Crooks and Straights

by Masha du Toit

  There was a silence.

  Gia forced herself to look steadily at her father, tensing, ready for him to shout, or slam his hands on the table in frustration. But all he did was sigh.

  “Gia, that’s all over now. You must see that. You can’t possibly still mean to be going through with this crazy scheme?”

  “Dad—” Mandy put out a warning hand.

  “Dad,” she said in a quieter tone. “I made an agreement. I can’t go back on that.”

  “You have a commitment to this family, Gia. That should be your first priority.”

  Gia tried to stay calm.

  “That’s right,” she said. “It’s because of family. To keep Nico safe from the Belle Gente. If I break my bargain we’ll be in an even worse mess than we are now.”

  -oOo-

  Gia sat on the front stairs, watching the street through the burglar gate.

  The meeting had ended in stalemate. Her father would not concede that she had to honour her agreement with both Special Branch and the Belle Gente. She knew he was right about the work that had to be done. Even if Kavitha’s dress was finished on time, there would be other jobs after that. Without Saraswati’s help, how could the business continue?

  I can’t finish that dress even with him to help me, in the time that’s left, she thought bitterly. How does he expect me to do it all by myself?

  “Hey!”

  She looked up with a jerk, and had to shade her eyes. “Fatima!”

  There was somebody else behind Fatima, and a moment later Ben was hanging on the bars of the gate, with Sonella smiling past him.

  “Aren’t you going to let us in?”

  “Okay, okay— just hang on a mo—”

  She unlocked the gate, and Fatima smothered anything else she’d been going to say in a hug.

  “Sonella called us,” she said. “Said you’d not been to school and she’s sure something's wrong. Is it?” She held Gia at arm’s length, and nodded. “Come, let’s go upstairs and you can tell Auntie Fatima all about it.”

  She tugged Gia up the stairs, Sonella and Ben following close behind.

  There was music coming from Nico’s bedroom. Granny must have put on a record for him.

  They went through to the living room. “You sit here,” said Fatima as she pulled out a chair, “and tell us what’s going on.”

  Gia looked at Sonella.

  “Sonella hasn’t told us anything,” said Fatima. “So. Spill.”

  Gia opened her mouth and closed it again. She should be irritated at Fatima’s bossy manner, but in fact it was an incredible relief to see her friends.

  “I don’t know—”

  “None of that,” said Fatima. “I know there’s been a lot of weird stuff going on and that you’ve been keeping it mostly to yourself. But this has gone far enough, Gia. Tell.”

  “But— Okay! Okay. Don’t look like that.”

  Hesitantly at first, and then with more confidence, Gia told them the events of the past few days.

  It took a while to tell it all. At first Fatima kept interrupting, but Ben put a stop to that, which made the telling easier.

  She told the whole story, leaving nothing out this time. When she came to explaining about her mother, what she was, and how she’d left, Gia found herself holding on to the edge of the table as though that would steady her. When she was finished, she looked up to find them all watching her.

  “So that’s why Nico is the way he is?” said Ben.

  Gia nodded, then gave a sigh that was almost a sob.

  “That’s right. And everyone tells me that Mom’s not going to come back. And that’s another thing. We are seriously in the dwang. Dad’s up to his neck with client work. We need to finish Kavitha’s dress, but without Mom, I just don’t know how we’re going to manage that.”

  “Damn,” said Fatima softly. She’d been very quiet throughout the last part of the story, and Gia was far from sure what she was thinking.

  Sonella reached out to touch Gia’s hand.

  “Gia, you’re going to have to contact the people you spoke to in the Belle Gente. You’ll have to renegotiate.”

  “What?”

  “I’m serious. They need you. Things have changed with this thing with your mom. You’ll have to let them know.”

  Gia shook her head, sitting back. “There’s no way they’re going to let me off—”

  “No, I don’t think so either,” said Sonella. “But there might be something they can do to help.”

  “Like what?”

  “I don’t know.”

