by Quig Shelby
‘Which shifts?’ he asked.
‘Late’s or night’s will do.’
Bheki wasn’t a morning person; at least not for work.
‘Which wards?’
‘I don’t mind.’
‘Brent tomorrow night?’ asked Joost.
‘Yeh, that’s fine,’ said Bheki.
Joost felt guilty throwing Bheki and Felix together, but if the mask was right then Bheki might help him flush out Vankoni.
‘And now I’ve taken you out, where are you going to take me next?’ she asked.
A backpack was standing on the floor at the table across from Joost. Amongst the embroidered flags was the tricolour.
‘Paris,’ he said.
Bheki was impressed, and gave him a peck on the cheek. He turned his mouth to hers, but was too late to catch her lips.
‘You’re good,’ she said ‘but don’t get too cocky, not just yet.’
Across town there was a ripple of polite applause as Christine Middlemass finished her lecture. A throng of studious looking types gathered around her as she left the podium. She searched along the back wall, and beckoned Vankoni to join her. He did, but looked a little lost. Christine whispered in his ear, and he laughed. Soon they were pulling away in his new car.
Chapter Fourteen
The first snow of the season began to fall; only a light dusting but enough to remind Snowflake of Kofi, and how far she’d come. Bheki pressed the buzzer for Flat 6. She was deliberately ahead of time, and hoping to catch Joost off guard.
‘Hello,’ said Joost.
‘Hi, it’s me,’ said Bheki.
‘Come on up,’ and the foyer door clicked open.
The lobby had black and white chequered tiling on the floor, and a couple of plastic aspidistras to welcome you. A colourful Persian rug lay at the entrance to the lift.
Bheki rode to the top. There were six flats in the block; two on each floor, and Joost was waiting for her on the landing. He was wearing black jeans, and a purple V-neck sweater with nothing underneath. He opened his arms to embrace her.
‘You’re early,’ he said smiling.
‘Guess I can’t keep away. I hope you’re not disappointed though.’
‘Far from it.’
‘Can I get you a drink?’ asked Joost, as Bheki scanned his flat.
‘Sure, rooibos if you have any.’
‘On its way.’
Joost put the drinks on the small table in front of them, and gently nudged next to Bheki on the golden corduroy sofa.
‘You really are gorgeous,’ he said.
She wore no wig tonight, nor makeup, but her beauty couldn’t hide, and hips never lied.
‘Thanks Joost.’
He looked at his watch.
‘You know we’ve still an hour before we leave,’ he said.
Bheki knew what he was thinking, but she didn’t want to get into a sweat before work.
‘Wrong time I’m afraid,’ she lied.
‘That’s fine,’ he lied back.
‘Mind if I take a look around?’ asked Bheki.
‘Be my guest.’
He sipped his rooibos tea as he watched her prowl around. She was wearing clothes to diminish the impact of her curves, but once you fell for Bheki Ncube you had trouble averting your eyes. She went to his bookcase.
Already Joost had a couple of brochures on Paris, from the Serpentine Travel Agency, and neatly tucked besides his historical biographies. Bheki turned away, and noticed the long crocodile mask hanging on the wall.
‘Souvenir from a previous life,’ he explained as she stroked the side.
She edged her way to the bedroom door.
‘Go on, take a look inside,’ said Joost, relieved Bheki hadn’t examined the mask in more detail. ‘After all, you’ll be in there next time you visit.’
Bheki smiled, and was instantly reassured by what she saw. A double bed was fair enough, but there were no mirrors on the ceiling nor silk sheets on the bed. She opened his wardrobe. His clothes were out of fashion, but she’d have fun changing that. More importantly there was no women’s attire; at least none he had forgot to hide.
‘Satisfied?’ asked Joost standing behind her.
Bheki nodded, and gave him a kiss, sliding her tongue into his mouth.
‘I need the bathroom,’ she said.
One final check in the medicine cabinet, and Joost was in the clear. He was either very methodical, or really was available.
