My near-life experience behind me, I devised a new plan. A normal person would have seen the snake experience as a good reason, a very good reason, to stop the investigation into the possible murder of someone you didn’t know (and didn’t particularly like). But I was not a normal person. The experience spurred me on. It reminded me life was precious and no one had the right to extinguish it.
“I need to look at the security video,” I announced to the room.
“And why are you telling me?” Charlotte asked, the only other person in the room.
“Just needed to talk about it out loud. Come up with a plan to get it.”
“What, like maybe Zonah can hack into it?”
“Really?” I hesitated. He was a suspect. I couldn’t ask for his help. “No,” I answered.
Hacking wouldn’t help me. With no Wi-Fi, I couldn’t get access to the video. I needed the memory card, if it had one.
She laughed. “I was kidding.” She shook her head at me. “Really, you have to let this go.” She returned to applying sunblock. “How do plan to do get the video?”
“I’m glad you asked!”
“Oh no. I am not calling Leticia again so you can get on her computer and she can think I’m crazy.”
“That wouldn’t do me any good. Her computer wouldn’t be any help. I just need a few minutes alone in the common area so I can get the camera’s memory card.”
“How do you even know it has one?”
“I don’t know for sure but the camera looks like the ones we have at work and the ones at work have a memory card.”
A security guard had pilfered a few items at the store once. As he watched the cameras’ live stream regularly as part of his job, he thought if he disabled the internet connection, there would be no record of the crime. He had been wrong. The memory card kept recording. Maybe the killer had thought the same thing.
If there was a memory card in the camera, he (or she) would be seen headed toward the suites. That’s how the security guard got caught. He brazenly walked around after he disabled the internet connection, stole what he had planned to—over $10,000 in designer handbags—and returned to his office to restart the internet connection. It was an easy case to solve. Even our dimwitted manager was able to do it.
My task was a little more difficult, as I would have to get the memory card without being seen. In an ideal world, I’d sneak out at night, grab it, review it, and return it. However, the threat of hyenas and other wildlife was far too real, so even I knew that wasn’t a good idea.
“It’s usually slow this time of day,” I explained.
“How do you know that?”
“Just normal surveillance.”
“No one does ‘normal surveillance’ on vacation.”
“Advice is in the back stocking up drinks for the day. The waitstaff is finished cleaning up breakfast. Coral is in the back housekeeping the suites and doing laundry. Leticia is in her office, doing what she does. The only problem is the gift shop.”
“And you think the gift shop can be my problem?”
“I think you’ve never met a gift shop you didn’t like.”
“True…”
“And I was thinking you have a birthday coming up…”
“True…”
“And your big sister would like to get you a birthday gift.”
“Does she now…”
“She does. And she thinks it’ll take you ten minutes to consider your gift options, then leave.”
“But not buy it?”
“No, I’ll need another distraction later to put the memory card back. You can buy it then.”
She paused, considering it. I knew she could be bought and she agreed. “I did see a scarf in there I’d like.”
“Let me go first. I’ll sit on the couch for a while, make sure the coast is clear. I’ll give you a sign to abort if necessary.”
“I look forward to it.” She did nothing to hide the mocking in her tone.
“Give me five minutes.” I looked down at my watch. “So…you should leave in—”
“I’ll leave in about five minutes.” She mumbled something. I started to ask what it was but figured I didn’t want to know. I also didn’t want to annoy her anymore. I couldn’t get the memory card without her.
I left the room and looked both ways at the end of our path. I headed to the common area, walking in what I hoped would be considered a leisurely stroll. I sat on the couch, with my back to the surveillance camera, and monitored the area.
The bar was empty. The outside dining area was empty. The gift shop was empty, except for the cashier, who looked bored. She would welcome the distraction of Charlotte’s browsing. Charlotte walked into the common area. She acted normal—she ignored me. She window-hopped for a few minutes and then went into the store. She gave a big greeting to the clerk and pointed her to an item in the far corner. Charlotte deftly positioned herself so the clerk would have her back to me.
I got up and made as if I was heading to the front desk. To ask about the status of the internet if anyone asked.
I quickly looked around. Everything was still quiet. I pulled over a chair to below the camera.
I pulled out my iPhone, my excuse for my positioning—better angle for photos!—if anyone asked. With one hand, I held my iPhone, snapping a few photos. With the iPhone hand blocking the view of my other hand, I reached for the camera. Without looking, I felt around for where I expected the card to be. Nothing. There was only so long the area would be empty. I looked up and felt around again. I looked to the left and found a small slot, I opened it. Success!