  Ben frowned at Sonella. “Why would they want to help?” he said. “Seems like they’re pretty much just getting what they can out of the situation. It’s not like they care what happens to Gia.”

  “I know,” said Sonella. “But they need her. If she can’t go, they don’t have a spy. You have something to negotiate with, Gia.”

  “But even if I wanted to,” said Gia, “how do I contact them?”

  Sonella shrugged. “The way you did before? Go to the guy who did your contract for you? Brakman?”

  “No,” said Gia. The idea that had seemed so impossible a moment ago was starting to take root. “That would seem so weak. I need to surprise them— show them I’m a step ahead. If I go back to Brakman that just puts them in charge again.”

  “So what’s your plan?” said Ben.

  “It’s something Sonella said.:” Gia took the button out of her pocket and put it on the table.

  “What’s that?”

  “It’s a button that I found at that place they took me to when I was blindfolded. If I can figure out where it is despite everything they did to prevent me knowing—”

  Sonella already knew what she meant. “That’s right,” she said nodding eagerly. “You must take them off guard.”

  “Um, I don’t know,” said Ben. “If you mean what I think you mean.”

  “You can do it, can’t you, Ben?” said Gia. “I won’t ask you to if you don’t want to.”

  “Of course I’ll do it,” said Ben, sounding almost angry. “But what happens if they can feel me doing it? They’ve probably got some serious security going. What if I trip some— psychic alarm or something?”

  Gia stared at him, unable to think of anything to say.

  “Can they do that?” said Sonella.

  “I don’t know,” said Ben. “But those people are not a joke. Ah, what the hell—” Before Gia could stop him, he picked up the button.

  Gia wished now that she’d never said anything, but it was too late. Ben held the button cupped in both hands in front of his face, eyes closed, frowning with concentration.

  “Um,” he said at last. “I don’t think the person who wore this was human. Smells like— soil. Stone. And stale beer. Cigarette smoke.”

  Gia nodded, torn between wanting to stop him, and fascinated by his words.

  “Not a daytime kind of guy. Night, mostly. Lots of people. Strobes—”

  He rocked slightly from side to side, as if to a beat no one else could hear. Then he sighed and put the button down on the table. “It’s at a club. The Playground, I’d say. Could be a troll.”

  Gia saw him in her mind’s eye. The troll bouncer at the Playground.

  “You're sure?” said Sonella.

  “It’s a guess. But I’m sure.”

  “Thanks, Ben,” said Gia. “I shouldn’t have asked. I didn’t think.”

  “No, it’s okay. Nothing happened anyway.”

  We hope.

  “But what now?” said Sonella. “Are you going to go there, Gia?”

  “We’re all going,” said Ben.

  “No, no ways,” said Gia, half getting up. “There’s no ways you guys are coming too.”

  “Hold on,” said Ben, and Sonella was also speaking. “Gia,” she said “We can’t possibly let you go—”

  But Gia shook her head. “You don’t understand,” she said. “I should never have told any of you any of this. Don’t you get it? I�
�m a spy.”

  She gave a wry laugh. “I know it sounds ridiculous. But this is real. If anyone finds out what I’m doing, I’m— I don’t know what will happen to me. Or to Nico. They wouldn’t have gone through all that trouble blindfolding me unless it mattered to them who knows about where they are. Sonella,” Gia looked at her desperately. “You said it yourself. They need me. They can’t do anything to me. But you guys will just be—” Words failed her.

  “Don’t you understand? These are people who will do worse that kill you, if they think you know their secrets.” She found she was trembling, remembering her few seconds trapped in the gaze of that terrible, quiet man.

  “The girl is right.”

  They all looked round, startled, to see Granny standing at the door, holding Nico by the hand. “You can’t just go blundering in there like a bunch of bumblebees on a summer’s day.

  “Gia must go,” she nodded at Sonella. “That is right. You’re a girl with sense. But the rest of you…” She shook her head grimly.

  “But Gia can’t go by herself,” said Sonella.

  “Who said anything about her going by herself?” said Granny.

