“Yes, there’s usually money, but as far as I know never more than about two million.”
“Can you check on the security footage whether anyone was in the office last Sunday? Visser, Allegretti or Gabriella?”
“I’ll take a look.”
Ellie put down her handbag. “Looking back, has there been anything unusual about Allegretti’s behaviour recently?”
Paul considered the question. “Depends what you mean by unusual. He was definitely getting more and more paranoid. He trusted no one.”
Nick left the questions to Ellie. Paul seemed a little calmer in her presence. Maybe he just didn’t have the bedside manner.
“Did you ever see Clara at the club again?”
Paul shook his head.
“Do you think Allegretti was still seeing her?”
Paul was about to shrug, then he ran his hand across his face and frowned. “I’ve just remembered something. There was a credit card transaction at a jeweller’s in Sea Point about three weeks ago.”
A light flicked on in Nick’s brain. He should have sent for Paul earlier. The light was dim, but at least it wasn’t pitch dark any more.
“Which jeweller?”
Paul gave the name. “If I’ve got it right, the amount was more or less sixty thousand.”
“I know where the jeweller is,” Ellie said. “It’s where Enzio bought Clara’s engagement ring. I’ll pay him a visit.”
“There’s no need. I doubt whether the jeweller will know who Allegretti buys jewellery for, especially if he wanted to keep his relationship a secret. But it confirms our suspicion that he and Clara were still in touch.”
When Nick closed the front door behind him, Paul looked from Clive to Ellie. “What do you think your chances are of solving this case?”
“I don’t know,” said Clive. “If you’re looking for certainty, you’re at the wrong address.”
“I always wondered about you,” Ellie said, changing the subject.
Paul smiled. “And I about you.”
“What did you wonder?”
“Why you did that kind of job.”
“And here I was thinking I played my role well.”
“Maybe it was just the way you always looked at people. The other security guards watch the guests and what they’re up to with a kind of curiosity. Especially at first. You had a different way of looking at them.”
“I’d rather not ask you to elaborate.”
When Paul left, Ellie and Clive walked him to his car. “Please hurry. I’m desperate to get out of this hellhole,” Paul said as he got into his car.
“We’ll do our best,” Ellie said.
“Have you ever wondered about the exact meaning of those words?” Clive asked as they were walking back to the house. “What is your best? You may think you’re doing your best, while I think you’re making a balls-up. There’s no criterion by which to measure it.”
“You sound just like Brenda. She doesn’t trust the expression either.”
“Are you all right?” Clive asked as he shut the front door.
“Yes, why?”
“You look a bit distant. How was your mother’s wedding?”
“As soon as we’ve solved this case you’re coming to visit me on the farm and I’ll tell you everything while we slowly get plastered.”
“It’s a date. Sure you’re okay? It couldn’t have been an easy day.”
“I’m a hundred per cent. Maybe yesterday was the kind of catharsis I needed.”
“Are you and Malherbe okay?”
“Couldn’t be better.”
When Nick drew up at the house in Camps Bay, Gabriella opened the front door. He had called to say he was on his way. He had hoped if Visser was there he’d be gone by the time he arrived. He would talk to him later – today he wanted to have a chat with Gabriella.
She opened her mouth but he spoke first. “I’m flying to Joburg this afternoon. Would you like to come along?”
“Why are you going to Joburg?”
“To visit your father. I haven’t seen him for a long time. I miss him.”
She narrowed her eyes. “You’re such a bad liar. Why are you really going?”
“There are things we’ve got to talk about. He’s my boss, after all. I’m sure they’d be happy to see you. You haven’t been home for a long time.”
“I can’t go away now. I’m having guests for dinner tonight.” When Nick said nothing, she asked: “Will you tell him about Enzio?”
“It’s my job to inform him when something happens.”
“Maybe he’ll show up soon.”
“I can’t take the chance. Your father doesn’t pay me to hide things from him.”
“It’s going to upset him.”
“It’s going to upset him even more if I keep quiet and he hears it when I have to tell him his son is dead.”
She led the way to the lounge. Gabriella had good taste and the large, luxurious home had more warmth than Enzio’s.
“You know I’m going to ask him a few awkward questions, so if there’s anything you haven’t told me yet, now’s your chance. If you help me, we can spare the old man.”
“Enzio called on Sunday evening. He sounded upset. He wanted me to help him get hold of three million rand.”
“What did he want it for?”
She shrugged. “As if he’d tell me. I told him I don’t have that much and I wasn’t prepared to sign so he could withdraw it from the business account. We argued. That’s all. I haven’t heard from him since.”
“Christ, Gabi, why didn’t you tell me when I came to the club on Monday morning?”
“It wasn’t the first time he’d asked me for money.”
“But the previous times he didn’t disappear afterwards.”
“Believe what you want to. I didn’t see him or speak to him again. And I don’t know where he is. Anyway, it suits me that he’s not here at present. It gives me a chance to see what’s going on in the books.”
