Sleuth on Safari Read online

  It was midday, the hottest part of the day, and like the animals, the humans were resting. Except me.

  Standing on the path would just seem odd. I wanted to follow Coral when she collected the laundry. But where could I hide?

  I could hide in the bushes by the side of the building but I didn’t want to think what else was hiding in there.

  Yes, Charlotte was the one with the fear of insects but, really, who liked them?

  I dismissed the idea of hiding and went to the common area, to hide in plain sight. I sat on the couch. I could see the path and would see Coral pick up the bag. I glanced at the gift shop but feared if I ran in to look at detergent I could miss her.

  So I waited, flipping through a magazine. Leticia walked by. She walked with purpose and took no note of me. Part of me wanted to follow her but I already was on a mission.

  Finally, Coral walked down the path, noticed the laundry bag, and retrieved it. Nonchalantly, I put the magazine down and leisurely headed toward the path, keeping Coral in my sights.

  She walked down the path, passed our room, and finally passed the empty room. She continued on pass the gym, on the right. Really, what crazy person uses that place on vacation?

  I looked in, expecting to see rows of empty equipment. I waved at Charlotte, running on the far treadmill, too focused on her fitness to notice me.

  Coral walked past a turnoff. I looked down it but couldn’t decipher what was down there. I put it on my list to check out. I now knew why detectives carried little notepads. At least the TV ones did. Maybe they had one in the gift shop.

  Coral passed the turnoff for the pool. I could hear Zonah and Zaden playing in the pool.

  A wood door was at the end of the path. Coral inputted a code and opened it. I wasn’t close enough to see the numbers and couldn’t fathom a guess, except my work’s bathroom code, 1234. It didn’t work. I needed to act quick before I lost Coral.

  The door wasn’t too high. I could see over it, so surely I could climb over it. I could not do so gracefully and landed hard, on my bottom, on the other side.

  I got up and wiped myself off. I ran on tiptoes to catch up to Coral. The path ended at a small building on the left. It was the only place Coral could have gone.

  I heard a humming from inside. I crouched down and walked against the perimeter of the building to its door and peeked in. Coral was humming a tune I’d never heard as she placed items in the washer. She checked off items on the Wallace’s laundry form as she placed each item in. I looked away when she handled Jack’s black undergarments. One only needs to see that once.

  She placed detergent in the machine, closed its lid, and made for the door. I scurried around the building’s wall and slid down. Coral left the building and walked down the path, to return to the lodge’s main area. She held the laundry list in her hand.

  When I couldn’t hear her humming anymore, I got up and ran into the building. I figured I had at least ten minutes before she returned. If I was lucky, I’d have thirty minutes until the washer was done and the items had to be placed in the dryer. If I wasn’t lucky, she was going to walk to reception, drop off the laundry list to bill the Wallaces, and return. That would take at least ten minutes.

  The building was just one room. It had one washer and dryer against the wall. Another wall had racks of supplies—clean linens, toiletries, cleaning supplies. Everything Coral needed to clean and restock the five suites was in this room.

  There were two bins in the far corner. I ran over and peeked in. One was dirty laundry. The other was garbage. Either could contain evidence. I cringed at the thought of going through either bin. I had come this far. There was no turning back. I grabbed a pair of gloves out of a box on the rack. I dug into the laundry bin. All the lodge’s bed linens and towels were white. I searched through them and found nothing red. Nothing bloody.

  I stopped for a moment to listen for any sounds of Coral’s approach. I heard nothing but the whirl of the washing machine. The garbage bin was only half full. I held my breath as I searched through it. I found nothing out of the ordinary. Nothing bloody.

  I threw the soiled gloves in the bin and made one more look around the room. I’d searched all of it and was no closer to finding the killer.

  I returned to the path and jogged down it, wanting to make a quick exit. I hesitated when I arrived at the door. I needed a code to get out of here too? I didn’t bother trying to garner a guess and started to climb over the door again when I heard Coral’s humming.

  I looked around desperately for a hiding spot. I didn’t have enough time to run back to the laundry room and there was nowhere to hide off the side of the path. The grasses were all low. I’d be easy to spot in my khaki safari clothing.

  I crouched down against the wooden fencing and hoped she’d have no reason to look back once through the door. I held my breath as she inputted the code and the door unlocked. Afraid to move, I watched it close behind her. She proceeded down the path, having no idea she was not alone in the staff-only area.

  I waited until she was out of sight before leaving my hiding spot. Covered in dirt, I hopped the fence again, just as gracefully as I did the first time.

  I landed hard on the other side. Covered in dirt and sweat, I postponed my foray to the lodge’s boutique for a small notebook and to check their detergent supply. I passed Sabrina on the walkway, giving a leisurely wave.

  She looked me up and down. “Were you at the gym?”

  “Nothing like a good sweat,” I answered.

  The Plunge Pool

  I stood on the edge of the deck, against the wood post. Charlotte startled me when she asked, “What are you doing?” I hadn’t heard her come back from the gym.

  “Looking for animals,” I answered. It sounded believable, to me.

