I had struggled to sleep. I looked at the bedside clock. Ten minutes until our wake-up call. Between nightmares of hyenas chasing me as their next meal and trying to plot my next investigative move, I dreaded having to get up.
Then I remembered I was on vacation. I could do whatever I wanted to.
The phone rang and I answered in my best sick voice. Charlotte got up and headed to the bathroom. I remained in bed and waited until she came out, dressed for the next game drive.
When she left the bathroom, I rushed to the bathroom, holding my stomach. She paid me no mind.
“Naomi, we have to go,” she called in a few minutes later.
“I’m not feeling well,” I called back.
“And?” she asked.
“And I don’t think I’m going to go this morning. Go without me.”
“I have to use the bathroom. Let me in.”
“Use the one off the reception area. I don’t recommend coming in here right now.”
“Really? You sure you’re okay if I go?”
“Definitely,” I answered.
“Feel better,” she called out before the door closed. I lingered in the bathroom a few more minutes, in case she returned.
I could use the free morning checking out the staff’s quarters. If caught, I could say I got lost. Or I was looking for one of them for something.
I got dressed in the clothes I had put out last night—gray cargo pants, white T-shirt. I was relieved to see Charlotte had left the key on the coffee table and not taken it with her. That she hadn’t tossed it in the bowl in reception with everyone else’s room key.
My jaw dropped at the realization.
Everyone’s keys were in that bowl.
While the guests were miles away, their rooms vacant, their keys lay in a bowl. In an unlocked place. With no supervision. I’d never seen anyone in reception this early. I slid my key in my pocket and left our suite.
I walked into the common area and was relieved to see it empty, even though I expected it to be empty. The reception area was also empty but the bowl wasn’t.
I dropped my key in, just in case Leticia came by. I didn’t want her noticing the bowl emptier than she expected.
I hoped to inspect the three rooms before they returned. I started to take both keys but hesitated. If found with one of their keys, I could easily explain it away that I had taken the wrong one by accident. If I was found in possession of two keys, that would be much harder to explain.
My hand over the bowl, I tried to decide between the Vankeys, the Wallaces, and the Coleky-Johnson rooms. I closed my eyes and snatched one from the bowl. I peeked at the keychain. Room three. I headed to the Wallaces’ room.
Knowing the surveillance camera would see my entry and exit from the common area, I walked slowly, pretending as if I were someone who had been ill earlier. Once I thought I was out of its shot, I ran to the Wallaces’ suite.
I knocked lightly before entering, just in case. Maybe Jack had decided to skip a game drive too. He had complained more about his back last night. No reply. I tiptoed in.
Their suite was the same as ours. Same layout. Same furniture. Same view.
I was in search of one thing—the knife Jack said he always traveled with. I doubted if he had used it to kill Dr. Higgins he’d be able to get all the blood off of it.
I headed right to the wardrobe. Their clothes hung on the hangers. Wow, Geri had brought a lot of clothes. I looked at each item closely for signs of blood. Nothing.
Their luggage, sitting on the luggage rack, was empty. I went through both pieces, searching all the zippered compartments and found no possible weapons.
Several pairs of shoes lined the bottom of the wardrobe. Jack packed more like me—two pairs of shoes. One on his feet and one in the wardrobe.
I ran around the sitting area and checked every possible space. The minibar area was well stocked, replenished every day by Coral, and had no possible weapons. I searched the surrounding cabinets and found nothing. The safe, locked, may have contained something sinister but I’d never figure out the code. I didn’t know obvious code options like their anniversaries or birthdays. Birthdays! I did know that. I pulled up the photos from my phone and inputted Geri’s birthday. Beeps. I scrolled to the photo of Jack’s passport and inputted his. Beeps again. The safe remained lock.
I turned my attention to the rest of the room. I searched the night tables. They contained the same items that my room had: stationery bearing the lodge’s name and logo. I pulled up the sheets and duvet off the unmade bed to no avail.
Under the mattress? What a great place to hide place something! Housekeeping wouldn’t find it for ages. With effort, I lifted it up. Nothing.
I glanced at my watch. This was taking longer than I expected. I ran out onto the patio and looked over the railing. There were no signs of anything thrown off of it, waiting for me to discover it.
I ran back into the room and headed into the last room, the bathroom. The layout was, of course, the same. Beautiful big tub set against the large window, giving expansive views of the landscape. A walk-in shower was on the opposite side of the room. There was nothing in there but their toiletries.
