Thunder in the Night (Crimson Romance) (23 page)

“Did you think I was the hotel hooker?” She did look up, then, the photos dropping into her lap. But she didn’t raise an eyebrow, didn’t even sound surprised.

“No, not that exactly. But I did think, well, that you were a couple. I guess I was wrong there, too. I mean, you’re a professional. Business and pleasure don’t mix.”

Our eyes met and I knew she knew. Knew I had fallen hard for Mart Lawler.

“Don’t they?”

Her words teased me. A professional journalist, more than interested in my subject, I’d combined business and pleasure with Mart on plenty of occasions by now.

I looked away, down to my hands clenched in my lap. “Well, they aren’t supposed to,” I finished lamely. “Not usually.”

She put me out of my misery, laughing in understanding. “You needn’t worry, Allison. He’s all yours, if you can hold him. He’s an attractive man, one I wouldn’t mind getting involved with, if I didn’t need to be concentrating on my job. Under different circumstances … .” She lifted slender shoulders in a shrug. Her eyes seemed to sparkle slightly when she stated in a flat voice, “But, we don’t have different circumstances. We only have these.” She smiled at me. “Could be you and Mart make a good team.”

“I found the cookies.” Mart spoke from the doorway, carefully carrying a plate piled high.

He took cautious steps, looking down at his burden, and missed the glance Ishani and I exchanged. She closed one eye in a wink and I visualized her stepping back, out of the way, leaving the field of battle, so to speak.

Mart set the plate on a space I hastily cleared next to the larger tray. Once he’d settled back on the sofa, he directed the conversation. “Okay, then, let’s make a plan! Ishani, what’s it to be?”

“I’d think it would be good to take a look at your facility, if I may. Specifically this building where you found the ivory. But we need to see if we can determine how the items are moving through the zoo and where they’re going from here.”

“I think we know how the stuff is getting in,” Mart said, telling Ishani about the zoo van we saw at the airport upon our return. “The attendant said shipments come regularly and are picked up at the airport. Of course, anything else we receive for legitimate purposes is usually sent directly to the zoo. And the fact that the director himself was involved in the pickup is suspicious. The man isn’t known for taking on extra work — especially something so menial.”

Ishani was nodding, as if some of this sounded familiar. “And, of course, I’d like to examine a bit of that ivory, if it’s still around.”

“I’d be surprised if it remains at the zoo past today. But we can check. In any event, I have samples of it.”

He reached awkwardly into the pocket of his jeans and pulled out two of the small pieces. Ishani set down her coffee cup and Mart dropped them into her palm. She turned them over, rubbing her thumb across the smooth surfaces.

“Do you think Clark would recognize you if he saw you?” I asked her, an idea hatching slowly in my brain. “If you wore a disguise — a wig or dark glasses — and slung a camera around your neck, you could come with me as the magazine’s photographer.”

Ishani pursed her lips in thought. Mart didn’t seem to appreciate the idea either. He’d scrunched up his nose and ran a hand uneasily through his hair. The clock against the wall ticked, pacing off the time, emphasizing the silence.

“Maybe … .” Ishani said at last, drawing the word out. “It might work. It’s worth a shot. Coming in so boldly would certainly divert suspicion.”

I grinned, pleased by her approval, and nudged Mart with my elbow.

“If you’re willing to risk it,” Mart lifted both hands, “I’ll go along. You’re the expert on this, Ishani.”

“That’s right. I am and I say let’s do it. Allison, when were you scheduled for your next zoo visit?”

“Tomorrow, about ten in the morning. Mart is supposed to give me a tour of the primate house.”

“And, then, we can detour back to the aviary and, perhaps, the ivory.” Ishani drummed her fingers against her chin, thinking aloud. She’d set the tiny ivory tokens beside the chocolate cookies, where they sat in innocent silence.

Mart shrugged. I was convinced of the plan and Ishani was thinking it over. He raised a hand to his mouth suddenly, stifling a yawn and said, “We may as well try it. Allison can pick you up at your hotel and I’ll meet you at the zoo gates at ten. How’s that?” He spoke hurriedly, wrapping up our discussion and emphasizing the finality by standing up.

Quick to take a hint, Ishani rose, as well. “I’ll call a cab.”

I nodded, even as I wondered why Mart didn’t just drop her off.

