Deadline

by Zaheera Walker

  “And what about your old lady?”

  “Ma. Oh, she was the kindest soul. She raised me on her own, but cancer ate her in the end. We were so poor, but she always made a plan. So you see, I wasn’t blessed to be raised in a complete family.”

  “I’m sorry life was cruel to you.” Is he beginning to show a soft spot?

  “Tell me how you strangle them. Is there much pain? Will it hurt when my time comes?” If she lived to tell the story, it would be a good one. All the salient details she was milking from him.

  “The women struggle to break free. I place the pendant in the middle of the throat and pull the chain tight. That cuts off the oxygen supply and the pendent melts into the skin. I can’t say if they die through strangulation or the bleeding. I don’t think about it. Don’t fucking care!”

  “Will I suffer much?” She looked through pleading eyes. “I have to know before the time.”

  “Let’s not talk about it now. It will be quick and easy. I promise.”

  “But it doesn’t have to be, you know.” She crushed her lips against his without warning. He tried to push her away, but she held firm. His crotch forked to attention and Feriyal cradled him with smooth, almost virgin-like hands.

  “Stop it!”

  “Tell me why? We’ve been chatting here for a while and face it, you’re a nice guy. I’m not too bad either. What do you say?” She rose and steadied herself on unshackled feet. He must have removed the ties at some stage. Why would he take the risk? Is it part of his game or does he think I won’t be able to get away?

  “Don’t try anything stupid. If this is a game you’re playing, be warned: I’m a strong contender.”

  Her tongue snaked into his devilish mouth. “I wouldn’t dare betray you, but there’s something about you. Just something.”

  Could I be falling for her? No ways... women are whores. Maybe this one’s different? I’ve been running for so long. Could it be possible that it’s time to change..? Too many voices were spinning in his head, but he was a man with burning needs.

  “I guess a kiss and cuddle won’t hurt.” He brushed against her, then lowered her onto the bed; the one where he had ploughed into other women before knocking them out cold. “God, you’re beautiful. You’re worth more than a cheap prostitute.”

  Prostitute. A different word. Women were whores to him, but this change. Why?

  “Ssh… we’ve talked enough. We want the same things, but can’t seem to move past the hill.” God, help me out of this one. How do I let him touch me? Explore what belongs to Shane. That is so unholy. But what choice do I have? Forgive me for this sin.

  Vishen peeled off her clothes, but kept on her panties and bra. He wasn’t ready to see her that way. Not yet. His wet tongue trailed the contours of her body. Feriyal felt like vomiting, but remembered what her mother had told her: nothing lasts forever.

  “I’ve never spent such a long time with a woman before.” He worshipped her body, savouring every inch. She hadn’t taken a bath in the last couple of hours, but her fragrant scent lingered. “You’re confusing me. And yes, I want to believe I can see women in a different light, but...” He steadied himself on the bed. “Play me and I wouldn’t think twice about hurting you.”

  “Why did you have to spoil the moment?” She had to play her cards right; make him believe she desired the man concealed in an evil body.

  “We were doing so well. Trust me. It’s hard, I know, but it can be done.” She pouted and rolled away from him.

  “Sorry. I didn’t mean to upset you. Perhaps I should go... go home to my mother. Come back in the morning.” “Your mother will be fine. I won’t… not if you leave me this way.”

  She weaved her hands through his greased hair. Her stomach knotted.

  “Maybe you’re right. She doesn’t really need me to take care of her. I just do it out of duty.”

  “You’re a good son. I’m sure she appreciates everything you do.”

  “It would be nice to hear her say it sometimes. After my father left, I think she saw me as a burden.” He dropped his legs over the side of the bed. “Nothing is ever right. Always nagging. Criticising everything I try to do for her. I know she loves me, but she does it in a hard way.”

  “She means well. It’s not easy to be left alone with a young son. Times must have been tough and she raised you the best way she could.” Their hands clasped. “Come lie with me.”

  He shed his clothes and mounted her. “I want to be with you tonight. Teach me to love a beautiful woman like you.”

