. But I’m very close. I have all the Shakawe contacts from Ramala. At least Hairong knows how to make people talk. And Collins also did a lot of talking. He showed Hairong everywhere he’d been and told him everything he knew. If I’d been there myself…” He shrugged. “But I have enough. Together we’ll find the plant, all right.”

  “Where do the other Chinese fit in? Not Hairong and his thugs. The ones in Qingdao.”

  Gampone looked surprised. “You do know everything, it seems. There’s a lab there that does work for me. The analytics and so on. We don’t have the technology to do it here, and anyway it would be too risky. It would get out.”

  “And all this was financed by the rhino horn, wasn’t it? It wasn’t from selling cheap carvings to China.”

  Gampone said nothing, but didn’t deny it.

  “Fifty-fifty,” Kubu said after a pause.

  Gampone hesitated, but Kubu could tell it was just for effect. His greed will always win, he thought. He should be happy just to get away with what he’s done, but he’ll risk every
thing for what he wants.

  Gampone nodded.

  “Okay, show me everything you’ve got.”

  It wasn’t much, but it was enough. Some pressed plant samples and notes from Collins, a couple of small containers from Heiseb—one with some dried leaves, and one with a little ointment—which Gampone offered to Kubu, who pocketed it without a word.

  They shook hands and Kubu went out to his car. Once inside, he took his cell phone from his pocket and said, “I’m in my car, Samantha. Did you get all of that?”

  “Every word.”

  “Okay, tell the police cars to move in. We know this is the only road up to the house. He can’t go anywhere.”

  As he waited for the cars, he wondered if he would have been tempted by that ointment if the news from Nono’s doctor had been bad. I’m not immune, he thought. I’m glad I wasn’t faced with that.

  When the first car arrived, he headed back to the house and knocked on the door. Rra Gampone was probably having a celebratory third glass of wine. He was in for a big disappointment.

  CHAPTER 53

  “You could’ve been killed, just like the others,” Mabaku said. “Why didn’t you call me before you went out there?”

  “Director, you were with the commissioner and I didn’t want to disturb you. And I wasn’t there to arrest Gampone, just to talk to him. I didn’t think it was dangerous at all, and Samantha was listening in, with backup nearby.”

  “Well, his lawyer is definitely going to scream entrapment. You should’ve just arrested him and brought him in for questioning.”

  “On what grounds, Director? We had no proof that he’d done anything, and Hairong and Sin weren’t talking. We would’ve had to let them all go.”

  “So what are you going to charge them with now?”

  “Well, we’ve made some progress with hard evidence. Our handwriting guy says that the writing on the manifest that was used to send the coffin to China is Hairong’s. Then, Zanele’s people have found some hairs in Sin’s double cab that are Ramala’s, and the tracks outside Gampone’s garage match Sin’s tires. And when we searched Hairong’s home, we found the smartphone that was used to send the second email to Mrs. Collins. Also, immigration caught the third man who abducted Ramala, as he was trying to leave the country—his visa was fake and we’d alerted them to check all Chinese men trying to leave the country. His name is Li Yong. We think he’s just Hairong’s sidekick and does what he’s told. It turns out that the fingerprints on the phone we found in Ramala’s car were his.”