When there was silence again, she saw he had ended the call.
Ellie called Happy.
“Did your friend tell you where Elroy was last night?”
“He spent all evening at his cousin’s house.”
She told him about Elroy’s call.
“Smells like rotten fish. Something sounds very wrong.”
“That’s what I think, too. Let me know if Elroy goes anywhere.”
Driving to Milnerton in the late afternoon, Nick tried to stow all the different events in neat compartments in his brain. It had turned into a mess. Look for the end of the rope. Undo each knot as you get to it. But what if you couldn’t find the end and it was becoming critically important to unravel the knots before any more people died or disappeared? He’d rather not know about the fires Monica had probably been putting out since yesterday. He had to solve this bloody case before it cost him his job. He had always believed that the day he left, it would be his decision.
He stopped at a red traffic light. A poster on the lamppost diagonally in front of him caught his eye. Chris de Burgh would be performing at the Grand Arena at GrandWest. Nick began to hum “Spanish Train”. It brought back old memories. He and Nols standing on a table in a pub. Arms aloft, glass in hand.
“Joker is the name, poker is the game, we’ll play right here on this bed, and then we’ll bet for the biggest stakes yet, the souls of the dead …” He was singing at the top of his voice when he saw the woman in the car beside him staring at him. He smiled, then stalled the engine.
A door seemed to have opened in his brain. A bloody door that had been there all the time. He started the bakkie, pulled away fast and called De Bruin.
“Leave everything and go to the GrandWest Casino. Search all the parking areas for the BMW. If it’s there, stay there. Don’t enter the casino.”
“Do you think Allegretti is at the casino?”
“Where would a desperate gambler go?”
“That’s a stupid thing to do if you’re already in financial shit,” De Bruin remarked drily.
“Tell that to a gambler.”
Nick put his foot down. He had believed all along that Allegretti wouldn’t be at a hotel. Too many cameras and records. But he was such a regular client at the casino that he probably didn’t have to sign in personally. Someone could have smuggled him to a room and done the paperwork for him. Maybe under an assumed name. It’s not as if he would run the risk of being recognised: He had access to the Captain’s Cabin, frequented only by serious players. If he was right, Allegretti was at this very moment either on his way to even greater riches, or he had less than when he had walked in. He hoped it was the former. If he had lost two million on the gambling tables, Gabriella would kill him with her bare hands.
Twenty minutes later Nick walked into the casino. De Bruin had spotted the BMW in the parking garage. Nick was pleased to recognise the receptionist at the Captain’s Cabin, and even more pleased when she recognised him in turn.
“Long time no see,” she greeted him.
“Good to hear you missed me too.”
She gave a wry smile. “Not quite what I said.”
He returned the smile and briefly touched her arm. “Sorry.”
Her smile grew wider. “Are you looking for Mr Allegretti?”
“Is he here?”
“No, he usually comes at about four. Is he living in the hotel at the moment?”
“Yes, he’s having some work done at his house.”
“Ah, I’ve been wondering why he’s been here so often in the past week.”
“See you later,” he said. He turned and began to walk away, then turned back to her. “Who played with him this week?”
“It was a quiet week. None of his usual gambling partners were here.”
Minutes later Nick phoned De Bruin from the hotel’s reception area. “I want one of you to stay with the car. The other one must come to the foyer.”
The receptionist hesitated when he asked if Allegretti was there. Nick produced his company card. “I’m Mr Allegretti’s chief of security. He’s not feeling well. I have to get to his room urgently.”
The clerk began to explain about hotel rules and guests’ privacy, but Nick silenced him.
“If anything happens to him while you’re refusing to help, I’ll charge you with negligence and sue the hotel as well.”
“Third floor, room 312.”
Nick held out his hand. “Key.”
There was another hesitation before a key card was encoded. Nick hurried up the stairs. He didn’t know whether he was actually praying, but it certainly felt that way. Today he needed a miracle.