The sink was littered with toiletries and prescription bottles. Jack was right. Geri traveled with everything. A medium-sized cosmetics bag was stocked with over-the-counter medications—for pain relief, diarrhea, nausea, seasickness—and a first-aid kit. She was a seasoned safari traveler, so it concerned me that she thought all of this was necessary.
Two of the prescriptions, prescribed to Jack, were for pain. I didn’t need Charlotte to tell me. The instructions said, “Take one to two tablets as needed for pain.” The bottle was almost empty. His back must be hurting. Two bottles were the same medication, one for Jack and one for Geri. It was the same prescription I had for antimalarial medication. The last prescription bottle was a sleeping pill. I recognized the name from commercials on television. It had been filled immediately before the travel dates. I opened it and found it practically full. It was unlikely they had drugged Dr. Higgins and still have so many pills left.
I sighed, frustrated I hadn’t found the knife or any proof that they (together or separately) had killed Dr. Higgins. I hadn’t found anything to exclude them either.
I hesitated at the door and listened. Having not been at the lodge this time of day before, I didn’t know when Coral started her rounds. I didn’t hear anything and decided it was safe to leave. I hustled to the main walkway and then returned to a more leisurely walk.
I tried not to cuss when I saw Leticia walk out from the bar area, coming from the staff’s quarters.
“Naomi, good morning. Why are you not on the game drive?”
“Wasn’t feeling well.” She looked at me as if she didn’t believe me. I had to work on my poker face. “Something from dinner last night did not agree with me. I hope the rest of the group isn’t affected. Like maybe you got a bad batch of meat or—”
Not wanting to have a conversation about possible tainted food her lodge may have served, she interrupted me, “I do hope you feel better. Would you like a cup of tea?”
“No, thank you.”
She nodded and continued to reception. I followed her. “How can I help you?” she asked.
“Just checking on the internet.”
“It’s temporary. We’re working on it. It’ll be fixed shortly.”
“Oh good to know. Thank you for the update.”
Wanting to avoid further interaction with me, she scurried into her office. I had aggravated her enough to leave me but not enough for her to close the door.
I waited until she out of sight, dropped room three’s key in the bowl and grabbed room two’s key.
I covered a scream as I turned the corner and came within inches of colliding with Advice. “Naomi, I heard you weren’t feeling well. I made you a cup of tea.” He held out the teacup and saucer and, reluctantly, I took it. The hot liquid wasn’t what I expected. It was a clear, yellowish beverage, not the dark brown tea I had expected. “It is a ginger tea. My mother used to make us this when we were ill.”
“Oh, thank you.”
To decline it would insult him. To not drink it in front of him seemed equally insulting. I hadn’t ruled him out as the murderer but I didn’t want to be rude.
“Please sit,” he instructed. I sat and he hovered until I took a sip. “Feel better.” He smiled before he left me.
Knowing the surveillance camera was watching me, I knew I couldn’t get up immediately. It would look suspicious. I sat and drank my tea, in case anyone was watching. It was delicious. Advice really did have a knack for choosing the right beverage. I’d have to remember ginger tea the next time I was actually ill.
I finished the tea and returned the empty cup and saucer to the bar. Finally, I set off for the Coleky-Johnson room.
“Naomi!” someone shouted.
I turned to find Charlotte. “What are you doing here?” I glanced at my watch. I thought I had at least another forty-five minutes.
“Jack’s back was hurting so we decided to turn back after we stopped for juice.”
“Oh, that’s disappointing. Maybe Sonny can take the rest of you back out for a little longer.”
“Nah, I had enough for this morning. Give me the key. I want to go back to the room.”
“Oh, the key. I’ll get it. It’s in the bowl.”
“Why is it in the bowl if you’re here?”
“I…I thought that is what we’re supposed to do when we’re out of the room.”
Charlotte shook her head in frustration and plopped onto the couch. “Just go get the key.”
I ran to reception, knowing the rest of the group would be going in for their keys. I ran past Zaden, who had resumed his search for an internet connection. I held my breath when I saw Sabrina headed right to the bowl.
I ran up to her. “Sabrina, you should really ask Leticia about the status of the Wi-Fi. Poor Zaden looks so lost without it.”
She hesitated and then agreed. “You’re right.”
“Sabrina, how can I help you?” Leticia asked as she walked up to the desk.
With a sleight of hand our amateur magician Pops would have been proud of, I grabbed our room key while dropping in room two.