Gaba and De Bruin made notes while Nick was talking. Then they repeated the messages they had given Brenda. There was still no record of plane tickets in either Allegretti or Clara’s name.
Ellie told them about her conversations with Williams and the others. When she had finished, there was a moment’s silence before Nick began to speak.
“Ask about planes leaving from the smaller airports over the weekend or during the week. Take photos of Allegretti and Clara along. Go to the air traffic control centre at Cape Town International and get a list of their flight plans.”
“Where are the smaller airports around Cape Town?” De Bruin asked.
“I don’t know. Google or ask the guys at air traffic control. They should know. I know about Stellenbosch and Fisantekraal near Durbanville but there must be others as well.” He was quiet for a moment as he looked at each person in turn. “We’re looking at a world where loyalty is rare and money talks. Someone knows something. In every case, there’s always someone who always knows something. We have to find that person. Money might oil his or her tongue. We’re also looking for an oldish white Mercedes-Benz that’s damaged. It may have been used in robberies before. If a vehicle like that turns up, I want to know about it.”
Ellie saw Clive look first at Nick, then at her, but she avoided his eyes. She’d speak to him when they were alone.
“Any progress with the cellphone records?”
Jeremy Jansen pointed at a pile of documents in front of him. “I haven’t found any evidence of contact between the girl and Allegretti in the past few months. I’ve gone through all their records. They didn’t call each other. If they had contact, it was through different channels. Which brings me to her laptop. There’s been no contact via email, but that doesn’t mean anything. There are many mobile apps and programs these days that can erase your digital footprint. The fact that I haven’t found anything doesn’t mean there hasn’t been contact.”
“How accessible is that kind of program? Allegretti isn’t exactly a technological whizz.” Nick gave Ellie a questioning look. “Could Clara have used a program like that?”
“I suppose so, but I never got the idea that she’s especially tech savvy.”
“What about Clara’s Facebook page?” Nick asked.
“The usual. Selfies with friends, photo shoots, parties … that kind of thing. No private messages to Allegretti.”
“Is he on Facebook?” Ellie asked.
“Yes. He’s not very active, but now and again he’ll post something. Usually about a new car or boat or horse.”
“She could have left him messages on Facebook without anyone knowing they were meant for him. She could have used code words or posted things on specific days. And he could have done the same,” Ellie said. “It’s easy and there’s no obvious trail.”
“Jeez, that’s neat, hey,” Jansen answered. “It didn’t cross my mind. I was thinking along the lines of serious programs. It means we’ll have to look at all her posts from the past few months to see if we can find anything. Or if a certain type of message was left on certain days. It’ll take time.”
“Get Brenda to help you. Let her look for the days and you look for messages that may say more than meets the eye. Look for words and phrases that are repeated or seem out of place.” For the first time Ellie felt as if she’d got hold of something. So far everything had seemed to slip through her fingers, and she hated that feeling. She liked things to be concrete.
When no one had anything else to report, Nick asked Ellie and Clive to come to his office.
They had barely sat down when Clive asked: “What happened?”
“I told you. A car ran a red light and sideswiped me. I was taken to hospital and they checked me out all over. There’s nothing wrong.”
He pointed at the brace. “Doesn’t look like it.”
“There’s a bit of whiplash and I have to be careful with my neck for a day or two.”
Nick added: “What she’s not saying is that it was a hit and run. The eyewitnesses say the guy made no effort to stop.”
Clive threw his hands in the air, lowered them again, then put them behind his head. “There we go. What did I tell you? Another of your brilliant decisions that I let you talk me into.”
“Clive, do you think if someone really wanted me dead they couldn’t find me? Do you think I want to hide for the rest of my life? I’m not saying it lightly, but I decided today that I refuse to hide. For five months I’ve been sleeping with my revolver under my pillow. I even hid a bag of clothing in a ruin on the farm in case I had to run. What kind of life is that?”
As soon as she’d said it, Ellie realised she had spoken before she’d thought. That was too personal. She might have told Clive, but not Nick Malherbe. She stopped talking. Her heart raced and she was out of breath. Delayed shock, perhaps.
“It’s no use overreacting. We’re already hopelessly short of manpower, with everything that needs to be done,” Nick said before Clive could reply. “We can’t afford to lose any more people. McKenna, neither can we afford for you or anyone else to be injured now. Please be careful.”
“I wasn’t reckless.”
“Who do you think is behind this?” Clive interrupted. “Our friend Reggie?”
“What good is it to Reggie if I’m out of the picture?”
“He doesn’t like you being so close to Williams. He’s never been your biggest fan. Or he’s afraid you may find out how deep he’s got his hand into the cookie jar. Someone is afraid you’ll find out something. And that person didn’t ram into you by accident today. He knew you’d been with Williams.”
“As long as we remember there’s still a slim chance that it was just some random idiot who wasn’t watching where he was going and jumped the red light. And was too scared to stop. My dad always said it’s dangerous not to see the full picture, but it’s just as dangerous to read too much into something.”
