Fair Game 2
By Greenlips24
Back to the African savannah, dear readers, for another adventure which should last well into January, hopefully banishing some of the winter blues. It's been a year since I posted the first story, so here, we catch up with what's going on.
oOo
SUMMARY: This is a sequel to my modern AU story, Fair Game. Ten monthsafter the battle against Russian criminal Yaroslav Krupin, Heshima Game Reserve is doing well under the leadership of Jean Treville and his men. Funding is coming in and income is being generated. Everyone has settled into their roles. They still have enemies though and one in particular who is seeking revenge.
BACKGROUND:
Profiles:
Jean Treville: owner of the Heshima Game Reserve and former Army CO to Athos de la Fere and Porthos du Vallon.
Athos de la Fere: former Senior Fellow in Anthropology, ex Army Captain and now Head Ranger
Porthos du Vallon, ex Army Lt., now Deputy Head Ranger
Aramis d'Herblay: Trauma Surgeon, specialising in Plastics
Charles d'Artagnan: Veterinary Surgeon.
The Tswana:
Nyack Seko, Tswana Elder. His sons, Oba, Tabansi and Rach and his daughter Nkosi, now in a relationship with Athos.
Heshima Game Reserve, Okavango Delta, Botswana: "Heshima" is the Swahili word for "Honour."The Reserve comprises 1,500 square miles and lays on the eastern side of the Okavango Delta, itself 16,000 square miles in size. The nearest town is Maun, the fifth largest town in Botswana and the major gateway to the Okavango Delta. Heshima is remote in its location within the Delta. On all sides of the Delta lies a labyrinth of rivers, fresh water lagoons, woodlands and floodplains. It is home to wild dog and leopard among other savannah game, including elephant, hippopotamus, zebra, hyena, impala, giraffe, lion, Cape buffalo and black rhinoceros and over five hundred species of bird life, from water birds to forest dwellers.
It is a dangerous and beautiful place.
Treville and his men work for the benefit of the local indigenous people, the Tswana, the animals, and to preserve the land from the mining industry and large corporations who seek profit in land development. They live in The Garrison, a complex comprising the main Lodge, six cabins, stables and living quarters for ten staff. Also within the Garrison is the medical facility, run by Aramis d'Herblay and the animal facility, run by Charles d'Artagnan. Half a mile away, is the reserve hotel, run by Nkosi Seko comprising six bedrooms, with staff, to cater for wealthy holiday makers and visitors.
Heshima also employs local guides and wardens to add their own knowledge, and generates a steady income by taking conservation tours from world-wide organisations, showing people how wild animals interact in the wild and how to set up their own conservation programmes.
They have survived a full-on assault by Yaroslav Krupin, leader of a powerful Russian semi-autonomous cell who sought to destroy the reserve for what he believed was a vast diamond deposit that lay beneath it. It was only d'Artagnan's impressive IT skills that saved them, not only burying the satellite surveillance report that confirmed the diamond's existence, but red-lining it from any future exploration and at the same time, uncovering Krupin's vast illegal empire, buried deep within his computer files.
Heshima is finally safe.
Or so they believe.
oOo
CHAPTER ONE:
A Dream Come True.
"There she is!" Nkosi cried, unable to suppress her excitement.
She turned to look at Athos, astride his horse beside her and beamed at him. Turning back, she looked through her binoculars at the rhino herd ahead.
"Oh!"
"What?!" Athos said, suddenly alert, taking his eyes off her and lifting up his own binoculars.
"She has a suitor!" Nkosi replied in wonder; a smile in her voice.
"Another one?" Athos scoffed. "Let us see how long this one lasts before he gives up."
They had ridden out to check on their rhino herd and in particular, Thamani, their young white female calf, who Athos had seen born and had cherished ever since. It was his concern for her safety a year ago that had seen him caught in a snare; his ankle had seen three surgical procedures, courtesy of their medic, Aramis, but he still walked with a slight limp and would bear the scars for the rest of his life.
Thamani was almost three years old now. As a precaution against poachers, d'Artagnan had infused the herd's horns with ectoparasiticides, a pink dye, which made them dangerous when handled and rendered them useless to those who sought their so-called medicinal properties. Thamani had had several young rhinos showing interest in her during the past six months; but to date she had rejected them all.
