Endgame

by Wilna Adriaanse

  Nick found no spent cartridges during a preliminary search, but a while later he found one under the couch, where it had landed against the skirting board. He fetched a plastic bag from the kitchen, picked up the evidence with a pen and sealed it inside the Ziploc bag. He found no other possible forensic evidence.

  He locked the door and put the key to Patrice’s flat in his pocket. Then he opened the back door and went out into the narrow alleyway bordering on the mountain. A high electrified fence separated the property from the mountainside. Unable to see much in the dark, he returned to Allegretti’s bedroom.

  It was exactly the way he had found it earlier. If Allegretti had been kidnapped, he didn’t seem to have put up a fight. The room looked no different from any other night he spent on his own. Nick went into the dressing room, but the closets were so crammed with clothing that he realised he wouldn’t notice if anything was missing.

  Nothing seemed to have been disturbed in the bathroom. Toothbrush, shaving kit, moisturiser were all there, as well as a variety of expensive deodorants and after-shave colognes. In the cabinet under the basins he found a large box of condoms.

  Being chief of security to the Allegretti family had always been a challenge. Playing a dual role sometimes felt like the least of his problems. In Johannesburg it had been easier. Allegretti Senior was an intelligent man, who listened to reason. But since the old man had sent Nick to Cape Town a few months ago, he’d felt more like a childminder to two spoilt brats. Enzio Allegretti did not have his father’s insight and did exactly as he pleased.

  Nick watched all the footage from the security cameras, but the guards were right. Nothing was visibly wrong. When day began to break, he went out through the kitchen door again and walked the length of the alley to the service gate at the side of the property. The morning air was chilly and he could smell the ocean. There was no sign of yesterday’s warm berg wind. Autumn was in the air. The gate was locked and the lock had not been tampered with. There were footprints on the paving, but the property was patrolled during the day. Nick guessed it wouldn’t do any harm to compare the footprints with the soles of the shoes worn by the guards on duty. If there was one thing he had learnt, it was that answers were sometimes found in strange places. Sometimes you’d wear yourself out to gather evidence, only to get an unexpected lucky break.

  Just before eight he stopped in front of his flat. He had waited to speak to the guards who were on day shift. They were given the same instructions – no one was to come near the house and if they noticed anything suspicious they were to call him at once.

  He had a quick shower, drank a cup of coffee and ate a bowl of cereal, standing up. The milk tasted slightly off, but he finished it anyway.

  Next he called Fritz, Allegretti’s driver, who had obviously still been asleep.

  “Nick, what the hell’s going on? I’m on leave.”

  “I know, but I’m looking for Mr Allegretti and he’s not answering his phone. Did you happen to hear from him?”

  “No. I haven’t seen him since Friday night, when I dropped him at home after a meeting.”

  “Will you call me if you hear from him, please?”

  “Sure.”

  Before the connection was broken, Nick heard Fritz say: “Fuck! Waking me for something like that!”

  There was a giggle and Nick heard a female voice inviting Fritz back to bed.

  Somewhere in the world there was a man who could snuggle behind a woman’s back on a Monday morning because he was on leave.

  Ellie woke up a few times during the night, imagining she had heard footsteps, but it was only the creaking of the roof. By eight she was showered and dressed. The young man was back behind the counter when she reached the lobby. He gave her a friendly greeting, though she suspected he wasn’t quite awake yet.

  Outside, she called Wynand. He answered at the third ring.

  “It’s me.”

  “Are you back?”

  “No, that’s why I’m calling. I don’t know when I’ll be back.”

  “There were some people here, looking for you. Did you have short, dark hair at some point?”

  “What did they want?”

  “They said that they just wanted to say hello … evidently ex-colleagues of yours.”

  “Hmm … sorry to have missed them. Are they still there?”

  “I don’t know. They must have slept somewhere close by last night, because they came in quite early this morning. I haven’t seen them since.”

  “What did you tell them?”

  “The truth. I don’t know if it’s you in the photograph … Are you in trouble?”

  “Not as far as I know.”

  “Would you have told me if you were?”

  “If you could do something about it …”

  “Why don’t I believe you?”

  Ellie laughed. “Aren’t you the one who always says curiosity killed the cat?” She didn’t give him a chance to respond. “I must go. Call you as soon as I’m back. Where’s my car, by the way?”

  “I took it to Manie this morning.”

  “Thanks. Tell Manie I’ll square up with him as soon as I’m back.”

  “Look after yourself.”

  She ran her hand across her face and looked at a mother and child walking by on the pavement. The mother was holding the boy’s hand. He was telling her something. His head was tilted back, his voice shrill and excited.

  At the convenience store on the corner she inspected the sandwiches in the glass case and ended up buying an apple, a banana and the newspaper. She ate the fruit on her way back to the bike and glanced at the headlines before she put the paper into her backpack, put on the helmet and started the bike.

  The day was crystal clear and the sea was deep blue and sparkling. In the harbour a huge crane was unloading containers from a ship. Robben Island looked deceptively close. Part of her would probably always love the city bowl, nestled so cosily between her three granite pimps, Devil’s Peak, Table Mountain and Lion’s Head.

