by Brian Reeve
As Dalton started walking towards her she turned round. When she saw him she quickly came to her feet and took a step backwards.
‘Who are you?’ she said, forcing herself to keep calm. ‘Don’t you know this is a private house?’
‘I was able to figure that out,’ said Dalton, stopping a couple of metres from her. ‘My name is John Dalton and I’m here to take you away with me. I hope for your sake you don’t resist.’
‘You’re out of your mind,’ she said. ‘A friend of mine will soon be here. He won’t be happy when he sees you and I tell him you’re here to abduct me.’
‘Well, we’ll just have to get out before he appears,’ said Dalton. ‘Is his name Steiner by any chance?’
‘No,’ she lied, wondering how he had heard the name and wishing above all else that Steiner would walk through the door.
Dalton moved closer to her. ‘Let’s go,’ he said. ‘You’re testing my patience and I don’t like it.’
As he completed the last word she darted to the left and ran towards the door. When she thought she was going to get past him he reached out with the speed of a hungry cat and threw himself at her in a dive that had his full weight behind it. His powerful arms encircled her waist in one quick movement and, unable to help herself, she fell heavily to the floor, her red skirt rising immodestly to her thighs. She struggled to free herself but he was too strong. He stood up and lifted her to her feet. With his one hand holding her arm and the other gripping the back of her neck, he half-dragged her across to the passage before forcing her to walk upright to the back door and through to the yard outside.
Dalton didn’t waste any time getting Kirsty into the undergrowth and she didn’t say anything, realizing it was pointless. They moved at a steady pace until he slowed and changed direction for the main road and the lay-by. The house was now partly obscured and he started to feel satisfied at the way things had gone. He relaxed his hold and kept her going at his pace with only one arm round her waist. When he saw his car he increased his speed until they reached it. After pushing her into the co-driver’s seat he got in, started the engine and with the tyres squealing mutely drove off towards Pretoria.
Kirsty remained silent and when they were on the outskirts of the city Dalton picked up a ring road that led to the area where he had his small holding. After another ten minutes he left the road and finally came to his destination. He parked out of sight at the back of the unattended house and when he had cut the engine he looked at her.
‘This is where you’ll be staying until the job is complete,’ he said, grinning, the proverbial Cheshire cat. ‘The sooner you get used to it the better it will be for everyone.’
‘Where am I?’ she said, staring ahead. ‘You haven’t told me why you are doing this. I’ve never seen you before.’
‘You’re very attractive,’ he said, feasting his eyes on her large breasts and then down to between her legs. ‘I can’t wait to get you alone.’
‘The thought of you feeling me is revolting,’ she said, her strong spirit fuelling his desire. ‘Where the hell do bastards like you come from?’
He laughed. ‘You’ll soon be begging me for more,’ he said. ‘Now let’s get into the house. I’m sure you will find it comfortable.’
He waited for her to leave the car and then they went into the house. Dalton had cleaned it the previous evening and bought items of food that he had stored in the kitchen. He led Kirsty into the front room, frugally furnished with a rug, table, three chairs and the essential liquor cabinet that had seen better days.
‘Would you like a drink,’ he asked in his most civilized voice. He had read that women liked refined, well-spoken men and he was confident he came up to scratch.
‘No,’ she said disdainfully. ‘I want to get out of here and never see you again. I hope you burn in hell.’
He walked to the liquor cabinet, poured himself a neat Scotch and then sank a third of the spirit in one crude gulp. ‘That was just what I needed,’ he said. ‘Are you sure you won’t have a drink? It will help you relax.’
She didn’t reply and stared through the window, again wishing Steiner would walk through the door.
Dalton put his glass down and went slowly to where she was standing. ‘Perhaps this will relax you,’ he said. ‘It’s part of the service.’
In a flash he took hold of her and swung her round to face him. He grabbed her with both hands and pulled her to him, tearing her cotton shirt open down to her stomach and then throwing her to the carpet in one neatly executed movement. Consumed by lust he unclipped her bra and slid it up, revealing her firm, beautifully proportioned breasts. They were as he liked them, exceptional.
