by K.B Gumbi
“I will get on it.”
“What has come of him? He tells us one thing and does. I think we should speak to him, if people are talking like this about him. Now we are in the dark about his views as a bishop, how are we supposed to lead our church?”
“That is true, should not drag the name of the church in the mud. Newspaper after newspaper, it is all about him and his family and not the good work of the church.”
“Guys! That may be right but he must look at it from his point of view, this saga tore his family apart and he just wanted to do right by them by forgiving and having peace.”
“But we should support him and his family.”
“No we should not, the church and God I should add, is against homosexuality. Then how can we go against that and pretend everything is al-right, I mean he is not the church, we serve God. So we should publicly make it clear that he is out of line by embracing 'this'.”
“As an elder, I think that if the shepherd is lost he is not told by the sheep, the way but the stars. We may think that he is wrong but he hasn't done anything unheard of or taboo. Maybe God is showing him the way because at the end of the day we should remember that we are priests therefore we are sheep and he is the shepherd who knows where he should go, if he doesn't there is support and structures for that.”
“That may be true but the city is counting on him. If he makes a wrong move, we will lose members.”
“The only thing that we can do tell him about our grievances and those of our congregations. It be up to him on what happens next. At all times we should be able to communicate with our leader about these issues.”
CHAPTER 5
“The reason I called is because it is time for the next phase.”
“I was wondering when you will call because my pockets have dried up.”
“Now you should call him to refresh his memory and say that you have something that will be of interest to him. And set up date to meet, at this restaurant.” He shows him a page with all the instructions.
“Will that shake him up? Because what I have seen in the papers man, is that he seems to have had a change of heart about homosexuality.”
“Let me worry about that. This could destroy his reputation so he will listen. Try not to sound threatening. We don't want cops on our tails. Now call him.”
“Just give me a moment.”
Bernard had just spoken to his daughter on the phone. She shared with him the good news that she has been elected as student leader. By fixing his relationship with Stan, has brought him close to her. He waits to meet with one of his managers at the petrol station and then he receives the call from Robert.
“Hello.”
“Bernard Tooper.”
“Speaking.”
“Yes it is me Robert, I managed to track you down, we met at the Hue hotel, I'm sure you remember.”
…..
“You there?”
“What do you want?”
“Why so angry?”
“Listen here, I'm not your friend and I don't have all day so spit it out.”
“OK, I wanted to find out how you doing and I wanted to tell you that I would like us to meet as I have something that will be of interest to you.”
“And what might that be? Why would I still want to meet with you?”
“As I said, you would want to hear me out. Let’s meet at the old restaurant at the fort street, at 5pm tomorrow.”
“OK, only if after that you will stay out of my way. But I'm not giving you a cent.”
“We will talk tomorrow. Have sweet dreams.”
“Nicely done, you handled it very well. Tomorrow you will talk about figures for your silence and for everything to disappear.”
“But you heard him. He said he won't pay me a cent.”
“To a religious man, there is a difference between what he says and what he does. You will tell him about the videos and show him the stills to make him believe that it really happened. Make him picture the photographs on every newspaper in the country. That will make to think about how much he values his reputation. He will want to pay you for this to go away. That should do the trick.
“You not really planning to leak these pics, if he doesn't cooperate, do you?”
“If it comes to that, yes that is what we need to do.”
“Then you will have to pay me more, it will be my face on the newspapers not yours. It would be hard for me to get any job if that would happen. So that’s not part of my plans. You said easy money and right now I will need some to get by.”
“You should learn to relax, everything is under control. You will get your money. Everything will be taken care of. You just do what I tell you and I will handle the rest. The agreed amount was R20 000 once the job is finished and I will give you just that, capish”
“Yes but, if you leak those photos you will have to pay me R20 000 more.”
“OK here is a thousand in the meantime.”
Robert did not know that this man plans to do. His plans are to get the money from the Bishop and leak the photos anyway. As there is nothing that will lead to him. Robert will take the fall and branded a gay man with an axe to grind. But what he doesn't know is that Robert has secretly began to record they conversations and has taken his photograph, when he began not to trust him nor his plans.
