The Kiwi Target

couple beside him. Peter sensed that the man from Pricane was not just being sociable—he would be ferreting out information.
    From somewhere deep underground a gurgle could be heard; then the flow of steam began to increase rapidly. Almost to the minute a tentative jet of water rose a few feet and then fell back. Another followed; then through a cloud of steam a solid column of water shot upward, crested, and began to fall back onto the hardpan. A deep-throated roar came with the first burst and continued for the thirty seconds or more that the geyser continued to erupt. Then the column of water fell off dramatically and ceased while the steam continued to rise into the clear sky.
    The spectators rose to go. Most of them got into the waiting buses; Kincaid had a rental car that he drove away himself. Peter noted with satisfaction that he started off on the right-hand side of the road and had to correct himself. The man might be a top executive, but he had his flaws.
    They took lunch at a restaurant halfway back toward Rotorua. As soon as they had been served, Peter stated what was on his mind. “Kincaid didn’t go to see that geyser just for his own entertainment; he was there for a purpose. Who owns it?”
    “It belongs to one of the hotels,” Jenny answered.
    “Then that’s his target. A hotel with a tame geyser would fit in perfectly with Pricane’s plans, because they don’t like to leave anything to chance. Buses could be scheduled in and out with no wasted time or increased costs if there was a delay. The people could be herded around faster and profits increased that way.” Jenny nodded. “Winston will want to know that,” she said.
    As they drove back to Rotorua, Peter reminded himself that although Jenny had been assigned to be his companion, the biggest mistake he could make would be to take her for granted. “Will you have dinner with me this evening?” he asked.
    “That’s already in the cards.”
    “But in the line of duty,” Peter said. “I’m asking you to be my guest—my date.”
    She gave him a smile. “I accept with pleasure.” Then she said, “I have to tell you—we’re booked for a dinner and a show later. It’s with a tourist group.”
    “I had hoped we could be by ourselves,” he began, then he got it. “Kincaid,” he finished.
    She nodded her appreciation. “I’ve been given his schedule. We just happen to be in the same party.”
    When they returned to the hotel, Jenny went to a telephone. Peter took advantage of her absence to stop at the desk. “I’d like to send some flowers to Miss Holbrook,” he told the clerk. “Is it too late to arrange it for this evening?”
    “We can have something suitable delivered to her in about forty minutes, give or take.”
    “Please do that.”
    The clerk picked up a pen. “What would you like on the card?”
    “’To my dinner date.’ ”
    The clerk wrote and went to his phone. Moments later, Jenny reappeared. “Since we’re going out tonight, why don’t you go up and rest for a while? I’m planning to do the same thing,” she said.
    Shortly after six he met her in the lobby. She had a sprig of freh flowers pinned to her dress. She was stunning, a fact that did not escape the desk clerk or the several other people in the lobby. Peter claimed her proudly and asked, “Do we dine here or elsewhere?”
    “Elsewhere,” she answered. “I made a reservation.”
    The dinner was a new experience for him: a Maori hangi, in which the cooking was done in a natural hot spring. The guests were seated in two long rows facing each other. Kincaid positioned himself in the middle of one of the rows; Peter picked a spot five seats down from him with Jenny opposite him. The sulfurous water gave the food an odd taste, but it was still quite good.
    Despite the novelty and the very different nature of the occasion, Peter did not pay a great deal of attention to his meal. As he looked at Jenny opposite him, his mind was fixed on the fact that she was the most captivating girl he had ever known. If she was aware of his admiration, she did not let it show.
    When they had finished, they followed the tourist bus, which took the main group to a Maori show obviously intended for a tourist audience. After the show he took Jenny back to the hotel, bought her a drink in the bar, and then saw her up to her room for the night. He was rewarded with a warm kiss; when he put his arms around her to receive it, it was hard for him to let