Kirsty lay still, knowing that she was powerless against him, forcing herself to accept what would surely come. She moved a little on the carpet, wanting a position that would relieve the incipient pain in her shoulder, the result of the fall. When she became still he opened his mouth like a dying fish and started sucking her nipples, moving alternately between her breasts, leaving a glutinous trail that glistened in the fading light. He was in his element and he soon wanted the prize between her legs.
As Dalton reached for her skirt his cell phone came to life, emitting a shrill whistle and vibrating in his pocket. He swore and released her. He got to his feet, pulled the phone free and stuck it to his ear.
‘Who is it?’ he said, angry that he had been disturbed. ‘What do you want? I’m busy.’
‘Did you get the girl?’ said Kallis, without introducing himself.
Dalton turned his back on Kirsty. ‘Yes,’ he said. ‘It went as smooth as silk. We got here fifteen minutes ago.’
‘Good,’ said Kallis. ‘It’s just after six-thirty and in another half-hour I’ll make my way to the bar and wait for Bosch.’
‘How long should I stay here?’ said Dalton.
‘Why don’t you let her have a bath and cook her some food?’ said Kallis. ‘After that, and when she is locked up in the bedroom, you might as well go home. I’ll touch base with you later.’
‘I’ll do that,’ said Dalton. ‘Good luck.’
‘I won’t need it,’ said Kallis arrogantly. He cut the line.
Dalton put his phone in his pocket and looked at Kirsty, still lying on the floor. The call had disturbed his concentration but he was determined to get from her what he wanted. He couldn’t see Kallis completing his work in under a couple of days and that gave him plenty of time.
‘Why don’t you go and have a bath?’ he said. ‘I’ll cook you something to eat.’
‘I’ll have a bath,’ she said. ‘But I don’t want any food. After that just show me my room and leave me alone. I’m not sleeping out here.’
‘I don’t feel like cooking anyway,’ he said. ‘Follow me and I’ll show you around.’
In addition to the lounge, the building comprised two bedrooms, a kitchen and a bathroom. When she had seen where she was going to sleep she admitted that at least it was clean, with new sheets, two pillows and a duvet on the only bed. After showing her the bathroom and giving her a towel, Dalton returned to the lounge and his whisky.
When she was completely alone she took the towel and went into the bathroom. There was no lock on the door but that was of no concern. What she was going to do would only take a matter of seconds. She put her ear to the door and when she heard nothing she extracted the phone from her pocket. Like her keys and some money it had not been removed. She quickly dialled the phone in her house but there was no immediate reply and she waited for the answering machine to kick in. When it did she whispered: ‘Dalton has me. I need you.’
After her bath Kirsty went to her room and Dalton soon appeared.
‘I’m going now,’ he said. ‘But before I do I want to see what you’ve got on you. I should have looked earlier.’
She was sitting on the bed and he went over to her, making her stand up. He frisked her, airport style, front and back, and then went for her pockets. There were two, one in her shirt and the
other in her skirt. The first was clearly empty and he slipped his hand into the second. With a look of triumph he dragged out her keys, money and cell phone.
‘I’m glad I got that,’ he said, holding up the small, compact Nokia. ‘You would have had every man and his dog after me if I hadn’t found it. I’ll take it with me. I’ll be here early tomorrow morning. The door will be heavily locked and I’m sure you have noticed the bars on the window.’
Dalton left the room, double locking the Banham and sliding two bolts into their closed positions. A while later she heard him go out the rear door and leave the premises in his car. She lay on the bed, fervently hoping Steiner would soon get her message. She was convinced that someone else was also involved in her abduction and she began to fear what they would eventually do to her.
