Protectors of the Innocent - Chapter 7
An action romance.
He rolled off the bed and crawled to where he left the pistol, grabbed it and made his way to the door. The knob of the door turned slowly.
Matt slid up against the wall next to the handle. The door creaked open. Come on bastard, just a little bit more. A hand clutching a pistol equipped with a muffler, appeared through the small opening. Got you. Matt brought the butt of his weapon down hard on the piece of wrist visible, ignoring the yelp of pain from the visitor. Matt grabbed the man on the arm, pulling him into the room. The attacker lost his balance and Matt hit him on the back of the head. The pistol clattered to the floor and the man's head cracked against the tiles.
Matt switched the light on. A sinewy fellow lay face down on the floor. Blood oozed out of the wound at the base of his neck. The pistol lay half buried under the shoulder of the man. Matt kicked the weapon away. Fuck that was close. If the alarm didn't sound... He shook his head. No time to think about what might have been.
He tied the man's hands behind his back and turned him over. Another gaping wound spewed blood from his cheek. He wouldn't wake up soon, but better not take a chance. Matt shoved a sock into the man's mouth and pulled him towards the bathroom.
"June, wake up."
His urgent whisper startled June into wakefulness. She squinted and held her hand in front of her eyes. Sitting upright her eyes fell on the man sprawled on the floor. A deliciously naked Matt hovered over him. June leaped out of the bed and gathered her clothes. Her hands fumbled with the pants. She took a steadying breath and tried again.
Matt finished dressing and calmly push the buttons of the satellite phone.
"Kevin we need to move now. Yes, I have a package in the chalet." He listened for a few moments and ended the call.
Matt pulled the still unconscious man into the bathroom and tied his hands and feet to the exposed plumbing pipes. Covering the man with a comforter, he switched off the light.
June waited for Matt behind the door, her arms filled with all she could carry. Matt turned off all the lights and darkness enfolded them. For several minutes only the beating of their hearts were audible. Matt creaked the door open and the call of a night jar sounded in the quiet night.
They slipped out the door and June reached for the handle to shut it behind them. A hand clasped over her mouth and June dropped the items clutched in her arms. A huge hand caught the bag before it could hit the ground.
"I'm Kevin. Just keep quiet and stay between me and Matt." She nodded her head and Kevin let her go.
Using the shadows of the chalets as cover, they sneaked through the camp. At the camping ground, Kevin led them to the fence. June felt her breath start to chase and her calves protested against the sudden movement after days of sitting in a car. They passed through a gate, rounded the swimming pool and exited into the open veld.
Mindful of her visitors a couple of nights before, June moved even closer to Matt, her eyes darted from bush to bush. Surely the lions will take the big men first. A corrugated iron building loomed up in the darkness and they entered through a door in the side of the building. Once inside, Kevin switched on the overhead light.
Various green game viewing vehicles and a couple of private vehicles stood attention in the harsh fluorescent light. A huge workbench laden with an assortment of tools and vehicle parts, lined the one wall. The smell of oil, grease and diesel permeated the air.
"Come on, we don't have much time." Kevin walked to the far corner of the shed. He stopped in front of a Land Cruiser identical to June's.
"How did you manage to get it here so quickly?" She couldn't keep the surprise out of her voice as she opened the door and recognized her car.
"We have our ways. We left the tracking device intact." Kevin glanced over to Matt.
"What tracking device? I had it removed before I came here." June flung open the passenger door and checked the chassis beneath. The device she had removed was not there.
"The probably replaced it again. We don't have time to figure that out. You need to get out of here now."
Kevin saw Matt glancing at the time and he stowed their gear into the car. Ten minutes past two, Kevin opened sliding door in front of the Cruiser.
A narrow two wheeled track lead south west from the shed. Matt followed the narrow road by the little light the moon provided. At the main road, Matt switched on the headlights and increased the speed. They still had to drive slowly to avoid hitting the animals that might be on the road.
Night Jars flew up from their posts in the middle of the gravel road. A couple of Bat Eared Foxes playfully hunted insects in the beams of the headlights and Matt had to brake heavily several times to avoid hitting them.
The clock on the center console blinked the time as two forty five. At least they managed to put a few kilometers between themselves and the camp.
