“It’ll be easier if you call me Marius, or just Coetzee if you like. Nobody calls me Mr Coetzee, OK?”
“OK, I’ll call you Marius. Why did you kidnap me, Marius?”
They were having breakfast on the terrace of the Riverside Self-Catering Safari House that Coetzee had booked in the Olifantsrivier Lodge, about twelve kilometres south of Phalaborwa. It had taken him just under three hours the previous night to drive there from Polokwane. The lodge was the largest place around, with accommodation for over two hundred guests. He had stayed there several times and knew they’d have space available when he’d called from the car. It was costing him over a hundred Euros per night for the two bedroom house but he figured they could go unnoticed in a place that size. In any event he wasn’t counting on staying long. He had other plans.
Leo was mesmerised by the surrounding panoply of tropical bush, water features and wild life. The house was situated on the Olifantsrivier, a majestic waterway on the western edge of the Kruger Park, about fifty metres from a massive lake, created by a cleverly constructed wooden dam. He could see two other buildings around the curve of the river, but there was no sign of human life anywhere. The area around the lodge was effectively a bird sanctuary for hundreds of brightly coloured winged creatures, swooping and hovering over the water and calling from the leafy branches of the dense groups of trees on the banks of the lake. Some of the less timid birds flew down to the terrace and tried to steal food from the table. He threw some bread on the ground for a couple of red-breasted birds with blue heads and tails, more beautiful than he had imagined a bird could be.
“Those are called Southern Carmine Bee-eaters. They come down from Zimbabwe at this time of year.” Coetzee put on a friendly and relaxed tone, which didn’t reflect how he was feeling.
Despite it being winter time, the temperature was a balmy twenty-five degrees under a cloudless, clear blue sky. Leo was having a hard time reconciling his enjoyment of the location and the weather with his present predicament. His attention was caught by a family of black faced monkeys playing in the branches of an immense tree, at least twenty metres high, the pinkish-brown leaves being reflected by the morning sun.
Again, Coetzee observed his gaze. “It’s a Jackalberry tree and they’re called Vervet Monkeys. You’ll find them all over the Cape. You want to watch out. They’ll bite your hand off if you get too friendly.”
After installing Leo in one of the bedrooms, Coetzee had grabbed a whisky from the mini bar and sat out on the terrace. It was well past midnight, but after the stress of the day he needed to relax and clear his mind. He lit a cheroot, switched on his Kindle and pulled up Emma’s story, An Extravagant Death. It was two thirty and two whiskeys later before he went to bed, fascinated by her inventive narrative and already feeling a bond with the two detectives, Angus Skelton and Tory West. They argued and bickered like an old married couple, somehow managing to stumble onto clues, motives and clever deductions, seemingly by pure chance. He enjoyed the banter and the witty repartee. Typically British, he thought. Inimitable. They were actually falling in love with each other and just didn’t realise it. It reminded him of the early years of his marriage. But then Karen had fallen out of love with him and he hadn’t realised that until too late.
He had gone to bed in a maudlin mood, the whisky, lack of nicotine and the day’s traumatic events taking their toll. But Coetzee was a military man. Military men didn’t suffer from broken hearts. He had now slept for six hours and was fully focused on the problem in hand. He had to win Leo’s confidence to get out of this mess, not just alive, but in good shape and able to start again. And that meant money. He needed money and he knew the deal with the Voice was now down the pan. In any case he was never going to put Leo’s life in danger again. He had some cards in his hand and he had to play them well, better than he’d ever done, otherwise it would all have been in vain. Lambert, Blethin, Nwosu, Leo; it was a recipe for life incarceration. He was in deep shit and only money would get him out of it.
Now, he responded to Leo’s question. “I did it for money, Leo. Just for money. No other reason. I didn’t know you or your mother, it was just a job. I got paid and I helped to organise your abduction and get you to the safe house on the promise of more money and that’s all. I will never hurt you or your mother, believe me. I don’t even know why you’ve been abducted. It’s all being manipulated from a distance by people I’ve never even met. I know it’s not much compensation but I’m sorry for what I did. I swear I would never have let you get hurt.
