by P. W. Child
Sibu was still leaning against the front door when she turned to face him. His face frightened her to the core. She knew that kind of expression only from her meanest clients; the ones who’d beat and raped her. Zain’s face was none the kinder, and for good reason. Baring his white teeth, his left hand came out of nowhere and struck her across the cheek. Cheryl’s small body crashed into her coffee table as the blow shocked her mind into oblivion for a moment. Before she could compose herself, Sibu slapped her from the other side and pushed her head down onto the rug.
“Oh, please God, no! Please! Don’t!” she screamed as she felt her dress being flung over her head. She expected the worst from this all too familiar scenario she had suffered before; back then the police had taken her statement and never followed up on the shocking incident. But nothing happened. In the quiet darkness of the early morning, all she could hear over her sobbing was the hard breath of the male menace holding her down forcefully.
"You remember this? Do you?" Zain shouted from behind her. But Cheryl could not nod with her face firmly pushed to the floor. It felt as if his entire weight pushed her skull down. "If you fuck with us, this is going to happen again. We know about it, yes. Our friends in the police showed us your file.”
Sibu smiled. His voice was calm when he finally said something. “We know exactly what to do to remind you of that night. What were you thinking? You actually thought that the police would waste their time on the rape of a whore? I mean, isn’t it just part of your job to take that shit?”
Zain chuckled, "You have a good point there, Sibu. We could ravage her within an inch of her life, or even kill the bitch, and there would be no questions asked. If we kill her, we won't even have to pay for the… extra.” The two men laughed, but she was in no position to take a stand, so Cheryl just closed her eyes and waited. Her face hurt, but from what she had heard of this kind of men, this was nothing. She had no idea what they were planning.
“Sit down on the couch,” Zain said as he released Cheryl’s head from his furious grip. “Sibu, get the light on.”
“I have no lights,” she said softly.
“What?” Zain asked.
“I don’t have any lights in the flat. Just candles,” she revealed reluctantly, desperate not to provoke them even more. She pointed with a shaky finger to the candles she extinguished shortly before they had come to her door earlier. “I can light them quickly.”
“No!” Zain bellowed. “My associate will light them.”
“Why me? I’m not your fucking maid, man,” Sibu protested, but his more vicious associate gave him a stern glare.
“Because we don’t want the whore to have matches or a lighter in her hand, you fucking idiot!” Zain rasped impatiently. “Or is that too much for you to figure out?”
Sibu shook his head. He had not thought about it, but he was not about to admit it out loud. One by one he lit the white candles, illuminating Cheryl’s home with their warm light. Regrettably that ambiance was filled with terror. She found it strange how the same lighting in the same place usually gave her such serenity and security and now was equivalent to pure fear and imminent death.
“You owe our employer a large sum of money, Cheryl,” Zain started. His beady black eyes looked even more sinister in the candle light as he stared her down. His hands were folded comfortably on his lap, but she knew he was dangerous. "We have provided you with the necessary documents to leave the country, and you have not paid us the balance."
Cheryl was petrified. She wondered if they knew that she had been duped into the whole transaction, or even if they knew - if they would care. Her fingers were tightly entwined, wringing profusely as she rocked slightly in her agitated state, a condition that Zain enjoyed no end.
“I was cheated by a client who made me believe he was going to take care of that,” she explained in a weak voice, rushing her words for fear of being battered before she could state her case.
"We know, but the work is done, and our people are short paid, you see? So that means you have to pay up for your documents, darling, or no border guard will ever recognize that pretty face of yours again,” Zain clarified.
“I don’t have that kind of money. Not in years of working will I be able to get that kind of dough together! How does your boss expect me to…?” she almost raised her voice, not from arrogance, but in absolute disbelief that they could be this unreasonable.
Sibu whistled ominously, reminding her to compose herself. He seated himself next to her and placed his calloused hand on her knee. Cheryl winced as her heart went wild in anticipation of what he was going to do. Zain did not move. There was no order from him to stop Sibu’s intentions and this frightened Cheryl into a place of despondency that prompted her to employ her criminal reserves.
“Wait, I can’t pay you, but I can tell you a secret that would make you very rich,” she offered desperately.
“Oh Christ, just do her and be done with it, Sibu," Zain groaned, obviously not in any mood for tolerance. Sibu's hand slid up under her skirt, and he licked his cracked lips as he inched closer on the sofa.
“I’m serious! Listen to me!” she cried.
“Listen, bitch, if you know a secret that could make us rich, why are you living in a shit hole like this? Huh? Why can’t you pay for your documents? Shouldn’t you be out on a yacht in the Caribbean, then?” Zain asked her in a bellowing roar.
Sibu had a hearty laugh at his colleague’s suggestion, hoping Cheryl had nothing to offer so that he could have his way with her and be done with it. The Cape Malay blood in her veins made her rather stunning, a morsel no man would just kill before sampling first.
"I cannot get to it; that is why!" she moaned through her runny nose, wiping her cheeks with the back of her hand while the other hand was deterring Sibu's advances. "It is in a storage room at the university where I used to work! But it belongs to a lecturer there whom I used to help with his research. He was always the one to open the storage. Otherwise, I would have been able to get some stuff for myself already!"