  Most of the shops in Loop Street were still closed.

  Some distance from Greenmarket Square, Ellie saw Happy. He was standing on the same corner he’d been on for years, where she had first met him and persuaded him to become one of her contacts. He looked up from talking to someone across the street. The conversation continued, but she could see that he had spotted her.

  When she reached him, she took out money to buy a paper.

  “As my granny used to say, I expected my death before I expected to see you today. I thought you were no longer of this world. How long has it been? Five months, and no word from you! My mommy would say it’s bad manners.”

  Ellie touched his arm briefly.

  “How are you?”

  “Nei, as you can see, still helping the nation to read. Even if it’s just about the goings-on of Jay Zee and his sidekicks. I’m actually glad old Jules is back on the scene. At least it’s a change of scenery.”

  He held out a paper to a man in a suit who came walking towards them. “Morning, morning. Read all about it. Helen has made headlines for a change.”

  The man greeted him, asked after his health, handed Happy a ten-rand note and walked on without waiting for change, the newspaper under his arm.

  “A gentleman with class. His mommy raised him well. Such good manners. Why don’t you find yourself a man like that?”

  “You look well. Don’t tell me there’s a girl in your life.”

  He shook his head. “I’ll tell you what one of my clients told me when I asked if he was married: He said if he was looking for shit he’d buy an Alfa. Nei, I’m not looking for extra trouble.”

  Ellie laughed out loud and shook her head. “I’ve missed you.”

  He returned her smiled. “That’s what they all say. Can’t be with me, can’t be without me.” His expression grew more serious. “You’re alive.”

  Ellie nodded. “I’m alive and better than the last time you saw me.”

  “I’m glad.
Are you back in the Mother of Cities, or just passing through?”

  “I had some business here and thought I’d say hello.”

  He made a slight bow. “I’m honoured. Have you seen Miss Brenda?”

  “No, I plan to call her. Do you see her at all?”

  “Now and again. She greets me, even if it’s not warmly. She’s temping as a receptionist. At an office around the corner from here.”

  “I’m glad. I’ll call her. If I don’t get hold of her, give her my best and say I’d like to see her.”

  He nodded. “Take care of yourself. I don’t like funerals.”

  “Neither do I. Take care.”

  She was some distance away when he fell in step beside her. “Does your business have anything to do with Miss Clara?”

  Ellie stopped and looked at him. “What do you mean?”

  “I heard she disappeared on Friday night. Williams is pissed and Reggie wants to beat the shit out of everyone. Pardon my language.”

  “Where did you hear that?”

  He raised his eyebrows. “Are you questioning my credibility?”

  “No, I’m sorry. I’m just surprised. Do you think the cops know?” She was thinking of Clive, who hadn’t said anything.

  “I don’t know. Sometimes they’re slow.”

  Ellie looked into his eyes for a moment. “Thanks for telling me.”

  “You know I don’t preach, but I hope you’re not going to open up another hornet’s nest.”

  “Do you know what happened?”

  He shook his head. “I don’t have details. I could probably find out, if you want me to.”

  She took a two-hundred-rand note from her purse and pressed it into his hand. “No, thanks. See you again.”

  “Sleep with one eye open,” he said behind her.

  She raised her hand but didn’t look back. There was a burning sensation in her stomach and she was finding it hard to keep her breathing even. She wanted to open her mouth wide and take in huge gulps of air. She was suddenly not getting enough oxygen.

  She pictured Clara’s face and wished she was on her swing under the jacaranda. She’d had a choice. There was always a choice. She could have kept a low profile for a day or two until they gave up trying to find her, but she had chosen to find out why they were looking for her. And now she felt as if she couldn’t breathe.

  CHAPTER 4

  Nick made an early-morning stop at the club in Green Point. He was relieved to see Paul’s car in the parking garage but was surprised to see Gabriella’s as well. On a Monday morning?

  Paul was in his office at the back of the building. After all this time, Nick still caught himself looking around in the evenings, thinking that it was impossible for the place ever to be quiet again. Yet silence reigned every morning, as if the previous night had never happened. Maybe it was part of the attraction of a place like this. The idea that everything is fleeting and nothing lasts.

  Nick beckoned for Paul to come along and led the way to one of the bars.

  “What’s up?” Paul asked.

  “When was the last time you saw Allegretti?”

  “Saturday night when the two of you left here.”

  “And you haven’t heard from him since?”

  “No. What’s going on?”

  Nick described the scene he had come across the night before, and mentioned that Allegretti’s cellphone automatically went to voicemail.

  Paul ran his hand across his short hair. “You said we were nearly done here. I have a life to return to. Now it seems you’re getting into deeper shit.”

  “Do you think this is what I want? If I had my way, neither of us would still be here.” Nick became aware of the sharp tone in his voice.

  “Fuck, I don’t want to deal with these guys any more. Or help keep the doors of a corrupt business open.”

  “You can’t be any more fed up than I am.”

  Paul raised his hands in a motion of surrender.

  “What’s Gabriella doing here?”

  “I don’t know. You’ll have to ask her.”

  “Does she have access to the safe and the accounts?”