At the door he paused for a moment when he heard voices inside. He was reasonably sure it was the TV. He put the card in the slot. The light was red. He hated these key cards. The second time he tried, there was a click. He opened the door carefully, pistol in hand.
As he had suspected, the TV was on. Enzio Allegretti was lying on the bed, a towel wrapped around his waist. The curtains were drawn, but there was enough light for Nick to notice the white powder on the dressing table. And the champagne bottle.
He opened the wardrobe doors and put his head into the bathroom. Allegretti was alone. Nick opened the curtains and heard Allegretti groan behind him. His eyes slowly opened.
“What the fuck!”
“Time to get up.”
“Nick … bloody hell …” Allegretti ran his hand across his face. “Do you want to give me a heart attack?”
Nick sat down on a chair at the window. “Get up.”
“How did you find me?”
“It’s not important. The whole fucking world is looking for you. You can be glad I’m the one who found you.”
Allegretti raised himself slightly. Nick had never see him look so awful. His eyes were bloodshot, his hair was unkempt and his complexion ashen.
“Enzio, wake the fuck up and get dressed.”
Allegretti made it to the side of the bed. “I have big problems.”
“I know, but hiding here isn’t going to help.” Nick felt a muscle twitch next to his eye. He didn’t have the patience to play babysitter. He felt like dragging the man out of there by his feet, after he had clobbered him.
Nick got up and turned to the window. “Get dressed or I’ll take you out the front entrance in that towel.”
He heard Allegretti get up with a groan. Moments later there was a familiar click behind him. He hoped he was mistaken, but when the turned, Allegretti had a pistol levelled at him. It had to be the one he had used to shoot Patrice.
“Fuck, Enzio, how mad do you want to get me today?”
“I’m not going with you. I’ve got business to attend to. Go into the bathroom.”
Nick took a step closer. “Don’t waste my time. If you want to shoot me, do it, but make sure you kill me.”
“You don’t work for me. I don’t need to listen to you.” Allegretti’s voice began to rise and Nick noticed that his hands were trembling.
He gave another step towards him. “Put down the pistol.”
“Nick … I will shoot you. Go into the bathroom.”
Nick glanced past Allegretti. He gave a slight nod and Allegretti fell for the oldest trick in the book. He gave a quick glance over his shoulder, time enough for Nick to grab his arm and knock the pistol out of his hand. He was grateful no shots had been fired. The last thing he wanted now was for the hotel to call the cops.
Nick yanked Allegretti’s arm up behind his back and gave him a shove. “I’m going to forget that one, but don’t try it a second time. I’m not that forgiving. Get dressed.” He bent down to pick up the pistol. Just in time he remembered to take out his handkerchief and wrap it around his hand. He put the pistol in his jacket pocket.
Allegretti began to swear, switching between English, Afrikaans and Italian. It was nothing Nick hadn’t heard before.
He phoned De Bruin. “Wait for us at the stairs in the parking garage.”
&nbs
p; When Allegretti was finally dressed, Nick took him by the arm and steered him in the direction of the emergency stairs.
“I’m not taking the stairs!”
Nick ignored the outburst. When they reached the basement, De Bruin and Gaba had just arrived. They both jumped out.
“Who are they?” Enzio tried to step back but the grip on his arm was firm.
“Friends of mine.”
Nick tossed De Bruin his key. “My bakkie is parked near the front entrance. Fetch it, please.”
He opened the back door of the car and pushed Allegretti into the back seat. He got in beside him and motioned for Gaba to drive.
“You have no fucking idea what you’ve just done! I’ll make sure you never work again in your life. You’re finished!”
“Enzio, shut up. You’re giving me a headache.”
Another string of curses followed, which Nick suspected wished ill fortune on his earliest ancestors as well as his progeny.
When they arrived at Enzio’s home, Nick locked him into a bedroom, having made sure there was nothing he could use to injure himself.
As he walked away, he heard Allegretti hammer on the door and shout more threats.
