Night In London (Night Series Book 2)

by Casey Christie

  I realise that crime in Johannesburg is a big issue for you and is in fact a big issue for many people, that actually being one of the reasons why I dedicated myself so immensely to my work as a police officer, as I thought I really was having a positive impact on people’s lives by waging a war on criminals. And while I believe I will always love my job perhaps it’s time I focus on what’s really important to me, you!

  If you’ll have me back then I’ll have your back! Sorry, that was stupid, but you know what I mean, I hope.

  I thought this was going to be a much longer letter but it seems I’ve already said what I want to, in letter form at least, there is SO much more that I want to talk to you about, not least how I think something inside of me has awoken from my travelling – as you know I’ve wanted to travel for years and it seems there was good reason for it. For the first time in a long time I feel positive and optimistic for the future again. Lisa, it’s utterly wonderful.

  Do you know what I did this morning? I rode on the London Underground, and it was overcrowded and people stank of sweat, smoke and booze, but I loved it! And I travelled on a world famous red double decker bus. It was charmed. Corny, aren’t I?! But you would love it too.

  So before I promise to look for a transfer to Cape Town and perhaps even ask you to start looking for a place for us down there, including Wamba of course, I wanted to ask you something else? Would you, Miss van der Westhuizen, and hopefully one day and God willing, Mrs Night, like to come and join me here in London?

  I have some business that I need to take care of, Amos asked me to do something for him, but I just don’t see how I will be able to, although I did give him my word that I would at least look at all the facts, which I will do. I will look and evaluate and then make my decision. But I’m pretty sure what that decision will be. There are after all many ways to skin a cat, horrible expression though that is.

  By the time this letter reaches you, which I am going to send via a private courier, as we both know that the South African Postal service simply wouldn’t get it to you, I should be finished with my business here. I am due in the North of England to do some training in a week’s time, training that I am really looking forward to, and I could book you into a hotel there and perhaps you could start writing that book you’ve always wanted to write – about your experiences as a 10111 operator? I’m sure it will be a bestseller! Or you could start painting again?

  Anyway, now I am rambling, I think because, as I said earlier I am truly feeling energised, Lisa, and it’s fantastic!

  I was going to phone you but thought it better to send a hand-written letter? Who does that anymore, anyway, well I hope you’ll appreciate it. But call me once you get this, I’m on my usual number and couldn’t bear to wait all that time for a return letter to reach me, and besides you won’t know where I’ll be, so phone me, Lis, as soon as you get this, well as soon as you have made up your mind. London awaits…

  I love you Lisa and my heart sings at the thought of holding you in my arms once more.

  Please send my regards to your parents.

  Yours forever in love,

  Michael Night

  Crowne Plaza - Later that day.

  A tiny knock on the door caught Night’s attention as he lay, fully clothed, in bed, reading a local magazine. Night put the light reading material on the writing table and moved towards the door while automatically reaching for his firearm. When in civilian clothing it would usually be at his front, in his belt, under his clothing, in an in-holster, but of course, it wasn’t there.

  “How do people live like this?” Night said to himself as he peered through the hotel door’s peephole and was pleased to see Freddie standing there.

  As Night opened the door for his local fixer he made a show of checking his wrist watch which told him the time was 16:32.

  “Just after lunch hey, Freddie?”

  “I know, I know. I didn’t sleep so well, anyway, I want us to…”

  Freddie suddenly stopped talking, and put the large bag he was carrying onto the bed and looked at Night curiously as if just remembering his was dealing with an apprentice, of sorts.

  “Have you swept the room?”

  “You mean TCSM? (Technical Counter Surveillance Measures)”

  “Yes?”

  “Well, yeah, but it’s not as though I have any equipment or anything...”

  “You don’t need any bloody equipment, you shark!”

  “Shark? Did you just call me a bloody shark?! Fuck off, Freddie, I’m in a good mood today, don’t spoil it by being a dick!”

  “Well if I have to wipe your arse for you then I will call you a bloody shark!”

  Night went to the room’s mini bar and fished inside for a miniature bottle of Bells whisky which he mixed in with some coke that he had bought from the local convenience store downstairs.

  “As I said, Freddy, I’ve swept the place, thoroughly and it looks clean, as far as I can see with just my eyes and no specialised equipment.”

  “Well, don’t mind me while I do my own little search then, is that for me?”

  “Yes, thought you may want some ‘medicine’, might help make you nice!”

  Le Roux reached out to take the glass but Night held it back.

  “Have you had something to eat today?”

  “Fuck off, Michael! You bloody bastard, who do you think you are!? My bloody mother?!”

  Night laughed and handed Le Roux his drink, before the man exploded.

  “You can be a right prick when you want to be, hey Night!?”

  “Can’t we all, but I knew you would waste my time and get here late.”

  Freddie downed the contents of his glass in one slug and handed his host back his empty glass and gestured for more.

  Night refilled the cup as he watched Freddie work methodically through the room. Night was impressed, the man was thorough and checked areas and objects Night didn’t even think to inspect.