Nick shook his head. “Your brother could be dead …”
“Nicky, my brother owes a few people big money. What good would it do if he’s dead? If you ask me, he’s hiding, like he used to when we were kids. When he’d been naughty and knew he was in trouble he’d hide somewhere until my parents’ anxiety that something might have happened to him was big enough for them to forgive him. In his heart he’s still that boy. He hates to be punished. Actually, he’s a coward.”
“Did you tell Visser about this?”
“I don’t remember. As I’ve said, it wasn’t the first time.”
“Try to remember whether you told anyone about it.”
“I don’t think so. It wasn’t important enough to talk about.”
Nick ran his hand across his head. “Your brother wants three million rand on a Sunday and you don’t ask him why he needs it, and you don’t think of telling me about it.”
“Are you the cops now? I’m not obliged to tell you everything my brother and I do. I assumed he’s seen another boat or car or horse he wants to buy.”
“If you want me to cover your arses when the chips are down, you have to tell me everything, or I can’t do my job.”
“Well, sorry, but I didn’t think it was necessary.”
“Is there anything else you didn’t tell me?”
She shook her head.
“While we’re talking about your father, do you know if any of his firearms were ever stolen?”
“If they were, no one told me about it.”
“Do you know if Enzio brought any of your father’s firearms down here?”
“Nicky, you know I love you, but I’m really not in the mood for an inquisition. I’m not my family’s keeper. If you want to know what they’re doing or not doing, you’d better ask them.”
“If I knew where your brother was, I would ask him.”
“Sorry, can’t help you.”
“I’ll tell your parents you send your love.”
Gabriella did not
answer.
CHAPTER 22
Ellie sat opposite Nazeem Williams in a coffee shop in the Cavendish Square shopping mall. The centre was still reasonably quiet. Clive had dropped her off and promised to stay in the vicinity but out of sight until she had finished her conversation.
It had taken all her powers of persuasion to get Nazeem to come. Ellie wasn’t surprised when he arrived wearing a hat and sunglasses. The car he came in wasn’t his usual Mercedes. They had taken a table at the back, near the kitchen. She noticed him checking the exits before sitting down.
“Thank you for coming. I think it’s easier if we talk here instead of at home.”
“Have you heard from Clara?” She saw the caution in his eyes.
“Unfortunately not. I want to talk to you about her guards. Were they always the same people, or did they rotate often?”
“I chose four guys I trust. One of them is Elroy. Guys who have known Clara since they were children together and who are loyal.”
“Where’s Elroy? I haven’t seen him lately.”
“He went away for a few days. You can imagine how he feels about what happened. And to make things worse, someone crashed into his car last week.”
“I’d like to speak to him when he gets back.”
“He’ll probably be back today or tomorrow. He didn’t go far. Just did a few deliveries for me.”
“Will you ask him to call me as soon as he’s back?”
“Sure.”
“Mr Williams, if anyone is responsible for her disappearance, who do you think it could be?”
“Allegretti.”
“Let’s leave him out of the picture for the moment. You’ve had a while to think about your own people.”
“I suppose anything is possible, but I can’t give you a name.”
“Can’t or won’t?”
He gave her a lopsided smile. “The moment I give you a name, I’ll never be able to look at that person the same way again. And it’s a dangerous thing to do. Your mind can convince you of things that don’t exist. I can’t afford to overlook anything, but neither can I afford to see things that don’t exist.”
“My dad taught me the same lesson.”
“So you’ll understand if I don’t give you an answer.”
“I understand. It would have helped if there was someone I could look at more closely.”
He shook his head. “We all wish things were simpler.”
“Tell me about Clara’s relationship with her family. Something they or Mrs Williams wouldn’t have told me.”
“You know Clara’s father left them when the children were very young. Sally struggled with the three little ones. It’s one of the reasons why we took Clara in at a young age. Today the children are very good to their mother. The boys work hard and Clara helps where she can.”
“And the relationship between them?”
“I don’t have children of my own, but I presume all parents and children go through good and bad times. There was a time Sally wanted Clara to go back to Gansbaai, but she refused. They didn’t speak for a while, but when Clara started modelling they made peace.”
“And her brothers?”
“The way it is with brothers and sisters. Sometimes they fight like cat and dog. Other times everything’s fine.”
“What do they fight about?”
“Sometimes they feel Clara could give more. The youngest boy is still at school. We help where we can, but I don’t believe in handouts. I think you should first try to work out your own problems. It’s good to develop a sense of responsibility.”
“Would you say Clara and her brothers feel responsible for their own futures?”
“All three of them work hard. I don’t think Sally always gives them enough credit for what they’ve achieved. She and Mavis had a hard upbringing. They didn’t have a father either. Sally was bitter when the same thing happened to her and she found herself alone with three children, just like her mother.”
“It’s clear that Mrs Williams and Clara get on well. Has it ever caused problems between the sisters?”
Williams shook his head. “I think Sally was only too grateful that someone else was prepared to see Clara through her teenage years, but these days Sally often seems unhappy. I can’t put my finger on it. Sisters have complicated relationships, even if they love each other. I’ve seen it in my own two sisters.’