CHAPTER 6
The day has come and the time is 5pm. Bernard has arrived and is waiting in the old restaurant. Looking around the empty tables with just a few people seated two tables away from him. The restaurant is situated in a quiet road away from the clubs, which makes it an ideal place to chill or have a meeting there as there are no disturbances. But it was chosen as a meeting place because it is intimate with no CCTV.
Roberts arrives and immediately sees him. Bernard stands up and tries his best to look formal so that no one can spot the unusual vibe between them. Today Bernard wore his light blue shirt and black formal pants because it is a bit humid.
“How are you? I hope you found it easy to spot the place. Have you ordered yet? Because I'm starving.”
“Cut the niceties. I'm not here to have dinner with you. Now tell me why am I here?”
“Waiter! Yes can I have a steak and my partner over here will have a salad I believe.”
“No get me bottled water. That all.”
“Coming right up.” The waiter jots down the orders.
“Firstly I would like to say that how you treated me at the hotel was not right. I felt hurt by how you threatened me and belittled me.”
The waiter arrives with the steak and still bottled water.
“This is for and for you sir.”
“Hey! Listen here I'm leaving I did not come here for games.”
“OK. Fair enough here is what I brought you.” He pulls out the photos of them together and slides them on the table to Bernard. He nearly faint when he one with them sleeping very close to each other, the way lovers do.
“I see the photographs. Now what are you planning to do with them?”
“Well that is up to you. Do you want our time together to go public? Or just in our memories?”
“Speaking about memories. Why can't I remember any of the details except the things you told me? Did you drug me in order to blackmail me?”
“Don't ask me about your memory, I'm not your doctor. Maybe it was the alcohol that made you forget because it was a very wild night. Maybe you blocked out the details because of your so called beliefs.”
“That is so convenient because before I came here I spoke to a police friend of mine and I told him about my situation and he told me that I need to bring to book those that are blackmailing me. Now, no those photos are mine now. Tell me What you want form me before I make one call and have you locked up for than 5 years plus other charges.”
“That won't be smart on your part. What other charges are you talking about?”
“Well let’s start with kidnapping and rape. So you will be looking at more than 20 years.
Plus I will make sure that my name will be left out as I will pull strings. You know I am a very powerful bishop with a lot of friends, you hear me you little fool.”
“I… I'm not looking for any trouble. Just some money, it wasn't even my idea and I think that he is somewhere watching us. He has the cameras and copies. Just pay me money please.”
“No. Tell me his name and I will sought him out.”
“He….he never told me his name but I did managed to take picture of him I will have to give you another time. Give me R100 000 and I will give you everything if you do that.”
“You know I don't have to pay you anything.”
“But you do want to find out is behind this don't you? I have to tell him something otherwise they will appear tomorrow in the newspapers.”
“I'm leaving now tell him I will think about it.”
He leaves the restaurant not believing what he had just done. His hunch served him well. All his threats were empty. He thought he could not risk telling anyone about the blackmail, even the police because he thought that anyone could just leak the story to the press. But now he knows what he is against. He is planning as he goes along. At the door the man takes a picture of him and he doesn't realise that it’s him. He can now almost breathe a sigh of relief. He thinks of telling someone he will help him now that he has audio proof that nothing happened that night. If he tries to pay them off, he knows that they will leak them anyway so stands in front of a shop in full view of the restaurant and calls a Private investigator who is in the vicinity.
The PI manages to arrive 10 minutes later and follows Robert but couldn't be lucky enough to see clearly the face of guy he spoke to before taking a taxi, but photographed his red Jeep Wrangler and number plate.
“Hello Bishop, its Vela here.
“Yes Vela any news yet?”
“I managed to get the mystery guy's car registration and about to run a trace. But what I can tell you is that he drives a Jeep Wrangler, I will email you the photographs. I also found out that Robert's surname is Law, he is an unemployed graphics design graduate. I will also you his address.”