  Gia felt a rush of hope. “Oh, Granny, you’ll go with me?”

  “Yes, I will,” said Granny. “Oh don’t look so happy about it girl. It’s no picnic.”

  “When?”

  “Tonight. Best see them at night. We’ll walk together, you and me.”

  “You’re going to walk all the way there?” said Ben. “Don’t you have a car?”

  Granny shook her head. “You think I can drive? It’s a bit further than I’m used to, but a bit of exercise would do me good.”

  “I’ll take you,” said Fatima suddenly. She’d been unusually quiet, but now she seemed to have regained her old confidence.

  “What, on your bike?” said Ben. “I’d like to see that!”

  “Don’t be a doos,” said Fatima. “I’ll borrow my brother’s car.”

  “But that just brings us back to where we were before,” protested Gia. “They’ll see that you know where they are—”

  “I’ll drop you off in town and you can walk the last bit,” said Fatima.

  “But will your brother let you use his car?”

  “Don’t worry. He won’t even know,” said Fatima.

  Plum And Bamboo

  Gia grabbed the safety belt as Fatima stomped on the brake.

  “Sorry!” said Fatima. “Didn’t realise how fast we were going.”

  “Lucky I put my belt on,” muttered Granny from the back seat. “I’d be all over the windscreen by now. I thought you said you knew how to drive.”

  “I do! I can drive alright. It’s just this thing is such a monster.” The lights changed and she wrestled with the gear lever, engine revving. This time, Gia was ready for the jerk as they pulled off.

  “I’ve not hit anything yet, and that’s all that counts.”

  “If that’s your definition of driving then I suppose— watch it!”

  This time Gia did close her eyes as they careened round a corner then passed far too close to a line of parked cars.

  “Sorry, sorry. Why do they park there, anyway?”

  “Maybe drive a little more slowly?” said Gia. “The engine sounds way too loud.”

  “It does,” said Fatima. “Oh.” She released the handbrake and the note of the engine dropped abruptly. “That’s better.”

  After that, things calmed down a bit.

  They were driving down Main Road, as no one had wanted to risk the freeway with Fatima at the wheel. When Fatima had offered to “borrow” her brother’s car, Gia had not asked what kind of car it was. It had been quite a shock to see the enormous four-by-four roaring down their narrow street with Fatima barely visible above the wheel.

  Granny insisted that they could not start before eleven, so it was thoroughly dark by that time.

  Ben and Sonella had gone home hours ago. They had tried to find reasons to go along, but in the end Granny had prevailed.

  “There’s no reason for you two to tag along, and you’d be safer in your beds. Less chance of things going wrong. I’ll have enough on my hands as it is.”

  Granny had also insisted that Gia wear “proper clothes.”

  “The people you are going to speak to, they care about that kind of thing. Don’t give them an excuse to ignore you. And if you go as you are now, they’ll not let you in the door.”

  So Gia had washed her hair and put on her birthday dress. She’d also borrowed a pair of Saraswati’s shoes that fit her well enough but were far from comfortable.

  “Okay, nearly there now,” said Fatima, turning into Bree Street. “Hey! This time I even remembered to put on the indicator.”

  She laughed at Gia’s horrified expression. “Oh, chill. No lives lost yet. And not a scratch on the car either, which is what really matters. If Manny figures out I drove his car, he’ll have my guts for garters. There.” She slowed and stopped, mostly in a vacant parking space.

  “Ah, what the hell, good enough.”

  She pulled up the handbrake and switched off the engine. “You sure you don’t want me to come along?”

  “No, really, Fatima. Let’s stick to the plan,” said Gia.

  They had decided that Fatima would wait at a nearby restaurant, rather than sitting in the car where she might attract the wrong kind of attention.

  Gia opened the door and looked doubtfully down to the pavement, which seemed an unusually long way down. She jumped down and stumbled in her unfamiliar shoes.

  Granny had no problem getting out of the enormous car.

