“How sure are you that you can trust me? Aren’t you the one who taught me everyone has a price?”
“There are exceptions. I hope you’re one. But I don’t know if our Brenda is.”
“You need to learn to trust your fellow man.”
“Greyling said to give you his regards if I talked to you.”
“Thanks, I’ll call him sometime.”
They got home at five after an uneventful afternoon. Allegretti came out of the study. Ellie glanced inside and saw Nick Malherbe talking on the phone. When he noticed her, he closed the door with his foot. It would be relatively easy to plant a bug, but she suspected the place was searched every day. By this time he had probably gone through her and Clara’s belongings as well.
Allegretti gave Clara a peck on the cheek and went behind the bar counter. He poured himself a drink, drained it and looked at Clara. “We’re going out.”
“Where to?”
“Casino.”
“I’ve had a long day, lovey.”
“Well, stay then.” He walked back to the study.
Clara looked embarrassed. “He gets grumpy when he hasn’t eaten.”
Ellie tried to keep her expression neutral.
Clara sighed. “Just give me a moment.”
She walked to the study, knocked and waited for an answer. Then she put her head around the door. “What time do you want to leave?”
“Half past eight.”
She closed the door.
In her flat, Ellie thought about the young girl’s eyes, clouded for the first time that day. Because a grown man hadn’t eaten. For how long do you believe the stories you tell yourself? As long as you want to, it seemed.
CHAPTER 21
It was nine when they walked into the casino. Nick Malherbe had driven the Hummer and Ellie had sat quietly beside him all the way. Behind them was a second vehicle, with two very large men inside.
The slot machines were busy and bells were ringing all over the place. Ellie had been to the casino before, but not to gamble. She was too careful with her hard-earned money. She looked around her as they walked in. There were very few people her own age. Most looked to be in their late forties, or in their fifties and sixties. Was it boredom that brought them here? The kids have left home, your partner is dead, or maybe you don’t know how to talk to each other any more. Or perhaps the pension doesn’t last the month. You could almost smell the expectation. The faintly nervous sweat. And some people simply couldn’t stay away, of course. Couldn’t resist the ringing of the bells.
When the girl on duty at a second reception area greeted Allegretti by name, Ellie realised that he didn’t gamble at the ordinary tables. Salon Privé, said the sign on the door. It was considerably quieter inside. When they walked in, they were hailed by two men at the back of the room. Two young girls were sitting beside them at the blackjack table.
Greetings were exchanged, as well as the air kisses Ellie was growing used to. But one of the men put his arm around Clara, drew her to him and kissed her cheek. Ellie saw the girl stiffen, though the smile didn’t fade from her lips.
Not only was it quieter, but Ellie sensed that the smell of despair was also fainter. Or maybe just concealed by expensive perfume and cologne. Two ice buckets next to the blackjack table contained bottles of French champagne. The croupier put a stack of chips in front of Allegretti.
“Are you in a good mood, sweetheart?” he asked the croupier when she rubbed her hands together and stepped back a little.
She gave him a lopsided smile.
Ellie watched Nick Malherbe’s gaze sweep the room. The other two men had taken up position just outside the door. She found a place to stand. After a while Nick Malherbe approached her. “There’s no need for both of us to stay on our feet all night. Why don’t you sit in the lounge outside? You can take over later.”
When she hesitated, he turned away and said over his shoulder: “As you wish.”
She went to the lounge and ordered coffee, but immediately regretted it when she saw the outrageous price. People came and went. Their faces didn’t reveal whether they had won or lost. She took out her new cellphone and called Albert.
“This is a surprise,” he said.
“Am I disturbing you?”
“Give me a minute to get rid of the girl.”
“Am I supposed to be jealous?”
“I’m too smart to think I could make you jealous. Where are you?”
“At the casino. Allegretti and two of his friends are gambling.”
“Barnard says someone was at your house.”
Ellie didn’t know why she expected him to ask how she was. “Yes, I’d like to know who it was.”
“I’ll try to find out in a roundabout way, but I’m not too worried. We expected it.”
“How are you?”
“As well as can be expected for an underpaid, overworked cop.”
“Any news about my dad’s case?”
“No,” Albert replied.
“And the shooting at Barkov’s, and the murder of the security guard?”
“We’re working on it, but we have no real clues. That’s why we need you in Allegretti’s house. It was definitely not Williams’s people.”
“What if he’s lying to you?” Ellie asked.
“I suppose he could be, but he wouldn’t.”
“Sounds like the two of you are getting chummy.”
“I told you, this is my chance and I’m grabbing it with both hands, Mac. Even if it means being nice to Williams and his cronies. It’s a small price to pay.”
“As long as you’re careful.”
“By the way, I bought a new TV at last. A nice flat-screen. You should see the picture.”
“I thought you were saving up to buy your flat.”
He gave a loud sigh. “I forgot I was talking to Mrs Scrooge. Do you begrudge me a bloody TV?”
“Do as you please. I’m just surprised that you spent a pile of money on a TV when your old one still works perfectly.”
“I work hard enough. I suppose I’m entitled to spoil myself occasionally.”
