“You’re right you know, we could retire now and live like kings but and I’m a little afraid to say this, I suspect my blood is blue, but we’ll see. Surely though you must also be due a promotion?”
Kalahari laughed without mirth: “I’m white, Mike, and white without powerful friends and in the new South Africa means I’m going nowhere slowly.”
Night knew that his friend was right. There were hundreds of white Warrant Officers across the country that were due a promotion, both by amount of time served and by merit, who should be elevated to the rank of Captain, which also brought with it a considerable pay rise, but never would get that advancement. Affirmative Action and the new quota system simply didn’t register white males. It was as if they didn’t exist. White Females still had a chance, of course, as they, under the new system, were also deemed ‘Previously Disadvantaged’. As though reading his thoughts Kalahari laughed and said:
“Did you hear about the Chinese?”
Now it was Night’s turn to laugh without humor, “Indeed, they have now been reclassified as black!”
“Ja, Mike. We white men, are well and truly finished here in SA.”
The two men proceeded to dress without saying another word both thinking about the state of the new South Africa. Night was incredibly happy that apartheid and Afrikaans rule was over but just wished there was a better alternative to the discriminatory Affirmative Action Laws particularly in the South African Police Force where all men and women were in fact the colour of Blue. At least in his experience.
The door to the male changing rooms burst open and a huge figure of a man wearing nothing but a towel appeared and stood square in front of the two police officers. He then removed his towel and dropped it on a low bench.
“Brothers from other mothers, good morning!” boomed Daniel Shaka.
“Jesus Christ man, put that huge bloody thing away!” said Kalahari who then quickly ducked under the colossus’s extended arms and made a quick exit while saying “I’ll meet you two in the restaurant in about 30 mikes.”
“Copy that, brother” said Night. Kalahari had reacted much the same way Night had when he had first shared a changing room with Daniel.
“Feeling better I see.”
“Like a new man, my brother, a new man.”
The two men then quickly chatted about the days plans and then agreed to meet in the restaurant for some nourishment. Night left Shaka singing a loud song to himself in Zulu while in the shower.
Two hours later and the three officers sat at a table in the hotel’s restaurant, The Grill Room, Night and Kalahari each having demolished a large steak, Shaka was just finishing off his third. The meal was accompanied by two fine bottles of South African red wine expertly chosen and poured by the restaurant’s sommelier.
“Dessert, gentlemen?” asked Night.
“Why not” said Kalahari.
Tony Tshabalala, who had been conspicuously absent suddenly appeared at the entrance to the establishment and walked swiftly over to the officers table. Night noted a look of seriousness on the man’s face.
“Good lunch, I hope?” Tshabalala enquired.
“Indeed, it was, though we’re not quite finished but somehow you give me the feeling we need to leave” said Night as a question framed more like a statement.
Tony tilted his head at Night and replied: “Perceptive, as always, Captain” and then pulled out a chair and sat at the table.
“Captain!? So it finally came through. AANDAG! (Attention)” boomed Shaka and he and Kalahari stood to attention and saluted the new Captain Michael Night.
“Very funny, now sit down, assholes.”
And both men sat down and patted Night on the shoulder.
“Well done, Mike, it’s well overdue” said Shaka.
“And you’re now a Sergeant, Shaka. I don’t know how he pulled it off with all those pending assault cases still against you, but then, he does have his ways.”
Daniel Shaka seemed unimpressed at the news and began to scrutinise the menu for more food.
“Rank means nothing to Daniel. But, whether he likes or knows it or not, he’ll make a fine Sergeant. And you know as well as I do, Tony. That those pending dockets against him are nothing more than malicious charges thrown at him by criminals we have arrested, well, most of them anyway. So I take it you have been on the phone to the General then?”
“Indeed I have, since last night. Both of your promotions are now confirmed. No luck for Stanislov though I am afraid. He’s both white and not born here so it looks like he might just stay a constable for as long as he is in the service.”
“Old Stani cares less about rank than even Shaka here. So mostly good news then or is there something else?”
“Yes and I won’t sugar coat it. I wanted to tell you last night as soon as I got off the phone with the General but he made me promise that I would let you have one more good night here” The general’s bodyguard and right hand man paused for both dramatic effect and to pour himself a glass of water.
He had their full attention now and all waited patiently for him to continue.
“The General’s ex-wife was robbed last night, in fact her home was broken into three days ago and the men waited for the General to return.”
“Shit” is all Night could manage.
“Shit indeed. And it looks like it’s connected to our last endeavour. I’m sorry to have to be the one to tell you this but one of your sharks was killed.”
“Which one?” demanded Shaka.
“One of the Afrikaans brothers, Jan, was his name if I remember correctly.”
“Poor bastard.”
“It gets worse, they had inside help. Either of you know a constable Juhu?”
“Juhu, yes, he’s a lazy bastard, harmless though. Well at least I thought he was..” said Night
“Not at all harmless, Mike. He fed information to one of the criminals, his brother no less and turned on the General and another one of Norwood’s student constable who was responding to the Alpha Call..”