I grabbed the card, took a few more photos, and slid my iPhone and the memory card into my pocket.
I climbed off the chair, trying to hide a smile. I felt like a child who had climbed onto the kitchen counter for a cookie without mom catching her. Charlotte was trying on another scarf and modeling it.
“What are you doing?” Leticia asked, as I carried the chair back to its original spot.
I startled at the surprise arrival. I kept myself calm and went with my usual excuse—the internet. “Searching for a better signal.”
“It is temporary. We’re working on it. It’ll be fixed shortly.”
“Oh, thanks,” I answered, as if it were the first time someone had said that to me.
I put the chair back and fixed the pillow while she watched me. I put on a big smile, waved goodbye, and joined Charlotte in the gift shop.
“Looks like you’re having a successful excursion.”
“Should I buy it?” Charlotte asked, as she viewed her reflection. She twirled the tan scarf, with brown markings, around her, taking it in from all angles.
“Maybe you should think about it,” I recommended.
She nodded and handed the scarf back to the clerk. “Thank you, Bayode. I’ll be back.”
We headed back to our suite.
I ran to my computer and placed the memory card in a slot. I leaned in and eagerly waited for the screen to fill with the image of our lodge.
“This should be entertaining,” she said. She grabbed her book and headed outside.
“Really?” I had missed her sarcasm. I could be moments away from identifying the killer. This was riveting!
The icon for the memory card appeared. I opened the application and pressed play. A time display appeared on the screen, showing the day we arrived, a few hours before check-in.
A handsome man appeared on screen, pulling a large suitcase. I guessed he was in the group before us, checking out. Wish we had been in his group. Then a woman appeared and kissed him on the mouth. Isn’t that always the way? The handsome man was attached.
I doubted many single men went on safari. The only bachelor on our trip died before we got to know him. Unless you counted Zonah, or Zaden, which I couldn’t.
I fast-forwarded to our arrival and watched everyone. I hoped to see something I missed. Some interaction between Dr. Higgins and a fellow guest or staffer that I had not noticed. Some furtive glance. Some angry glare. Just something.
Our first full day passed with nothing eventful and then it was on to our second dinner. Dr. Higgins’ last meal.
Without volume, Jack’s confrontation with Dr. Higgins was less threatening. Dr. Higgins sat alone and ate dinner. He looked comfortable. I didn’t think I would be if I were alone on vacation. I would have taken my meal in my room. Or asked if I could have joined one of the other groups. But not Dr. Higgins. He sat alone enjoying his steak.
Jack paid him no attention to him during his meal and neither did Geri. No furtive glances. No signs that they were plotting his murder.
Charlotte and I left after dinner. I was exhausted and had gone immediately to bed. So did Charlotte. Of course, we were escorted to our room. The staffer who took us was off screen only a few minutes.
When he returned, he was with the Vankeys. Colin was carrying an overnight bag. Sonny appeared on screen and the Vankeys headed to their ride to the treehouse.
Geri and Jack finished their dinner about that same time. A staffer, the same one who had taken us, escorted Geri back to her room and Jack headed for a nightcap (or two) at the bar. Again, the staffer reappeared within a few minutes.
Dr. Higgins finished dinner and remained at his table after they cleared his dishes. His table was the closest to the bar and Advice brought him over a glass, with what I guessed was his nightcap of brandy. It was served in a sifter. He did what I expected the pretentious Dr. Higgins to do with an after-dinner drink. He looked at it, he swirled it, and he sniffed it before he sipped it. He savored the beverage. And he lingered at the table, reading a book and enjoying his brandy.
The trio was the last to finish dinner. Someone brought Zaden an extra dessert and he was thrilled. Zonah and Sabrina looked content as he finished it.
No one looked to be in a murderous mood.
After finishing the second dessert, Zaden got up, kissed his mother good night, and headed for the suites. Zonah hesitated and said something to his mother. She waved him off. Zonah got up and joined his brother, and they were escorted to their room.
Sabrina got up and headed to the bar. She walked past Dr. Higgins’ table and greeted him. Dr. Higgins acknowledged her with a brief smile and she continued to the bar. She sat two bar stools down from Jack.
Advice came over and they discussed something. I assumed it was her drink order because when he walked away he went right to work. He grabbed a few bottles and poured them into a hurricane glass. I waited for an act like in the movie Cocktail but was disappointed. A few minutes later, he returned with a multicolor drink, topped with a slice of orange and a cherry. She was as pleased as her son had been with his second ice cream.
She took a sip, smiled, and nodded her approval to Advice. He was equally pleased and smiled broadly.