Clive got up. “I have to go past the office before I go home. There’s a school function tonight and tomorrow morning my son is playing a rugby match. Call me if you need me but if it’s not a crisis, please just let me watch the game, or I’ll be sleeping outside with the dog for a month.”
On her way back to the dining room to continue working at her boards, Ellie ran into Brenda.
“Happy says he’ll be at the Eastern Food Bazaar at six.”
Ellie looked at her watch. “Do you have a schedule for the MyCiTi bus?
“You want to use the MyCiTi? Where’s your car?”
“Towed in. The guy hit me broadside. I’m too scared to ask for a quotation to have it fixed. I suspect it’s a write-off.
“You’re too late if you wanted to see Happy at six.”
Reluctantly Ellie went to Nick’s office. “I have to go into the city.”
He raised his eyebrows.
“I have to go see someone.”
He picked up the keys to his bakkie and asked. “Where are we going?”
She directed him to the Eastern Food Bazaar in Darling Street. “Go to Parliament Street. It’s easier to find parking. Most businesses are closing.”
“Who are you going to see?”
He looked at her when she didn’t answer at once.
“A contact. I’ve been working with him for years. He’s very valuable, so please don’t scare him off.”
Happy was waiting at a table. He frowned when he saw them. Ellie saw him aiming for the door and shook her head. When he still seemed uneasy, she asked Nick to wait and went up to Happy by herself.
“What’s this? Bring-a-friend-to-work day? Who’s he and why did you bring him?”
“Nick Malherbe.” She waited for the penny to drop.
“And what’s my business with Mr Malherbe?”
“Someone tried to run me off the road today. He and Captain Barnard are jittery. They don’t want me going around on my own.”
“I was going to ask about the necklace.” He looked over her shoulder at Nick. “Do you tru
st him?”
“If I didn’t trust him, I wouldn’t have brought him along. We all have too much to lose if we start double-crossing each other.”
Happy nodded and Ellie motioned for Nick to approach. She introduced him to Happy.
Happy held out his fist and Nick tapped it with his own. “Sorry to gatecrash but, as you can see, we had a bit of an incident today. Car’s a write-off.”
“Nei, it’s okay. A friend of a friend …” He looked at Ellie: “Shoot.”
“I’m looking for an oldish-model white Mercedes-Benz. It’s probably about late 80s. There’ll be a serious ding on the front right-hand side. Maybe they’ve already taken it to a chop shop.”
“Is it the car that tried to take you out?”
Ellie nodded.
“Did you get a look at the driver? Any passengers in the car?”
“It happened too fast. No one saw anything.”
“Hmm … I’ll see what I can find out. Where did it happen?”
Ellie told him. “I was on my way back from Williams’s house. If you can’t find me, leave a message at this number.” She gave him the office landline number.
“I hear Miss Brenda is working for you again.”
“We needed someone to answer the phone.”
“Nei, sharp. I scheme she missed you.” He got up. When Ellie pressed a two-hundred-rand note into his hand, he quickly transferred it to his trouser pocket.
“Strange that he’s willing to see you in public,” Nick said as they were walking back to the bakkie. “How does he explain you to someone who asks?”
Ellie smiled. “He tells people I’m a social worker who promised his late mother years ago that I’d look out for him.”
“You have a few strange connections.”
“Have you never had strange connections?”
“I have – still do. I just thought yours would be more mainstream. Living in a neat suburb somewhere.”
“What could someone in a neat suburb tell me? With all the high walls around them they don’t even know what their neighbours look like, never mind what’s happening in their street or a few blocks away.”
They didn’t speak on the way back to Milnerton. When they walked in, Brenda was getting ready to leave.
“Would you mind sleeping here for a night or two?” Nick asked. “The doctor wants someone to watch her for the next forty-eight hours.”
“He said twenty-four hours,” Ellie corrected him.
“I say forty-eight.”
“Do I look like a nurse? What am I supposed to do if she starts acting funny in the night?”
“Call me.”
“I have nothing with me.”
“It’s totally unnecessary. There’s nothing wrong with me,” Ellie protested.
“I’ll take you home to pack an overnight bag.”
“Okay.” Brenda batted her eyelids at Ellie. “A sleepover. We’ll curl each other’s hair and stay up all night, talking about men.”
“I can hardly wait.”
CHAPTER 18
Having dropped Brenda in Sea Point, Nick drove to Rondebosch. Brenda had said she would make her own way back to Milnerton. He suddenly remembered Nols had mentioned going out for supper and called him.
“It’s fine. It’s still early,” Nols said when Nick told him he’d be busy for a while. “I’m not going anywhere.”
There were two guards at Mang’s gate, who didn’t look willing to let him in. Not even when he told them who he was. Exasperated, he told them if they didn’t tell Mang he was there, he’d phone the cops. One of the guards produced a cellphone and made a call. A lengthy conversation took place before the gate was opened. Nick was searched and, when no weapon was found on his person, they waved him towards the house. The front door had opened and Mang, wearing a dressing gown, was in the doorway.
“What do you want?”
“Do you remember me?”
Mang nodded.
“I was at the casino that night. And I know about the deal that went wrong. Allegretti and the girl have gone missing. The cops are looking for them. If you’ve got them, you’d better tell me.”