Nick collapsed on a couch in the living room. He called Monica.
“That’s excellent news,” she said. “I’ll let all the teams know to get ready.”
“Wait, we don’t have the girl yet. And we’ll have to allow him to go to the funeral.”
“You know you’re making things very difficult for yourself and for us.”
“I told you we’d get a lot further with him if Clara was in the picture. It’s only decent to allow him to bury his parents.”
“What’s going to happen to him in the meantime?”
“I’m going to Joburg with him until after the funeral. By that time, I hope the others will have found Clara. I’ll let you know as soon as everything is in place.”
“Nick, we can’t afford a false step now.”
“There won’t be one.”
He’d have to let Clive and McKenna know he had found Allegretti, but first he and Monica had to go through their plan step by careful step.
CHAPTER 30
It was late afternoon. Ellie was standing in front of the whiteboards when her phone rang. It was Happy.
“That buddy of yours is at Mr Williams’s house.”
“Thanks, Happy. I’ll talk to you later.”
She drove straight to Williams’s house, where she was kept waiting before an unknown young man opened the door.
“Mr Williams isn’t here.”
“I’m here to see Mrs Williams.”
He opened the gate. Ellie hadn’t planned it this way, but she was actually glad Nazeem wasn’t there.
Mavis and her sister were in the living room, watching a soapie on TV. The young man sat down as well.
“Miss McKenna, come in,” said Mavis. “I’m sorry, you’ve just missed Nazeem. He had to go out.” She got up and waved Ellie into a chair. “He shouldn’t be too long.”
“Thanks. If you don’t mind, I’ll wait a while.” Unobtrusively, she tried to see whether Elroy was around.
“Sally, please turn down the TV.”
“No, please don’t,” Ellie protested. “Carry on. It’s nice to just sit after a long day.”
Ellie sat so that she could see the others. Was she imagining it that Mavis had visibly lost weight? Sally’s face looked slightly swollen. Ellie wondered if she drank. Her gaze was fixed on the screen.
When there was an ad break, Mavis asked if Ellie had any news.
“Unfortunately not. I hoped you might have heard something.”
“Nothing. I don’t know how much longer we can stand it. Every time the phone rings, we all jump up. I don’t know when last Nazeem slept properly.”
“I’m very sorry we haven’t found her yet. I assure you we’re doing our best.”
Ellie heard footsteps and when she looked up, she saw it was Clara’s brother. He was carrying two glasses and a two-litre bottle of Coke.
“Calvin, you remember Miss McKenna?” said Mavis.
He nodded to her and sat down beside the other young man. He handed him a glass and poured two glasses of Coke.
“Calvin, fetch Miss McKenna a glass. You can’t drink alone.”
“Mavis, leave the child,” Sally said. “Why do you pretend to be so fancy? How could he have known she was here?”
“I didn’t say he should have known, but now that he’s seen her and is pouring cooldrink, he should offer her some. It’s only polite.”
“To hell with polite!” Sally gave Ellie a sidelong look. “It’s not about you, Miss. I just don’t feel like another one of my sister’s sermons. You can only take so much. She likes to pretend she grew up so grand.” She nudged her sister beside her on the couch. “But actually we’re low class.” Sally kissed Mavis’ cheek. “Isn’t that right, sis?”
Ellie looked at the two and tried to smile, but it didn’t feel quite right.
“Would you like something to drink? There’s food as well, if you’re hungry,” Mavis said, without looking at Sally.
“No, thanks, Mrs Williams.”
They carried on watching the soapie in silence. The young men were busy on their phones.
“What are you doing to find Clara?” Sally asked as the last titles rolled across the screen. “Where do you begin to look?”
Ellie felt sure Sally had had a little too much to drink. The woman, who had always only said the minimum, was talkative.
“We start where the person went missing and backtrack to see if we can find a clue somewhere.”
“And do you have a clue yet?”
“We’re following up one or two.”
“Like what?”