Jack finished his drink and pointed to Sabrina’s glass. They all laughed. Except Dr. Higgins, who didn’t appear to notice.
At no point did Jack look in Dr. Higgins direction. He drank his beer. He talked to Advice. He sat on the stool, his back to Dr. Higgins.
Dr. Higgins finished his drink and shook his head no when Advice appeared. He left a few moments later and was escorted back to his room. Again the staffer returned within a few minutes.
Jack and Sabrina spoke a little while they sipped their drinks. Sabrina finished her drink, waiting a moment as if considering another. She decided against it and headed to the walkway and the awaiting escort. As always, the staffer returned promptly.
Knowing the last bar occupant would stay awhile, based on previous evenings’ experience, I’m sure, the escort departed. He left behind the bar, toward the kitchen area.
He returned when Advice got him to escort Jack back to his room. And like every other trip, he returned promptly.
Advice tidied up briefly and left to behind the bar, to the living quarters, when the escort returned.
For thirty minutes of tape, there was no activity. Then Sonny and the Vankeys appeared. Hazel was supporting Colin. The Vankeys were in the first room and Sonny reappeared within a minute.
He would have had no time to kill Dr. Higgins. He didn’t even have enough time to get to his room and back.
I had eliminated all the staff. I’d watched as Coral and Leticia earlier in the day and Sonny and Advice in the evening had departed the lodge via the exit behind the bar, which led to the staff’s quarters. Bayode, the boutique clerk, had left when she closed the shop, before dinner.
My only suspects were the guests.
I still didn’t have a specific time of death. It had been narrowed down from when the escort dropped Dr. Higgins off at his room and when I had found him the next morning.
When I found him, Dr. Higgins had been dressed in the same clothing he had dined in. I couldn’t imagine him sleeping in his clothes or redressing in the same clothes he had worn that evening. He had to have been killed shortly after he returned to his room.
Had someone been waiting for him in his room?
Had someone followed him?
If only the tape had audio, I could have heard the hyenas as they entered the compound. I fast-forwarded the video and leaned back to watch the tape roll through the late evening until our early-morning game drive. No one ever appeared on the video.
I leaned forward and slowed the video once Hazel and Colin appeared, first in line for our early-morning game drive. Then the Wallaces. Then the trio. Then Charlotte.
I was last to arrive. I watched Charlotte yell at me about my clothing choice and me run back to change.
I watched the suspects. They all looked tired. But who could blame them, it was five in the morning. Jack stood against the wall, eyes closed. Geri stood next to him, holding his hand. Zonah was seated on the couch, leaning on the couch’s arm, supporting his head. Sabrina sat on the other end, in a similar posture. Zaden, seated between them, fiddled with his phone. He looked frustrated. Was the internet already down by then?
Charlotte stood with her arms crossed, tapping her left foot. She kept glancing toward the path, waiting for my reappearance. The longer it took, the more annoyed she looked.
The Vankeys spoke to each other away from the group. They looked the most suspicious. But, everyone, every action, had started to appear suspicious to me.
And, finally, as a group, five minutes after I had exited scene right, they reacted to something off scene, my screams. Now I was thankful for the lack of audio. I didn’t want to hear my screams when I found the body.
Charlotte took off first but the group ran after her just a moment later toward the suites. Sonny and Ray appeared from the front of the lodge within ten seconds and ran toward the walkway.
I rewound the video and rewatched everyone’s arrival and reaction to my screams again. I watched for any sign of anything suspicious—any hesitation, any knowing look—and there was nothing.
No one reacted sooner, or later, then expected. No one didn’t react. No one didn’t run toward my screams.
No other staff appeared until Ray ran to the front office for Leticia. Then they ran back to Dr. Higgins’ suite.
I fast-forwarded the tape through the remaining days, and nights, looking for anything suspicious. And nothing grabbed my attention. Except me. I was the only one in the group acting oddly. There were hours of footage of me wandering around the lodge.
Charlotte was right. I did look suspicious when I kept glancing at the camera. I thought I had been being subtle. Seeing it, I knew I hadn’t been.
Charlotte came back in the room from the patio.
“You find what you needed?”
“Nope.”
“So glad we did it then.” She threw her book on the bed. “And how do you intend to put it back? It didn’t look like Leticia believed whatever story you told her.”
“No worries. I’m on it. I have to get you that scarf for your birthday in the gift shop.”
She smiled. “The pink one. I changed my mind. I like the pink one the best.”
“Great.” I tossed her the memory card. “You can put it back while I buy the scarf and distract the clerk.”
“Naomi!” she yelled as I ran out the door.