Tony then went on to explain exactly what had taken place and that the General had two of the criminals in custody who were currently under interrogation. He made no mention of the man linked to England. The General would do that.
“So what’s next?” said Night.
“We leave for Johannesburg in a couple of hours and tie up loose ends, for good. I have already changed our flights.”
Chapter Four
Arosi main residence, Hyde Park. Johannesburg.
The large electric gates of the General’s house began to swing open but only after the heavily armed security contractor had checked off the names of the occupants of the vehicle attempting to gain entry against a list he had on a note pad. The vehicle was a private hire taxi that had collected Michael Night and his three comrades from Johannesburg International Airport after their flight from Durban.
To either side of the General’s gate stood other Tactical Reaction Security Officers both armed with shotguns and dressed in all black combat clothing. Their large 4X4 pick up truck parked formidably on the pavement.
As they entered Night noted another guard standing within the gates stationed just outside of the main door to the large property. The General surely had beefed up his security after the attack on his ex-wife, apparently he wasn’t taking any chances. Night also noted Yankee Six Six in the driveway, a marked police flying squad vehicle that Night knew belonged to Sergeant Snyman and his crew, Demon.
The taxi driver dropped off his passengers and left. The four men entered the property and were surprised to see Maria, Arosi’s former wife, walk up to the men in greeting. She embraced Tony in a warm greeting who then introduced her to Kalahari and then she moved to the two Norwood police partners. First looking at Daniel she said: “My god, Danny. You seem to get bigger and stronger each time I see you.”
Daniel Shaka leaned down and picked up the petite woman and gave her a huge but gentle bear hug. Then tenderly put her back
down “It’s good to see you Maria and it’s very good to see you here, in this house again, as it should be.”
“It’s not a permanent thing, Danny. In fact I won’t even be in the country that much longer.”
She then turned to Night. “Michael, it’s been far too long.”
They kissed each other on the cheeks “It has been too long, Maria. I hope you are well.”
Michael and Maria had never really been that friendly. There was no suspicion between the two, they just didn’t click as such. Though Night never really warmed to women who wore Gucci sunglasses and carried handbags made of crocodile skin. The General however had other predilections, obviously.
“ZULU!!” Two little blonde haired girls ran into the room and charged at the police Sergeant. He scooped each one up with either of his large arms and swung them in the air.
Night saw Sergeant Snyman and his crew member standing in a side room and headed over to the two veterans. Night wasn’t very good with little children.
“Gents, I didn’t think I’d see you two here.”
Both men stood at attention and saluted.
“Come on guys, bugger off!”
Both men then stood at ease and Snyman said “We weren’t joking you know, Captain. You better start getting used to it, Mike.”
“You’re right I suppose, Anton. Demon” Night shook each man’s hand then continued: “But it’s just odd coming from friends and very experienced officers like yourselves.”
“You deserve the promotion. Own it, Captain.”
“Anyway, what are you two doing here?”
“Not sure, I was going to ask you that. But I have an idea…”
Sergeant Anton Snyman then went on to explain how he and Demon had attended to the scene of the robbery and how they had overheard everything before eliminating the suspects.
“So you’re pretty much involved now” said Night.
Tony stuck his head through the door and asked for the men to all follow him through to the General’s study. It was time for their meeting.
As the six men filtered into General Arosi’s study Tony closed the door to the office with a click. And as one all of the police officers stood to attention and saluted the General who quickly waved the salutes away nonchalantly. The men stood at ease.
There were only two chairs in the office across from the General’s desk where he sat. And as there were not enough chairs for all of the officers none of them took a seat.
“Gentlemen, thank you all for coming. And I apologise for the lack of seating. This won’t take long anyway. A Casspir is standing by for transport at Norwood police station as we speak.”
As the General let his words sink in the police officers looked at each other in surprise and instantly realised that whatever was to happen next was going to be incredibly dangerous as they were all familiar with a Casspir, they knew that it was a heavy duty police/military vehicle designed to withstand ambushes and mines. It was a troop carrier primarily used in large scale crowd control operations or on distant battlefields. The last time Night and his crew had been in one was on operation trying to quell the bloody xenophobic attacks in Alexandria Township where many non and perceived non-South Africans were butchered to death with knives and machetes or burned to death via a tyre around the neck.
“Good, now I have your full attention. At Norwood barracks you will also find the appropriate gear for a night time operation and the armoury has already prepared your weapons; R5’s and Stun Grenades. Questions?”
The General leaned over his desk and placed his elbows on it with his hands in the prayer position resting against his mouth.
“Well, yes, General. I take it the operation is against whoever it was that set those men against your family, but who are they and where are we going that we need a Casspir?” asked Night.