"Where are we heading?" June pulled her feet in under her and turned in her seat to face him.
To the Mata Mata border post into Namibia. We need to be at Tsauchab Lodge by tonight, but it's a long drive."
June had no idea where the places were that he referred to. It sounded like they were going to drive the entire day. She shifted in her seat again.
"Mind if I catch some sleep. I'll help with the driving as soon as it is light."
"No go ahead. I'll be all right."
June lowered the seat as far as she can and snuggled down to get some rest. It was much more uncomfortable than the bed she just left, but it meant that they were still relatively safe. The lights on the console illuminated Matt's face just enough so that she could make out his features. The memory of their shared passion returned. She never knew it could be that mind-blowing. No time to go there girl. Get some sleep while you can. She decided to listen to the voice of reason and closed her eyes. The motion of the vehicle on the corrugated road rocked her to sleep.
Her eyes adjust to the darkness. She tries to move. Her hands and feet are bound to the bed with something course. Like a rope. The cold is sitting in her bones. She is scared. A movement at the door. The light goes on. June looks down at her eight year old body. She is naked. The man has a hood over his face. He is talking to someone on the telephone.
"Scream for me baby." He orders her. June presses her mouth shut. He takes out a carpet knife. The knife comes closer. June presses her eyes shut. It burns like fire where he pulls the knife over her stomach. She screams.
"June for God sake, wake up!" Matt's shout ended the nightmare. Fear and terror raked through her body. She wiped the sweat from her brow. It had been years since she revisited her childhood horror. Why now? Why in a dream?
"What is wrong?" The concern in Matt's voice chased away some of the darkness brought on by the memories.
"Just a bad dream. Nothing to be worried about."
"It must have been a pretty bad one for you to scream like that. Your voice had real terror in it."
"It's nothing. Forget about it. Sorry if I scared you."
June reached to the back seat and took out a bottle of water from the cooler. To her dismay her hand shook. Dawn started to win the battle against the night and the sky lightened. Indistinct shapes lined the road. A look at the clock revealed she slept for just over two hours.
"How far from the border are we?"
"We are still a couple of hours away. We should reach it about an hour after they open. Why, are you getting a little saddle sore?"
"No, but I would like a short stop just to stretch my legs. You must be exhausted by now. How's the foot?"
"I'm fine. The foot will keep. I'll stop in just a little while where I know it will be safe. We're coming up on the ruins of an old game ranger's house. There is a bathroom there and we can stop for a few minutes."
"That sounds great." The passing landscape became more distinct. As they crested each dune, she could see trees and shrubs littering the bare landscape.
Twenty minutes later Matt pulled off the main road and stopped in front of a red clay building. They alighted and after a quick visit to the toilet and the small museum, they pushed on again. Closer to Mata Mata camp they met a few tourist vehicles going in the opposite direction, but mostly they had the road to themselves.
They passed through the border post without any incident after they refueled the Cruiser. The road followed the Nossob River and they found themselves driving in or next to the dry river bed. Occasionally the road took them out of the valley and onto the plateau above. The area was sparsely populated and they only passed a homestead every fifty or more kilometers. The good condition of the road meant they could travel at a much higher speed than inside the park.
They reached Keetmanshoop just after midday. After doing some shopping for the necessary supplies, Matt pushed on. He needed to get June to a controlled environment. Taking turns driving the road passed quickly. When darkness descends again, Matt took over the driving permanently. He explained to June that the danger of wildlife crossing the road was very real and if you were not familiar with the back roads they used, a wrong turn could cost you hours of traveling time.
With a sigh of relief, June saw the turnoff indicating Tsauchab River Lodge. They had been traveling for over seventeen hours and she was sick and tired of sitting in the same two seats. Matt parked the vehicle at the reception just after eight. As they alighted, a man hurried out of the house. He greeted Matt and after a short conversation, Matt got back into the vehicle. June groaned and followed. They drove to the last campsite of the lodge. After crossing a dry riverbed he pulled in under a huge Wild Fig Tree.
Ten minutes later the rooftop tent was open and Matt and June climbed inside. They barely had time to move into each other's arms before sleep claimed them.
