CATRINA’S AFRICAN ADVENTURE ( Catrina Series Part II ) Read online

  CATRINA’S AFRICAN ADVENTURE

  Catrina Series Part II

  Susan J.Willbanks

  PUBLISHED BY:

  Susan J.Willbanks

  Copyright © 2013

  If you haven't read Catrina And The Duchess`s Necklace PART 1 yet, you should do so first. You can find it here : Catrina And The Duchess` Necklace (Catrina Series PART-1)

  Preface

  Deep in the heart of the Congo there are many wonders. Such is the case of the illusive emerald, a gem of beauty, culture, and mysterious symbolism, dating back nearly 6000 years. An emerald of great size and deep rich color is said to possess tranquility, intelligence, and eloquence, as well as the gift of sight and foretelling of the future, according to ancient lore.

  The following is the story of one such precious gem and the power it wields over the human spirit.

  Chapter One

  Reed Simons, hired by less-than-reputable businessmen from Underworld Partners International, Inc. to find emeralds in the Congo, has not been having much luck. That changes when he hears about a new area purported to have huge emeralds and easy access, however. He decides to go and check out the area with his friend Sam, who also works for UPI, hoping to cash in big, leave UPI, and retire to the Caribbean on rum, women, and greasy food.

  After several failed attempts, Reed’s frustration starts to get the better of him. He is finding nothing but small and fragmented pieces that aren’t really worth keeping, and he needs at least one- to three-carat uncut stones to make even the smallest cut and polished emeralds. It is then that Sam shows up in the rain forest, looking for him.

  “Hey there, Reed. How’s it going?” Sam asks. “Thought I’d stop in and see what you been finding out here and maybe look around with ya.”

  “Don’t Hey there, Reed me, Sam. Your so-called great emerald dig ain’t worth shit. Haven’t found a useable rock all day. At least in my spot, I get one or two an hour that I can turn in and make a few hundred off of. This garbage won’t make a dent in what I’m lookin’ for.”

  “And just what is it you’re looking for, eh, Reed? A one-way ticket out of Africa to the good and lazy life?”

  Reed laughs.

  “Sure, Sam, aren’t we all.” Reed hasn’t trusted anyone since he lost his wife and his son in a horrific car accident in the States ten years ago. After that, he sort of just drifted around numbly and ended up in the wrong crowds. He started out small but has since become pretty bad-ass in some relatively dismal circles.

  “Reed, come on upstream with me a ways. I’ll show you where I’ve been looking and finding a few really good-size rocks. I’m sure there’s enough there for the both of us to retire on in a few years.”

  “Right behind ya. I ain’t finding nothing usable here, that’s for damn sure. I ain’t even got today’s food and lodgings money made.”

  And I sure ain’t waiting years to retire, Reed thought to himself. I want outta this place and soon, but I’m not about to be telling that to Samuel.

  The two men go off in search of the place where Samuel has been digging for the last week. The rain forest is a dense and dangerous place if you don’t know your way around and what to look out for, both in the way of wildlife and by way of other people and their agendas. Reed knows this all too well—and that his good and trusted friend would sell him out for a few dollars—and he intends on taking no chances where Sam is concerned.

  “Over here, Reed, a few hundred yards east of the stream and just below what used to be a seasonal waterfall.”

  “I’m coming, I’m coming. Hold your pants on, Sam. Okay, why don’t you show me where all these good-size rocks are? I’ve already been diggin’ half the morning. We’ll split the day’s find between us, what you say?”

  “Sounds good to me, Reed. Just grab that hand shovel over there and I’ll start here while you dig a few feet to the left of me just below where the waterfall used to flow into the stream. Yeah, right there, that’ll be a good place. Let’s get to work so we can get outta here before dark.”

  “Aww, what’s the matter, Sam? You afraid the local wildlife might mistake you for dinner?”

  “I ain’t no different than you, Reed. No one wants to be out here after dark and you know it. Now stop talking shit and get to work.”

  “It’s all good. Just messing with ya, Sam.”

  The two men go about digging up the fertile and untouched soil of the Congo basin. Sam seems to be finding a few worthy stones that will make up for all the time he lost earlier this morning. Turning his attention to the area just beneath the flow of the falls, Reed also finds a few four- and five-carat rocks with the deep green and turquoise emeralds embedded inside. Using the small hand shovel to lift away layer after layer of dirt and rocks, Reed notices that there is a rather large and uniquely shaped rock just off to the side of him. He looks a bit more closely and realizes it’s not just a rock but a huge and beautiful emerald encased in a rock the size of a football. Not wanting to draw Sam’s attention to it, he just leaves it there and throws a bit of the dirt from where he is working on top of it to ensure it stays hidden till he can get back here in the very early morning.

  Reed finds a few more good-size nuggets and decides it’s time to quit for the day.

  “Sam, what ya say we call it a day? It’s five o’clock and it’ll be getting dark out here soon. We need to hike out and get to the drop-off and then get our money so we can eat and get a room for the night.”

