The Perils of Skinny-Dipping (25 page)

Shadows played on the wall as the sun shone through the trees outside and through the lounge windows. A soft tap on the door broke his daydreaming.

It was Mr Kobe. He came in and sat in the lounge, directly across from Phil.

‘Can I offer you a beer?’ asked Phil, remembering his manners.

Mr Kobe shook his head. ‘I am on my way to work, but I wanted to talk to you about a very delicate matter.’

Phil shuffled uncomfortably on the sofa.

‘It is concerning my niece. I think you know of her?’

‘Do I?’ asked Phil, trying to think if he’d ever been introduced to a Miss Kobe.

‘Her name is Ka Ka.’

Phil’s heart jumped into his mouth. ‘Is Ka Ka alright? I had no idea she was your niece, Mr Kobe.’ The words seemed jumbled as they came out of his mouth.

Mr Kobe smiled. ‘Nobody knew she was my niece apart from Mr Permelo. She preferred to keep it that way. As to your question, I have to tell you she is passed.’

Phil slumped back into the cushions. He was searching his mind for something to say, but no words came. Mr Kobe, sensing Phil’s unease, spoke again.

‘Ka Ka died suddenly of a heart attack.’

Phil looked up, slightly confused.

‘She was born with a tiny hole in her heart. We have always known about it. Unfortunately, after excelling at her studies at school, Ka Ka decided to spend time going out and socialising with boys. It is much easier to do this in a big city like Gaborone, and the financial rewards gained from this type of activity make it difficult for young women to refuse.’

The realisation of what Mr Kobe was saying started to filter through the confusion in Phil’s brain.

‘Ka Ka came to Kasane on the request of her family,’ continued Mr Kobe. ‘They were very worried about her and wanted her to settle somewhere a bit quieter and with fewer temptations. I asked Mr Permelo if he would find her a position at the hotel and he agreed.’

‘Did Mr Permelo know about Ka Ka’s heart condition?’

‘Yes,’ replied Mr Kobe. ‘Mr Permelo was aware of both her conditions. That is why I needed to speak to you. Before Ka Ka died, she told me that Mr Permelo had paid her five-hundred pula to make your acquaintance. Ka Ka was beside herself with worry and guilt. I think she liked you a lot.’

‘I… I... I don’t know what to think,’ spluttered Phil. ‘I have been thinking all this time that I might have, you know, given her...’ His voice trailed into silence.

‘No, but it is possible that
she
infected
you
.’

Phil thought this was highly unlikely, given the amount of time he had spent in Banjo’s bar in the previous months. But still, he wasn’t sure and knew he would probably never know.

‘For this I am truly sorry,’ said Mr Kobe. ‘Mr Permelo could be a very persuasive man. I think that Ka Ka was probably frightened for her own safety if she didn’t do what she had been asked. I know that doesn’t make it right, but I’m just trying to explain to you what pressure she was put under.’

It had been Phil’s intention, on returning to Kasane, to visit Ka Ka and either apologise or explain his feelings towards her. He hadn’t expected this turn of events and now his redundant, well-rehearsed speech seemed empty and pathetic. He thought about Richard and wondered if he had hated him so much that he had enrolled the services of Mr Permelo to sign his death warrant.

He thanked Mr Kobe for his time and shut the door and the curtains, wanting to block out everything and everyone.

Chapter Twenty-Seven

Phil’s return had taken a lot of strain off Abbey, as he knew what had to be done and when. This allowed Abbey to run between the Safari business and the AVP office. One Friday morning, Abbey arrived at the office early, trying to catch up with writing cheques and other duties that Boitachello and Phil were not authorised to do. Phil arrived shortly after eight-thirty.

‘
You OK?’ she asked. She had been aware of his mood swings since his return, and never quite knew what to expect when he came into work.

‘
Never better, never better,’ smiled Phil, filling up the kettle.

He walked over to her desk and looked over her shoulder, pretending to be interested in what she was doing. She giggled and tried to continue, ignoring the silly grunting sounds he was making in a bid to entertain Boitachello.