They talked about Paris, and chose a hotel, but eventually time ran out.
‘Are you sure you don’t want picking up in the morning?’ asked Joost, as Bheki opened the car door outside Blackfriars.
‘No, I’ll be fine.’
‘Then phone me tomorrow, after you’ve had some sleep.’
‘OK,’ and she gave him a peck on the cheek, before waving goodbye.
‘Hello, I’m working tonight on Brent ward,’ said Bheki into the intercom.
The receptionist stared frostily back at her through the reinforced glass. How in hell’s name had she got a man like that?
Before you could say psychopath, Bheki was sitting across from Felix Gale, and trying to concentrate on the handover. In her trouser pocket was a tie purloined from Joost’s wardrobe. He’d worn it at the Blue Samurai, and she could kick herself for falling for him so quickly.
They were caring for seven male patients tonight. They all had a forensic history, and there were three murderer’s present, not counting Felix.
The ward was in an L shape, with two locked doors at either end. Bheki and Felix did the drugs together, whilst the two care assistants sat in the common area with Lance, a patient. Clozapine was mainly on the menu, along with medication to reduce sex drive, and a few dolly mixtures for agitation.
Lance had been transferred to Blackfriars ten years ago after hearing voices in prison. He’d been serving time for double murder; his wife and her lover. Unfortunately he was also quite a big guy, and made the staff nervous, which meant a double helping of sedatives whenever he played up. Lance was a patient going nowhere, and he knew it.
‘How did you get here?’ asked Felix as they locked up the medicine cabinet in the office.
‘Oh someone dropped me off,’ replied Bheki nonchalantly.
Felix didn’t say he’d seen her step out of Joost’s car.
‘I can give you a lift in the morning if you need one.’
‘Thanks, I’ll take you up on that.’
There was a tie sticking out of Bheki’s pocket, and although Felix didn’t want to let on he’d been staring at Bheki’s assets, he had to say something. After all he was the nurse in charge.
‘I’d put that tie somewhere else if I were you,’ he said.
Bheki smiled uncomfortably, and placed it inside her Burberry plaid coat, hanging on the back of the door.
‘Thanks,’ she said, leaving Felix to ponder if it was Joost’s tie, and who had undone the knot?
Lance wandered into the office to ask for a last cigarette, whilst Ethan and Zoe, the carers, camped out on the sofas for the night.
Felix went to get them all a drink, whilst Bheki followed Lance to the smoke room, and lit him up. Felix watched her, a beauty surrounded by so many beasts. He hit upon a mischievous idea, went to the office, and removed the tie from Bheki’s coat.
Joost went back to his flat after dropping Bheki off, soaked in guilt. It didn’t help that she’d taken his favourite tie as a keepsake; he was looking for a playmate, not a soul mate. He wondered what John would say?
Joost slumped on the sofa with his junkie’s paraphernalia on the table, next to Bheki’s cup. He was drifting in his halcyon, when out of the corner of his eye he saw the reptile scurrying along the floor.
‘I guess you’re feeling pretty bad about Bheki. She’s a fine woman Joost, I just hope you know what you’re doing,’ said John.
‘Me too,’ replied Joost, and holding his head.
‘Tell me John. Am I doing the right thing?’
‘I can’t answer that Joost. All I know is that when you get over here everything you did before fades in importance,’ said John.
And he scampered full circle on the floor in relief, his tail brushing over Joost’s feet. No more spiteful voices plagued him.
‘Do you see other Spirits John?’
‘A few,’ and John knew where Joost was heading before he even asked.
‘Do you think you could find Stella and Hildy for me?’
‘I’ll look Joost. That’s all I can say.’
‘I miss them so much.’
John changed the subject. He didn’t do grief; he had enough of his own skeletons.
‘I think you should buy Bheki a present tomorrow.’
‘Sure. What would you suggest?’ asked Joost, wiping the tears from his eyes.
‘You could get the Paris tickets.’