  “Yes, she does.”

  “Won’t you please check if any unusual withdrawals have been made from the business accounts lately, or from Enzio’s personal accounts? And while you’re at it, check the last time he used his bank cards.”

  “There haven’t been any withdrawals from the business accounts, I check every day. But I’ll check his personal accounts.”

  Nick’s gaze travelled to Enzio’s office on the top floor. “Maybe you’d better take a look at Gabriella’s personal accounts as well.”

  “Okay.”

  “Can you do it without her knowing?”

  Paul gave him a withering look, turned around and went back to his office.

  Nick walked up the stairs. He knocked twice, then pushed open the door.

  Gabriella was talking on her cellphone. She smiled when she saw him. A slow, lazy smile. Vincenzo Allegretti’s only daughter and the apple of his eye was a beautiful woman. Too beautiful, perhaps. The world didn’t refuse her much. Nick couldn’t decide who was the more difficult of the Allegretti siblings. He suspected life had given Enzio a few hard knocks while his sister seemed untouched so far.

  “I’ll call you back.” She put the phone on the desk. “Nick, my love. I keep deciding to play hard to get, but the moment I see you I lose the battle. I just want to throw myself at your feet.”

  Nick smiled, though he certainly didn’t feel like it. “Gabi, the man at whose feet you throw yourself hasn’t been born yet.”

  She sat back in Enzio’s big chair and he sat down opposite her.

  “What are you doing at the office at this hour on a Monday morning? I didn’t know you could get up so early.” He tried to keep the tone light. He had hoped Enzio would be here.

  “Somebody has to run this place. And as my brother seems to have lost the plot, it’ll have to be me.”

  “What do you mean ‘lost the plot’?”

  “Didn’t you see him on Saturday night? We all like to relax and play, but he doesn’t know where to draw the line any more. So last night I realised, if he lets this place go down the drain, I’m going to lose as well.”

  “Paul is here, and from what I can see, he’s doing a good job.”

  “I won’t argue, but one of the lessons my dad taught us from a very young age is that no one is ever as loyal to your business as you are yourself. I didn’t listen to all my dad’s lessons, but I remember that one. And you know as well as I do that sending us to Cape Town to open a business here was a test. He’s not going to trust us with anything bigger if we fuck this up.”

  She was unusually serious and Nick wondered if she knew more than she was letting on. It wasn’t normal for Gabriella to worry about the business or to act responsibly. He didn’t know if girls who were born with such stunning beauty ever really learnt that life came with certain obligations. Fortune has a way of favouring the beautiful. Protecting them against cruelty and suffering. That’s why the world is always so touched when one of its beautiful creatures comes up against the dark side.

  “Speaking of your brother, do you happen to know where he is? I need to speak to him urgently but he’s not answering his phone.”

  “How would I know where he is? He’s a big boy.”

  “When was the last time you saw him?” he asked.

  “Saturday night, here, at the club.” When he said nothing in reply, she asked: “What are your plans for the rest of the day?”

  “I have a lot of things to do.”

  “Always so busy. You know what they say about all work and no play?”

  “What are you really doing here so early?”

  “I told you someone has to see to things. I told Enzio a few months ago that if he doesn’t sort out his shit I’m going to tell my dad. If the club doesn’t bring in money, my dad is going to shut it down, and I refuse to go back to Joburg.”


  “So far he’s made a success of it, despite everyone’s misgivings. I think he’s just going through a bad patch. He’ll get back on track.”

  “I’m not willing to risk it. Saturday night was his last chance.”

  “Where’s Ken?”

  “At this very moment? Why do you want to know?”

  “I mean, is he in Cape Town, or has he left the country?”

  She tilted her head. “Come to think of it, I haven’t a clue. I think he was here on Saturday night, but I haven’t seen him since.”

  “He’s your husband. Don’t you wonder where he is if he vanishes like that?”

  “Should I?”

  Nick shook his head. “To each his own. Maybe you’ve got a winning recipe. If you hear from your brother, tell him to call me urgently.”

  “And what do I get in exchange for the favour?”

  “I make sure you’re safe.”

  “Safety is so boring. There are far more interesting things you could do for me.”

  Nick smiled again. “Gabi, you’re becoming a cliché.”

  She gave a hoarse laugh. “Nick Malherbe, you can insult me all you like, but we both know I always get what I want in the end.”

  Back outside, he dialled a number and asked to speak to Captain Clive Barnard.

  He held on for a while.

  “Barnard.”

  “Nick Malherbe. I’m —”

  “I know who you are.”

  “I’ve got to see you.”

  “It’s Monday morning. I don’t have time.”

  “Not even for coffee?”

  “Not really.”

  “I need your help.”

  “There are channels for that.”

  “I’m not sure who I can trust.”

  “Should I feel honoured that you called me?”

  “Call me crazy. I know I’m taking a chance, but I don’t have too many options at the moment.” When he stopped talking he expected Barnard to end the call.

  “Where do you want to meet?” he said after a moment’s silence.

  “Tell me what works for you. Preferably a place where we won’t run into too many familiar faces.”

  They agreed on a coffee shop at the Canal Walk shopping centre.