Authors: Monica McCabe
“I’m chock full of ideas.” He shifted into high gear, moving faster now that they needn’t worry about stealth. “None mean a thing unless I can prove them.”
“Have you always been this focused?”
He stared out the windshield, and his grip on the steering wheel tightened. “Only since I was fourteen.”
A bad feeling squeezed her heart. “When your parents died?”
Silence stretched for several long seconds before he took a deep breath and blew it out in a sharp huff. “Murdered. My parents were murdered.”
Miranda gasped at the horrifying revelation. Compassion and anger swirled together in one baffling mix. She wanted to reach out and touch him, to soothe some of the ache he obviously kept locked away. But if he was anything like her father, he wouldn’t welcome the sympathy.
“How awful. I’m so sorry.” It was a generic reply, and she hated it.
He didn’t say anything more, and they sat in collective silence as the landscape rushed by, each wrapped in their own thoughts. She tried to picture the vulnerable fourteen-year-old boy he must have been, and couldn’t. Worse, she struggled to comprehend the lonely heartbreak and fear he had to endure. Then a thought occurred to her. “Didn’t you say your parents were missionaries?”
“I did.”
“Don’t missionaries usually work toward improving the conditions of people in need?”
His jaw looked rigid in the glow of the dashboard. “They do.”
“Who on earth would harm someone like that?”
“Gun runners and diamond smugglers.” He had turned her way when he answered, and the anger in his eyes chilled her.
This was a man with a score to settle.
“I have the name you seek,” Nik said, “but I want some answers.”
Despite his dark shades, Nik had that look, the one that told Matt he wouldn’t get away with a vague explanation.
A bright noontime sun beat down on their heads as they sat at the far end of the African Mall. The outdoor farmer’s market had the usual brisk business, definitely more public than most places they met. But it also had a street vendor who served up the best damn
braai
, or barbeque, in all of Botswana.
Matt tossed a casual glance around. A heavy crowd, but most ignored him and Nik. “We’ve got a couple of rogue players at Katanga,” Matt said before taking a hearty bite of his
braai
and washing it down with ice cold cider. “The director and personnel manager are up to their necks in diamond smuggling.”
“And you know this how?”
Matt took a deep breath, intent on cutting to the chase and relaying events in thirty seconds or less. “I infiltrated a local group in Kanye where I learned a contact name in Gaborone. I tailed the mark to the airport, and when he tried to flee, a crazy zoo dentist stepped in to help. The diamond thief sang about a pipeline through Katanga, matching what I learned in Kanye, so I had you sign me on as janitor. I bumped into the zoo dentist again while searching the director’s office, and we had to hide in a closet together, along with a chimpanzee. Graham gave Keyes a hundred Gs American, calling it a down payment, and Keyes hid it in a wall safe. My new dentist friend offered to help and discovered many deliveries occur at month’s end, a pattern that coincides with shipments by the Kanye group.”
Matt took another deep breath, then calmly bit into his
braai
. “Oh,” he continued around the barbeque, “she also got me a list of transporter names.”
His boss stared at him for a bemused second, then shook his head. “I don’t know how you manage it. You are the luckiest S.O.B. working for me. You always find a trail in the thickest puff of smoke.”
“No trick to it.” Matt shrugged. “Clues are always there if you look hard enough. And for some weird reason people talk to me. Those who don’t hate me right off, that is.”
“A zoo dentist, huh?” Nik asked. “What in blazes kind of job is that? And why was she in Keyes’s office with you? Getting civilians involved makes me uncomfortable.”
Matt snorted. “You have to know Miranda. Once she’s on the scent, nothing stops her.”
“How well do you know this woman?”
“Enough to know she’s legit, from California, and one stubborn female.” A colorfully dressed group of women walked by, chatting and carrying their daily produce buys. Matt waited until they moved out of range. “She’s resourceful, too, and extremely fine to look at.”
“Keep her out of it, Matt.” Nik’s expression tightened into a frown. “You know how these people operate. They tend to eliminate any who get in their way. I don’t want American casualties on my hands.”
It’s the last thing Matt wanted, too. He really should discourage Miranda more. Problem was…keeping the diamond aspect separate from his interest in her proved difficult. Underneath that excellent exterior of hers, she was tenacious and smart and could honestly help his investigation. Not something he could ignore.
