“Thank you.” She hugged her tightly and smoothed the creased fabric covering her back.
“Love and light to you both.” Bonita kissed Charmaine on the cheek and held Feriyal’s hands. “My guides want me to warn you that you must be very careful. Only you will know what that means.”
“That wasn’t too bad now, was it?” Charmaine was pleased to know that things were going to be rosy in Feriyal’s life. “But what is it with all the warnings?”
“Oh, you know. Life of a journalist. We are in the face of danger all the time. That’s all, nothing more.”
‘Yes, I know, but you must take extra care of yourself. Promise?”
Her fingers crossed. “Swear to God, I promise.” She lost her balance before she reached the car and stopped to breathe in some air.”
“Everything all right with you?” Charmaine saw the blemishes circling her eyes.
“I’m fine. Just a bit tired.” She continued walking. “I haven’t been sleeping much lately. Lots on my mind. Work stuff.” She didn’t give details.
“You poor thing! Are you taking anything to help you sleep?”
“No. Not really. I haven’t had the chance to go to a pharmacy.”
“I think I have just the thing to help you. Zopiclone. My doctor prescribed it. Works like a miracle!” She reached into her ancient black leather handbag and pulled out a foiled sachet. “Here you go.”
“But I can’t take that from you!” Feriyal knew the dangers of taking pills and mixtures from people. She had once swallowed two headache tablets she had found at the flat and felt nauseous.
“Sure you can. Pop one in your mouth a few minutes before bed and you’ll sleep like a baby. Just don’t overdo it.”
She took the pills and slipped them into her wallet. Maybe tonight she could wash down a white pill and enjoy a sound night.
CHAPTER TWENTY-TWO
At the crack of dawn, Feriyal was at her desk. She left a note for Charmaine instructing her to hand over the lease agreement to finance.
Dear Charmaine,
Please find the lease agreement for a property in Greenwood Park.
Shane signed it and it’s all good to go. Could you please hand it to the relevant person for payment? Also note that I will be in court all day and won’t have my phone switched on.
Enjoy your day.
Feriyal
Time was not in her favour. The first batch of staff was streaming in. She had one last call to make.
“Hi Shyla. Are we still on for today? Yes. No problem. I’ll see you in a few minutes. Bye.” She ended the call and ran out of the building.
Driving to Shyla’s workplace, she thought about her mother. She stopped at the traffic lights.
Oh Ma, I miss you so much. Youonce told me nothing lasts forever and I am afraid I could lose so much. My time with Shane could end if he knew what I have in mind to bring this serial killer to his knees. I wish you had met him. He is everything you would want for me and more. Guide me please, Ma. Stay by my side.
Irate drivers behind her were hooting like mad.
“Move it, lady; you’re holding up traffic!”
She stuck her right hand out of the window. “I’m sorry.”
With her car in motion again, she relaxed. She was determined to stick to her plan. Within minutes, she parked and headed towards the flat.
She pushed the buzzer on the ground floor. “Hello?”
“Hi Shyla. It’s me.”
“Okay. Push open the gate and come to the second floor.
Be quick, please. My first client is on his way.”
There was no time to chat. Feriyal was ushered into an interconnecting room. “What’s he like?”
“Oh, he’s a charmer. A regular client with needs only I can satisfy. I see him once a week or whenever he can make it to me.” The buzzer went again. “Well, it’s show time. Please don’t let him see you. He won’t be comfortable with that.”
“I’ll be so quiet you won’t even know I’m here.” Feriyal closed her lips and locked it with an imaginary key. She took a seat in the corner, concealed behind a portable cabinet. She heard his voice. He sounded old, gentle and tired all wrapped together.
“Hello Shy, darling. I missed you. Come give me a hug.”
“It’s always good to see you. How have you been?”
“Oh, the usual. Working hard. Being the devoted husband and counting the days when I can feel your gentle hands all over me.”
“Let me help you with your shirt. We can talk while I massage your back. You look tense.”
“A massage is just what I need, Shy. I love a woman who understands me the way you do.”
Feriyal needed to see what was going on. She edged closer to the door and choked on her shock. Shyla was naked. She looked like a goddess, with beautiful curves in just the right places. Black hair cascaded down her back. Her crotch was planted firmly on his dimpled bum. Her palms were moving slowly up his back and fanning out to the sides. The conversation was cut short. The client was oohing and aahing. Then he rolled onto his back. Shyla lifted herself to accommodate the changed position.
“Oh Shy. I’m in heaven. This feels so good. I won’t last much longer. Do it now. Please.” The old man grunted and grabbed Shyla’s waist. He moved her in rhythm with his thrusts. “Oh sweet child of God. I’m cumminggggg.”
Then it was over. He left a wad of notes on the bed, cleaned himself and left in a hurry.
Feriyal covered her mouth. Her saucer eyes said it all. She giggled like a schoolgirl. Could she pull it off?
***
“That was some show you put on.” Feriyal tried to adjust herself several times on the couch. She was uncomfortable.