Ellie hesitated a moment, then said: “I think you know I was a member of the police’s Crime Intelligence Unit for a long time. I was taught to make connections between events and draw conclusions … From my perspective it seems you have problems in your organisation. The younger men don’t necessarily have the same vision for the future. I may be wrong, but I don’t think so. Drugs are a much bigger money-spinner than any of the other commodities you trade in. The market is growing day by day and the risks are much smaller. The biggest problem is that everyone wants a piece of the pie, so the competition gets stronger and more violent.”
Williams remained silent. A shiver ran down Ellie’s spine. Had her sixth sense left her in the lurch?
But there was no going back.
“I ask again, is there a possibility that your own people took Clara? That they intend to use her to bring about certain changes in your organisation?”
Williams shifted on his chair, straightened his legs and folded his hands in his lap. “Before I give you an answer, let me just say you’ve done a very brave thing. Few people would dare tell me what you just did. I hope you know it could potentially be very dangerous to you if this conversation had to become public.”
“Mr Williams, I’m worried about Clara. Everyone thinks she’s independent and streetwise, and she may be all that, but she’s also young, and there’s a possibility that she’ll try to do something that could cost her her life. I don’t have time to be careful. You have a right to tell me to get lost, or to refuse to discuss your business with me.”
“You’re right. The youngsters are getting cockier all the time. They want more – and they want it sooner. More money, more power, quicker turnover. As a young man, the drugs didn’t bother me. It wasn’t my problem. Now mothers and fathers, grandmothers and grandfathers come into my lounge, crying about their children. And what can I tell them? These are people who have been loyal to me all their lives. Years ago only a few washouts used drugs. No one worried about supplying them. They were useless anyway. Now it’s our children. I don’t know what to do any more. My wife isn’t happy, and she has never interfered with my business.” He fumbled with his hands in his lap. “So, yes, there’s a chance that one or a few of them may be involved. That’s why I’m keeping them as close as possible at the moment.”
“Is there anyone you trust?”
He mentioned three names. Ellie recognised them as the three older men who had been with him the first day.
“We were children together.” He thought for a while. “And Elroy, perhaps. His father died when he was very young and he kind of grew up around us.”
“Reggie?”
The name hung between them as if trapped in a bubble.
“It’s complicated. Reggie is my brother’s son. My brother was in the business with me until he was shot and killed. Reggie was thirteen. Afterwards Reggie became my responsibility. Because we don’t have children of our own, everyone just presumed that Reggie would take over from me. And he’s strong enough to do it, but these days I’m not so sure. He tends to lose his head and he doesn’t like taking advice.”
“Reggie is in love with Clara and it was very difficult for him when you allowed her to move in with Allegretti.”
“I know. We had quite a few disagreements about it. And we still do.”
“Could he have something to do with this?”
“If I say yes, I’d be disloyal to my own blood. If I say no, I may be lying. I don’t know. I hope the fact that he knows it would permanently destroy our relationship would stop him from doing something like that.”
“But
it’s possible.”
He raised his hands. “Tell me what’s impossible these days.”
Ellie picked up her handbag. “Thank you. I hope I won’t bother you again any time soon.”
“Miss McKenna, may I ask you a question as well?”
“Of course.”
“Why are you doing this?”
Ellie felt fingers gently moving down her spine.
“I don’t think it’s for the money,” he continued. “So it makes me wonder. You know her background, you know the world she comes from. Why do you care?”
“In the short time I was with her I saw a young woman with great potential. It would be a shame if she didn’t reach her full potential. I think every child deserves a chance.”
He touched her hand gently, very briefly. “Thank you.”
Ellie was closing the front door behind her after Clive had dropped her at the house when her cellphone rang. The screen said No Caller ID.
“McKenna.”
There was a moment’s silence. Then she heard sobs. “Ellie …”
“Clara?”
“You’ve got to help me …” The sobs increased in volume.
Ellie felt goosebumps all over her body. Waves of nausea washed over her.
“Where are you?”
“I … I don’t know … You’ve got to help me.”
“Clara, stop crying, please. I can’t hear you.” She jumped at the sound of her own voice. “Tell me what happened.”
“They say I’ve got to end the call. They say I must tell Enzio if he doesn’t come to light today, there’s no deal.”
“Who are you talking about? Who are these people?”
The sobbing started up again. “I don’t know … Where’s Enzio … they’re looking for him.”
“Clara, where did you get this number?”
“Please tell Enzio to hurry.”
“Clara, where did you get this number?”
“They gave it to me.”
“Let me speak to them.”
There was muttering in the background. “They don’t want to talk to you. Ellie … please help me, they’re going to kill me.”
“Clara, calm down. They won’t kill you.” Ellie wondered whether she was trying to convince the girl or herself with her firm tone of voice. “Tell them Enzio is missing. We’re looking for him as well. As soon as we find him, I’ll give him the message. They just need to be patient.” The background sounds faded. “Clara, can you hear me? Clara?”
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