“The surviving two men of the action against my family have sung like canaries in a doomed mine, and will soon die like them. And I use that idiom for two reasons: firstly, because they did and secondly because we are heading to Durban Deep in Roodepoort – the now long abandoned Gold Mine. The intelligence gathered from the two suspects indicates that about a dozen heavily armed men are camped at the old mine awaiting instructions on where to strike in an effort to steal that which we reclaimed from the desert.”
At that information the men in the room all kept silent. Night and Zulu not knowing how much to reveal in front of the two flying squad officers. Perhaps sensing the unease of the men Sergeant Snyman spoke:
“Obviously I do not know what you are referring to, General. And neither I or my crew need to know. But I assume they are criminals and are wanted by the law for committing criminal acts?”
“Indeed, Sergeant Snyman. They are part of the gang that invaded my home and we are going after them to execute these arrest warrants that I have on my desk.”
The General tapped on a stack of papers piled in front of him.
“Any more Intel on exactly who these guys are?” asked Night.
“Here’s the kicker, they are Boko Haram! Or Boko Haram fan boys, either way they pledge allegiance to the Islamist group and are all Nigerian nationals.”
“Wow, General! That changes things though! Doesn’t it?” said Zulu.
“It changes nothing, Daniel. As far as my intelligence goes and as far as these arrest warrants are concerned this has nothing to do with Islam or any terrorist activity. These men are simply mercenaries that were contracted by the head of the snake that has set all of this in motion and they just happen to be members of a fanatical Islamist group.”
Night opened his mouth to ask some important questions but General Arosi waved at him to be quiet and let him continue.
“Mike. Do you remember when all of this began and we were talking about launching the original operation while we were at the Radium Beerhall, shortly after that bank robbery?” Arosi said with a raised eyebrow.
Night nodded his head.
“Do you remember the presence of that bespectacled man? The man that Fernando told us about that I then had removed and taken into questioning by Military Intelligence?”
“Vaguely” said Night while racking his memory for a sharper recollection then continued “that scrawny English Man?”
“Exactly. It looks like our friend has been very busy since that day. He’s relatively well known within the private security world, thing is most people think of him as a bit of a joke, he once tried to stage an African coup, it failed miserably of course. Well, in true form he hired these thugs, for some reason thinking fanatical madmen appropriate for the job.. but, we’ll deal with him later. Now though lets get to Norwood barracks and prepare. Night, Zulu and Kalahari with me in my car, Tony go with Snyman and Demon.”
“You’re coming with General?” said Night.
General Arosi stood and produced a 9MM from his desk and then holstered it.
“Of course I am. This is personal, Mike”
Night wanted to object but how could he countermand a General and a friend whose family had just been assaulted and held hostage by associates of the same gang of criminals they were now going after.
“So by my calculation that makes it seven of us versus at least twelve of them, General? said Kalahari.
“Correct, Warrant. But we have the upper hand.”
“And may I ask how, General?”
“Surprise - The two men that Snyman and crew arrested on my wife’s property will be accompanying us and will make contact with the group shortly before we arrive. As far as they are concerned their plan is still well on track.”
“And why the Casspir, General?” asked Zulu.
“The other part of the plan which gives us the upper hand, Sergeant – Violence in Action. The Magistrate that issued these warrants for me made it clear that bringing in the men alive would be… how did he put it.. ah yes, ‘Politically Messy.’”
Kalahari looked at the men around the room and then grinned and nodded his head and then said: “Viol
ence in Action. Certainly suits the company.”
Norwood Police Station
The men had made quick time to the police station. Even after a long drawn out and rather heated exchange could be heard between the General and his former wife. From what Night could hear it was clear that Maria had had enough and was leaving South Africa, for good this time, she vowed. She, like millions of other South Africans, both white and black, had made the decision to leave the country, driven out by crime and fear – the fear of losing one’s life and perhaps more strongly for any parent, the fear of losing a child to an act of crime. And in a country where current crime statistics put the murder rate at FIFTY per day Night didn’t blame her. He had always known that if he had a child, that South Africa would be the last place on earth he would raise that child.
Now though it was time to clear his mind of such thoughts. Once more, it was time to gear up and face the enemy. But before he would enter the changing rooms and don his battle gear he would try call Lisa, his Fiancé, again. His previous attempts that day being unsuccessful. He dialed her number, the phone rang, and once more it went unanswered. Night ended the call let out a deep breath and dialed the number for police radio control. Even though he had promised never to call her while she was at work unless it was an emergency. Truth be told he needed to speak to her, he needed to hear her sweet, assured and calming voice. Night was a police officer, a patrol police officer more to the point, and he was well experienced in dealing with criminals in gunfights and other violent confrontations but having to gear up like this and move against an enemy they knew to be well prepared, ruthless and battle ready, once again, was something new to Michael Night. He looked forward to going back out on patrol and just dealing with the criminals as they presented themselves. Was he scared? God forbid he was, but if he was, he sure as hell would not show it, to anyone, ever.
“Police radio control room, how can I help?” said a high pitched Afrikaans female accent.
“Please put me through to the channel 26 controller.”
Night In London (Night Series Book 2) Page 5