“Oh, you saw that.” Shyla wrapped her wet hair in a towel, steam billowing from her freshly showered body. “He’s an easy client. His wife has Alzheimer’s. Loves her a great deal and feels guilty for coming here. But like he says, he has needs to satisfy.” She fixed her make-up. “I am not one to judge. I give him what he desires and he rewards me. A simple business transaction.”
“Are all clients so easy? They do their thing and leave like he did?”
“Wish it was that simple. Some can be rough. They want to handcuff you to the bed and ravage you. Others want you to inflict pain on their bodies. I’m not much into the pain stuff.” She laughed. “And some come here just to dress in women’s clothing. You do get the odd ones who buy you gifts and just spend the time chatting. The only bad experience I had was with that creep who tried to attack me. Touch wood, I won’t run into him again.”
“Well, thanks for having me here today. I have an idea of what to expect. I’m going to head back to the office.” She hugged Shyla and promised to keep in touch.
***
The response to the sex advert cooled down. There were a few missed calls, but nobody left any messages. Days dragged on. The phone lay hidden deep inside her drawer at work. What a complete and utter waste, she thought.
Smith called to check on her. “Hey Feriyal. How’s it going? Sorry I haven’t been in touch. Been laid up in hospital with pneumonia. Only got back today.”
“Hi. Been wondering why you’ve been so quiet. Good to know you are feeling better and strong enough to work again.”
“Don’t know about being strong enough, but have to close in on the killer. Just got an update and seems the coward is lying low.”
“Seems that way. But I wouldn’t put anything past him.” Feriyal was thrilled to chat about the serial killer again. “I’ve been reading up on his modus operandi and chatted to Shyla a few times. You know, the woman who laid the assault charge.” She was careful not to let him in on her plan.
“That’s true. I wouldn’t close a case until it is done and dusted. Gotta run now. Lots of work to catch up on. Will keep in touch.” He ended the call.
***
Deadlines came and went. Shane and Feriyal grew in their relationship. She focussed more on her role in the newsroom and the lo
ve of her life.
Days turned into nights. Seasons changed and Feriyal secured a permanent position in the newsroom. Life was kind to her. She remembered the hardships, but looked forward to the opportunities dotted along the way.
***
“I feel like a fondue tonight.” Shane wanted something different. “I’ll set it up after supper. Managed to grab a bit of dark chocolate and strawberries on my way home.”
“Awe that’s so thoughtful, love. You’re a romantic soul. You make me feel complete.”
“Glad you feel that way. It’s just what I hoped you would say.”
“Why? I don’t understand. I’ve always loved you. Work does become a bit much at times, but we have good times, right?”
“We certainly do. But is that enough for you?”
Feriyal couldn’t work out which way the conversation was heading. Did he want to augment their relationship, or… did he want to end it?
“Have a go at the first strawberry. That dark one looks rich and inviting.” He pointed to the one that looked different from the rest.
“It does look yummy. And my favourite fruit too. The right shade of red.” She skewered it and there was a bit of resistance. Shane’s phone shrilled. He ignored it. Then it buzzed. It was an SMS.
“Why don’t you get that?” Feriyal picked up the strawberry and bit on it. “It could be important.” She gasped.
“Fuck! Seems like the serial killer left his mark again tonight.” The mood was spoilt.
“Shane. A diamond. Is it for me?” She threw her arms around him, but the moment was dead.
“Did you hear what I just said?”
“Sorry, I was caught up in the moment. What is it?”
“That was an SMS from Smith. Seems like the serial killer finally got the woman who reported the attack on her a few months ago. The one you met.”
“What? That can’t be. Check again. Please.” Her eyes flooded with tears.
“I’m afraid she is gone, babe. He got to her a few hours ago. Her body was found today. Buried in a shallow grave in some sugarcane plantation. Like the other victims.” He framed her with his arms. “I’m so sorry. You were fond of her, I know. Tonight, I planned to give you a new start in life. I wanted to ask you to marry me. I picked this diamond especially for you. But that will have to wait a while longer.”
***
Smith took Feriyal to the mortuary. She had to see for herself. She needed closure. She needed the weapon of determination to comb every field, to smoke out the evil man who had robbed a man of his wife and two innocent children of their mother.
“What happened?” Her face was hard; stained from tears she had cried earlier. “Did she suffer much?”
“They all suffered. I don’t think she had it easy. He strangled her.” Smith bowed his head. “It was like he wanted to teach her a lesson.”
“How is her family taking the news? She told me her husband was in a wheelchair and she had young children who were in school.”
“Yes. We know. The detectives found her address and ID book in her handbag. We informed the husband and it was very difficult. We have arranged counselling for the family. I wish we could do more.”
“You are going to do more. Everything and more to find him. You just have to. This is one murder too many. The killer is playing a game with you. He is teasing you. Telling you he is smarter. Can’t you see it?”
“We have every policeman in the country looking for him. He will be caught.” Smith assured Feriyal he was not going to leave any stone unturned. “There’s just something I read while doing some research. If we are dealing with a serial killer, it is most likely that he is from the area where the bodies were found. I somehow don’t think the entire country is going to be needed. Just someone living close to Phoenix.”
***
Feriyal looked dejected as she walked into the newsroom. Dark circles smudged around her eyes. She had to continue working. Keep herself together – for Shyla’s sake.