When she went into the kitchen, Mart ranged slowly around the room, his hands shoved deep into his pockets. We could hear Ishani making the call, her voice the only sound in the quiet apartment.

I remained seated, my eyes following Mart’s figure as he bent to examine the photographs hung on the wall, then crossed the room to look out into the darkness. For the first time since we’d returned from our trip, the atmosphere between us was strained and I didn’t know why. Was he just concerned about the next day and what it might bring? He’d been yawning. Maybe he was drop-dead tired and ready to go home.

“You don’t have to stay, Mart. I’ll be here with Ishani until her taxi comes,” I said, directing my words at his unresponsive back.

His shoulders stiffened and he turned swiftly around. His eyes were wide, startled, his mouth open in surprise. Then, just as quickly, he grinned and said, “Trying to get rid of me, Allison?” His voice was low and husky, and when he took a step toward me, my breath caught in my throat.

Our eyes met and locked as he drew nearer, until he stood before me and I was looking up … up … up into his eyes. Wordlessly, he held out his hands and I placed mine gently in them.

I could hear Ishani’s voice droning on in the distance, but the words were lost in the rushing sound filling my ears. My fingers tingled where he held them tight, their glow radiating up my arm and into my belly. I could feel myself melting under his gaze and longed to melt further, into his arms. Tipping my head back as he sat beside me, I invited his kiss.

His lips on mine were warm and soft. The light scent of coconut came from his skin and I breathed it in deeply. Mart’s hands moved to my shoulders, squeezing them in that tender spot just above the collar bone.

Our lips separated, only to join once more. Mart’s mouth was a bit more demanding, capturing all of mine.

I slipped my hands around his neck and caressed the warm skin I found there. Both of us had blocked out Ishani’s presence, so her voice startled me when it came.

“Okay! The taxi should be here in — ” she broke off as we scrambled into an upright position. “Oh, hey, I’m sorry. Didn’t mean to interrupt anything.” She laughed in embarrassment.

My cheeks burned as I blushed and looked away from her there in the doorway. Mart was unfazed, straightening up with no signs of discomfiture.

“You’re all set, then?” he clarified, nodding when she did. “Great.” He moved to the rocking chair and set it slowly into motion.

Ishani joined me on the sofa.

“More coffee?” I offered, but there were no takers. After an awkward moment, I asked, “Where do you think this investigation of yours will lead, Ishani? I know the goal must be to round up everyone involved, but will that be possible? It seems like an awfully tall order.”

“Oh, it is,” she agreed, rubbing at her tired eyes. “Especially now that it seems to have veered off in another direction. I’d been thinking drugs and looking at everything from that angle. Now that we know the crime is wildlife smuggling, I’ll have to reevaluate the evidence.” Her breath came out in a sigh of something like despair and she massaged her scalp with both hands. “But we’ll get that crook, Clark, and all his contacts in Central America. I promise. Tomorrow, we’ll check out the zoo. Tomorrow night, I’ll go back to Belize and get busy. I’ve a few favors to call in. Perhaps that will bring me the information I need.” Her eyes had gotten that lost-in-thought glaze and I could tell she was planning a strategy.

“Just be careful,” I said, even though the words sounded limp and meaningless. “There’s no telling what could happen. I mean, those people killed Tommy Mendoza.”

“So they wouldn’t hesitate to kill again. I know.” Ishani stood up as a car horn honked outside. “There’s my cab.” She collected her coat from the rack near the door and gave me the name of her hotel. “I’ll meet you in the lobby,” she promised.

I thought I saw her wink at Mart just before the door closed behind her.

Chapter Twenty-Eight

Late the next afternoon we saw Ishani onto her plane. Our day hadn’t been very productive or eventful and we were all feeling deflated. We’d started out with such high hopes that morning and had ended up frustrated at every turn. Or so it seemed. Oh, I’d actually gotten some information for my series of articles, but at this point, the magazine was the last thing on my mind.

We had toured the primate house — an appalling and depressing place filled with pacing animals. When they stopped their motion momentarily, putting their hands against the glass that separated us, I couldn’t help but think how my hand looked like the chimpanzee’s hand. And one of the monkeys bore a striking resemblance to my uncle Richard.
Animals deserve better
, I thought,
than glass-and-tile prison cells
. With a heavy heart, I said as much to Mart.