June opened her eyes to the find daylight streaming in through the windows. A soft breeze is teased the canvas of the tent. Muted voices and laughter drifted towards her. She looked at her wrist. Nine o'clock. She stretched her limbs and released some of the pent up energy.
Rolling onto her stomach she peeked through the mosquito netting of the tent. Matt stood a couple of meters away, talking to a man and an arrestingly beautiful woman. Long golden hair cascaded down her back and her toned body evidenced many hours of exercise. The man's khaki short pants were a bit longer than Matt's and his brown shirt blended in perfectly with the surrounding sand. Time to meet the hosts.
June crawled to the bottom of the rooftop tent and down the ladder. She didn't approach them immediately but stood at the back of the vehicle to take in her surroundings.
The Wild Fig Tree had thick branches reaching up to the sky and sideways. The foliage was sparse and only small patches of green provided the shade. The trunk of the tree branched out in three different trunks just above the ground. A water tap nestled inside the split, using the small hollow between the trunks to catch up the runaway water. A cement barbecue faced the road, which runs through the dry riverbed. Further on a normal washbasin stood on a steel stand and still farther away, under another Wild Fig Tree, a strange looking stone contraption rose from the sandy ground. It resembled a mini pizza oven with pipes running to and from it.
Mountains surrounded the campsite with typical semi-desert vegetation of grass and small wild flowers that adorned the veld. Patches of mud in the dry riverbed suggested that the river held water not so long ago.
June emerged from behind the vehicle and joined Matt and the other two close to the pizza oven. A small fire burned inside. She followed the pipes to another Wild Fig Tree.
"Morning. Did you sleep well?" Matt put his arm around her shoulders.
"Like a log, thank you."
"Come and meet my friends. This is Ann and that is David. They are the owners of this lovely place." After the introductions, David explained the reason for the pipes.
"Come, let me show you." He lead her around the tree. Halfway around a washbasin and mirror were cleverly attached to the branches of the tree. A few steps further and June stared in wonder.
David had built a shower inside the giant Wild Fig Tree. A platform of wood formed the base. Two chairs stood on the platform. A shower- head peeked out between the branches and the twin taps suggested warm water on tap.
"Is that contraption over there for heating the water?"
"Yes, it is called a donkey" He roars with laughter.
The shower had no side- walls and offered the occupant a view of the dry riverbed. The lack of people around ensured privacy.
"I have to try it out. Firstly though, can you point me in direction of the ablutions?"
"Just go straight past the car and keep going. You'll see a signpost indicating the toilet. Take some paper with you though as we do not leave it there." David pointed to a place beyond the car. Matt stopped talking with Ann and they turned their backs on her. June's need exceeded her annoyance at his off-hand treatment and she stalked off.
Once passed the car she found the signpost and a well- used footpath. Behind a bush, about twenty meters from the signpost, the toilet came into view. June came to an abrupt halt. The buzzing of the nearby insects had her snapping her open mouth shut.
The toilet was a cement block with a raised plastic seat. Nothing else. No walls. Nothing. No way in hell was she going to use that. Everyone and anyone could see her. No privacy whatsoever.
Howls of laughter rang out from the campsite. She marched back to the vehicle and glared at Matt.
"That was not funny!" Her hand rested on her hip as she watched the other three double up with laughter again. A small smile tugged at her lips. Man, her face had to have been a study. Her smile widened and soon her own laughter bubbled over.
"It was a good one, I'll give you that. Ann, does anyone really use that?" June tried to make herself heard above the roaring laughter.
"I believe they do. The normal ablutions are just across the riverbed, and especially at night, it is a long walk for someone not used to nature. But come let me show you a toilet you can use." Ann turned around June followed her. They walked back through the riverbed. On the other side, a couple of lanterns marked a footpath up a steep incline. The rocks formed natural steps leading to a small brown brick building with two doors.
"This one has a shower and a toilet inside and the other one just a toilet."
Ann unlocked the first door and inside June found a modern shower and toilet beautifully decorated in true desert colors. She slipped inside and used the facilities while Ann waited outside. They returned to the campsite at a leisurely pace. Ann told her about the tourist season being slow in the warmer summer months, but extremely busy in the colder and milder winter months. They bought the farm a few years back as they were sick and tired of city life in London and they haven't looked back since. June couldn't help a small amount of envy washing over her.