He looked straight at Leo, trying to gain his confidence. “Just think. Now that I’ve taken you out of their clutches, my chance of getting another penny from them is zilch. On the contrary, they’ll try to get it back out of my skin, so I’ve thrown away a chance of being paid and put myself in harm’s way by helping you.”
“Well Marius, if you did it only for money, I’ve got really bad news for you. We’re skint! My mum spent all her savings on this holiday and I’ve got about thirty quid in my savings account. Will that do?” He tore up a bread roll and threw some more pieces for the birds. “And while we’re at it, why don’t you tell me where my mum is? You’ve been lying to me for two days now. What’s happened to her? Where is she?”
Coetzee lit up a cheroot and blew the smoke away from the table. “I told you part of the truth. Your mum is fine, nothing’s happened to her and nothing is going to happen to her.”
“So why can’t I see her?”
“Your mother has left South Africa, Leo. She became very frightened and managed to get away. And I don’t blame her. Between you and me, her life was worth much less than yours. You’re valuable, therefore safe, but she wasn’t. Simple mathematics. There are some dangerous people involved in this game. Sergeant Nwosu was only one of them.”
Leo thought about Coetzee’s reply for several moments. He must be lying. My Mom would never leave me behind in a foreign country. “When did she leave?” He asked.
“On Tuesday afternoon. One of the cleverest escapes I’ve seen. She had everybody fooled. You’d have been proud of her.”
Leo was taken aback. “She’s at home in England?”
Coetzee was careful not to give too much away. “I’m not sure where she is, but she’s out of danger, I promise you that.”
“Where did she get the money to buy another ticket? I know she didn’t have any.”
“I have absolutely no idea. I have my suspicions, but I honestly don’t know.”
Leo decided he’d find out nothing further about his mother. If Coetzee knew, he wasn’t telling for now, he’d have to bide his time. He changed tack. “So what’s the point of kidnapping me if we’ve got no money? It kind of defeats the purpose doesn’t it?”
“You’re forgetting about your father. Your mother refused to say anything about him, so he has to be the one with the money. It’s the only explanation that makes sense.” Leo looked at him incredulously as he continued, “Anyway, I know there’s money about somewhere. A lot of it. And I don’t really care who’s got it.”
“So you kidnapped me without even knowing who had the money to pay a ransom? Pretty dumb move, don’t you think?”
Coetzee took another drag and moved uncomfortably on his seat. This kid is really smart. Aloud, he said, “It wasn’t me who planned this abduction. I was just a facilitator, a helping hand. I told you, I don’t know who’s behind it, but they’re ruthless people and now it’s gone too far and I’m out. It’s not what I signed up for.”
“So this is your way of getting out, to abduct me again?”
“You’ve got it all wrong, son. The way I look at it, I’ve rescued you. I’ve saved your ass. Look where you are. You’re in a safari park, costing a fortune a night, free as one of those birds, within reason, and I’ll make sure you get safely home when this is over.”
“When what’s over? I thought you said you’ve saved my ass. I’ve got no money, no shoes, no passport and no air ticket and I don’t know where we a
re. I may even be wanted for murder. ‘Free as a bird’ I don’t think. What’s the plan now?”
“I’m talking about a reward, Leo. A very reasonable reward that I’ve earned.” Coetzee dumped the end of his cheroot and tried to find the right words. “The kidnappers must have been after millions of dollars ransom money. I know this because of the costs of the operation. It was a very expensive job, so they’d be expecting a big return on their investment. Now I’ve got you out of their control I’ll make sure that you get home safely just as soon as I see a reward for my intervention.”
“But I keep telling you we’ve got no money. And my father, whoever he was, I doubt he even knows about me, never mind throwing away money that you’re guessing he’s got just to save my ass.”
