by Brian Reeve
‘Yes,’ said Steiner, grinning humourlessly.
‘We’re forgetting one thing,’ she said. ‘Before Bosch rings me, if he does, he or someone designated by him will have to go to his place to read the messages on his machine.’ She sat down despondently in one of the chairs. ‘This could take ages.’
‘I thought of that,’ said Steiner. ‘I think Bosch will have arranged for someone to go and check his messages at least once a day, someone who masquerades as a cleaner but doesn’t know him or where he can be contacted. Bosch would then contact this person for any messages.’
‘And what if the men in the group are also checking his messages?’ asked Kirsty. ‘They will come after me.’
‘If it’s Kallis I doubt he would bother,’ said Steiner. ‘If it’s someone else you could easily bluff your way out. All you have to say is you had spoken to Kallis and that your work has nothing to do with them.’ After a moment he then said: ‘It might take a while for Bosch to receive your message but we will have to be patient. If we don’t hear anything in two or three days you can leave another one in case the group got there first. When and if you do that you should also contact Teichmann to keep the ball rolling.’
‘Well, I hope it all works,’ she said. ‘I think I’ll go and have a soak in the bath.’
‘You will have to answer whichever phone rings,’ said Steiner. He looked at her with a smile on his face. ‘I hate to admit it but I couldn’t do without you.’
Chapter 59
Pretoria
John Kallis was sure Kirsty Krige was lying when she said she had no knowledge of the whereabouts of the white file and that she did not believe her husband had got his hands on it. As he thought about it he realized his only way forward was to go first to Krige’s lawyer, Staples, and see what he could get out of him. If he got nothing out of the man his next move would be to keep him quiet while he went for Krige.
Kallis also thought about Rupert Bosch. He was the only one in the group who went round to Bosch’s house every two or three days so he could at least tell Teichmann he was still determined to get him and it was not plain sailing. But every time he went to the house Kallis felt uneasy. He was beginning to believe Bosch would not disappear and never be heard of again. He would, like any normal person, have felt the value of the black file before he had reluctantly been compelled to hand it over to him in the car park. The file must have cast its spell over him and he would want it back. As these thoughts festered inside him, Kallis decided on impulse to go to Bosch’s house before paying a visit to Staples. He knew he could only give his full attention to the white file if he got rid of the potential threat imposed by Bosch’s existence, and that meant finding him.
It was four days after meeting Kirsty Krige in the hotel when Kallis went again to Bosch’s house. He had his own set of keys and let himself in, certain that Bosch was not there. He went through the rooms looking for disturbance or anything unusual. He knew a cleaner came in every couple of days but as far as he was concerned everything was as it had been on his previous visits. As he passed through the lounge on his way to the glass doors he noticed the message light on the telephone was flashing. He went over to the phone and pressed a button. He was told there was only one message and he waited to hear it. When the message came he immediately recognized Kirsty Krige’s voice. This was confirmed and he listened to the rest of the message. At the end the light on the phone turned off automatically and Kallis made a note of the contents of the call and Kirsty’s phone numbers. There was no address given but he was sure he could get it with relative ease.
Kallis quickly left the house, locking the doors, and drove to his flat. He had some thinking to do and needed to be on his own. When he was in the flat he sat on the sofa and replayed the call. It confirmed he was right when he guessed Kirsty was lying about the white file and he was now certain Krige had retrieved it from Cartwright’s house. Also, her assertion that Bosch had stolen the black file was obviously correct but it implied he had given it to someone else and was not now in possession of it. Kallis suspected Kirsty new a lot more than what she had said on the phone and that is why she wanted the meeting. It was abundantly clear to him that Kirsty was involved concerning the missing files and she was working to a plan she had devised. He wondered if she was together in this with another person. One thing was certain. She had to be neutralized and kept out of the way until he had achieved his objectives.
Kallis switched his thoughts to Rupert Bosch. He felt Bosch had somehow regained his depleted confidence and now wanted both files for himself. If he was right it would mean Bosch had become dangerous. He would also have to be neutralized but in his case that meant being killed.
Kallis thought hard about his decision concerning Kirsty Krige and Bosch and he concluded that to put it into effect efficaciously he would need the help of another man so that the two of them could act independently if necessary. The man would have to do as he was told and ask no questions. He would only tell him as much as he needed to know. If he already knew two files had gone missing it would have been by chance since only a few at the top had been informed. Kallis thought about the men he knew and could trust. One man came to mind. It was John Dalton, the guy who had done the job with Krige in KwaZulu-Natal. Kallis hardly knew him but Teichmann thought enough of him to send him after the blacks. Although Dalton had a fairly nondescript job with the group, Kallis seemed to recall he used to be an operative in a South African special forces regiment. Kallis went to the phone and called Dalton at the group offices. He answered.
‘John Dalton?’ said Kallis.
‘Yes,’ said Dalton. ‘Who are you?’
‘John Kallis. I work for the group under Johan Teichmann. I remember meeting you a couple of times at group social gatherings.’
‘I remember you,’ said Dalton, a little surprised. ‘How can I help you?’