  A river of tears flooded her eyes. Oh dear God, he wants to have sex with me. I need a miracle to stop this. Where is the police? Where is Shane? I could take a thousand baths in a river of purity, but I will feel dirty forever.

  “Why are you crying? Have I said something wrong?”

  “No. These are tears of joy. I’m touched that you want to be with me.”

  Her plan was running thin. She trained her mind to go back to the last time she was with Shane. That was the picture she needed to get her through this ordeal.

  He fumbled to get her panties off and his patience wore thin. “Let’s leave it on for now.” Something soft and wet traced the velvet of her inner thigh. He nibbled the fleshy bits and moved to the big prize. With all the sucking and licking, he was growing close to hitting a home run.

  “Are you enjoying this?”

  “Oh, yes, I’m in heaven! Don’t stop. Please. Don’t. Stop!” A lie. She cringed at every breath that breezed on her skin. Her insides tumbled and twisted, but she had to pretend… pretend that she was swimming in a sea of utopia. It could be her only way out.

  CHAPTER TWENTY-SEVEN

  “Any developments since the notice went out?” Shane wastired, but he could not sleep. He called every few hours for news.

  “You’ll be the first person I call if something comes up.” Smith’s police boots crunched as he inched towards the restroom. His patience was wearing thin. “I’ve been working for three days straight and this case has been top of the list.” He stood in front of the urinal. “I’m going off in a bit. Have to catch some sleep. Lord knows, I need it.”

  “You can’t go off now. Please! We have to keep working. We have to find her. Two days now and the police haven’t made a single breakthrough.”

  “Now listen here, Mr Black! This isn’t the only matter we have on our hands.” He pulled the chain and zipped his trousers. “We are doing all we can. I’ve personally been working on finding Feriyal, but I’ve hit a brick wall. If only she listened to what I advised, nothing like this would have happened. There are worse cases than this, so don’t you tell me nothing has been done.”

  “You were the one who came up with this brilliant plan.

  Or have you forgotten? Somehow, you managed to convince me it was foolproof. Now she is missing and chances are I might not see her alive again. What would the authorities say if they knew this assignment was your idea?”

  “Yes, it was my plan, but I never held a gun to your head. Your kind will do anything to sell more papers and that was the only reason you offered to help.” His tired sigh echoed into the mouthpiece. A few hours of sleep were all he needed. “You think I don’t curse myself for luring her into this plan? Damn you, Shane. She reminds me of my daughter. I did everything to protect her and I will continue to work my arse off until I find her. Now you can go running to my bosses and I will face the music. But I would rather work with you to find her.”

  “I didn’t mean to sound ungrateful. I’m sorry, but it is hard for me. I’ve been on my own for such a long time and when she came into my life everything changed.” He had all the money and status, but nothing could help him now. “Let me know if there’s anything you need.”

  “We’ll need cases of beer and a braai to celebrate when we find her.” His laugh billowed down the hall. “You need to take it easy, man. Leave the police work to us. I’ll be back in the morning.”

  ***

  Newspapers came off t
he press in time, but it was not easy to pretend everything was okay. Staff was frantic. Many whispered in the passages.

  Steve kept a low profile. He had broken the rules when he had placed the advert for Feriyal. He could smell his first warning in the air. Maybe a dismissal. His ten-year record of excellent service was now tainted.

  “Why don’t we all pray for her safe return? The boardroom is free now. She’s Muslim and I don’t know how to say a prayer according to her faith, but we can beg God to guide her in this time of difficulty.”

  Charmaine was a wreck, close to breaking down. Feriyal would not have been missing if only she had looked at the lease request. Shane was right. Why hadn’t she checked if everything was in order?

  “Count me out. There is no God. Not for me, anyway. It’s three days now that she’s missing. Very slim chance that she’ll be found alive.”

  Shane trailed towards his office and stopped midway. He swung around.

  “Now back to work. All of you! You get paid to write articles, not stand around and speculate.” His macho appearance shrunk. The weight of losing his true love danced on his shoulders. Each time his cell phone rang, it was sheer torture.

