6
The Stake-out
ALL THESE FAMILY ARRANGEMENTS had taken time.
When Bob and Poppy reported at the Richardsons, it was dark. By the light of the paraffin storm lanterns they carried, they saw that the Liwali was already there. He was under a tall and broadly canopied lucky bean tree in the garden at the back of the house, close to where the boxer b***h had had her den.
A net made of thick sisal rope was spread out on the ground below the tree. Ropes from the net ran up to its thick branches.
“How’s all this going to work, sir?” asked Poppy.
“When the leopard steps on the net, it will trigger that spring there,” the Liwali said pointing. “And the ropes will tighten and haul him up into the tree. It worked perfectly last time I used it.”
Poppy was not convinced. “I thought leopards were