“What’s his name?” Zain asked.
“Dr. Malgas. He keeps ancient treasures that he exchanges with international museums and universities there, I swear! I can take you there, but then you must consider our business done!” she dared to negotiate. Her voice trembled, but her eyes told Zain that she was not lying. For a moment, the educated woman in Cheryl the hooker emerged to direct him truthfully. He motioned for his associate to cease his sexual intimidation, much to Sibu’s disappointment. She knew the price of treachery. He did not have to mention it.
“Take us to Malgas.”
Chapter 4 – The Other Woman
Nina grabbed her laptop and stuffed it hastily into its leather slipcase. With her foot, she kicked her slippers under the bed and zipped up her luggage bag. She was running a bit late, but she still had enough time to make it to Edinburgh to meet up with Dave Purdue. He had offered her a paid assignment to assist him on what he had called a mellow expedition to the east coast of South Africa. Nina had not been to the south in a while and since it was still mostly summer weather there – at least to any Scotsman – she was elated to go this time of year.
Seeing Sam and Purdue was a close second to the climate she was looking forward to, but in all honesty, the historian had little else to do in the next two months while she waited for one of her co-written books to be published. It was a venture she had taken on with another history expert from the Hebrides, but apparently all the fact-checking was delaying the publication. For now she would do well to distance herself from her gloomy hometown and the constant showers that drowned her flowerbeds. This time, Nina decided to take her own car from Oban to Edinburgh and leave it in the safety of Purdue's massive property, his mansion Wrichtishousis.
In the past year, Purdue had beefed up his security considerably since it had been well overdue with the kind of enemies he had made since the ordeal on Deep Sea One bought him far too close to the Order of the Black Sun. Most histori
ans thought that the old Nazi organization had been disbanded long before the 1950’s, but she knew better. Having dealt with the sinister doings of its present day elite society, Nina had long badgered Purdue about getting better security for his estates all over the world. The Black Sun had near-unlimited power, influence and financial reach, which even the likes of even a billionaire like Purdue could not get away from.
Fortunately for Purdue, the organization's presence had significantly diminished since the deadly clash in Venice a while back, although they had made no secret of the fact that their means were far from exhausted. For now the Order of the Black Sun was like a silent watcher, biding its time.
Purdue had implored Nina to make use of his private jet, but she had refused to make such a dramatic journey. Secretly she did not want to talk about her doubts about the safety of his aircraft, about her suspicions concerning any crew, fixed or freelance. Nina had learned not to take anything for granted in the last few years, and that the enemy could strike at any time, in any disguise. Taking her car under the pretense of wanting to visit one or two relatives on the way had been an acceptable excuse. He would probably figure it out, but Nina knew she was less likely to be followed or tracked down in an inconspicuous vehicle than an elaborate private jet of a well-known philanthropist and playboy like Dave Purdue. She had a good three and a half hour drive ahead of her, so she made sure that she did not leave too late. Having a breakdown or flat tire in the dark would be a nightmare, so she left her house shortly after noon so that she would be in Edinburgh in time for dinner with Purdue.
After three hours of driving through Scotland, it started to rain when Nina reached Falkirk. It appeared that the late lunch she had on the way had not been enough. She was famished. She hoped Purdue was in one of his exuberant moods so that he would get his chef to prepare something decadent and fattening for her.
She was not going to be disappointed.
On arrival at Wrichtishousis, she found her host in high spirits, much like the old Purdue. When they first met in the lickspittle circles of Edinburgh’s academic elite, she had hated his constant advances. Back then Nina would never have guessed that they would one day have a history. Having gone through so much together, it had been inevitable that they had grown close.
“How was that ridiculously long drive of yours, Nina?” he smiled as they embraced.
Ignoring his teasing, she reported, “It was alarmingly void of food, I’ll have you know.” Nina sighed, as she looked at the new furniture he had acquired since she last visited. “Thank God I had plenty of cigarettes to work my way through otherwise I may have perished,” she replied as she nodded to the butler who took her luggage upstairs.
“Well, then, let’s not stand around here. My chef has a nice warm meal prepared for the three of us," Purdue grinned with a wink. "Not to mention some 60-year-old Speyside to mark the advent of our latest adventure!"
Nina smiled and allowed him to lead her by the hand into the dining room where the fireplace was alive with a crackling fire and a hint of pine needles. She wondered if Sam was there, but recalled his e-mail stating that he was going to join them only the day after – before they were all to fly to Port Elizabeth. There was a soft mumbling in the dining room, a voice Nina was not familiar with. It certainly was not Sam’s. It was a female voice in a one-sided conversation.
“Good God, I have never seen a woman spend so much time on a phone in my life,” Purdue muttered as his hand gently urged Nina in front of him to enter the room first. “I can’t imagine what she would do without it.”
“Who?” Nina asked as they walked into the lavish room where the delicious scent of roast pork and spiced rice filled the air.