“So he was telling the truth about someone else being involved. Now it clear that person has been bankrolling this. I will need you to find out everything about them, but time is not on our side.
“I will do that.”
CHAPTER 7
Bernard has to his wife about the blackmailing and how it was done. It came as a shock when she heard for herself the conversation he had recorded during their last meeting. She has offered to help out financially and using every resource at their disposal. But she felt almost betrayed by his dishonesty for the past weeks and his pretence that his 'forgiveness' and acceptance of Stan's sexual orientation was brought by his conscience, when in fact it was his fear that he cheated on his with a man. They agree to inform the police when they have gathered enough evidence.
Vela the private investigator for two days he follows Robert to see where he goes and who he meets. He strikes gold, he finds out that the Jeep is owned by Coelsch Corporation the majority owner is none other than Sydney Cole, the son of a popular local priest. The connection is immediate, the information is relayed to Bernard. But he doesn't remember the priest showing any ill feelings towards him, he knows him as a well-respected priest.
“Robert it is me. I have thought long and hard about this and I have an offer for you.”
“I have been waiting for your call. We need to meet today and discuss it. This time at the park at 3:30.”
He hangs up the phone as if to sound busy. The bishop himself feels nervous that maybe he might make a mistake and under estimate them. The step he to familiarise himself with the plan. He knows the park all too well as he and his wife used to have pick nicks there but stopped when the street were they would park began to be frequented by whoonga druggies. His church together with others tried to help the addicts, by trying to organise for them help and shelter but only managed to help a handful to kick the addiction. It is not an easy sight because you see kids as young as 13 dirty and lost, they seem to age very quickly as it become hard to tell their age even the police have that difficulty when they occasionally arrest some for theft or loitering.
“Yes! We are on he told me to meet at 15:30 at the park so I will need for you to be there and bring your gun, just in case.”
“I will be ready. By 15:00 I should be there. Remember to stay come if they try to do something stupid.”
With everything covered. He prays for guidance. He goes to his safe and picks up some money he and his wife have saved, and also his gun for safety.
The time is 15:16. He leaves home early as the park is a mere 5 minutes’ drive. He easily finds parking in the seemingly deserted parking space, he doesn't see the usual beggars and druggies near the concrete bins. Which are only filled with dirty plastic bags. He glances at the bench near the trees 30 metres away and spots the now almost unrecognisable Vela, dressed as a dirty beggar.
He takes a walk towards the stream and behind him a voice says “So you came early. Did you bring me some money and a better offer?”
He turns and there is Robert looking at him dead in the face. He seemed more desperate and acted with a sense of urgency, unlike their last meeting.
“I brought you an offer of R70 000. I will give you some if you give me something useful.”
“Useful! We both know that this is worth more plus I know that you are rich. Give me R90 000 before the end of the day and we have a deal.”
“I am not rich, my wife is and I can only afford to give you R70 000.”
“Deal only if you will give me today.”
“OK now tell me something I don't know.”
“The man that is doing this is Sydney Cole. He wants to buy into your wife's business and for his father to be made bishop, by destroying your image in public. I would tell you more but it seems he just caught us out. There he is on your left.
“Bishop! My price just went up. My camera just saw the both of you together for the second time.”
“Your threats don't scare me. I know all about you.”
“Do you now? So your little girlfriend told you? I wouldn't trust that one if I were you, he only follows the money. What I'm about to show you will do more than scare you?” As he tries to pull out something from the pocket, a gunshot rings out in the empty park.
“What the hell? You just shot me.” Blood oozes out of Sydney's stomach.
“Man why did you shoot him he wanted to show you these pictures?
“I thought he was pulling a gun.”
Vela rushes to the scene and sees the dying Sydney on the bloody grass with a camera and a few pictures scattered.
“Please give me the gun Bernard.”
“You know him? You brought him here to help you play me?”
“I don't deal with the devil.” Before both Vela and Robert could blink, he fires a single shot to the head and Robert is killed instantly.
Thank you for reading my book. I’m considering of turning this short story into a series. So if you enjoyed it, or for any feedback. Please write a review at your favourite retailer.