  “I guess we’ve done a good day’s work. We’ll get a few hundred each from this bunch, and if we come back tomorrow we might just get a few days off. This heat is killing me, and the bugs and the humidity are the worst.” Sam gave a sinister look in Reed’s direction. “I just wanna hang out in a nice bar or maybe find me a lady friend to take back to my room for a long and interesting talk, if you get my drift.”

  “Yeah, I hear ya. So let’s get moving on outta here then. After you.”

  And with that, the two of them leave the Congo basin and return to the river town of Kisangani, just downstream from the Boyoma Falls where the Congo River becomes navigable.

  After leaving their day’s acquisitions at the drop-off and collecting their cash, both Reed and Sam are in need of a shower, food, and some relaxation. So the two of them take off to the local hotel where Reed still has his room from the day before. They stop at the front desk where Reed asks for messages and Sam gets himself a room.

  “Well, Sam, I’m off to my room. Guess I’ll see you tomorrow. Enjoy your evening.”

  “Thanks, Reed. I’ll catch ya at the dig site tomorrow sometime. Take care, my friend. Good night.”

  Both men head off to their respective rooms. Reed has every intention of making it an early night and an even earlier morning. He wants to get out to the dig site long before Sam is even out of bed and get to that huge emerald he had seen earlier this afternoon. He showers and makes his way to the dining room for a quick dinner, where standing in the doorway is Robert Ahearn, an old friend from the States.

  “I’ll be damned. Why, Robert Ahearn, what brings you to Africa of all places?”

  Robert turns in the doorway. “Reed, how the hell are you? It’s been a long time since we worked together back in the States. Great to see you. You alone?”

  “As a matter a fact, I am. I was just getting a bite to eat before turning in for the night.”

  “Well then, why don’t you join me? No sense us both eating alone. What do ya say? We can catch up a bit and enjoy a good meal and some great local drinks.”

  “Sounds good to me. You can fill me in as to what dragged you all the
way to Africa and this hot, humid place.” He turns to the maître d’. “Guess that’ll be a table for two please, Charlie.”

  Charlie takes the two men to a nice table that overlooks the now-dwindling sunset and parts of the Congo River, seating them and offering to get drinks while they wait for the server to take their orders.

  “Say, Charlie, can you get us some fried plantains with lime sauce for an appetizer, and I’ll have some passion fruit juice as well,” Robert says. “Reed, what’ll you be having?”

  “I’ll just have a gin and tonic for now, thanks.”

  And with that, Charlie goes to get the food and drinks, leaving Reed and Robert to catch up on times past.

  “Okay, so tell me, Robert, what brings you to Africa and to Kisangani in particular?”

  “Patrick and I are still with the FBI, and there’s been some talk of emerald smuggling in this area. They just sent me to work with the local police and the Interpol agents that are in place to see what’s actually happening and lend a helping hand so to speak. I’m also keeping a not-so-distant eye on my brother on his honeymoon here in Tanzania. At least, I’m on the same continent should he need me for any reason.”

  “Wow! Patrick got married? I don’t believe it. She must be some lady to have captured him. Emeralds, you don’t say? Any leads on who’s behind that or where they’re sending them to after they leave Africa?”

  “Now Reed, you know better than that. I can’t give you any information on the current investigations here. I shouldn’t have told you what I did. Could cause me a great deal of trouble if this leaked to the wrong people. But we’ve known each other so long I just figured you’re safe to talk to. And yes, Catrina is a wonderful woman and she indeed has captured the heart and soul of my brother Patrick. He’s a new man since they met in Belize last year, and they’re on their honeymoon here in Africa and intend to see the Congo and a few of the west coast islands as well like Sao Tome. I’ll be here in the DRC for a few weeks and can easily get to him if the need arises. He knows where I am and how to reach me if he needs to. So tell me, what are you doing so far off the coast of the States? Never figured you to get wanderlust.”

  “After Diane and Michael died in that car accident, I sorta lost my will to do anything, Robert. Just wandered around the U.S. not working, not thinking, not feeling anything. Then I met some people who were interested in having me work for them here and I figured why not. I had no ties to the States at that point and I had no ties to anyone or anything. So here I am in the Congo. Not a bad place if you don’t mind heat, humidity, and few creature comforts. It’s not all bad. The people are great and the food is pretty interesting. All in all, I do what I want to and when, so it’s a good compromise.”

  “Sounds like you’re in a better place since the last time we talked, Reed. I’m glad to see you’re not still in that awful funk you were in. I know losing Diane and Michael was hard, and I’m sorry about what happened to you. But she would have wanted you to go on and have a life. I hope you’re on that road. If you ever need me for anything, I’ll be around. Just call me, okay, buddy?”

  “Yep, sure, Robert. I may just take you up on that one sooner rather than later too.”

  Charlie arrives with the food. Reed and Robert eat, drink, and talk for the next couple of hours. Finally, they head off in their separate ways to their respective rooms at the hotel.

  ***

  The alarm goes off on Reed’s phone, startling him awake at four a.m. He wants to make sure he gets to the dig site long before Sam even wakes up, so he showers and takes care of his morning routine in less than thirty minutes, getting out the hotel door by four-forty a.m. Reed arrives at the dig site from the previous day and finds it still wet with dew from the night.