‘I don’t want to speak on the phone,’ said Kallis. ‘Can we meet somewhere a bit private?’
‘There’s a smart bar three blocks from the office going south,’ said Dalton. ‘It is in Waldemar Avenue and called the Black Panther. It’s ideal.’
‘Excellent,’ said Kallis. ‘I will give you my flat and cell phone numbers in case you need them.’ He gave Dalton the numbers. ‘How does eight this evening suit you?’
‘I’ll see you there,’ said Kallis, terminating the connection and feeling he was getting somewhere. When he had first heard the call from Kirsty Krige his confidence had taken a beating.
Kallis arrived at the bar a little after Dalton. He saw him seated on the far side against a wall adorned with old hunting photographs and went over to join him. Dalton had already been served and he ordered another beer for Kallis.
‘I haven’t seen you at work for a while,’ said Dalton. ‘What exactly do you do?’
‘I’m a field operator,’ said Kallis. ‘As I told you on the phone my boss is Teichmann.’
‘That sounds interesting,’ said Dalton, sure that Kallis wanted him to do something for him.
Kallis leaned over his beer. ‘The reason I wanted to see you is that I need you to do some work for me. It concerns a high profile job I am involved in for the group. No one knows what I have been doing on the case except Teichmann. But at the moment he is not aware that I want you to help me part time for about a week on a specific aspect of the case. I want it to stay like that.’
‘What you tell me will be between the two of us,’ said Dalton, becoming interested.
‘There are a few people in this case who could irreversibly destroy group aspirations,’ said Kallis. ‘Of these, two pose an imminent threat and they must be removed now from the equation. They are a man and a woman. The man is someone you have probably met, Rupert Bosch. It is highly likely that he stole an extremely important file from the group offices, the black file as it is called, and we have since found out he was an ANC informer.’
‘I know of him,’ said Dalton appearing not to have heard of the file and not i
nterested in what it contained. This pleased Kallis. ‘He was a strange sort of character and kept mostly to himself. We have only exchanged a few words together. Who’s the woman?’
‘Before we go onto her there is something else that I should tell you,’ said Kallis. ‘It might come in useful when you speak to Bosch. A similar file, the white file, was removed from its safe before the black file and I am also responsible for finding it. In that sense the two files are connected. I explained how Bosch is connected to the black file but I believe he is also linked to this white file, exactly how I’m not yet sure.’
Kallis sank another mouthful of beer. ‘Now let’s get onto the girl. Her name is Kirsty Krige, wife of Jan Krige. I believe you and he were together on the KwaZulu operation.’
‘Yes,’ said Dalton. ‘I was surprised he was chosen because of his political views. He certainly believes in full integration between black and white. Where is he now? What is his wife’s connection to these files?’
‘Krige’s on his farm and I understand the two of them are separated. She is presently living in Pretoria. Let me explain her connection in this case. She knows about the black file and has made reference to it. That is enough for me but she is also interested in the white file. I believe Krige, or his lawyer, Staples, has the white file in his possession and for that reason she must in some way be connected to it. She has to be removed even if she is interested in only one of the files. That also applies to Bosch. It should be clear to you that the job I am involved in concerning retrieval of both files is first a process of elimination, which is where you can help me, and a second phase when I can give my full attention to the ones who really count, or the key players.’
‘I understand,’ said Dalton. ‘I have never met Kirsty Krige. I’m sure she hasn’t heard of me. Krige would have kept that quiet. How do you plan to remove them?’ Dalton wondered who, if not both, was going to die.
‘Bosch will have to be killed,’ said Kallis. ‘When it was discovered the file was missing he had already disappeared and has not been found. One way of finding him that we have not tried is to leave a message on the answering machine at his house. I am convinced that he checks it regularly or, more likely, he gets someone else to do it for him, someone like a cleaner. Another way is to contact the local offices of the ANC and ask how and where he can be contacted. But that is a long shot for obvious reasons.’
‘I think we should try both methods,’ said Dalton. ‘If he answered the machine would he recognise your voice? I assume you would leave your numbers.’
‘He would recognize my voice,’ said Kallis. ‘That is where you come in, if you want to do the work.’
‘I’ll get involved,’ said Dalton. ‘We should get going now if you give me the message. If he thinks I’m being open he will relax and contact me.’
Kallis was beginning to take to Dalton. He pulled a piece of paper from his pocket. On it he wrote: Do not trust anyone who calls you about the files; please phone me urgently. He passed the note to Dalton and said: ‘I use the word files because I want to draw him in. Add your name and the numbers of your house and cell phone. You have mine.’
Dalton had a quick look at the piece of paper. ‘There’s a pay phone over there,’ he said. ‘Let’s do it now.’
The two men went to the phone and in minutes Dalton had left the message. They returned to their seats.
‘What do I do if I receive the call from Bosch,’ asked Dalton, silently rebuking himself for not asking the question earlier. He didn’t want Kallis to think he was a fool.