  After some time Le Roux ended his sweep, went to the TV and turned it on with the remote control and put the volume up to an almost uncomfortable level and took the glass from Night and once again drained it in one gulp.

  “Ah, much better. It looks clean but like you say we can’t be totally sure but I’m happy enough. Now, tell me what did you mean when you said: ‘how do people live like this?’”

  “You heard that?”

  “Yes, I have very good hearing, now tell me what did you mean by that?”

  “I just realised that I was unarmed and find it hard to imagine being unarmed for the rest of my life, is the whole country without a means to protect themselves and the ones they love?”

  “Pretty much, except for shotguns, the farmers and toffs have shotguns.”

  “But no weapons for self defence?”

  “None.”

  “Well then I better get my security license ASAP!”

  “That won’t help. No one carries here, not the majority of the police and certainly no one in the security sector.”

  “You have got to be kidding me? What about bodyguards, surely they carry?”

  Le Roux moved to the mini bar and took a beer from it.

  “Do you mind?”

  “If it makes you play nice then be my guest.”

  “Thank you. And no, not even bodyguards carry firearms here.”

  Night looked at Freddie quizzically.

  “I suppose that could actually be a good thing?”

  Freddie took a swig of his beer and a seat on the edge of the bed.

  “Yes, for our purpose, on this occasion. Although it is possible to get tooled up, of course. But it’s always better not to. It garners far too much attention in this country. Strange thing that: If someone gets stabbed to death it doesn’t make nearly as much press as if someone is shot to death? I have no idea why as murder is murder, right?”

  “So what’s the plan, Freddie? We need to get eyes on I would think.”

  “Exactly, we’re off to Canary Wharf where Mann
has an office, and my timing I will have you know, is actually perfect as he only leaves just after six. And usually has a drink first. So just enough time for us to suit up appropriately and get to ‘The Square Mile’. Now if you look in this bag here you’ll find some clothes.”

  Night walked over to the bed and opened the bag and looked approvingly at the contents.

  “Suited and booted?”

  “We’ll blend right in.”

  “They’re going to be very wrinkled though?”

  “If they weren’t then we’d look very strange indeed. We’re just two bankers after a long day’s work having a couple of pints at the local pub.”

  “His local pub?”

  “Exactly, I’ve been there every day for the past week and the man loves his routines.”

  Le Roux moved to the minibar and took out an assortment of chocolates and potato crisps and got stuck in.

  “Now before we get into disguise, haha, I love saying that anytime I put a suit on, I want to go through a few things with you, like what kind of TCSM you went through while in SA, were you being watched, followed, was your phone tapped, and what about the people you love, family etc, tell me everything, Mike, while I have another beverage.”

  Chapter Twenty Nine

  Cape Town, South Africa.

  The Cape Doctor, the infamous South Easterly wind, was blowing even stronger than usual as Lisa van der Westhuizen made her way to the beach front. She carefully climbed the large rocks to find the shelter in the middle of the rock formation looking out at the Atlantic Ocean. Her father had shown her the secret spot only yesterday and after having a long and much needed discussion with her parents about her future life she had decided to come to this location to reflect and pray.

  She gently jumped down onto the soft beach sand and removed her sandals and enjoyed the sensation of the cool shingle against her feet. She made herself comfortable and closed her eyes and thought back on the conversation she had just had with her parents and smiled inwardly at the decision she had just made with the blessing of her parents. She would travel back to Johannesburg as soon as Night had returned from his training in Europe and rejoin Michael and try to make a life for themselves, wherever that may be.

  Being away from Michael, the only man she had ever truly loved, had helped crystallise her feelings towards him. She not only loved the man but she admired him as well, for his integrity, his honesty and his sense of honour. She had known that he would not have outwardly challenged her decision to leave Johannesburg to be with her parents in Cape Town as he would not have wanted to cause conflict between them, knowing just how important her relationship with her parents was to her.

  She smiled at the thought of once again being in his strong arms and took her cellular phone out of her large beach bag and dialled his number. After a short while it began to ring and Lisa noted the foreign sound of the tone and realised it was of course because he was out of the country. The phone rang to voicemail.

  “Mikey, it’s me. I won’t be long as I know this call will cost you a fortune with roaming charges. But I just… I just wanted to say that I love you, Michael Night, and I can’t bare to be away from you. I want to come back… but now you’re in England and I’m here. Oh, I don’t know, Michael, I just can’t stand to be away from you so I’ll do whatever it takes to be with you… If you’ll take me back, of course? Will you, Michael? Will you take me back? I’ve spoken to my parents and they totally understand, in fact they encouraged me to return to you. And you’ll be happy to know that their place is lovely. It’s small but very safe in a guarded security complex and perfect for the two of them. Please call me as soon as you get this, my love. I miss you! Oh, and I hope you’re enjoying England. Call me, as soon as you can.”

  Lisa ended the call and leaned back against the rock and closed her eyes and within moments she fell into a peaceful sleep.