John was no longer angry love had abandoned him. But he couldn’t help wonder what man he would have been without the priest interfering.
‘I’ve heard Dela talking with Felix. They’re going to ask you over soon. Take them up but tread carefully,’ said John.
‘What about this guy Vankoni?’ asked Joost.
‘Don’t worry; he’s not going anywhere.’
‘You will come back won’t you?’ asked Joost, suddenly panicked.
‘I have no choice whilst you have some of the powder left. But once it’s gone I can’t help you anymore,’ said John.
And then he was back on the wall, and Joost almost saw a twinkle in the crocodile’s eye.
Felix never let on, and it was only in the morning he put Bheki out of her misery; they were in his car.
‘I found it in Lance’s room. God only know what he was going to do with it,’ said Felix, and throwing Joost’s tie on her lap.
Bheki wiped her brow with relief.
‘Anyway you did the best thing keeping quiet. Owning up to mistakes only causes more problems in this game,’ he said.
‘Thanks Felix.’
‘Perhaps you could do me one small favour in return?’
Bheki sighed. Did all guys want to get in her pants?
Felix saw her look.
‘No not that,’ and he laughed.
‘Just tell Joost that Dela would love to meet him, and give him a business charm on the house.’
He paused.
‘That’s if I’m right, and you two are close.’
‘I’ll see what I can do,’ said Bheki smiling.
For one thing she could smell Joost’s aftershave on the tie again.
‘Right then, let’s get you home’ said Felix.
Chapter Fifteen
Joost’s melancholy had sneaked out, and he was on the landing waiting for the lift, when his neighbour opened the door. He had a bag of rubbish for the chute, and his wife was cowering behind him in the hallway. Though for now at least he had stopped beating her.
Joshua Templemead glanced at Joost, who raised his hand in cursive recognition. Like the police emissaries, Joost had tired of the domestic scenes, and mentioned a few home truths. Josh would never take the chance Joost was all talk, even if pound for pound they were an even match.
Joost was dying to phone Bheki, but tried to get her out of his mind. For her part Bheki was curled up in bed, with Joost’s tie hanging from a wooden statue on her bedside table; a gift from her grandmother.
It wasn’t off the peg from some swanky high street boutique, but seeing Dela’s derriere in a white latex body suit could cause a riot. It was therefore a shame that Felix really couldn’t see much at all. But that’s what happened when you were lying flat on your back with a gas mask covering your face. He’d approached Joost to come visit, through Bheki, and earned his reward.
Whether it was age or the way his brain was wired, but the pain that Dela inflicted was exquisite. And perhaps it was the delirium brought about when she removed her devices that was so addictive. He couldn’t be certain, but a restrictive upbringing had taught him sex had to be dirty, forced, and painful.
Dela sealed him to the table in a shrink wrap cocoon. Felix was up to his neck in it, and there was just one outlet in his mummification - the tip of his excitement. Dela grabbed a burning candle. Felix’s gasps were muffled by the mask, and he was beginning to wish he’d never stolen a catheter from Atoll nursing home.
Dela applied a little lotion to soften the blow, and pushed down the medical device which went nicely with her shiny nurse’s cap. Felix’s bleating was amusing, but eventually she refrained and handed him his release. A frighteningly long knife cut Felix free. He kissed Dela’s hand, and went to shower.
‘It’s her,’ said Irena handing him the phone, and not bothering to disguise her chagrin.
‘Hi Joost, it’s me,’ said Bheki.
‘Hi gorgeous, had enough beauty sleep?’
‘Yes thanks.’
‘Good shift?’ asked Joost.
‘Fine.’
Joost looked at Irena who was lingering unnecessarily. Sure he’d hired her because she had great legs, but he’d never bedded her, and her jealousy was becoming tedious. Irena shuffled out on her highest heels.
‘Do you know Felix Gale?’ asked Bheki.
‘Of course,’ replied Joost raising a smile.
‘Why?’ he asked.
‘His wife would love to meet you.’
