Read Online Stalking Ivory by Suzanne Arruda - Free Book Online Page A

I didn’t bother to think of the consequences of intruding on you so suddenly.”
    Jade let out a muffled snort, which Harry ignored as he did her pugilistic stance.
    “So will you join me and my crew for dinner?” He sounded hopeful, almost pleading.
    Beverly picked up on it immediately. “Avery just left to hunt for the pot now, but I can answer for him. We’d be delighted to come.”
    Jade snatched the negatives from Beverly’s hand. “I won’t be able to join you. I have work to do.” She turned her back on Harry and entered the darkroom tent. The last thing she wanted to do was dine with him. Beverly’s lilting voice chattered briefly outside, followed by Harry’s muffled response. The tent flap moved aside, and Beverly stepped in.
    “Why did you refuse Harry’s dinner invitation?”
    Jade scowled and nodded to the entrance to indicate she had no wish for Harry to overhear her conversation.
    Beverly waved her arm in dismissal. “Oh, Harry has excused himself to visit with Biscuit.” She took a moment to scrutinize Jade’s face. “You look like hell, Jade. Those dark circles under your eyes are as big as saucers. Didn’t you sleep?”
    Jade shrugged. “Yes, but fitfully.”
    “Bad dreams again? What was it this time, more plane crashes?”
    “No. Stampeding elephants and…” She paused as she recollected parts of her dream. “Colridge was in it and the commissioner, but I’m stumped if I can figure out why.”
    Beverly patted her friend’s back. “Who knows? But you still haven’t explained why you don’t want to dine with Harry.”
    “I don’t care to break bread, or antelope, or anything else with that man. I don’t much like him and I certainly don’t trust him, Bev.”
    Beverly shook her head, making her curls jiggle. “Then wouldn’t it be a good idea to see what he’s up to?”
    Jade’s head snapped up. “Keep your friends close and your enemies closer?”
    Beverly shrugged. “Jade, darling, I do not consider Harry an enemy, but if you do, then by all means keep an eye on him.”
    Jade pursed her lips as she considered the situation, then nodded. “All right, but you tell him. Seeing him again will only ruin my appetite for breakfast.” She picked up some cans of developer and rearranged them in a pretense of being busy.
    Beverly laughed at her. “I already told him you’d come. He’ll stop by to get us in midafternoon.” She left before Jade could retaliate.
    Jade stuck her head out of the tent and shouted after Beverly, “He’d better not serve any blasted tea!” She went back into the darkroom tent for a while and considered the advantages of inspecting Harry’s camp. She had no idea what sort of people he was leading on his safari or how competent they were at shooting game, but hunters liked to brag. She could find out if they’d killed any of her elephants, especially the calf. Jade frowned at the thought of the calf. Few hunters would brag about shooting a baby. She knew Harry wouldn’t.
    Harry said they were just scouting right now. Was he lying? How hard would it be to hide the ivory? Large tusks would be obvious, but baby ivory would be easy to stow out of sight. For a moment, she considered the chances of slipping through Harry’s camp while Beverly and Avery kept the others occupied. Then she quickly discarded that idea. Hascombe was no fool. He’d know what she was up to. After a little more consideration, Jade decided the best way to find out about the baby ivory was to ask the porters and gun bearers. If she couldn’t get to them, perhaps Jelani could.
    A smirk stole across her lips. Surely Harry would like to show off Biscuit to his people, and she couldn’t take Biscuit without taking Jelani along. No one would pay any attention to an African boy. To many arrogant whites, the Africans were simply scenery or part of their safari equipment. And even if they did notice him, they wouldn’t think twice if Jelani sat to talk with their men.
    After a