The security chief moved nervously again. This was all pure conjecture. He had no idea who had the money in this business, but he knew there had to be someone, someone very wealthy. “Leo, for Christ’s sake stop arguing! I’m offering to return you safely for a small reward. You and your mother should be happy about that. I’ll look after you and deliver you without harm for a fraction of the ransom that the perpetrators would be demanding. It’s a good deal for everyone.”
Leo was frightened and worried. He’d sent a message to his mother at about nine thirty last night. Twelve hours ago. Now he was no longer in Polokwane and he had no idea where she was. He knew she must be crazy with worry and he had no way of contacting her. With all the luck in the world he wouldn’t last long on his own outside the lodge. This was a tough and violent country and they seemed to be in the middle of a massive jungle, probably the Kruger, he imagined. His only chance of escaping was by finding out where he was and getting a message to someone, so they could contact his mother. He was trying to put out of his mind that he’d committed murder and assaulted and shot a police sergeant. He couldn’t make a move without the risk of being arrested.
Maybe she’s answered my text. It’s the only contact she’s got. I have to get hold of Blethin’s mobile again. He sat looking out at the river and said nothing more.
FORTY
Diepkloof, Gauteng, South Africa
Sergeant Nwosu was sitting at a table in his boyfriend’s flat. He was working on his laptop. His shoulder was still aching and painful but Jamie had examined it and declared it was unbroken and would fix itself, given time and rest. He worked as a trainee nurse at the Lesedi Private Hospital, near Diepkloof, so his diagnosis comforted the policeman. After dressing the wound properly he had put a sling around the wrist to take the weight off the shoulder. Nwosu’s nose wasn’t broken, just badly bruised and he had a magnificent black eye to go with it. After another paracetamol he was feeling more comfortable but still harbouring homicidal thoughts about Coetzee and Leo as he opened up his laptop.
He had been neither as drunk nor as dozy as he had appeared the previous night and had watched as Coetzee carried Blethin’s body across the field. He didn’t know how the doctor had died but he couldn’t risk being found with a wounded shoulder near an unidentified corpse in Polokwane, three hundred kilometres from his station. After watching the Land Cruiser drive off into the darkness he had managed to make it across the field to Grobler Street without incident. At the beginning of the urbanised area he passed a public drinking fountain and washed the blood from his face.
Further along the road he came to the Southern Star Motel, ‘Open for Business’. He managed to remove the remains of his shirt, and draping it over his shoulder to hide the bandage he walked into the reception in his T-shirt and asked for a room. Any suspicions the night clerk might have had about a lone visitor at ten o’clock at night with a bloody nose, no luggage, no car and wearing a T-shirt and sunglasses were dispelled by the sight of five hundred Rand, in notes, on the counter. Nwosu entered cabin twenty, the furthest away from the office, picked up the phone and called a Johannesburg number.
He slept for a couple of hours while waiting for Jamie to drive from Diepkloof to pick him up then napped during the trip back. They arrived at the flat at four in the morning and he managed to get a few more hours sleep. He was feeling a lot better and his mind was working fast. The Voice mustn’t know he’d lost Leo. He had to get him back and claim the big money. They were ruthless people and he was afraid of them, they had ordered the deaths of Lambert, Blethin and Coetzee without a qualm. He couldn’t afford to let them down or he’d be on the same list, if he wasn’t already.
Nwosu needed to reassure himself and went to his online banking link. He was relieved to see the same balance on his account. One more payment and he was on his way. This was his chance to get out of South Africa and he wasn’t going to let it slip by. Coetzee was clever but too sentimental and he had to play on that. He went back through his conversations with the security man to recall exactly what he had told him.
He took a swig of coffee and concentrated on his laptop. Jamie had gone to work as usual to avoid suspicion so he was on his own in the apartment. He laboriously typed in names and places with just his right hand and googled them. It would take a while, but he would find what he was looking for in the end. Then, payback time!
Marbella, Spain
Espinoza and the two women were in the office at York House. His instinct had been right. Emma didn’t take the news about Lambert’s death very well.