Chapter 68
Near Pretoria
At seven-fifteen that evening John Kallis put on his jacket and removed a silenced Ruger P85 9mmx19 Luger/Parabellum semi-automatic pistol from the draw in his desk. The weapon was fully loaded with a fifteen-cartridge magazine and he stuffed it, with the silencer fixed in position, behind his belt above the hip. After making sure the gun was covered by his jacket he left the flat and went down the two flights of stairs to the basement car-park. In his car he started the V8 engine and crawled up the exit ramp to the street outside. He turned left and in ten minutes filtered into the main road that, in a little under five kilometres, passed near the bar where he expected Bosch to arrive at eight.
After twenty minutes at the wheel Kallis finally saw the bar and restaurant some 500 metres from the main road. He took the nearest turn-off and then drove steadily until he reached the building. He swung through the gate of the car-park and after looking around parked as far as he could go from the entrance, carefully ensuring the area behind him was relatively free from other cars. He turned off the engine, reclined his seat slightly and waited for Bosch to appear.
Several minutes after eight, when Kallis was beginning to wonder if Bosch was going to show, a large, silver 350S Mercedes Benz entered the car-park. Kallis watched the car do a circle and then park near the exit. He knew it was Rupert Bosch and as soon as the lights and engine were switched off he left his car. He walked down a line of vehicles to within a few metres of his target and halted, watching like a hawk.
When the door of the Mercedes opened, Kallis made his move. In four giant paces he was alongside Bosch, positioning himself to prevent the door from being closed. Bosch looked up at him, not believing he was again seeing Kallis’s leering face.
‘What do you want?’ he said harshly, placing his hands on the wheel. ‘Our business is over.’
‘No it isn’t,’ said Kallis. ‘You have become greedy and you want the files for yourself.’
‘What about you?’ said Bosch, regaining a measure of the confidence he had felt before the appearance of Kallis, a man he detested. ‘You’re no angel.’
‘I know,’ said Kallis, ‘but that’s what makes life interesting.’ He briefly looked around, drawing the pistol smoothly from behind his belt. ‘I’m afraid you’re a nuisance I can do without.’
Before Bosch grasped the deadly meaning of the words, Kallis fired twice, hitting him between his eyes and killing him. His hands continued to hold the wheel as his head fell forwards onto them, his glazed, lifeless eyes still looking at Kallis.
Kallis reclined the seat as far as it would go and, freeing Bosch’s hands, heaved the torso backwards into a resting position. He pulled it over a bit towards him, partly hiding the head behind the roof pillar, and closed the door. Anyone passing the Mercedes would with the usual glance think Bosch was sleeping off too many drinks before driving. Satisfied, Kallis walked to his car, got in and drove through the exit onto the road. He turned left and started on the route he had used earlier when coming to the bar.
As he neared the city perimeter, Kallis was tempted to call in at Dalton’s smallholding to see if he was there, but he thought against it and carried on to his flat. He had decided he would not let Kisty know he was involved in her abduction unless necessity prevailed.
When Kallis reached the building where he had his flat, he parked his car and used the fire escape to go up to it. In the lounge he seated himself, poured a double Scotch and dialled the number of Dalton’s cell phone.
Dalton answered and was pleased this time to hear Kallis’s voice.
‘Did you get him?’ he asked. ‘I was wondering how you were getting on.’
‘He won’t be looking for group files again,’ said Kallis. ‘He might still be resting in his car. How’s the girl?’
‘She’s alright,’ said Dalton. ‘Obviously she doesn’t like being forcibly abducted but I’ve told her she will be released as soon as we get what we want.’
‘Don’t build up her hopes too high,’ said Kallis. ‘If I decide she poses too much of a risk to be released, I might have to think again.’
‘You wouldn’t kill her?’ said Dalton, in disbelief. ‘What kind of risk would she present when she’s free? You would have what the group wants and be beyond reproach. No one would be able to prove she was abducted.’
‘I told you I would think about it when the time comes,’ said Kallis. ‘Let’s forget about it for the moment. Did you mention my name?’
‘No,’ said Dalton.
‘Good,’ said Kallis. ‘Leave it like that. Keep her in the dark.’