  The editorial staff was shocked. How could he be so cold? “He’s losing it, poor man,” someone said.

  “He’s got a lot to deal with. I’m sure he means well. He’s just in a different space now. Give him time and he’ll come around.” Charmaine did well to protect his image.

  CHAPTER TWENTY-EIGHT

  “Would you mind if I freshened up a bit?” Feriyal needed to patch herself together to get through the night. “I’ll only be a few minutes. Then we can start again.”

  There was no response and she took it as a positive. With a coat of fresh make-up, her mood would change and she could craft her plan. She grabbed her handbag. Her cell phone was in there. “I’m not going anywhere. Take your time.” He switched on the portable television and saw Feriyal’s face flash across the screen.

  “There are growing fears for the safety of a missing Durban journalist. Feriyal Adam was last seen leaving La Lucia Mall with an unidentified man. Anyone with information can contact CrimeStop on 08 600 10111 or visit your nearest police station.”

  Where was her cell phone? The one Smith had given her; the one with the chip. A quick call and someone could find her, but where was he holding her? Maybe she had dropped it when she grabbed her bag. She walked to the dresser. Nothing in sight. Nothing on the floor. Her picture on the television screen caught her attention.

  “Why are you watching this?”

  “Just want to see how far they are with the investigations,” he teased.

  “Do you think I should call them? Help them out a bit.” He waved her cell phone in the air. “Maybe we should use this phone? Is that what you’re looking for?”

  “Oh. I forgot I had it with me.” God, she felt trapped. There was no way out. She returned to the bathroom to paint her lips. If tonight was going to be her last night, she wanted to apply the burgundy lip liner she had bought for a special occasion. That day ended when she had stepped into his car. She unzipped the coin compartment in her wallet.

  Then she saw it. The sleeping pills Charmaine had shoved in her hands a few weeks ago. How many did she have to feed him before he went limp? One? Two? She crushed six white tablets. “Can I pour you a drink? There’s a can of Coke we can share.”

  “A toast. Why not? I’ll have a drink with you and then we can end the night with dessert!”

  How sick! Feriyal hoped to find his heart before it was too late, but it had turned to stone many moons ago, it seemed.

  This is it. The pill had to work. Charmaine had warned that it worked wonders if taken fifteen minutes before bedtime. He was getting a lethal dose just to knock him out for a while. Enough for her to run like the wind. “Won’t be long now. I’ll just pour half into a glass for me. You can drink the rest.” She swirled the metal can and heard the rush of fizz. “To us.” She raised her glass and clinked it against the can.

  “Indeed. A drink to us. Who would have guessed I’d be doing this with you tonight? If only we had met under different circumstances.”

  He glugged down the first bit. “This tastes different somehow.” His face contorted.

  “Well, it tastes fine to me. A bit flat, but it’s a Coke, all right.” She emptied her glass and spread herself across the bed.

  “Guess you’re right. Here it goes.” He tilted the can and drank ’til the last drop.

  “How about a massage to get you in the mood?” She patted the bed and shifted a bit to accommodate him.

  He rolled onto his stomach. “I could do with one. Feeling a bit tense today.”

  “Just relax. I’ve got it all under control.” Just a few more minutes and she could dash for freedom. “Let yourself go. You deserve this simple pleasure.” She kneaded and rolled her thumb near his shoulders. Shane did this to her most evenings when they chatted about stuff.

  “That is sore. I thought this was supposed to relax me.” He tried to escape the pain by rolling over, but she sat firmly on his rear.

  “That’s just the knots that have built up with time. Be still. I’ll work on them and everything will be perfect for the night ahead.” Why was it taking so long to work?

  “I feel so tired. Everything is swimming in my head. You sound so far away.” He knew something was wrong, but he didn’t want to let on just yet.

  “Everything is just as it was when we first arrived here. Your mind is playing games with you. You’ve had a long day. We both have.” She continued to dough out the tension in his shoulders.

  “It’s not my mind, Indira. You are playing me for a fool. You spiked my drink, didn’t you?” He tried to grab her, but his hand fell limp at his side. His legs were heavy like lead.