“Why has he been killed? You keep saying you don’t believe in coincidences and in this case I’m sure you’re right. It must be murder and it must be Coetzee and Nwosu who are responsible. What’s going to become of Leo now?” She sat with her head in her hands.
“Emma, please listen to me carefully.” Espinoza put on his most convincing tone. “I know it doesn’t seem like it to you for the moment, but this development is very beneficial to our investigation.” Both women looked blankly at him. “There is now a criminal enquiry into a murder which has nothing to do with Leo’s abduction. In other words, we know about the connection, but the Johannesburg police don’t, so we can take advantage of that. Let me explain.
“This morning I spoke to a Chief Superintendent Hendricks, he’s Head of the Homicide Division in the Johannesburg Central Police Station. I was introduced by an old colleague in Interpol. I told him that Lambert was involved with a criminal gang I’m investigating and I’d like to come down and consult with them in their enquiry. He agreed to meet me since it might throw up something which could help their investigation.”
“You mean you want to go to Johannesburg?”
“Yes, Jenny. I don’t think I can accomplish anything more here and you can probably achieve just as much. It makes more sense for us to split up. I’ll go where the crimes were actually committed and take advantage of the enquiry into Lambert’s murder to try to follow Leo’s traces. You stay here with Emma and monitor the communications with the abductors. There’s bound to be a lot of chatter now. Things are heating up, so they’ll be moving into the last phase, the negotiations phase. And people and facts might emerge that point us to the link between the key events. I think you’ll be better than me at that particular job.”
“But we agreed not to involve the police. Not to risk revealing Leo’s background.” Emma looked anxiously from one to the other, her fear confusing her logic.
“I don’t need to tell them anything about Leo. I’m simply helping them with a murder enquiry. This way we don’t have to advertise his abduction and there’s no chance of his background coming out. It’s an excellent camouflage. And I don’t see any other way of making further progress.”
“Pedro’s right. It’s a clever idea. He can use the police resources to investigate Leo’s disappearance while helping them to find Lambert’s killers. Don’t forget that if we find Coetzee and Nwosu, then we’ll find Leo.”
“And what happens when you find them? Leo’s story will come out and the police might take some action.”
“Leave that to me. I’m sure the perpetrators won’t want to have child abduction added to their list of crimes and the Johannesburg police
will be happy to solve the murder. I’ll get Leo away without any further enquiry, I promise you.”
He consulted his notebook. “We need to decide on this plan right away, so I’ve already checked the flight possibilities. The quickest flight to Johannesburg is with SAA/Lufthansa at five ten this afternoon. It goes via Frankfurt to Joburg and gets in at ten thirty tomorrow morning. May I request tickets and a travel budget, Jenny?”
Phalaborwa, Limpopo, South Africa
“I have to make a call.” It was almost nine thirty and Coetzee was expecting the Voice’s usual morning call on Nwosu’s phone. He couldn’t risk Leo hearing the conversation. It would give the whole game away. “Just stay on the terrace and look at the wild life for five minutes. I’ll be in the car, in front of the lodge. Don’t do anything silly.”
“There’s not a lot I can do, Marius. Even though I’m apparently as free as a bird, I doubt I’d be able to fly very far at the moment.”
Coetzee nodded absently and went through the lodge to the Land Cruiser in front. It was nine thirty precisely and the mobile rang the moment he climbed into the car.
“Good morning, Coetzee here.”
There was a pause, then the slightly distorted voice said, “Mr Coetzee, it’s a pleasure to speak to you. Are you safely in Beitbridge?”
“No, not yet. We had a terrible journey yesterday with traffic delays and accidents, so we spent the night in Polokwane. We’ll be continuing on as soon as Sergeant Nwosu gets back.”
“The sergeant is not with you?”
“He went off with Doctor Blethin before light. Said he had some business to attend to. He left his phone so I could take your call. I expect he’ll be back shortly.”
The African Diamond Trilogy Box Set Page 82
