“My apologies to you,” Siegfried said to Candace. “I imagine you were led astray by our resident researchers. Perhaps you were not even aware of the rule against visiting the island area.”
Cameron opened Melanie’s cell and then Kevin’s.
“As soon as I heard about your detention, I tried to call Dr. Raymond Lyons,” Siegfried said. “I wanted to ask his opinion as to the best way to handle this situation. Since he was unavailable, I have to take responsibility myself. I am releasing you all on your own recognizance. I trust that you now know the seriousness of your actions. Under Equatoguinean law it could be considered a capital offense.”
“Oh, bull!” Melanie spat.
Kevin cringed. He was afraid Melanie would anger Siegfried enough to order them back into the cells. Benevolence was not a part of Siegfried’s character.
Mustapha extended Kevin’s car keys to him. “Your vehicle is out back,” he said with a heavy French accent.
Kevin took the keys. His hand shook enough to cause them to jingle until he got his hand and the keys into his pocket.
“I’m sure I will be speaking to Dr. Lyons sometime tomorrow,” Siegfried said. “I will contact you individually. You may go.”
Melanie started to speak again, but Kevin surprised himself by grabbing her arm and propelling her toward the stairs.
“I’ve had enough manhandling,” Melanie sputtered. She tried to pull her arm from Kevin’s grasp.
“Let’s just get into the car,” Kevin whispered harshly through clenched teeth. He forced her to keep moving.
“What a night!” Melanie complained. At the base of the stairs, she managed to yank her arm free. Irritably, she started up.
Kevin waited for Candace to precede him, then followed the women up to the ground floor. They emerged into an office used by the Equatoguinean soldiers that were constantly seen lounging in front of the town hall. There were four of them present.
With the base manager, the head of security, and the chief of the Moroccan guards in the building, the soldiers were a good deal more attentive than usual. All four were standing in their interpretation of attention, with their assault rifles over their shoulders. When Kevin and the women appeared, their expressions suggested they were confused.
Melanie gave them the finger as Kevin herded her and Candace out the door into the parking lot.
“Please, Melanie,” Kevin begged. “Don’t provoke them!”
Whether the soldiers did not understand the meaning of Melanie’s gesture or were bewildered by the anomalous circumstances, Kevin didn’t know. One way or the other, they didn’t come flying out after them as Kevin feared they might.
They got to the car. Kevin opened the passenger-side door. Candace climbed in eagerly. But not Melanie. She turned to Kevin with her eyes blazing in the dim light.
“Give me the keys,” she demanded.
“What?” Kevin asked, even though he’d heard her.
“I said give me the keys,” Melanie repeated.
Confused by this unexpected request but not wishing to incite her more than she already was, Kevin handed her the car keys. Melanie immediately went around to the other side of the car and got in behind the wheel. Kevin climbed into the passenger seat. He didn’t care who drove as long as they got themselves out of there.
Melanie started the car, spun the tires, and drove out of the parking lot.
“Jeez, Melanie,” Kevin said. “Slow down!”
“I’m pissed,” Melanie said.
“As if I couldn’t tell,” Kevin said.
“I’m not going home just yet,” Melanie said. “But I’d be happy to take you guys home if you want.”
“Where do you want to go?” Kevin asked. “It’s almost midnight.”
“I’m going out to the animal center,” Melanie said. “I’m not going to tolerate being treated like this without finding out what the hell is going on.”
“What’s at the animal center?” Kevin asked.
“The keys to that goddamned bridge,” Melanie said. “I want one, because for me this affair has gone beyond curiosity.”
“Maybe we should stop and talk about this,” Kevin suggested.
Melanie jammed on the brakes, bringing them to a lurching stop. Both Kevin and Candace had to push themselves back into their respective seats.
“I’m going to the animal center,” Melanie repeated. “You guys can either come along or I’ll drop you off. It’s your call.”
“Why tonight?” Kevin asked.
“One, because I’m really ticked off right now,” Melanie said. “And two, because they wouldn’t suspect it. Obviously, they intend for us to go home and quake in our beds. That’s why we were so mistreated. But you know something, that’s not my style.”
“That’s my style,” Kevin said.
“I think Melanie is right,” Candace said from the backseat. “They were deliberately trying to scare us.”
“And I think they did a damn good job,” Kevin said. “Or am I the only sane one in the group?”
“Let’s do it,” Candace said.
“Oh, no!” Kevin groaned. “I’m outnumbered.”
“We’ll take you home,” Melanie said. “No problem.” She started to put the car in reverse.
Kevin reached out and stayed her hand. “How do you propose to get the keys? You don’t even know where they’d be.”
“I think it’s pretty clear they’d be in Bertram’s office,” Melanie said. “He’s the one in charge of logistics for the bonobo program. Hell, you’re the one who suggested he had them.”
“Okay, they’re in Bertram’s office,” Kevin said. “But what about security? Offices are locked.”
Melanie reached into the breast pocket of her animal-center coveralls and pulled out a magnetic card. “You’re forgetting that I’m part of the animal-center hierarchy. This is a master card, and not the kind that competes with VISA. This thing gets me in every door of the animal center twenty-four hours a day. Remember, my work with the bonobo project is only a part of the fertility work I do.”
Kevin looked over the back of his seat at Candace. Her blond hair was luminous in the half light of the car interior. “If you’re game, Candace, I guess I’m game,” he said.
“Let’s go!” Candace said.
Melanie accelerated and turned north beyond the motor pool. The motor pool was in full operation, with huge mercury-vapor lamps illuminating the entire staging area. The motor pool’s night shift was larger than either the day or evening shifts since that’s when truck traffic between the Zone and Bata was at its peak.
Melanie zipped past a number of tractor trailers until the turnoff to Bata fell behind. From that point, all the way to the animal center, they didn’t see another vehicle.
The animal center worked three shifts just like the motor pool did, although in the animal center the night shift was the smallest. The majority of the night staff worked in the veterinary hospital. Melanie took advantage of this fact by pulling Kevin’s Toyota up to one of the animal-hospital doors. There the car had lots of company.
Melanie turned off the ignition and gazed at the animal-center entrance that led directly into the veterinary hospital. She drummed her fingers on the steering wheel.
“Well?” Kevin said. “We’re here, what’s the plan?”
“I’m thinking,” Melanie said. “I can’t decide what’s best: whether you guys wait here or come with me.”
“This place is huge,” Candace said. She’d leaned forward and was gazing at the building in front of them. It ran from the street all the way back to where it disappeared into the jungle foliage. “For as many times as I’ve been to Cogo, I’ve never been out here at the animal center. I didn’t have any idea it was so large. Is this part we’re facing the hospital?”
“Yup,” Melanie said. “This whole wing.”
“I’d be interested to see it,” Candace said. “I’ve never been in a veterinary hospital let alone one that’s so palatial.”
“It’s state-of-the-art,” Melanie said. “You should see the ORs.”
“Oh my God,” Kevin sighed. He rolled his eyes. “I’ve been ensnared by the insane. We’ve just had the most harrowing experience in our lives, and you’re talking about taking a tour.”