Feriyal wondered why he hadn’t called her. What did Shyla have that she didn’t? Revenge. That was all he wanted. The man who had attacked her had to be the serial killer. He had come back to finish her off. She remembered the cell phone buried deep in her drawer. She had used to scan it for messages and missed calls, but that was in the beginning. She hadn’t looked at it for a week now. What if there was something today? Something she could work with.
A lead; a clue; something; any fucking thing! She reached in and hauled it out.
She unlocked the phone and saw there were seventeen missed calls made to the number in the last two days. All the calls were from private numbers. None of the callers had left messages.
Except. There were two SMSs. Both from the same number.
Hi Miss Spice,
Been trying to reach you for a while now.
Intrigued by your advert and keen to meet you someday. V. M.
Feriyal punched in the number on the phone. At least she could speak to him and see if he was genuine, or maybe another one-hit wonder.
“The number you have dialled is not available. Please try again later.”
Feriyal called the number again, but couldn’t get through. She threw the phone on her desk.
Bzzzzz. Bzzz. Another message from him. This time, she replied to the message.
Yes, that was me trying to reach you.
Sorry I haven’t been available, but I am now if you would like to meet.
Let me know before my diary fills up.
*wink*
Bzzzz. Bzzz. He responded.
They agreed to meet at five that evening. Coffee at La Lucia Mall.
***
Feriyal blew a fuse a few minutes to five when he sent a message to sayhe could not meet her. He did say he would make it up to her the next time. What game is he playing; fucking insane creep!
Days turned to weeks and Feriyal began to lose hope. She was no closer to the serial killer than Shane was to making her his wife. She continued to spit out the cream of the crop; front page leads almost daily for three weeks. Life was moving on and she was no closer to her marked man.
CHAPTER TWENTY-THREE
Dark clouds were gathering in the sky. Feriyal was tapping away on her keyboard. It was a race to file the last story that evening.
Bzzzzz. Bzzzz. A cell phone started ringing somewhere.
The ringtone was not familiar and it annoyed her.
“Damn it. Will someone get that? I’m trying to work here.” She slapped her palms on the keyboard. It continued to ring. Then it sunk in. She was alone in the newsroom and someone was responding to her sex advert.
She probed deep in the back of her drawer. A clammy hand felt the vibrations. A quick click and she put on her sultry voice. “Hi… Are you ready for adventure? Allow me to make life a bit more pungent for you.”
That was odd. Trying to be someone else.
“You sound very interesting. Is this how you address all your clients?”
“Only the special ones… and something tells me you are one of those. How can I help you this evening?”
“Well, Mistress of Spice, I would like to know more about you. It’s Vishen. Vishen Singh. I’m sorry about our missed appointment the other day. But if you’re keen I would like to get together. I want to explore your mind; your body. Every inch of you.”
Feriyal gasped for breath. She swallowed hard. Just when she thought her plan was dead, he decided to call… again. There were several missed calls showing on her screen, but this was a private number. Could it be him? She cleared her throat and spoke in a ‘lady of the night’ voice. He was no longer using the number he had called from the last time.
“Well, it is your lucky day. I’m an open book today. What is it that you wish to know?” Her heart thumped wildly. Goosebumps covered her body. “Forgive me for being rude. But is your name Vishen or is that some made up name you are using?” She felt cheap, but reminded herself it was all part of her plan. “You see, I make it my busin
ess to know every inch of my favourite clients… and you certainly will be one of those, I hope.”
“Vishen. Just Vishen. No other name. I love a woman who takes care of herself. Think you might be the lady I’ve been looking for. Can we have dinner tonight?”
No. It was too soon, she thought. “You are a confidant man. Straight to the point. I would be honoured to dine with you. But. Not tonight. Rain cheque, perhaps?”
“Very well then.” She could hear the disappointment in his voice.
“Seems like someone beat me to it. Do you have another booking? By the way, what do I call you?”
“Indira. Call me Indira. No, it’s not a booking. A muchneeded pamper session. I’m spoiling myself at a local spa.”
“How about tomorrow, then?”
“Sounds good. What time suits you? Are you looking for anything in particular?”
She heard his muffled laugh. “I just want to spend time with a beautiful Indian woman. And you sound ideal. Where are you situated?”
“I’ll give you my details when you call to confirm your appointment tomorrow. I have an opening at 10am. Is that all right?”
“Perfect. I’ll call you in the morning. Looking forward to meeting you.” He ended the call.
***
Feriyal was trembling the way one did when cold. Her first appointment with a strange man. Would he want sex? Would he hurt her? Would he be a gentleman?
She filed her story and rushed home. Guilt and fear sat heavy in herchest. Could she pull this off? She had to protect Shane; she had to keep him in the dark. Shyla’s memory too. Nobody could know.
“Hi babe. Working late again?” Shane winked. “Have you forgotten it’s Friday? Come here.” He hooked her petite figure and drew her towards him. He stood a few centimetres taller than her. He sniffed inthe fragrance in her hair before lifting her chin. They locked gazes and melted into a deep kiss.
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