“Albert, don’t make an issue of it. It was just a thought.”
He was silent for a moment. When he spoke again, he was back to his jovial self. “I was at Allegretti’s house on Saturday. We interviewed him about the murder of his security guard. Damn, what a place. I wouldn’t mind living there.”
“Why did you go along? And why didn’t you let me know?”
“I wanted to see where you were going to stay, and I wanted to look Allegretti and that new guy in the eye. What’s his last name again?”
“Malherbe.”
“He’s an arrogant bastard. Thinks he’s too important and too smart for the likes of us. But I’ve got news for him. We weren’t born yesterday. The day we take his boss away, I’ll make sure he’s right next to him in the back of the van.”
“Do you think they had something to do with the death of the security guard?”
“That’s not what I’m saying. But I think they know more than they’re letting on.”
“Albert, don’t keep me in the dark.”
“Hey, don’t be paranoid. You’ll get all the info you need.”
Ellie felt the earth shifting. It was the feeling she always got when she thought that she wasn’t in control. “I have to go. I’ll talk to you later.”
“Are you pissed off now?”
“No, I really must get back inside. We’ll talk later.” She ended the call, drank the last of her coffee and went back to where Allegretti and the others were gambling.
It was noisy at the corner table. Allegretti and his two friends were very vocal.
“No, love, what’s your plan? Do you want to kill me?”
“Sweetheart, didn’t we agree that you’d be nice tonight?”
Ellie spotted Clara and the two girls at the slot machines. Occasionally the bells rang but no one took any notice. The three of them were deep in conversation, to
uching each other’s hair and clothing, showing off their nails.
Ellie was still watching them when a large group entered. She looked up and felt a shiver go down her spine. It was Mang and his entourage. Eight in total: five men and three Oriental beauties. Ellie remembered that Brenda had said the Russian girls didn’t understand the context of their lives over here. She wondered who these girls were, and whether they understood. Her gaze travelled to Nick Malherbe. She saw him glance swiftly at Allegretti, but the latter looked up briefly and continued to play. Then Nick caught her eye. For a moment she considered nodding, but decided against it. Two of the men were clearly bodyguards. They took up position on either side of the room and scrutinised the other guests. Ellie began to edge closer to Clara.
A table was set up for Mang and his guests and before long it was loaded with chips. Ellie felt sick when she saw what each chip was worth. She didn’t earn in a year what they put on the table in one go. Every now and then her gaze went to where Nick Malherbe was standing next to Allegretti. His hands were in his pockets. He seemed relaxed, but if you looked closely, you could see that every muscle was taut, despite his calm expression.
At that moment a slot machine clanged and Mang glanced up briefly. His gaze didn’t linger; Ellie tried to read something into it, but couldn’t. Her dad had always said seeing something that wasn’t there was every bit as dangerous as not seeing something that was there.
The impulse she fought the hardest was the one that made her see signs where there were none.
A few minutes later Nick Malherbe came over and stood beside her.
“I want you to take Clara home. I’ll send one of the men with you. The night team is already there.”
Though Ellie would also feel easier if Clara wasn’t there, she couldn’t help wondering if it was her or Clara he wanted gone.
“Will she go?”
“She will. Just about the only good thing about this relationship is the fact that she doesn’t ask questions. Send me a message when you get home.”
He walked to where Clara was sitting and moments later she got up, went over to Enzio and kissed his cheek. They spoke a few words, then she came walking back slowly.
“I’m ready to go.” She air-kissed the other two girls and followed Ellie to the door, where a bodyguard was waiting for them.
The N1 was surprisingly busy for that time of night. Ellie caught herself watching the side mirror. She didn’t see any suspicious vehicles; she was relieved, nevertheless, when they stopped at the house. A security guard unlocked the door and Ellie and Clara took the lift to the top floor.
“Thanks. See you tomorrow morning. I’m sorry you have to get up so early.”
“Don’t feel sorry for me; you’re the one who has to work all day.” No matter how hard Ellie tried to keep a professional distance, before she knew it, she was chatting to the girl. Clara just had an easy way about her.
It was after two when Mang and his party decided they’d had enough. They left without looking in Allegretti’s direction. As if it were a signal, Allegretti gathered up his chips and took leave of the others at the table. His friends had left earlier but he’d had a bad night, and Nick suspected he’d been trying to win something back of the thousands he’d gambled away. He handed the chips to the cashier and waited for her to credit his card with them. Nick and the bodyguard stayed on either side of Allegretti on their way to the parking garage.
They had just got into the vehicle when they heard the sound of screaming tyres and saw a black four by four with tinted windows coming straight at them.
“Get down!” Nick shouted to Allegretti. The doors of the other vehicle flew open and four big men with AK-47s jumped out.
“Don’t shoot!” Allegretti shouted. Before Nick could do anything, he scrambled out, his hands in the air.
The four armed men stood on either side of the open back door. Allegretti approached slowly, got in and closed the door. By this time Nick and the guard had also got out and stood facing the strange men. Nick’s pistol was in his hand, and the bodyguard had pulled an automatic rifle from behind the seat.