‘Let me guess, the voodoo charm he was telling me about.’
‘Are you interested?’
‘Why not. I’ll give him a call.’
Joost’s eyes lit up. John was for real.
‘Anything else?’ he asked.
‘Not really. And you?’
‘Maybe, but you know it’s too late to play hard to get it,’ said Joost.
‘Likewise,’ replied Bheki.
‘OK, then let me spell it out, F-U-C-K, my place, tonight; if the timing’s right?’ he asked.
‘Well why didn’t you say? And yes the timing’s perfect. Eight O’clock,’ and Bheki put down the phone.
‘Yes Irena?’ asked Joost.
‘Oh nothing, I just brought you a cup of tea.’
There was an extra button undone on her blouse. Shame really, right place, wrong time.
Joost contemplated recent events. The crocodile mask could help him bury the past, or rather Vankoni. And his infatuation for Bheki Ncube had also given his wallet a bulge, even if a few hookers were now struggling to pay the rent. And rather than doing his brains at The Four Horsemen, he just wanted to bang Bheki’s brains out in his bed.
‘Hi Felix,’ said Joost on the phone.
‘Hi Joost.’
‘Hope I’m not disturbing anything.’
‘No it’s fine. I was a little tied up this morning but I’m OK now.’
‘Bheki Ncube’s reminded me of your wife’s rather enticing offer.’
‘That’s kind of her. Well drop in anytime, Dela’s got your sleeping powder ready.’
‘Thanks.’
‘When would you like to visit?’
‘Is she in today?’
‘All day.’
‘Well no time like the present.’
‘Alright, shall we say in ...’
‘An hour,’ cut in Joost. ‘And don’t worry I’ve got your address on file.’
Joost didn’t want to give them any time to prepare a trap.
‘Irena take my calls. I’m finishing early today.’
Irena sighed.
/> ‘Joost I really could do with some extra help in the office.’
‘I’ll sort it out,’ he said.
‘Soon,’ she said.
‘How about next week, is that soon enough?’
‘That will be great.’
And he was gone, leaving Irena to ponder which hair style would make her irresistible.
‘Pleased to meet you Dela,’ said Joost as he stepped into the flat, and they recognised each other immediately.
‘The Four Horsemen,’ they said together.
‘It’s a small world,’ said Joost
The hallway was painted a garish green and blood red, and certainly not to everyone’s taste.
‘Welcome to our humble abode,’ said Dela extending a hand.
Joost wasn’t sure if he was supposed to kiss it or shake it. He decided on the latter. Dela was wearing an enormous ring on her middle finger. He’d not seen it before; it was a golden serpent with emerald eyes, and was eating its own tail.
‘Come and take a seat,’ said Dela, ushering him into the lounge.
Joost passed the kitchen. The door was ajar, and he glimpsed the large chest freezer; poor John.
The spider was in the parlour, and Dela was eyeing him up. He was a handsome specimen of a man. Those strong arms were worth a fortune on their own, and the tongue, as Bheki well knew, was a real gem. They’d need a bigger freezer for Joost.
In the corner of the room was Dela’s altar; a large black hexagonal table. There were eight, white, trident forks painted upon it, pointing outwards. Three lit red candles stood on top, each guarding an amber glass bottle, where inside floated viper’s tongues in a thick gooey viscous. To the front was a small felt doll with two pins jabbed both into the stomach and the head. Joost didn’t ask who it was; he just hoped it wasn’t him.
‘Drink?’ asked Felix, as Dela began to wipe the inside of a tumbler with a cloth.
‘Too early in the day for me,’ lied Joost.
‘Tea or coffee then?’ asked Felix. ‘Or hot chocolate even.’
‘Sorry, but it plays havoc with the stomach acid,’ he lied again.
‘Anyway here’s the sleeping powder,’ said Dela unimpressed, and she handed Joost a small bottle from the window ledge. ‘Just put one teaspoon in whatever you do drink, before bedtime, and you’ll have no problem sleeping.’