“Yes, they do. Progressive zoos give them a better environment — much better. A natural one, like we saw in Belize, could give the best of both worlds.” And then, he was off, launching into a lengthy depiction of the unstructured surroundings to be found at top zoos, ending up with a description of his planned improvements for Rochester’s primates.

“It’s not enough,” he said, shaking his head and putting his own hand up against the glass cage, “but it’s the best we can hope for in these economic times. Things won’t get much better any time soon, I’m afraid.”

Ishani, “disguised” in a baseball cap and no makeup, had snapped a picture of the monkey’s forlorn expression then commented, “But, Mart, if you weren’t here, pushing for change, it would be even worse.” I didn’t know if she’d ever been exposed to Mart’s particular vision for Rochester, but I knew that, by now, she’d be up to speed on his thoughts regarding zoos in general. I wondered what she thought of that, compared to the plight of animals who encountered Hector Juarez.

In a solemn procession, we left the primate house, taking one of the paved and marked paths to cross to the farthest corner of the zoo.

My heart picked up its pace as we neared the construction site of the aviary. Would the ivory still be there? I wanted to hurry inside, but we put on a show of snapping more pictures and discussing the new building in case anyone was watching.

A few workmen were here today, laying tile with a steady slap-slap of movement. A radio played as accompaniment to their casual conversation. While Mart took his time, pointing things out to Ishani, I headed directly to the rear of the building.

No one was in the room with the big wall of windows, however.

And no bags of ivory trinkets were perched on the floor.

“I knew it!” Mart said, cursing under his breath as he came up behind me. “I knew we’d be too late.” He wore his disappointment, the edges of his mouth curved down in frustration.

Ishani took a more philosophical view. “We figured they wouldn’t be here. This is just as we anticipated. Obviously, goods must move quickly to escape detection. Let’s just see if we can trace their path — at least off the premises.” She pointed out the window into the woods. “What’s in there? Where does that lead?”

“Just woods there,” Mart told her. “They border the zoo property on this side.” He gestured to the north.

“And the nearest road?”

“Through the woods. About a quarter mile.”

“Mm hmm. Mm hmm.” Ishani stepped up to the glass, peering out at the trees.

“Do you think they use a path through the woods to the road?” I asked.

“Yes, that’s exactly what I think.”

“No one maintains anything in there so those woods are pretty thick,” Mart said. “But there are a few dirt paths. Narrow ones. Overgrown.”

Within minutes we were outside, poking quietly through the underbrush, looking for a smuggler’s trail. Having so recently tromped through the rain forest, this work felt familiar. Off in the distance, I could hear children’s laughter and the steady calls of their parents. We were too far from the concession area to smell popcorn and instead picked up only the scent of the earth, with an occasional whiff of car exhaust carried on the wind.

I didn’t know what to look for on the path, but Ishani did. Trampled patches, broken branches, the slightest gap in the trees. With Mart bringing up the rear we followed the sketchy path to where it came out on a seldom-used service road owned by the utility company. It felt like the middle of nowhere, which surprised me. We were so close to the hubbub of the zoo and the hum of the city. Yet, the area was deserted.

Standing in the middle of the narrow blacktop, her hands on her slim hips, Ishani surveyed the area. “Perfect spot,” she declared, echoing my thoughts. “At night, it would be black as pitch. No street lights. No houses nearby. Why, you could do anything here and be undetected.”

“So, now what? Do we have a stakeout?” I asked. I didn’t mean to sound dramatic, but I must have because she laughed.

“You watch too much television, I think,” she told me, slipping an arm around my shoulders in a hug. Then she sobered. “What we’ll need to do is find out when the next shipment will go through. That’s when we have our stakeout.”

She stepped away from me, walking up the road a ways to see where it led. Mart was already following her, so I fell into line.

“How will we find that out?” I asked.

“I’ve got to go back tonight, at least for a few days, so I’m afraid I won’t be much help around here. You two will have to keep your eyes open. Watch for anything suspicious.”

“Follow Clark?” I volunteered.

“Too dangerous, Allison. You’re not trained in this. I am, so believe me. That’s too dangerous for amateurs.” At my stricken look she went on. “Mind you, I don’t think Clark is foolish enough to cause you harm on his own turf. But off his turf, who can say?”