A tall, stylish woman towered on high-heeled boots that made her appear even taller, speaking on her cell phone while looking out the window over the rolling lawn of Purdue's estate. Her jet black hair was tied in a fashionably sleek ponytail and her streamlined curves were accentuated by black pants and a tapered suede jacket. Her maroon embroidered scarf was tied at the side of her neck and draped down like a fox tail over the emerald jacket that strained over her less than natural breasts.
“Crystal Meyer, lawyer and women’s rights activist,” Purdue announced.
Nina frowned at him while the woman kept talking on the phone.
“I was not aware that we still needed advocates for women’s rights, Purdue. What did you do this time?” she jested.
“She does a lot of work in third world countries, but I met her at a fundraiser for medical research in London a few months ago. In fact, it was just after I returned from Lyon, just before you and Sam called me about that unsavory box you got from the university,” he filled her in.
“Medical research on what? Please don’t make me speculate," Nina remarked conceitedly, not at all interested in an answer from Purdue. She made her way to the feast on the long oak table and with a look, she asked Purdue's permission to sample some of the cold meats and raw vegetable snacks. Picking at the snacks while the annoying stranger finished her phone call, Nina silently fumed at the intrusion she had no right to question.
Awkwardly Purdue and Nina stood next to the table, waiting for Crystal so that they could pour some drinks. “Jesus, maybe I should give her a call to ask if she is going to be attending dinner, Purdue. What’s her number?”
“I doubt you’d get past Call Waiting, my dearest,” he chuckled, crunching down on a carrot stick. His expression revealed that it was not his choice of food either.
"She's going to make me light a smoke right here, right now, I swear," Nina threatened.
“Let me see how much longer she thinks it will be," he said, unceremoniously tossing his half eaten carrot stick on the table. It was, after all, his home. His tall, lean frame craned over the unsuspecting woman, and he tapped her lightly on the shoulder. She did not stop talking for a second as she turned her head to face him while Purdue gestured to his watch that it was time for dinner.
Crystal nodded. In her peripheral vision, she noticed the petite, brunette beauty standing at the table, angrily chewing on something. To Nina's amazement, her declared bother in suede smiled kindly at her and waved briefly.
“I have to go, Stan. No, get them to sign the emancipation documents by Monday and call me. I won’t wait any longer. I have —,” she looked at Nina, shaking her head in frustration at the man on the phone. “Dr. Gould is here, Stan. I have to go.”
With this, she ended the call and slipped the phone into her jacket pocket. A sincere smile crossed her face as she walked toward Nina, cordially stretching out her slender hand.
“Dr. Gould,” she said. “It is a great honor to meet you. Crystal Meyer.”
Nina gracefully scooped up a napkin, shook it out of form and elegantly wiped her hands before shaking the woman’s hand.
‘Thank God, for once I didn’t fuck up an introduction by fumbling for a tissue or wiping my damn hand on my shirt like a lumberjack,’ Nina thought to herself behind the perfectly maintained expression of charm she projected.
“Delighted to meet you,” Nina smiled. She could not help but appreciate Crystal’s cordial greeting and the compliment paid to her.
“Now, ladies, shall we have an aperitif before dinner?” Purdue smirked, He always beamed when he was in the company of beautiful women, and the two present blew the notion out of the water. As he went to pour three crystal tumblers of pristine alcohol, Nina sighed.
“Can’t we just eat already? I’m fucking starving.”
She had not realized that she had said it out loud, but Crystal turned to look at her in amusement, “I couldn’t agree more, Dr. Gould. I do not want to get sloshed before lining my stomach. You don’t want to see me drunk!”
“Please call me Nina,” Nina insisted cordially.
“Nina,” Crystal repeated. “You are too right. With how much time we will be spending together we best be on casual terms, right?” Her pale blue eyes glimmered as she winked. Nina was confused. Sh
e had been under the impression that Crystal Meyer was just a guest for the day or the weekend. What did she mean by spending time together? For the time being, Nina chose to pretend she knew what was going on and just went along.
“Dave, can we just eat already? I realize I was on the phone for just short of a century, but both Nina and I would like to satisfy our grumbling tummies first," Crystal implored, to which Purdue naturally obliged. Nina noticed that he was as cheerful as she had not seen him in years. Nina recognized his cheerful demeanor as raw as it was back then. He had to have something good in the pipeline, and she could not wait to find out what it was.
“Ladies,” Purdue announced in the cozy atmosphere of the dining room, “please raise your glasses.”
They obliged.
“I would like to propose a toast to our next expedition. To the biggest secret in maritime circles today. May we survive the red dawn to salvage what is lost!” he presented with great ceremony.
His two female companions were astounded, but raised their glasses and with a “hear, hear!” they ignored the eerie announcement.
Chapter 5 – Eavesdropping Faux Pas
Cheryl's captors were apparently men who could stay awake for days on end. After she had disclosed her knowledge of the secret store room at the Port Elizabeth University, they naturally left to investigate her claim in the early morning light, and just as naturally they had forced her to accompany them. Now that they had found her and ascertained that she did not have any means to settle her debt with them, they were not going to take her word on anything.
“The place is closed and guarded at night,” she tried to reason.
“All the better,” Zain said. “Let’s come back tonight then. Let’s see if you are as deceitful as I think, or if you will survive this after all.”