"She only has eyes for you, my love," Nkosi laughed, still peering through her own binoculars at the young male rhino currently snorting his interest at the young white rhino standing amongst the other females.
Athos laughed.
"She does needs a mate, though," he said, suddenly serious.
"She has high standards," Nkosi laughed.
"Don't all females?" he replied.
She threw him a look that sent an involuntary shiver down his spine. He would never tire of looking into her eyes or seeing her smile and once again, he blessed the day he had walked into Treville's office and first set eyes on her.
Nkosi stared at him then, lost in her own thoughts. His face was becoming an open book to her despite his usual neutral expression and it warmed her heart that she had found love, much as her deceased mother, Jayne had. Her whiteEuropean mother's love for her Tswani husband, Nyack, had created a mixed-race child of Africa in Nkosi. Her father's people had accepted her so readily, as they accepted these men of Heshima, who had worked so hard to create their game reserve, named for honour, and to protect the indigenous peoples and animals of the Okavango Delta.
Athos stretched out his hand toward her and broke her reverie. Laughing, she reached over and intertwined her fingers with his.
"Our life is beautiful, Mpenzi Wangu," she whispered. (My love)
"You are beautiful," he said softly, pulling her hand to his lips and kissing her fingers.
"We should go back," she sighed.
"We should, if we want to stop Porthos sending out a search party," he smiled, gently turning his horse.
They rode slowly side by side, still hand in hand, back to Heshima as the sun began its slow descent.
oOo
A Courtroom, somewhere in Paris:
"Madame, you have served six years of your seven year sentence and this is the first time you have filed for parole. Is that correct?"
Before she could answer, Anne de Brueil's barrister took to her feet to address the panel.
"That is correct, Monsieur Chairman. My client has always maintained self defence against Thomas d'Athos de la Fere. However, the possibility of parole was not granted at the time of sentencing, nor for five years thereafter, as you will see from the file you have in front of you. Madame de Brueil was found at the scene with the weapon in her hand. Adverse publicity around the trial precluded any early attempt at overturning that decision."
It had been a shocking story. A crime of passion. A cold-blooded murder. The story had run in the tabloids for weeks. The beautiful murderess, who had offered no real defence.
"Why did you not file after the five year embargo?" the Chairman of the Parole Board addressed the barrister, Mademoiselle Michelin Barout, although his eyes were on the papers in front of him.
"Madame de Brueil has taken the opportunity offered to her to improve her education, Monsieur Chairman and embarked upon a degree to better her chances of employment."
Anne lowered her eyes and sat serenely whilst her barrister continued to paint the vivid picture of a wronged-but rehabilitated middle class female seeking her place in the world.
"A degree in what subject?" the Chairman asked, peering over his glasses at the dark haired woman sitting before him, sans make-up and wearing a simple but elegant close-fitted navy dress.
Anne looked up then, her green eyes locking onto the pompous little man before her.
"Why, criminality, of course," she purred, her lips parting in an innocent smile.
oOo
"What will you do now?" Mademoiselle Barout asked as they met outside the prison two weeks later. The two women had formed a decent-enough working relationship and Anne knew Michelin was passionate about her job. Anne had given little of herself but had appreciated her barrister's professional approach and her respect for her privacy.
"A holiday, I think," Anne smiled briefly.
"Any ideas where?"
"Anywhere away from Paris," Anne replied, a hard edge creeping into her voice.
"Be careful," M. Bardout said with a sudden look of concern.
"Don't concern yourself with me. I'll be fine," Anne replied, after carefully watching the unfamiliar emotion flit across the other woman's face. "I always am."
If her barrister was shocked by the cold glint of her eyes, she did not ask. Her job was done, and the man who had paid her fees was satisfied.
They said brief goodbyes.
Anne de Brueil disappeared into the back of a large black Mercedes which pulled up, unseen by her barrister, who was now hurriedly heading toward her own car for her journey back to her office.
To be continued ...
oOo
Thanks for reading!
I will wait a few days before posting Chapter Two in case anyone would like to catch up on the first story. There are references throughout the sequel to the first Fair Game, and although this sequel should stand alone, it may be helpful just to refresh memories or read fo the first time. Otherwise, its there to be referred back to, as and when.