‘
Phil, make yourself useful will you and just make the bloody coffee!’ she shouted over to him.

Phil’s presence in the office had also improved working conditions for Abbey beyond recognition. She had sorely missed the humour and daily banter Phil brought with him, plus the fact he was a dreadful gossip and was full of up-to-date stories on anyone, of any interest or not. He wasn’t the most productive of assistants she had ever had, but then he never had been! He was, however, trustworthy and could be relied upon to see a job through to its bitter conclusion, no matter what problems arose.

Boitachello had taken to Phil immediately, laughing at his jokes and quietly ignoring the fact that he paced himself, taking his time to finish his tasks. Alfred had finally overcome his shyness and happily followed Phil around the plantations, a spade resting on his shoulder. Abbey had not told Boitachello or Alfred anything about Phil’s past in Kasane, and had decided that it was his decision to pass on any information, if and when he ever deemed it appropriate. She had also decided not to ask Boitachello about Richard, for fear of resurfacing any bad memories and upsetting her. Boitachello certainly seemed happy enough, and Abbey decided that she was dealing with whatever had happened quite successfully in her own way.

The following week, Phil and Abbey, accompanied by Alfred (who still preferred to sit in the back of the bakkie), drove down to the Crossroads.

‘
You know, I’m quite excited about seeing old Isaac again,’ mused Phil, as he twiddled with the radio tuner.

‘
He’s sure going to get a shock when he sees you,’ laughed Abbey, smacking the back of Phil’s hand in an effort to stop him changing the station.

They swung into the car park and parked by the door. There were no other cars there, but this wasn’t an unusual phenomenon as it could be hours at a time before any vehicles passed by, let alone stopped. It suddenly occurred to Abbey that Isaac led an isolated and quite lonely existence. The café always seemed to be open when she had driven past and she couldn’t ever remember him not being there. Phil pushed the door. It didn’t move. He pushed it again, this time with his shoulder.

‘
Bloody hell, it’s locked,’ he muttered.

He rattled the door handle and they both shouted Isaac’s name. Abbey walked around to the small hut she and Phil has slept in the night before the accident. The door was slightly ajar. Abbey called as she walked in. All the furniture was still there, but any personal items belonging to Isaac had gone.

‘
Phil,’ she called. Phil appeared behind her. ‘He’s gone. I hope to hell he got away in time and they didn’t arrest him.’

‘
Anyway we could find out?’ asked Phil.

‘
Not sure,’ said Abbey, shrugging her shoulders. ‘I could ask the police in Kasane. I bet they would know.’

The drive back to town was sombre, as the disappointment of not seeing Isaac, and his possible fate, penetrated their thoughts.

Back at the office the mood didn’t change as they cleared the backlog of work, which seemed to have suddenly built up.

‘
Come on,’ said Phil. ‘I think lunch is in order, don’t you?’

Phil could not tolerate morose behaviour any longer than necessary, and was determined to lift everyone’s spirits. They were just about to leave, when a tall, sophisticated woman appeared at the door. She was dressed in a light green, linen trouser suit and wore dark glasses that had been pushed up onto her head, keeping her auburn hair out of her eyes. She oozed confidence and dignity as she stood in the doorway, smiling over at Abbey. Abbey smiled, stood up and walked over to the lady.

‘
Hi,’ she said, offering her hand. ‘I’m Abbey Scott. Can I help you?’

‘
You already have, Abbey,’ replied the lady. ‘It’s Mary, Mary Jenkins.’

Abbey stood and stared at the visitor. It couldn’t possibly be the same Mary, the tramp Mary, who had spoken to Abbey on the park bench on that cold, wet morning back in Manchester! The voice and the accent, however, were unmistakable.

Mary smiled and took Abbey’s hand. ‘I owe you a big thank you,’ she said. ‘And yes, it is me!’

Abbey gasped and shook her hand warmly.

‘
Well, you did say if I ever moved on from that bench I knew where to find you!’ added Mary.

