Diamond Legacy Read Online Free PDF Page A

deliveries. Security is tight and some areas off limits. If you want to keep the job, always operate for the benefit of Katanga. Is that clear?”
    “Maintain privacy and expect controls.” Matt nodded. “Check.”
    Graham leaned forward, elbows on his desk as he cracked his knuckles. He stared hard at Matt, animosity clear as daylight. No doubt he debated hiring him despite government persuasion, but Matt waited, knowing Graham couldn’t refuse.
    “Haul your ass down to the end of the hall,” he finally said. “Fill out some paperwork and Rob Jenkins will get you a badge and uniform. He’ll show you around the facility.”
    Matt grabbed his papers and stood. “Been a real pleasure getting to know you, Graham,” he said with a forced smile.
    “Yeah,” his new boss snorted. “It’s the start of a beautiful friendship. Now get the hell out of my office.”
    * * * *
    Four people perched high atop a manmade safety ridge in Katanga’s oasis pool. They were soaking wet, muddy, and a little bruised, not to mention humbled from being outsmarted by a hippopotamus. Estelle had quickly turned into the most difficult patient Miranda ever had. The hippo was beyond unhappy. She was in pain. And any animal with a jaw capable of opening four feet wide and lower incisors twenty-eight inches long, well, they had the kind of deadly force no one took lightly.
    Leaning back against the ridge, Miranda pulled the tight hair band from her head and tried to rub life back into her brain. Four hours into this operation and they still couldn’t coax a stubborn hippo past a camouflaged gate she was supposedly unaware of. What was left to try?
    She gazed out over the exceptional pool, a mammoth-sized enclosure that mimicked Estelle’s natural habitat, complete with rocks, soil, and grasses that thrived inside the Okavango Delta, her native land. Everything a normal hippopotamus could ask for.
    Unfortunately, nothing about Estelle was normal.
    “Unbelievable,” Jason said in exasperation. “She’s the most contrary female I’ve ever met.”
    “Ha,” barked Senga, one of two Katanga employees sitting with them. “My wife could give this surly one lessons.”
    “It’s true.” Kiv nodded solemnly.
    “Wow, that’s rough.” Jason looked at Senga with bleary-eyed sympathy. “Remind me not to ask for an introduction.”
    While her companions shared a laugh, Miranda scooted to the edge of the ridge. She glared eyeball to eyeball with the agitated hippo.
    Estelle huffed her disdain from the security of the pool.
    Clearly the hippo liked causing trouble. But Miranda knew obstinate. It was a technique she’d used extensively the last few years, an end result of one dismal dating experience after the other. Lucky in love she wasn’t, but her job was another story. That she had control over. She understood her clientele. And there was no way she’d let a devious hippo win the day.
    She pushed back from the edge and sat up, brushing dirt from her shirt. “Estelle knows,” she said. “She knows and refuses to cooperate.”
    “Not possible,” Senga said in heavily accented English. “She new to pool.”
    “She senses our intent.” Miranda twisted her hair back into its usual ponytail. “Animals are intuitive. Unfortunately, rational behavior doesn’t come with the package. We’re going to have to think of another way.”
    “Another way?” Jason snorted in disgust. “Let’s rehash. Sweet hay she turned down with a swish of her big round nose. Tapes of a distressed baby hippo revealed no maternal instinct whatsoever. And prodding her with the long poles only inspired her to bite one in half. What’s left? Lasso her and ride her into the rodeo stall?”
    Senga’s brows dipped at the absurd suggestion. “Not good plan.”
    “No, indeed.” Miranda glanced back over the ridge and hesitated, debating the wisdom of her next move. That is, until Estelle grumbled loudly, snorting in anger and pain.
    “I have one more idea.”