  “Now you’re being silly. I promised to be with you every step of the way. Trust me on this.” Soft kisses rained down on his back. She nibbled his earlobe. One. Two. Three. “You’re falling off to sleep, aren’t you?”

  There was no response. He was floating on a cloud somewhere. Was it time to grab his keys and run? Give it a few more minutes, perhaps.

  Allow the drug to work its magic.

  Ten minutes and then he stirred a bit. It was too much. He felt her hands sweeping up his back. She was still in the room. Maybe she could be trusted. Sleep consumed him again. He looked so innocent. He had been innocent, but circumstances had changed that.

  Time to go… now! She grabbed the keys from the dresser and raced to the door, then turned back. “I must find my phone.” Her heart sank when she saw it shattered to pieces. He must have smashed it against the wall. The only connection to the outside world. To Shane. “Why does everything have to be so difficult?”

  There was no time to waste. She had to leave. If she moved fast, she could drive to the nearest petrol station. Police station. Anything. The sky was dressed in black velvet; silver stars pinned in the right places. She could smell the sea. Taste the breeze. Her freedom. “Now to get this car started. Once I get on the road, my nightmare will be over.” She turned the key in the ignition and pumped the accelerator.She did it again, but the roar did not come. Something must be loose. A wire somewhere. Maybe the battery was flat. She grabbed a spanner and popped the bonnet. “Let’s see what the problem is. Please, God, let it be something minor. Something I can sort out on my own.”

  “Where do you think you’re going? You woman whore… thought you were smart when you fed me poison.” He twisted her hair around his fist and pulled her hard. She lost balance and fell on the gravel.

  “Tonight, you meet your fate.”

  “Not. This. Time.” She swung the spanner at his face. “Take that. And that.” His blood coated her hands, but she refused to give up. She lashed everywhere. “This is for my friend, Shyla. The one you murdered! Those slashes on your hands. I remember now. She cut you when you grabbed her after work.” Her voice pierced the air. “I hate you. You’re sick. Sick like
your father. You deserve to die, but I want to see you suffer first.”

  Vishen was weak. The drug disorientated him. He was surprised to see Feriyal display such strength, but he was a serial killer… and serial killers didn’t fold over easy. “I will break your neck, bitch. To strangle you will be too easy.” He yanked her to her feet and punched her in thejaw. Her hair flew across her face, shielding the pain in her eyes. She fell to her knees and waited for the next strike.

  “Kill me now. I’m tired of your sick game.” She offered herself as prey. “You’ll be doing me a favour. I didn’t think life was going to end like this. God knows best.”

  He grabbed her head and jaw with both hands. He twisted as far as he could go, then the other way, but nothing broke. “You should not have crossed me. I was beginning to like you.”

  “A man like you is not capable of feeling anything. And as for yourfondling and kissing… pathetic! I couldn’t wait for it to end. I never found you appealing. There, I said it.”

  “You bloody whore!” He released his hold on her head and darted for her throat. “I will kill you.” His right hand squeezed tight… tight… tighter. “Choke to death. You fucking slut. You liked everything that happened in there. Now that you know your end is here, you try to insult me.”

  Feriyal could feel herself drowning in darkness. His voice… how she hated the sound of it. Everything was slowing down. She choked. A flash of bright light concealed her vision. Then it was gone. Darkness enshrouded her world. Was it the end? Had she crossed over?

  You have come so far, Feri. Don’t give up. Not now. You’re down, but nothing stops you from rising again. Nothing lasts forever; remember that. You are not ready to be with me. Go claim your victory, my sweet baby. I’ll always be watching you.

  Cutting off her oxygen supply wasn’t enough. He wanted to taste the raw revenge. See it. Thud! Thud! He slammed her head hard on the gravel. “It could have worked between us. I was falling for you. I believed you. Believed you when you said you were going to be by my side.” He sobbed tears that had been buried deep within his troubled soul. His eyes were blind with pain. “I didn’t want to hurt you. You were so beautiful. Now you’re just a rag doll.” He shielded his regret with both hands, his sniffs and regret stifling the empty darkness.