  “No you’re not. You’d angle the binoculars higher if you were. What are you looking for?” She approached me and angled her vision to match the binoculars’ view. “Are you trying to look into other people’s rooms?”

  Still looking through the binoculars for evidence, I answered, “No, that’s not possible.”

  “And you know that how?”

  “Because it was in the guidebook, Charlotte. Who wants to stay in a place with a wall made out of a window if your neighbor can see right into your bedroom? And bathroom?” I also knew because I tried before she came out, but the real answer was because it was in the book.

  I scanned the area below the rooms again, this time more slowly, searching for anything out of the ordinary. My third survey revealed the same results—nothing. No blood-soaked clothing. No blood-soaked knife.

  I put the binoculars down and sat on the lounge chair. “I thought if someone wanted to get rid of something, they’d throw it out there.”

  Charlotte remained standing and looked at the surrounding vegetation. “Instead of just throwing it in the garbage can like everyone else?” she asked.

  “Well, if they had to get rid of it without anyone finding it. No one would find it out there.”

  “Well, maybe if you took a closer look.”

  I got up and wondered how close I could get. I got on my stomach, slid under the post, to look down. The ground was only a few feet below. I could get down there for a closer look. I’d already jumped over a door, twice, today. This might be easier. I wish I had our brother’s drone. That would have been the easiest way for the closest look.

  “I was kidding, Naomi. You can’t go down there!”

  She was wrong. I could get down there, but I’d have a heck of a time getting back out. I doubted she would help pull me back up onto the patio. I could probably climb around to the front of the building but with no paths to follow the going would be tough.

  Plus, someone would notice. My exploration through the high grasses and bushes would cause them to shake. Someone would think it was wildlife causing it and get excited.

  Geri would call everyone, like the first day with the herd of elephants, and everyone would run out to loo
k for the wild animal. Only to find me.

  I got back to my feet and plopped onto the empty lounge chair next to Charlotte.

  “Why are you so sweaty?” she said, inspecting my clothing. “And dirty? Did you go the gym? I didn’t see you in the gym.” She made a face. “That’s what you wore on the game drive. You weren’t this dirty after breakfast. That’s not gym clothing.”

  “Who brings gym clothing on vacation, Charlotte?”

  “People who want to stay in shape.”

  “Were you the only one in the gym, Charlotte?”

  “Yes, but—”

  “And you’re the only one you brought gym clothing on safari.”

  Charlotte would be horrified to know I didn’t own gym clothes. With strict luggage allowances on the domestic flights, my packing space was limited. Gym clothes would not have made the list. Plus, safari clothing was expensive. I could only afford so many outfits.

  I closed my eyes and plotted my next move. I heard Charlotte get up. “Want something to drink?”

  “Sure, that bitter lemon soda if they have it.” She slid the door open into our suite. I hollered in, “Can you get my camera too?”

  I looked at the plunge pool longingly. It was hot and I was sweaty but it would take too much effort to go in and put on a bathing suit.

  Charlotte returned and handed me a glass of the yellow cloudy beverage. It was like lemonade with bubbles. It was refreshing and delicious. I finished my glass before she even lay down on her lounge.

  I picked up my camera, which she had placed at my side. I turned it on, tapped a few buttons, and pulled up the photos I’d taken.

  I scrolled back to the first day and swiped through the photos, stopping to inspect only the ones I was interested in.

  “Slow down,” Charlotte ordered. “Why are you only looking at the photos with people in it?”

  “I’m looking at their outfits.”

  “Their outfits?” she repeated.

  “I’m looking to see if anyone is wearing the same outfit.”

  “As each other?”

  “No, if they’ve repeated clothing, because they had to throw out some of their clothing.”

  “Haven’t you worn the same outfit more than once?”

  “Well, yes. But it wasn’t dirty.”

  “I’m not saying they were. Although I think this one needs a good wash.” I didn’t disagree. The pants were filthy from my expedition for evidence and the top smelled from my exertions.

  “I can’t really afford the laundry service.”

  “You don’t have to send it out. Just wash it here. I brought soap.”

  “Really? Why?”

  “So I could hand-wash my clothes. It was on the packing list.”

  I just used common sense and brought what I thought I needed, and what one coworker told me to pack—neutral-colored pants, long-sleeved shirts, a couple of T-shirts (which I’ve since learned were inappropriately colored), sturdy shoes, a hat, sunblock, and insect repellant. And my usual travel toiletries bag.

  “I didn’t read it.”

  “Of course you didn’t.”

  “But if I wash the clothes here, it’ll take forever to dry.”

  “It’s quick dry clothing. You wash this now,” pointing to my clothing, “it’ll be good for the morning.”

  “Really?”

  “Yes,” she assured me.

  “So you could wash something in your room?”

  “Yes,” she repeated.

  “What about something with blood?”

  “Oh, for heaven’s sake, Naomi! Just get up and wash your clothes! The soap is in my toiletry case.” She got up to get another drink. I think it was going to be something a little stronger than ginger ale. She walked around me. “And take a shower while you’re at it. You stink.” She stopped behind my lounge and tugged at my hair. “Is that a stick in your hair? What did you do this afternoon?”