Abbey quickly introduced Mary to Phil, who was mesmerised by the whole situation, and couldn’t take his eyes off their visitor. Abbey suggested they went to the Savuti Safari Lodge for lunch to hear the rest of Mary’s tale. As Phil drove them in the bakkie, Abbey couldn’t help but marvel at Mary’s transformation. It now rang true to her more than ever, that appearances could be so deceptive.

Over lunch, Mary began to tell her tale to her captive audience of two.

‘
Do you remember giving me fifty pounds, Abbey, just before you left the park?’

Abbey nodded.

‘
Well, that fifty pounds saved my life that day. After I watched you running out of the park, I thought about the question you had asked me.’

‘
What did she ask you?’ asked Phil, concentrating hard on Mary.

‘
Abbey said to me, “Why are you here now, like this?” I knew I had completely lost control over my life, and my bladder,’ she laughed, ‘and it wasn’t until I saw the determination on Abbey’s face to sort out her marriage, that I realised I couldn’t just give up on my problems either. I took the fifty pounds, bought myself some delightful new clothes from the charity shop, went to the local swimming pool and got showered and changed. Then, I walked into a solicitor’s office, claimed legal aid and sued Leven Financial Services for unfair dismissal.’

‘
I take it you won?’ laughed Abbey.

‘
You bet I won,’ she laughed loudly. ‘I was awarded two hundred thousand pounds in compensation, and all my legal costs.’

‘
Wow, that’s fantastic!’ swooned Abbey, in complete admiration.

‘
That’s not all,’ continued Mary, ‘the bastard who was representing the company was only my ex-husband!’

‘
How did you feel about that?’ asked Abbey. ‘I mean, about seeing him again?’

‘
Let's just say that was the icing on the cake!’ She paused for a moment. ‘I had to come and find you Abbey,’ she said, taking her hand. ‘I wanted to thank you personally, and to give you this.’

Mary handed Abbey a crisp fifty pound note. Abbey smiled and took it from her.

‘
Where are you staying?’ asked Phil, breaking the silence.

‘
Here at the Lodge,’ replied Mary, waving at Mr Kobe who was busy overseeing the restaurant staff. He smiled and waved enthusiastically back at her.

‘
That’s fine then,’ said Abbey. ‘Dinner tonight for the four of us. I think it’s time you met Darren, don’t you?’

Mary smiled. ‘I’m looking forward to it.’

‘
I take it I’m the fourth person?’ asked Phil, with a school-boyish grin.

The dinner at the Savuti Lodge that evening was a complete success. Phil and Mary embarked on a verbal sparring match, entertaining Abbey and Darren, who laughed at Phil’s resilience to Mary’s dry humour, which was mostly directed at him. Mary had dressed for the occasion, and Mr Kobe was more attentive than usual, coming over to check on them at every opportunity, until Darren finally decided to put him out of his misery and asked him to join them for coffee.

‘
How long are you here for, Mary?’ asked Darren, when the table had been finally cleared.

‘
Well,’ smiled Mary, looking at Mr Kobe, ‘I was planning on two weeks, but I’m not so sure now.’

‘
Oh,’ said Abbey. ‘What do you mean?’

It was Mr Kobe who replied. ‘My office manager has had to go to Serowe to look after a sick relative, so I have asked Mrs Jenkins, given her extensive previous business experience, if she would consider helping out until Mma Tau comes back.’

Abbey smiled and clapped her hands together. ‘I hope you’ve accepted, Mary,’ she said excitedly.

‘
Well, let’s face it, I haven’t got anything to rush back for, and I wouldn’t miss out on this for the world,’ she said, smiling back at Mr Kobe.

They left the hotel and made their way back home. Abbey and Darren said goodnight to Phil and walked up the hill, hand in hand.

‘
I think our Mr Kobe is quite taken with Mary,’ commented Darren. ‘Did you notice the way he kept looking at her and grinning like a Cheshire cat?’

‘
My god,’ replied Abbey. ‘She’ll have him and Phil eating out of her hand in no time!’

Once inside, Abbey noticed her mobile flashing to indicate a missed call.

‘
That’s strange,’ she said checking the call register. ‘I’ve got five missed calls, all from my father!’

Given that her father had never rung her before in her life, Abbey decided to phone immediately.