The rest of the day passed in a blur of activity. Matt took June for a drive through the farm and later the afternoon he barbecued some meat over an open fire. By four o'clock, June couldn't stand the inactivity any longer.
"I'm going for a walk, if that's all right with you." Matt regarded her for a long moment, but nodded.
"Don't stray too far."
June noticed a footpath leading up the nearest mountain earlier during the day and she headed in that direction. Despite the lateness of the hour the sun baked down mercilessly. She plastered the hat firmer on her head and set off at a brisk pace. She needed exercise, not relaxation. Insects buzzed around her head and a couple of times she had to swat away the small flies congregating in front of her face. Hot baked earth and fresh smell of grass and flowers drifted up her nostrils. She quickened her pace some more until a small stream forced her to stop. Water rushed over slippery round stones. Although the stream seemed shallow, she chose the rocks she used to cross carefully. Jogging in wet clothes was not a prospect she would relish.
Halfway up the mountain she came across a small antelope. The big doe eyes regarded her unwavering. June sat down slowly, not wanting to spook the animal. If she remembered correctly, this must be a Steenbuck.
According to her guidebook, they mate for life and should the mate die, the other would remain behind alone. The buck regarded her for a few moments more and darted off into the nearby bush.
June lifted her head and stared out at the vista below. She willed her mind to go still. Regulating her breathing she forced her mind to go blank. The sounds of the veld faded as her mind retreated to a peaceful and quiet place.
The cry of a lone eagle soaring above, brought June out of her reverie. The sun sunk to just above the horizon. June shook her head.
Four days ago she had been on holiday with her only worry being able to survive on her own in the wilderness. Now she fled for her life with a hunk of a cop from people she didn't know and wouldn't be able to recognize. And all of it because of the files she hid away. If those thugs got hold of her, she doubt if she would be able to keep the location of the files from them for long. Matt and Kevin on the other hand, had done nothing to shake her trust in them. Decision made, she rose and headed down the path again.
Running down the path with the wind in her hair, June's senses focused on the smell of the grass and the trees. She reached the campsite just as Matt finished carving the meat.
"Hell June, where have you been? I was on my way to go and look for you." He threw the knife into the dish beside the fire.
"I needed some exercise after being cooped up in the car for so long." She opened the back of the Land Cruiser and took out a clean set of clothes.
"I need a shower after the exercise." She grabbed her clothes and hurried towards the shower.
The sun bled crimson in the West as June undressed. She opened the warm water tap and quickly stepped away as scalding hot water poured out of the shower head. She adjusted the temperature and walked under the strong spray. Closing her eyes she allowed the water to wash away the sweat and grime of the day.
Two hands circled her waist from behind. June kept her eyes closed. No more running away. Matt pulled her against him. She caught her breath as their two naked bodies touched. She leaned backwards until her head rested on his chest. His hands roamed her stomach, moving to stoke her hips. June swayed lightly in his arms.
Matt kissed her neck while his hands continued to roam. June lifted her arms over her head and buried her fingers in his hair. He turned her around and claimed her mouth. She gave herself up to the pleasure of the kiss.
Breathlessly they broke apart a few minutes later with the water streaming over their bodies. June's knees weakened. Matt poured some liquid body wash onto the sponge, never taking his eyes off her.
"My God, you are beautiful."
Slowly and meticulously he started to wash every inch of her body. Her body came alive as the slow movements caressed her skin. She closed her eyes and allowed herself to only feel. He traced every ugly scar with the sponge and followed it with his lips. His touch ignited flames of desire deep inside her soul. June emptied her mind. Only this moment mattered. It might be all they would have, but for now, it was enough.
His stroking became more insistent. June pried the sponge from his hand and set off on her own quest of discovery. She reveled in the feel of his hard body beneath her fingers. Coarse hair on his legs tingled her palms as she rubbed the liquid on his calves. Matt uttered an oath and bent down to scoop her up in his arms. Their lips fused while he carried her to the tent. Without breaking the kiss, he scaled the ladder and gently lay her down on the mattress.
The duvet cover clung to their damp bodies. Neither of them took any notice. Hours later they lay spent in each other's arms. The stars twinkled up above and the moon shone brightly. The breeze rustled through the few leaves on the tree.