  Afternoon Game Drive

  I arrived just as the staff was preparing for afternoon tea. A long table with drinks, hot and cold, and snacks, pretzels, crackers, and cookies. This was not a vacation you would starve to death on.

  I hoped I had arrived early enough to ask Sonny a few questions before the others arrived. My planning was rewarded; Sonny was alone and drinking iced tea by the drinks table.

  “Good afternoon, Sonny,” I greeted him, pleased to have a little question-and-answer time.

  “Good afternoon to you as well, Naomi. You look refreshed.”

  “Thank you,” I answered, as I poured myself a glass of iced tea. A long shower had cleansed me of my earlier adventures. My earlier attire was looking better too after washing them with Charlotte’s detergent. I was wearing another safari drab outfit for our next game drive, while this morning’s outfit hung to dry in the bathroom.

  “Are you enjoying your first safari?” he asked.

  “Of course,” I answered. Could I say I was enjoying my first murder investigation as well? I didn’t think so. “What’s it like working here?”

  “Very good. My family is very proud of me.” He finished his tea and went for a refill. “Would you like another?” I shook my head no. It was limited beverages for me before a three-plus-hour drive without a toilet.

  “You must miss them,” I commented.

  “Yes, but we talk regularly.”

  “But how often do you see them?”

  “I use the phone to see them.”

  “Really?” I asked.

  “Well, not this week. No internet, no FaceTime.”

  “And when will that internet be fixed?”

  “It is temporary. We’re working on it. It’ll be working shortly.”

  I could have said it in unison with him.

  “But how often do you get to go home?”

  Colin and Hazel, always prompt, arrived. Each headed for the snacks table for a cookie.

  “We work for six weeks and then get two weeks off.” I made a face. Working six weeks without a day off sounded overwhelming. “It’s not so bad,” he assured me. He finished his second drink and waved to the trio, who arrived next. “You thinking about joining the staff? You ask a lot of questions about the lodge and how it works.”

  “Just curious,” I tried to explain. I didn’t think I had asked him a lot of questions.

  I had tried to spread out the questions among the staff. But they must talk to each other. They probably talked about all of us. Isn’t gossip a big part of job? Who better to gossip about than the international guests? I wish I could see them all together, after hours.

  “Your sister says you don’t have a good job.”

  “Of course she did.” I didn’t think I’d like working a schedule like the lodge’s but it had to be better than having to deal with customer complaints all day. I looked around the lodge and wondered if I could do it. “What could I possibly do here?” I had no experience and no knowledge, except what Sonny and Ray had taught us. “I can’t drive that Land Cruiser.” I’d lose more passengers than I’d keep.

  “Oh no, you couldn’t start at my job. You have to work your way up. I started like Ray, as a tracker.”

  “You can’t possibly think I could be a tracker?” How could I keep myself on that little seat on the front of the cruiser on those bumpy roads? I’d be run over on day one. And that was probably the easiest part to the job.

  “You could learn. It’s just looking for signs of animals and pointing them out. Then you learn animal behaviors. You could study and learn on the job.”

  That was partially what I was doing trying to find Dr. Higgins’ killer. I was looking for signs of murder. I was observing the behavior of the fellow guests—“animals.”

  The rest of the guests arrived and Sonny summoned us to our ride.

  I mulled over our conversation. Maybe I could work in a place like this.

  I’d stow it away. Save it for Christmas dinner if Mom gave me a hard time about my customer service job.

  I was sitting next to Haze
l and Colin when we came upon a lone giraffe grazing from the tall trees.

  He slowly moved, with the unique gait of a giraffe, both left legs advancing, then both right. At the next tree, he lowered his head slightly to feed more. I looked around, expecting to see other giraffes.

  “Is there something wrong with him?” Zaden asked.

  “Just old,” Sonny answered. “We’ve seen him around here the last few weeks. He doesn’t have long now.”

  I noticed Hazel crying. Colin was gently stroking her thigh. “Calm down, Hazel.” She cried harder. Everyone was watching the giraffe, and no one else seemed to notice. “He’s not talking about—” He stopped when he saw I was watching.

  “Death comes for all of us in the end,” Sonny said, as he pulled away. This made Hazel cry harder.

  “What will happen to him?” Zaden asked.

  “Most likely, a lion will get him. He’s alone. Easy prey. No longer has the leg strength to defend himself from a lion’s attack.”

  Easy prey? Alone? Was that Dr. Higgins? Could he have taken Colin? In a chess match, yes. But a physical altercation? Unlikely.

  Night

  I slid into bed and closed my eyes.

  Another exhausting, in a good way, day over.

  Another day of vacation completed.

  Another day closer to going home.

  Another day of me not finding the killer.

  Charlotte closed the mosquito netting and got into bed. “Good night,” she said before shutting off the light.

  “You ever wonder what the staff’s lodgings are like?” I asked.

  “You couldn’t just say good night, could you?”

  “You don’t wonder?”

  “Well, I hadn’t.” She paused. “I’m sure it’s fine.”

  “Aren’t you curious what it looks like?”

  “No.”

  “Don’t you want to go and check it out?”

  “No.”