‘You soften him up with a few appetizers and then say the two of you must meet,’ said Kallis, surprised Dalton had not asked before. ‘Bosch would want a public place and you must tell him you know of one just outside the city. There are several restaurants cum bars that I’m sure you know. Decide on one so that you are prepared.’ Kallis cleared his throat then carried on. ‘If Bosch wants to make his own choice emphasize that it must be quiet and private for your own protection. I am sure he will come up with the goods. Let me know and I’ll be waiting for him.’ Kallis smiled. ‘You won’t even have to appear.’
‘It will be done as you suggest but I’ll be there,’ said Dalton. ‘What about the woman?’
‘I would like you to collect her, by force if necessary,’ said Kallis. ‘I don’t have her address but you should be able to get it from the Plaza Hotel where she was staying. When you pick her up take her to an isolated place. Do you know of any?’
‘Yes,’ said Dalton. ‘I own a small holding just outside the city and no one ever goes there. It would be ideal. I bought it primarily for the land.’
‘I would like to give Bosch several hours before you go for the girl,’ said Kallis. ‘I might go to his house and see if the message has been read.’ Kallis finished his beer. ‘Let’s go and just wait. I’ll take the day off tomorrow and be at the flat all day. It might be an idea if you also took some time off. It would also give you a chance to visit the Plaza Hotel and see if you can get Kirsty Krige’s address. If that fails we will have to try directory enquiries but unfortunately they are not always obliging. I recently asked a friend of mine in the telephone exchange to tap a line for me, but I’m reluctant to contact him again when I still owe him one for the work he did then.’
The two men left the bar and went their separate ways, Kallis satisfied with the progress he was making.
Chapter 60
Pretoria
When David Staples, Krige’s lawyer, read about the killing of the blacks on Krige’s farm his sixth sense told him they were after revenge or something else, like the white file.
After Staples had made copies of the file, he had locked the original in a well-concealed safe at his house. Now, with news of the killings, he phoned Krige on the farm. Krige answered.
‘Jan, David Staples. I have just read about the killings on your farm. Do you know what they wanted? I think I can guess but you tell me.’
‘They think that I had something to do with a recent job in KwaZulu-Natal, which I rightly denied,’ said Krige, calmly. ‘I was nowhere near there. They had also heard about my involvement in the Cartwright case and the existence of the white file. They said I had it, which again I denied. I sensed they were not in the mood to accept my defence and that at some stage they were going to kill me. I took my chance and after chasing me through the bush, they returned to the house. I had to reach the Land Rover and when I came to the house they jumped me. It was a bad mistake.’
‘I’ll be quite frank,’ said Staples. ‘All this makes me uneasy and I would rather you kept the original of the file. You have a safe that would take a lot of experience and a cutting torch to crack. Alternatively, you could hide it somewhere away from the house.’
Krige thought for a moment. He had thought about collecting the original before Staples phoned. ‘That’s fine by me,’ he said. ‘I can understand how you feel. I’ll collect it in a few days if that’s alright with you.’
‘Good,’ said Staples. ‘Phone me before you come and I’ll have it ready.’
After the call Staples felt an enormous weight had been lifted from him. He was not known for his guts.
Chapter 61
Pretoria
In the early morning after meeting Dalton in the Black Panther bar, John Kallis was sitting in his lounge drinking a cup of strong coffee without really enjoying it. He was already becoming impatient and his desire to hold the white file in his hands was stronger than ever. At ten when he felt he needed something to relieve the waiting, he went downstairs to his car and began the three-kilometre drive to Bosch’s house. He had to see if someone had read the message on the phone that had been left by Dalton the previous evening.
When he was a short distance from the house, he drew up at the curb, switched off the engine and waited. He remained in the car for five minutes, looking for the presence of anyone in the vicinity of the house. He saw nothing and after leaving the car went along the grass verge next to the road
. Just before reaching the gates he vaulted the fence and approached the house, using carefully planted trees for cover. He left the trees and went across to the front verandah and up to the glass doors. Inside the house he went to the phone; the light was off. Excited, Kallis sank into a chair. It was exactly what he wanted to see. His message had been received. After a few moments in the chair, Kallis crossed to the doors and let himself out of the house. He was returning to his flat to wait for an update from Dalton.
Chapter 62
Pretoria
Two days after speaking to David Staples, Jan Krige decided to go into Pretoria and get the file. He phoned Staples and agreed to meet him at his office in three hours, time for him to go to his house and collect the file.
At the appointed time Krige reached the offices in Pretoria and was shown through to the lawyer who was sitting pompously in a buffalo-hide chair that was close to suffocating him.
‘Jan,’ said Staples, rising from the leather. ‘I was glad to hear you on the phone. I’m sure you understand my position.’
‘I do,’ said Krige, extending his hand and wanting to leave as soon as he could. ‘I’m sure it is of deep concern holding something of such value that is desired by people who we would not exactly call our friends. Where is it?’
‘Right here,’ said Staples, bending over and removing a large plastic carrier bag from the lowest draw in his desk. He handed the bag to Krige who took one look inside before placing it firmly under his arm.
‘You’ve helped me a lot with this,’ said Krige without meaning it. ‘But it is time I took responsibility for it. Do not be surprised if people pay you a visit. The good thing is you are clean.’