On the other hand, she could jeopardize his cover, blow everything sky-high, and he’d only have himself to blame. “I’ll keep a close eye on her,” Matt vowed. “You’ll be pleased to hear she’s all fired up about preserving Katanga from the bad guys. She’s determined not to let it suffer the consequences of greed.”
“I like her already.” Nik polished off his lunch and stuffed the wrappings in the paper sack it came in. “Yet keep in mind those with passionate causes can do stupid things. Don’t let her pull anything rash.”
“No worries, I’ve got it under control.” Yeah, famous last words. If only he were half as confident as he sounded, but he was fast coming to learn that where Miranda was concerned, his common sense fell short. And his plan for tonight only proved that fact.
Matt stuffed the last bite of lunch in his mouth, then gathered up the trash to toss it in a nearby can. He brushed off his hands, reached into a pocket, and pulled out the list of delivery company names Miranda had provided. He handed it to Nik as he sat back down.
“Process these and see what you come up with,” Matt said. “And while you’re at it, run a check on Victor Keyes and Warren Graham. I want everything you have on them.”
Nik didn’t even glance at the list, just tucked it safely into his shirt pocket.
Matt checked his watch and lightly cursed. Lunch hour was almost up. Man, punching a time clock was hell. “So, how about that name?”
“Funny thing about that,” Nik said. “The mansion’s owner is Andrew Weston.”
Weston? Matt whistled between his teeth. “Now, what do you suppose the Under Secretary of Trade and Industry wants with Warren Graham?”
“That’s what you will find out,” Nik declared. “Especially since Weston is instrumental in organizing Gaborone’s diamond council. This year’s event is over the top since the implementation of the Kimberley Process. Hundred-thousand-dollar down payments on the eve of a global event stirs an ache in my old bones. I don’t like it.”
Matt heartily agreed. “Call me as soon as you have info on those names. Right now I’ve got to get back to washing windows.”
* * * *
Matt lurked outside the veterinary clinic, chastising himself for not approaching Miranda earlier today. If he were a sane man, he would’ve just asked her to join him at an African wedding that evening. It wasn’t like it was a date. He needed to know the person he was partnering with. That was all. So why was it so bloody difficult to ask her?
He checked his watch for the twelfth time in the last ten minutes. How late did she plan on working? The wedding feast began in less than an hour. The bonfire started at dusk. He couldn’t wait much longer.
In fact, he’d waited long enough.
Matt twisted the rearview mirror his way and raked a hand through his unruly hair, then rolled the tension out of his shoulders before climbing out of the Land Rover. His feet barely hit the ground when the clinic door opened and Miranda and Jason exited.
She caught sight of him, and a frown settled on her brow. She was no doubt wondering about the nightly stakeout. Well, not tonight. He had other plans.
“Dude, you working late?” Jason tapped knuckles with Matt in the new “modern” handshake of his. Personally, Matt didn’t see anything wrong with the old way.
“I’m done for the day,” he replied. “What are you two still doing here?”
“Paperwork.” Jason rolled his eyes. “Miss Workaholic won’t knock off early to sightsee. No sir, not her.”
“It’s barely seven,” Miranda huffed. She turned a pointed look in Matt’s direction. “Kind of late for you to be lurking about, isn’t it?”
“Not if you’re looking for a date.”
She arched a nicely shaped brow and glanced around. “Did you find one?”
“Depends.” He folded his arms and leaned back against his Rover. “What are you doing tonight?”
Her eyes widened in surprise. “Are you asking me out?”
Figured she wouldn’t make this easy on him. “If I am, would you say yes?”
“Depends. If you have to go hunting for a date, whatever you’ve got planned must be a real thrill. What’s up?”
“A friend’s daughter recently married and tonight’s the traditional feast. Interested?”
She chewed on her lower lip for a second, making him wait until he began regretting his impulse.
“How much time do I have to get ready?” she finally asked.
“None. We have to leave now.”
“You’re kidding me, right?”
He shook his head.
“No way,” she said. “I’m not going anywhere in this.” She swept a hand down a perfectly decent looking tank top, shorts, and leather shoes.