Nick felt every nerve in his body tingle. How had he not seen this coming? For two years he had been anticipating a situation like this. He had trained himself to look out for signs, to notice nuances. Not to be caught off-guard. What a pathetic spectacle the two of them must be. All he could do was look his adversaries in the eye, and try to anticipate their next move. He hated being caught with his pants down. He felt a strong urge to shoot Allegretti somewhere it would really hurt.
He was still thinking about what he’d like to do to Allegretti when the back door opened again and Allegretti got out, his hands still in the air. He nodded at the four bodyguards, walked back to his own vehicle and got in.
Nick and the guard got back in as well. When the car behind them pulled away, Nick switched on the engine. No one said a word on their way back.
At home, Nick waited until the guard had left the garage before he grabbed Allegretti and pushed him against the wall.
“What the fuck do you think you’re doing?”
“If you still want a job tomorrow morning, you’d better get your hands off me fucking quickly.”
“And if you want two cents left in your bank account tomorrow morning, you’d better start talking, in full sentences. I know exactly how much money you’ve lost recently, but your father doesn’t, so don’t give me a reason to call him.”
“Do it, and see what I’ll do to you.”
Nick let go and Allegretti stumbled away from the wall. “I’ll fucking kill you.”
Nick opened his arms. “Go ahead and do it. I’m sick of your threats.”
“I had to sort out a few things with Mang.”
“You could have told me. What do you think would have happened tonight if one of us had been trigger happy? There would have been a bloodbath, and none of us would have come out alive.”
“I knew you wouldn’t shoot.”
“And what about Jack? You don’t put someone in a situation like that. Tomorrow you expect him to cover your arse when he knows you don’t give a fuck about him.” Nick ran his hand over his face.
Ellie had been sleeping when she heard the garage door open. Without thinking, she got up and walked to the stairs. She left the light off and felt her way along the wall. She went down the stairs and stopped at a corner where a camera might pick her up. She leaned with her back against the wall. The door giving access to the entrance hall was open. She heard the car doors open and close and then the voices.
She felt the hairs at the back of her neck stand on end and flattened herself against the wall. She would give anything to know what had happened tonight.
“Enzio, you and I don’t see eye to eye. I know you think I tell tales about you to your father. I promise you, there’s no need for me to do that. He may be old, but he has an extensive network of people giving him information. I don’t even know them all. He sent me here because he’s truly worried about your safety. Read the papers. The game has changed. You can’t depend on your name any longer. These new guys don’t give a fuck who and what you are. They don’t understand the old rules. You need to help me do my job. Our differences aside, it’s important for me to do what I was hired to do.” There was a moment’s silence. “What’s the deal with Barkov and Mang?”
Ellie waited with bated breath.
“I told you we bought a consignment of horns from Barkov. Half of it was intercepted, or so he says. We’ve already sold the horns to Mang and we can’t give him his money back right now. It’s gone into the system.”
“Why did he pay before he received the product?”
“We couldn’t finance the project ourselves. The risk that he wouldn’t get the horns was negligible.”
“So, what’s the plan?”
“We’re going to get local guys to supply us.”
“Why doesn’t Mang get his own team?”
“The local guys prefer to wor
k with South Africans. We’re dealing with conservative farmers, remember. And a few small-town businessmen, and a vet or two. They feel uneasy about dealing directly with someone like Mang.”
“What does Barkov say about the fact that you’re not using his contacts, and excluding him?”
“It’s his loss. He needs us more than we need him.”
“What do you mean?”
“He wants to connect with the Nigerian, Abua Jonathan. We can introduce him, but first I want him to get the message that he’s not as important as he thinks he is. The Nigerians control just about the entire drug distribution network in West Africa. Barkov wants to get in there.”
“Why would Jonathan be prepared to share the market?”
“With Barkov’s connections he can expand to Eastern Europe.”
The stairs were cold under Ellie’s bare feet, but she didn’t move.
“How sure are you that your contacts can deliver the horns?”
“Those guys have direct access to farms in Mpumalanga and Limpopo. It won’t be their first time. They’re pros.”
“What happened tonight?”
“I sent Mang a message and said it’s time we talked. His people fired at my car, not Barkov’s people. He sent word that he’d be at the casino tonight.”
“Why didn’t you tell me sooner?”
Allegretti laughed. “As you’ve said, we don’t always see eye to eye. But I realise that things could have gone wrong tonight. I didn’t know Mang would be so theatrical. He’s usually much more reserved.”
“You still haven’t told me how you’re going to keep Mang happy.”
“Ken and I aren’t in agreement, but I’m working on it.”
“I don’t trust Visser.”
“No one trusts him, but he’s useful. He doesn’t mind getting his hands dirty and everyone knows it. I need someone like that.”
“What happens if you don’t succeed? Mang won’t accept your excuses a second time.”
“We’ll find a way. Even if we have to go with Ken’s plan. It’s not my first choice, but sometimes there’s no option.”
“As long as you make sure I’m not caught with my pants down again, like tonight.”
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