“Sally, don’t cross-question Miss McKenna. She’ll tell us when there’s news.”
Sally turned sideways to look at her sister. “It’s my child, not yours. I have a right to know what they’re doing and what they know.”
“We’re trying to find out if someone had a motive for kidnapping her.”
“Calvin, did you hear that? Miss McKenna thinks someone has a motive for kidnapping Clara? It sounds so important. A motive.” She repeated the word slowly. “I gave that child everything she wanted in life. I broke myself to raise the three of them. It was never enough for her. Lord knows, she always wanted more and better. It’s a curse to be so beautiful. I often told her so. Her looks will be the end of her.” She sniffed.
Mavis took her arm. “Sally, I think it’s time for us to go to our rooms.”
“I’m not going to my room. Where are you manners now? We have guests.” Sally looked at Calvin. “Why couldn’t she have been more like her brother? He’s always been satisfied with what I could give him. He takes after me. We give and give, and never ask for anything.” She held out an empty glass. “Pour your mommy another one. My nerves are shot tonight.”
“You’ve had enough, Ma.”
“You’re not my doctor or my pastor. Hannes, pour your auntie another one,” she said to the other youngster.
He looked at Calvin who shook his head. Hannes relaxed back onto the couch.
Sally struggled to her feet. “You’re useless. Where would you be if it wasn’t for me? Taking shit from that dog, Reggie. Yes, Master Reggie. No, Master Reggie.” She wagged her finger at them. “Is that what you want to do? I,” she said, pointing at her chest, “gave you a chance. An opportunity. And what do I get in return?”
Ellie heard the front door open, and then Nazeem Williams’s voice.
Nick stopped at his block of flats and ran up the stairs. He had sent Gaba to Allegretti’s house to see that Allegretti didn’t try to escape. He had to pack a bag and tell Nols he’d be out of town for a few days.
He unlocked the door. A faint smell hit him before his brain could take in the scene. He felt his legs give way and he grabbed hold of the doorframe.
Nols was half reclining on the couch Nick ha
d bought from a second-hand dealer. The gifts he had wrapped for his children a few nights ago were arranged around him. One hand was draped over the cushions and a pistol lay on the floor. His face was bloody on one side, almost untouched on the other.
Nick wanted to step closer, but his legs refused to react to his brain’s messages. Maybe Nols was still alive. The thought was still taking shape when he realised it was wishful thinking. He studied the macabre scene, looking for something like a letter. But there was nothing. Nick realised a letter would have been superfluous. The messages Nols had wanted to leave were very clear. He had shot himself in Nick’s flat, surrounded by gifts for his children. Why had he not delivered them?
Slowly Nick took out his phone. He hesitated a moment before he called. Clive Barnard answered promptly. “I’m busy, I’ll call back later.”
“I need an officer at my flat urgently.”
“What’s going on? Can’t it wait?”
“No. Someone has shot himself here.”
“Fuck, no. The world is going crazy. Who is it?”
“A friend.”
“Christ, Malherbe. Don’t we have enough shit already?” Clive took a deep breath. “I’ll be there as soon as I can. Don’t go anywhere and remind me never to work on a case with you again. You’re like a bloody magnet for trouble.”
Nick called Riana but there was no reply. He was sending her a message asking her to call him when he heard footsteps and realised that the door was open. Before he could close it, he saw his neighbour approach. He went out, closing the door behind him.
“What a surprise to see you here,” Carin remarked. “I was beginning to think you’d moved out. I’ve seen another man here, so I was surprised to see your bakkie down below.” She didn’t ask where he’d been or why he hadn’t phoned.
He ran his hand through his hair. “It’s a bit crazy at work. I can’t remember when last I had a proper night’s sleep.”
She held up a shopping bag. “I have enough takeaways for two, and a lovely bottle of wine.”
“It’s a tempting offer but unfortunately I have a lot to do tonight.”
She turned her head sideways and looked at him. “Did I misjudge you?”
“What do you mean?”
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