As Rose left the mortuary, her phone rang.
She answered it and heard Julius say, “Habari, Mama Rose. How is Bwana Hardie?”
“Habari Julius. He is comfortable in the Cottage Hospital. He damaged his hip in the fall, as I suspected, and we shall have to wait to see how well it heals.”
“Again, I am so sorry Mama.” He sounded dejected.
“Julius, it is not your fault, and you were tired after being out all night with the jackals. How are they, by the way?”
Rose began to walk across the lawn, away from the mortuary.
“That was the reason for my call, Mama. I thought they would have left their enclosure by now and settled in the main conservancy. I opened the enclosure gate on Saturday night and two did venture outside. Last night three left the enclosure, but one female stayed inside. And I’ve lost the male who didn’t return this morning. I’m not sure what to do and I need to return to the orphanage soon.”
Rose sat down on a wooden bench. She suddenly felt exhausted. “But you are staying tonight and watching them?”
“Yes, but can you join me?” Julius beseeched.
Rose felt wretched about letting Julius down as she said, “I’m sorry, I’m not sure I can tonight. I need to be here for Craig.”
“Of course. I understand, Mama.” He sounded disappointed.
“Call me in the morning and let me know if the fourth jackal returned. But I’m not sure what we can do if it doesn’t, and the others refuse to leave their enclosure.”
She finished the call and sighed as she looked up at Mount Kenya through a gap in the trees. There was no sign of clouds and the beneficial effects of the long rains in April and early May were diminishing as the recent growth of grass turned yellow. Nearby, the Nanyuki river trickled along its rocky base.
Commissioner Akida sat down next to her and asked, “Are you trying to solve this puzzle of a crime?”
“Sorry?” Rose responded in confusion.
“Nina Scott Watson’s death. It’s quite a riddle.”
Rose turned to the commissioner and said, “I’m sorry, but my mind was elsewhere. I haven’t had a chance to think about your case. Was that call related to it?”
The commissioner leaned back on the bench. “Yes, Constable Wachira was providing an update. She’s going to interview the staff at Lewa who were dismantling the marathon tents and structures yesterday, to establish if there were any sightings of Nina Scott Watson. And Sam is trying to trace a car.”
Rose closed her eyes. “That will probably be the one we think was parked near the watering hole. Nina’s hat was found nearby. So what will you do now?”
“The constable asked me to send someone to BATUK and interview the staff who were also at the marathon yesterday. And what about you, Mama?”
She turned to look at him. “I’ve no idea, Commissioner. I don’t know which direction to turn.”
The commissioner patted her on the shoulder and strode away. What should she do now? Her stomach rumbled, but she didn’t really feel like eating a large meal. Sometimes there was a lady in the visitors’ car park who sold samosas.
She pushed her weary body off the bench and wandered through the hospital grounds to the car park. A large African woman sat on the kerb next to what looked like a wheelbarrow, on top of which someone had built a glass-fronted warming unit. There were two piles of golden triangular-shaped samosas inside.
“Habari. Meat or vegetable?” the woman asked.
“Um, one of each, tafadhali.” Rose exchanged a hundred-shilling note and a twenty-shilling coin for a brown paper bag. She retraced her steps to the bench in the hospital grounds close to the river.
She bit into a samosa: it was the vegetable one with pieces of carrot, potato and peas, and it was flavoured with fresh coriander.
She felt both trapped and disorientated. She knew it was important to spend time with Craig whilst he recovered from his fall. But what about afterwards? Could they afford for him to stay at the Louise Decker Centre.
She doubted the small contribution the state healthcare policy would pay towards Craig’s current hospital stay would extend to long-term care. And they hadn’t been able to afford the increasing premiums to continue their healthcare plan after Craig retired.
Unless Chris was willing to pay the majority of the cost, and she wasn’t sure he would be or even had the funds to do so, she and her staff would need to look after Craig at home.
Samwell had been wonderful helping Craig, and Kipto was efficient and always prepared to do what was needed, but what happened when Craig deteriorated and was bedridden?
Would he be content spending his final days staring at the walls and ceiling of their bedroom? She was certain he benefitted from fresh air and sitting out on the patio. But what happened when he could no longer do that? Would he just fade away?
And how did she feel about being tied to a dying man? On the one hand, she would relish the chance to sit with him, knowing that their time together was precious, but she also knew herself.
If she was bound to his bedside, unable to continue her veterinary work, or assist the police and her friends, she would certainly become restless by the inactivity and lack of daily achievement. She might even start to resent Craig, which was the last thing she wanted to do.
And what about Chris? He appeared to be on better terms with his father but was he feeling aggrieved towards her? She could understand his unwillingness for her to assist the police since he had been the one to rescue her a few months previously when a deranged killer had tried to drown her.
But even so, she felt under pressure from him to spend every minute of the day with Craig, as if that was her role as a dutiful wife. Yet Craig himself understood how important her work was and her need to help others. It was probably the result of the forty years of guilt she had carried around for believing she’d killed a poacher. And Dr Emma couldn’t tend to all the sick and injured animals in Laikipia on her own.
She felt Chris needed to spend some time with his father, especially as they’d hardly spoken for the last fifteen years. But then she supposed Chris must have a mix of emotions since their reunion two months ago.
She had nearly been killed and his father had suffered a mini-stroke and was terminally ill. She must remember this and try to be more tolerant as she certainly didn’t want to fall out with Chris again, not now. But she would have to tread carefully.
She heard someone’s phone ring, and then felt a vibration in her trouser pocket. It was her phone. Her heart began to race. Had something happened to Craig? She grabbed it from her pocket, nearly dropped it and without looking at the caller ID cried, “Hello”, into the phone.
“Rose, are you OK?” She heard Chloe’s concerned voice.
“Oh, yes. Sorry. You caught me deep in thought and I panicked, thinking that something had happened to Craig.”
“I’d better not bother you then.” Chloe’s tone was apologetic.
“No, I promise I’m all right. Why did you call?”
“It doesn’t matter now. It’s just that I was speaking to Marina earlier and she invited me to the lodge for the night. I need a break away from Dan and a bit of time by myself to think. Anyway, she said Julius was fretting about some jackals and you not being there. I don’t know what it’s all about, but I said I was happy to give you a lift if you’d like one.”
“Thanks, that’s very kind, but I’m not sure I can leave Craig overnight, and he’ll certainly want me with him in the morning.”
“Well, if it helps I have to be back by eleven for an appointment. It’s with the counsellor but I’m not sure Dan will be coming. He got really defensive when I suggested it, and that’s the main reason I want to get away for the night.”
“That’s probably a good idea,” responded Rose distractedly.
“Let me know if you change your mind. I was hoping to leave in an hour or so but I’m waiting to hear back from Marina, and find out if I need to drive a friend of Robert Scott Watson’s out to the lodge. Apparently the police are looking for her.”