  Getting his bearings from what he remembers, Reed locates the area he’s looking for in a short time. He begins his digging and then unearths the raw emerald from the day before. It’s huge, the size of a football. Reed decides not to alert the UPI group of this particular find and decides he’s going to cancel his contract with UPI and go off on his own, knowing full well what the dangers of walking away from such an organization could bring. Then his thoughts turn to Robert, his long-time friend. Maybe he’ll be able to aid Reed in his departure from UPI and could shed some light on what he’s in Africa looking for as well.

  Chapter Two

  Gazing at the sparkle of her newly acquired wedding ring, Catrina Ahearn couldn’t be happier as she sits in her air-conditioned hotel room in Tanzania. Although she had lost her grandmother’s prized necklace last year, she had gained Patrick and he meant so much more to her.

  Antonio Barbieri had told her they would keep an eye on the necklace and see if somehow it could eventually be returned to her quietly. But for now she was content to be Mrs. Patrick Ahearn, on her African honeymoon.

  With Patrick visiting the hotel concierge to arrange their upcoming trips, Catrina is ready for a nice, cool bath and a little time alone. Just then, the ringing of the room telephone grabs her attention.

  “Hello?” she says after picking up the phone.

  “Hello, if it isn’t my favorite sister-in-law. How are you, Cat?” Robert Ahearn greets her. “Glad to see you’ve arrived safely in Tanzania.”

  “Hey, Robert. Good to hear your voice, and I am your only sister-in-law. You still on assignment somewhere?”

  “Yes, as a matter a fact I’m in the DRC, a few hundred miles from you and Patrick. I was calling to tell Patrick that if he needs anything, I’m nearby and available.”

  “Ummm, the DRC? What’s that?”

  “HaHaHa. Oh Cat, I forget you haven’t traveled the earth as we have. The DRC is the Democratic Republic of the Congo. It’s a neighboring state to Tanzania.”

  “Wow, so that is where you are on assignment then? What is it you’re chasing this time, Robert?”

  “Not really supposed to tell you, Cat, but . . . there have been some deaths and other suspicious activities centered on the emerald trade here in Africa. The FBI sent me here to look into the goings-on off the coast of the Congo River. Oh, and please tell Patrick I ran into an old acquaintance of his, Reed Simons, last night. He’s here in the Congo as well.”

  “You and Patrick know everyone. It’s no surprise to me that you would run into someone you both know in the middle of the African rain forest. I’ll be lucky to just get through the trip without being eaten by wild animals.”

  “Come on now, Cat, you thrive on the adventure, excitement, and the adrenalin rush, admit it. At least your life will never be boring and mundane. That must be a plus over all the other married and bored housewives out there. Besides, you and Sarah did great during the last family adventure we shared regarding your very own necklace, remember?”

  “How can I forget? And I was a nervous wreck the entire time we were dealing with those mafia thugs. No, I’m sure that a life as an FBI agent isn’t for me. You and Patrick can have all the suspense and intrigue to yourselves, I promise not to complain at all. Will we see you while we’re here, Robert?”

  “I’m not sure. I was hoping to come there for a few days to visit and sight-see a little with the two of you. I have a few small leads I need to follow up on here, and then I’ll have a better idea of my schedule to come east. As long as there are no more murders and things seem to be quiet, I can take a few days away from the Congo area.”

  “That sounds great. Patrick will be so glad to see you and spend some time with you. After the last fiasco, you had to leave with Antonio so fast that we hardly had time to say goodbye. I’ll feel even safer with the two of you to protect me. I’ll be sure to tell Patrick you’re here and available. He’s booking our safari and tenting in the plains for the great migration and a visit to Stanley Falls. I am sure he’ll be back soon and will want to talk to you. Is there a number I can give him to reach you?”

  “He has my cell number, and he can call me whenever he likes. I’ll be sitting in the bar here observing all the less-than-legitimate b
usinessmen run their bribes and political pay-offs and hoping I don’t need to intervene on behalf of any American citizens. Have a great honeymoon, Cat. I’m looking forward to seeing the two of you soon. Give my love to my brother, and you take good care not to get eaten by lions or other wild beasts.”

  “Okay, Robert, will do. It was really was nice to hear from you, and I’ll pass all that information on to Patrick when he returns. Hugs, and we love you too. Be safe, Robert. Goodbye for now.”

  Catrina hangs up the phone, thinking it’s a bit too coincidental that Patrick wanted to vacation in Africa for their honeymoon while Robert happens to be there on assignment as well. But Cat knows her husband and his brother always have each other’s back and this is no different. Both of them are in the FBI, and for all Cat knew Patrick was also on assignment here to but allowed to take time for his honeymoon. The FBI has never been forthcoming with information to the wives of its agents.

  Once again, Cat turns her attention to having a cool, refreshing bath. Walking in to turn on the water and then leaving the bathroom to go and get a drink, she then heads off to relax and just unwind from the long flights and time changes. Cat closes the door behind her, attaches her iPod earphones snuggly into ears, and slips gently into the waiting and refreshing water of her bath.