“Believe me, where we’re going, that’s perfectly fine.”
“Oh, no it isn’t. I need to change at the lodge.”
He glanced at his watch again. “We’ll be late.”
“Hello, people.” Jason waved at them both. “Remember me? The third wheel?”
Damn. He’d forgotten Jason. “Don’t tell me you need to change clothes, too?” Matt asked.
“Me? Attend a wedding dinner?” Jason lifted his hands in a negative wave. “No, thanks. I’m pretty sure Tavi at the lodge is cooking up something just shy of heaven. I’ll spend my evening sparring with Kampo over her culinary delights.”
The night was definitely shaping up. Matt looked back at Miranda. “Well?”
“Ten minutes,” she demanded. “I have to change.”
He knew a losing battle when he saw one. With a nod of agreement he opened the Rover door. “Hop in. We’ll have to hurry.”
Twenty minutes later, Matt paced the living room floor in Miranda’s cabin. “Aren’t you ready yet?” he called out to the bedroom door.
No answer.
“Miranda!” he shouted.
The door swung open and Matt stopped breathing.
Gone was the khaki-wearing zoo dentist, and in her place stood a woman of soft and sexy curves, the kind that could fill a man’s dreams for years. More than that, she was every fantasy he ever had all wrapped up in rosy lip gloss, warm glowing skin, and a sleeveless print shirt with a soft ruffle that drew the eye temptingly downward. She wore a long flowing skirt and sandals that revealed little pink toenails, but his eyes roamed back up to her modest display of cleavage.
A crazy ripple of heat shot straight to his groin. Every time he saw her, his attraction grew.
She did a little twirl in the doorway and her dark hair, for once free of the ponytail, swung loose past her shoulders. “Well? It’s the best I could do with only ten minutes.”
He snapped his jaw closed. “It’s been almost twenty and you look…fine.”
That was a serious understatement. He’d never seen anyone look so…
fine
…in his entire life. He’d known plenty of beautiful women, even dated a few, but this was new territory. Miranda upset his balance. Hell, it was next to gone, and he was at a loss over how to deal with it.
“We’re late,” he said a bit gruffly, “let’s go.”
A finely arched brow lifted in what was beginning to be a familiar way, and she grabbed a purse so tiny he wondered at the point of carrying it.
“I declare, Matthew.” Her lashes fluttered as she breezed past him toward the front door. “You do know how to flatter a woman.”
Her soft floral scent lingered in the air as she preceded him out the door, and he breathed deep the enticing aroma. Miranda in khaki was tempting in the extreme; this vision was pushing buttons all over the place. She pranced through the garden with softly swaying hips, beckoning, driving him past crazy. The urge to turn them around and head right back to her room consumed him. It took no effort at all to imagine her naked, moaning with desire beneath him, and his body instantly responded. If he didn’t get a grip on his control, and quick, the zoo-dentist-turned-siren would completely upend him. He was more than halfway there already.
He opened the car door for her, then rounded the back and climbed inside the driver’s seat.
“Hang on.” Matt shifted into reverse and wheeled sharply around. “Katomi will be unhappy if I’m late.” He burst onto the highway headed north, skirting the downtown business district and picking up the quickest route to Molepolole.
“Who is Katomi?”
“He is
Kgosi
, Chief of his Bakwena tribe and a long-time friend.”
She stared out the window at the passing cityscape. “It’s his daughter’s wedding?”
“Yes.” He accelerated around a rusted and sputtering pickup. “Zuli is nineteen and well past marriageable age. Katomi thought she’d never find a warrior to suit her taste.”
Miranda’s laugh began to sooth his frayed nerves. He was making headway in bringing his world back into focus.
“It seems families are not so different,” she said, “no matter where you come from.”
“Maybe. But if you expect a traditional wedding tonight, you’re in for a surprise.”
“Oooh.” Her fingers fluttered in that tempting piece of ruffle on her chest. “I do love surprises!”
He didn’t understand why. He hated that off-kilter feeling that came with them. He had it often enough in his line of work, but good bluffing skills and a custom 9mm helped. Miranda, on the other hand, was a vastly different sort of surprise and required another set of skills. When it came to romance, he was as rusty as the pickup they’d just passed.