‘What are you going to do now?’ asked Dalton.
‘I’m going into the next phase,’ said Kallis, cryptically. ‘Your work on this job will soon be over. Just make sure the girl has what she needs. I’ll ring you tomorrow.’
Before Dalton could say any more Kallis cut the call.
After Kallis put down his phone he knew that if there was any chance of Kirsty Krige positively naming him as the man behind her abduction and revealing anything that went against him before he had decided what to do with the files, he would have to silence her for good. He also thought about John Dalton and he was beginning to realize he was also a potential threat. If Dalton wanted the files for himself he could effectively nullify Kallis by threatening to reveal he had been forced by Kallis to abduct the girl, an action not sanctioned by Teichmann, and that Kallis had killed Bosch, also not approved by Teichmann.
But before giving these issues more thought, Kallis had decided that the next phase, as he’d described it to Dalton, was to pay a visit to Krige’s lawyer David Staples. If, after that visit, he didn’t get the white file he would go for Krige.
Chapter 69
Near Pretoria
An hour before Kirsty Krige was abducted by Dalton, James Steiner left the house they were sharing and drove into Pretoria. He needed to buy some clothes and go to the bank. From what he had seen he liked Pretoria as a city and he was in no hurry to get back to the house. Kirsty was there if Bosch phoned, which was becoming less likely by the minute, and he felt she needed some time alone to help build her confidence. She was clearly dispirited by the slow pace of things and sometimes she told him that they were getting nowhere. He sympathised with her, knowing her broken relationship with Krige only compounded things. He tried to reassure her by saying that preparing a plan of action and patience were the foundations in all successful operations, particularly the one in which they were involved, with its multiple protagonists.
At seven in the early evening Steiner returned to the house. As he drove down the driveway to the small building he was a little surprised to see there were no lights on when it was already starting to get dark. He parked in his usual place at the rear next to Kirsty’s car and entered the house through the kitchen door, making enough sound for Kirsty to know he was there. But she didn’t show and after taking a quick look in the bathroom and bedrooms he went to the lounge. She wasn’t there either and for the first time he started to become worried. After a closer look around the house he could find no sign of any unusual disturbance. He was now uneasy because her car had not been moved, the house was unlocked
, when they always locked it before going out, and the surrounding countryside was not inspiring enough for her to have gone for a walk. These factors implied she had left under force.
He returned to the lounge and sat down, suddenly remembering her cell phone. He was about to call the number when he noticed the house phone message light flashing. He sprang towards it, pressed the button and at once heard Kisty’s message. It was the only one and he felt a chill go down his spine. He replaced the receiver. She was in real danger. He thought of the name Dalton and soon realized that Kirsty had mentioned his name previously. It came from her conversation with John Kallis when he had said Jan Krige had gone with John Dalton to eliminate the blacks in KwaZulu at the behest of Teichmann in the group.
After going through the main people linked to the missing files, Steiner concluded Dalton was not working alone and he had abducted Kirsty for Krige, Kallis or Teichmann. He immediately ruled out Krige and doubted Teichmann would get directly involved in abducting her. That left Kallis but Dalton had to be dealt with first because it was highly likely he was guarding Kirsty, until Kallis decided what to do with her. Now that he had received the message, Steiner decided against phoning Kirsty on her cell phone because if she was with Dalton he would immediately remove it, if he had not already done so. Neither did he want Dalton to answer the phone. But to tackle Dalton, he had to know how to find him, and that meant paying Teichmann a visit.
Steiner phoned the group. A night porter picked up the phone and when he asked for Teichmann he was told he had left. He asked for Teichmann’s home number and it was not available. There was no alternative other than wait until the morning.
Early the next morning Steiner again phoned the group and asked for Teichmann. He was connected and after a few rings Teichmann answered.
‘Teichmann. Who is calling?’
‘You don’t know me,’ said Steiner, ‘but I would like to see you urgently. I have something to say concerning the files that I’m sure would be of great interest to you.’