  “Let’s go,” she said, and Gia had just enough time for a hug and a “Good luck” from Fatima before she had to hurry to catch up with the old woman.

  Granny walked sturdily along, staring about her. “Haven’t been in town for too long,” she said. “Things do change.”

  It was strange and a little awkward walking down Bree Street with Granny. Gia was uncomfortably aware that they must make a odd couple. Granny barely came up to her elbow, but she more than made up for it with her brightly striped headscarf and multiple strings of beads that clattered as she walked. There were quite a few people hanging about on the street, smoking or waiting to go into restaurants and clubs, but Granny seemed completely unaware of the stares they attracted.

  “Now, before we get there,” she said. “You got to act like you know what you’re doing. Be a little bit arrogant. The old ones like to treat the rest of us like we’re not worth scraping off their shoes. They still think things will go back the way they used to be, when everyone was pretty much their servants.”

  She laughed grimly. “That’s the way it used to be, but that’s not the way it is now, no sir. But no use reminding them of that. So if you behave as if you are the aristocracy, you’ll have a better chance of being listened to.”

  Gia felt far from sure about this advice, but she did not argue.

  “The two you spoke to, I’ve heard about them,” continued Granny. “The woman is an old one indeed. She has many names, but I’ve heard her spoken about as The White Crane so that might be a safe name to use. The man, I think he’s a recent arrival. Bad lot, that one. If he’s the one I’m thinking of, they call him the Blind Man. But don’t make the mistake of thinking he’s actually blind. No such thing.”

  “I know,” said Gia with a shudder. “Do you think I’ll have to speak to him?”

  “I don’t know,” said Granny. “Let’s take things as they come. Just be respectful and you should not come to any harm.”

  “I thought you said I had to be arrogant.”

  “You do! But that doesn’t mean you have to be rude.”

  Gia had to laugh at this. They turned down a side street and she could see Long Street up ahead.

  “Pretend to be your mother. That should do it,” said Granny. “In fact it’s in your favour that Saraswati is your mother. They know that, don’t they?”

  “They do.”


  She could see the entrance to the club now, with the troll bouncer standing outside. As they approached, Granny tugged at her sleeve.

  “One more thing,” she said. “Don’t eat or drink anything they give you. You know that, right?”

  “Okay. But aren’t you going to be with me?”

  Granny did not answer. There was a crowd outside the club, lining up to go inside. Gia realised that there must be some act or other, and a popular one at that.

  She headed for the back of the queue, but Granny grabbed her arm and propelled her toward the bouncer. It was the same troll who had been at the door the last time Gia had been to the club.

  He wore the same leather jacket, and Gia saw that each sleeve had a row of decorative buttons. Brass buttons, inset with black stone.

  He did not look around at their approach and to Gia’s horror Granny tugged at his sleeve and shouted “Excuse me!” over the thump of the music coming from inside the club. Gia took a step back as the troll turned.

  “Young lady here needs to speak to you,” said Granny.

  For a moment Gia and the troll eyed one another. Then Gia got her words in line.

  “I wanted to thank you for helping me the other night,” she said. “I would have fallen without your help.”

  The troll’s eyes narrowed, and he thrust out his jaw. “What?”

  Gia had to fight the urge to step back. “You helped me. At the ladder? Down the—?”

  He gave a warning snort. “What do you want?”

  Several of the people in the queue had noticed them now, and were watching.

  “I need to speak to— the woman.”

  The troll blinked. “Hmm,” he rumbled. “But does she want to speak to you?”

  “She will, when she hears what I have to tell her,” said Gia. Then she jerked her chin at the growing audience. “But I can’t say any more out here.”

  “Hmm,” said the troll.

  He turned and spoke to someone behind him, then gestured that Gia and Granny should step aside. “You wait here,” he said when Granny made as if to protest.

  Gia wished she’d brought a jacket. It was not cold, but she felt exposed wearing just the dress. Everyone was staring at her now, and it seemed a long time before a man stepped out from behind the troll and beckoned for them to come inside.