  Lisa woke with a fright as some salty water splashed onto her face and mouth. She looked out toward the sea and saw that the tide had come in and that the sun was beginning to dip into the ocean. Lisa looked at her watch as another wave brought more sea spray on to her.

  “Oh, sherbet! I better get home!”

  Lisa giggled loudly to herself and she scrambled to her feet, gathered her things and climbed up onto one of the boulders, then ran across the sand and towards the entrance of the sea-facing security complex where she was staying with her parents.

  As she approached the gate Lisa noticed that the usually ever smiling security guard, Prince, was not there waving her in as she gained entry to the gates via her security key card.

  “That’s strange, maybe he’s patrolling.”

  Lisa skipped along the complex’s small network of roads until she found the block that housed her parents new apartment.

  As she laid her eye’s on the door to the dwelling she stopped dead in her tracks letting her beach bag fall from her grasp onto the tarred road - The door was open and the resident security vehicle was parked outside the entrance, driverless, with its red emergency lights flashing.

  Without conscious thought Lisa began to scream while running towards the flat.

  “Mom! Dad!”

  But before she could gain entry into the flat the security guard, Prince, who usually manned the entrance gate, emerged from within and held Lisa from behind while simultaneously pulling her away from the door.

  “Lisa, come with me, you mustn’t go inside, not now..”

  Lisa, ever mindful of the self-defence training that Night had given her, launched her head backwards into her captor’s face and heard his teeth crack as her skull made impact with his mouth. She then used the back of her hand to strike at the man’s groin and he let go of her as he crumpled to his feet from the pain of both wounds.

  Finally free from his grasp she ran through the door and was surprised to see two modestly suited men standing over the couch in the family room.

  “Who the hell are you?!”

  Both men spun around as one and shared a worried look before both officers produced their police identification and held their Appointment Certificates out for Lisa to inspect.

  “Detectives, from crime intelligence? What are you doing here?”

  Then Lisa caught sight of her parents sitting, lifeless and staring past her, through her. She noticed that they each had a small bloody hole at the top of their heads, almost between the eyes. And then she looked at their torsos and noticed that each of them had two red circles, obviously caused by their own blood, in their clothes around their chest region.

  “Mom, dad? What are these men doing here, are you both okay, did they hurt you?”

  Lisa moved closer to her parents but stopped as she progressed around them and noticed the large holes protruding from the backs of their heads and the blood and brain matter on the furniture behind them.

  A voice that sounded like some distant banshee emerged from her throat but before she could reach the bodies of her dead parents her world went black as she fainted from the shock and collapsed onto the floor.

  Lisa opened her eyes slowly and wasn’t surprised to see Prince kneeling in front of her. He was bleeding from the lip but was smiling gently at her. She looked around her. The picnic blanket she had used the day before with her parents had been placed over her.

  “Are you okay, madam Lisa?”

  “I’m okay, Prince. I’m sorry if I hurt you.”

  “It’s okay, Lisa” the smiling security guard now looked at the floor.

  “My parents are dead aren’t they, Prince?”

  The security guard barely nodded his head.

  Lisa got to her feet and looked around the room and realised that she was in the kitchen adjoining the family room. She removed the blanket and walked into the living room where she found the two police officers. One was on his police radio and the other was on his cellphone.

  The older officer, who was on the phone, turned to face her.

  “Okay, General. I will give you a full
SITREP as soon as the locals show up and take over the scene.”

  The detective ended the phone call and approached Lisa.

  “Please stay in the kitchen, Lisa, just while we sort everything out in here.”

  “How do you know my name?”

  The officer made to answer when Lisa raised her hand to stop him.

  “Actually it doesn’t matter. Nothing matters anymore. Can I see them?”

  Lisa gestured to where her parents’ bodies had now been covered with a duvet taken from their bedroom.

  The two officers shared a look before the older man nodded at his colleague.

  “You sure?”

  “Yes, remove the blanket.”

  The younger policeman did as he was told and Lisa moved to look at her parents and leaned over and gave each of them a kiss on their foreheads – the icy feel of their skin hardly registering with the in-shock and in-denial daughter.

  “Did you kill them?”

  “God no, of course not. We were sent here to watch over you, Lisa.”

  “Me? And not my parents, why?”

  “Our orders, Lisa. We followed you to the beach but then heard the gunshots. We ran here as fast as we could but it was too late.”

  “Pity” said Lisa robotically.

  “Are you all right, Lisa?”

  “I’m fine. Thank you, I just need to go to the bathroom.”

  Without any further comment Lisa disappeared out of the room, down the corridor and into the bathroom.

  “Prince?”

  “Yes, boss?”

  “Follow the madam to the bathroom, please and wait outside. And make sure that she is okay. She’s in shock now, and in denial. I’ve seen it dozens of times previously, soon she’ll be angry, very angry and then it’ll hit her and I want you to be with her when that happens, understand?”

  The security guard nodded his head and followed Lisa to the bathroom.

  “The locals are on their way, Warrant. And so is the mortuary van, photographer, fingerprints, duty detective and shift commander.”