Mang threw his short arms in the air. “I don’t know nothing about Allegretti and the girl.” He struggled to pronounce the words.
“Does he still owe you money?”
“Yes.”
“Did you kidnap them?”
“I kidnap no one. Tell him give back my money, or the goods. I no wait longer.”
“When I see him, I’ll tell him, but it may not be soon. Unless you tell me where they are.”
“I don’t know nothing. No like tricks. Tell him. This is trick. They kill my cousin, now they play games.”
“Who killed your cousin?”
“Allegretti and Visser.”
“Do you have evidence?”
“No need evidence. I know.”
Nick began to walk away.
“Tell him. No more tricks. No more tricks.” Mang’s voice grew shrill.
Nick didn’t look back.
“Shouldn’t you be in bed?” Brenda asked. She and Ellie were having late-night coffee in the living room. Ellie had spent the evening surrounded by files. Now and again she had got up to write something on a whiteboard.
“I told you I’m worried about Clara.”
“You can’t be responsible for everyone around you. Worrying about other people makes you old before your time.”
Ellie breathed out audibly. “What am I supposed to do? Pretend not to notice when someone has problems?”
“What would you do if you found out she and the Italian have run away together? Maybe they’re lying under a palm tree on a white beach somewhere and here you are, looking like someone who’s trapped in a bad marriage.”
Ellie considered her reply. “I’d be pissed off at them for wasting a lot of people’s time – but I’m prepared to bet that Clara and Enzio aren’t on an idyllic beach somewhere. I know you think I’m imagining it, but I’m convinced I know her. She wouldn’t just leave her family, especially not her uncle. He’s the only father she knows. Why do you think she hasn’t run away before and moved back in with Allegretti? She can make her own decisions, but she’s not prepared to cut the ties with her family. She knows that if she does, there’s no going back.”
“Why don’t you have a husband? Or a boyfriend?”
Ellie laughed. “I don’t know why. Maybe men just aren’t interested in me.”
“No, it’s not that. You give out the wrong signals. Don’t you know how to flirt?”
Ellie laughed again. “You think I can’t flirt?”
“Not to save your life. I don’t know how you can do a job like this and be so uninformed. It’s like you’re still in puberty and don’t know what to do with your body and don’t understand life’s rules.”
“What are life’s rules?”
“First rule: Look after yourself, because no one else will. Second,” Brenda raised a second finger, “don’t waste time or energy on people who don’t deserve it. If people don’t like you, it’s their problem, not yours. Except if you’re an arsehole. Then it’s your fault. That brings us to number three: Don’t be an arsehole.” She held up a fourth finger. “Be kind to kids, old people and animals. Number five: Don’t bring kids into the world unless you’re bloody sure you can look after them. And I’m not talking only about money. Some people just don’t have the emotional energy it takes to raise kids. Six: The day you choose a partner, make sure he’s kind, but also a bit on the wild side. Domesticated men make boring partners. And sweet number seven: Don’t ever forget that men will always be boys. They love attention and they never get tired of sex. I don’t understand why so many women don’t seem to get that. Married women look at that ring as if it’s a golden padlock that will keep everything safe.” She shook her head. “Not true. Ask me, I’ve talked to many married men. And don’t scheme kids will keep you together. Men are simple. Be kind to them and give them enough sex and they’ll w
orship the ground you walk on.”
“Are those all the rules?”
“Give or take. There are a few others, but I can’t teach you all my tricks.”
“I don’t agree with all of them. Sometimes you can be good to someone and they still choose someone else. Or do something one day that makes you wonder if they ever felt anything for you.”
Brenda tucked her legs underneath her. “True, but that’s because you picked an arsehole. That’s why it’s so high on the list. Watch out for arseholes.”
Ellie laughed and Brenda asked: “You like the captain, don’t you?”
“Captain Barnard? Yes, the two of us have come a long way. He’s taught me a lot. If I could pick a brother, it would be him. Even though we sometimes get into each other’s hair.”
“He looks out for you. It’s nice to have someone like that.”
“And you, Brenda? While we’re on girl talk … has anyone ever made your heart beat faster?”
“Maybe when I was ten, but after that … In the kind of job we do there comes a day when you know you’ve seen and heard too much. And the sad thing is, try as you might, you can’t ever forget it. Too much sadness, too much cheating and beating. We know what people can do to each other, and it makes it hard to trust anyone.”
Ellie looked at the whiteboards covered with names and connecting lines. Living in a small town brings you closer to the cycles of life. In church you hear announcements of birth, sickness and death. You share in the good news and sympathise with the sad tidings. You witness babies being baptised and funeral processions. And you learn that no home gets away with good news only. They all have to deal with the other side as well. But you also know that grief and misery have different faces. There’s the obvious, when people come to your home to sympathise with a handshake or a gentle touch. The flipside is what people hide behind closed curtains, hoping it will disappear if it’s not exposed to air or light. It was what Brenda was talking about: the pain you hide deep inside.
In her job, Ellie had often come across it. Having to tell a grieving person their loved one was not who they pretended to be.
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