"Matt?"
"Huh."
"I need to tell you where the files are." She shifted so that she could see his face. The silence stretched to minutes. Matt sighed and sat upright.
"All right, but I think we have to eat while you do that." On cue June's stomach rumbled. She grinned and headed back to the shower. She twirled the leather thong between her fingers. The familiar fabric never felt so good against her skin. Donning the leather bra, she stopped.
Memories of Mica flooded her mind. Mica danced while modeling the leather garments for June, awakening June's taste for the unusual. Their clandestine shopping trips when Mica returned home from working on the docks were filled with laughter and happiness. June shook off the intense longing for her friend and finished dressing. No use going into the past right now.
Matt had already warmed up the meat when she returned and they tucked into a delicious meal of grilled meat and fresh bread.
"Matt, why haven't you asked me where the files are?"
He stared at her for a long moment. "I would have when it became necessary. When you trusted me enough."
"What if they get hold of me and somehow get the location out of me? How will you know where to find it to safeguard it?"
"They are not going to get you."
"But what if they do? Don't you think we better make sure that I can't give them the correct location?"
"June, you're safe while I am here. I've never lost a witness under my care and I don't plan on starting to do so now. Yes, the files are important, but your safety is of more importance now."
"No Matt. We can't let anything get in the way of the investigation. I'm not a trained operative. Who knows what might happen and I might not be able to withstand them long enough." She put her cup down on the sand next to the chair and turned to face Matt.
"I want you to understand why I hid the docket where I did. It is not a story anyone else will be able to tell you or even confirm, because those that knew it, are dead."
Matt didn't reply, but took June's hand in his. He stroked the back of her hand.
"I hid the docket where my best friend is buried. Before the kidnapping, our housekeeper had a daughter two years older than me. We grew up together like sisters. When the kidnappers took me, they hit her with a piece of wood, but she didn't die. My parents forbade me to play with her again and she went to live with her aunt in Durban. I later learned that she didn't return to school and worked the docks as a prostitute from the age of fourteen."
Matt wiped the tears away from her face with his fingers. "You don't need to do this."
"I have to. You see, she still came to visit and our friendship grew stronger with the years. I never judged her for what she did and sometimes I envied her freedom. After the kidnapping my parents refused to let me be alone even for one minute of the day. I had a nanny with me when I went to the toilet.
In my grade 12 year..." June swallowed the lump closing her throat.
"In my grade 12 year, Nanna, the housekeeper, came to work one morning with eyes swollen from tears. Mica became pregnant and went to a street doctor for an abortion. Something went wrong and she picked up an infection. By the time they admitted her to hospital, it was too late. She died the day after I finished writing my last exam."
June gulped for air to steady her voice. The pain and agony of her loss still pierced her heart, but she had to finish. Matt swore softly and pressed her head against his shoulder, tangling his fingers in her hair. June closed her eyes and continued.
"My parents still blamed Mica for my kidnapping, so I withdrew my savings and helped Nanna bury Mica close to my home. I wanted to have a special place for us so I ordered a tombstone with a hidden crevice. That's where I hid the files. The only other person who knows about the grave is my gym instructor as I had to ask him to hide it there for me."
She lifted her head from his shoulder and tried to gauge his reaction. Matt's face was expressionless.
"You need to go to the cemetery at the outskirts of Sandton. You'll find a grave in the far left corner. It has a marble tombstone with only the number 20 on it - the age Mica was when she died. At the back of the stone there is a small aluminum plate. When you press the plate and turn it to the right, it will open."
"I'll find it. No wonder they couldn't find the files when they searched your apartment."
"I knew it wasn't safe with me and I couldn't think of a better place to hide it."
"Nothing is going to happen to you June. I won't allow it. We're safe here. Ann and David know we are hiding for a reason. They'll protect us." Matt's voice sounded confidant and June wanted to believe him.
"I know, but I can't help feeling powerless. I feel better already now that I know you have the location of the files, should anything happen to me."
"Enough of the depressing stuff! Let's go to bed. Tomorrow we'll think of a plan to retrieve the files."
Matt pulled her into his arms again and June snuggled into the warmth of his body. She knew Matt tried to reassure her, but something told her the ordeal with the Network was far from over.
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