Double Jeopardy
Chapter 25
NARRATED
The echo of the rifle fades, leaving a silence so sharp it feels alive. Nqaba clutches his son, relief flooding through him, while Milani staggers back more, her bargaining chip ripped away. Her eyes dart wildly, scanning the shadows, panic clawing at her throat. "Who's out there?" she hisses, her voice trembling. "You didn't think I would come out here not prepared. Milani, you forget that I know you, I know how you think. I had intentions of getting my son back either way." Nqaba says still holding his son close to him. Milani looks at him and the only thought going through her mind is the fact that she underestimated him. She down played his drive to get his son back. It's only now that she realizes Nqaba had no intention of giving her the share. He was prepared tooth and nail for his son. Nqaba holds his son tighter, his fury shifting into suspicion. "If you try anything again to hurt my son, I swear Milani, I will end you." He growls, anger visible on his face. Voice that delivers a promise to the words he just said. Milani's brittle smile cracks, her bravado dissolving. For the first time, she looks afraid—not of Nqaba, not of the Detective, but of the unseen hand that just shattered her control, the man she never experienced, the man she never knew existed in Nqaba.
Detective Nxele moves, sharp and decisive. He pulls out his radio, voice clipped, commanding. "We've got a live situation. Hostage recovered. Suspect injured. Lock down the perimeter and get medical in here." His words slice through the chaos, transforming the warehouse from a battlefield into a controlled operation. Nqaba clutches his son, trembling with relief, but his eyes burn with fury as he watches Milani stagger, her hand pressed against the bleeding graze on her arm. "She doesn't deserve help," he growls. Detective Nxele's gaze snaps to him, cold and unyielding. "She deserves containment. And we need her alive. That's why the shot was to her arm. We don't get answers if she dies."
Milani stumbles again, feeling shattered, blood seeping through her sleeve. She tries to speak, but her voice cracks, brittle. "You think this changes anything? You think you've won?" But the words falter, her strength draining. The Detective signals to the team outside, his tone sharp. "Get her to hospital. Guard detail on her twenty-four-seven. She's not slipping away." As medics rush in, Milani's eyes flicker toward Nqaba and the boy. For the first time, her defiance crumbles into something raw—fear. She whispers, almost to herself, "He needs me alive." But the mantra is broken, hollow. The medics lift her, carrying her out into the night, her fate no longer in her own hands. "I can't lose, I don't lose." She murmurs to herself as the medics carry to the ambulance. She tells herself that she is not going to jail. She'd rather die than go to jail. What she realizes now is that she is more trouble because she told Malusi and Emihle that she didn't take Lwandle. Now she will have to call them to get her out. She is not looking forward to their outburst. She remember the call earlier with her brother, promising to see him later now the police will call him and tell him. "Why don't I have control over this situation?" She asks herself annoyed.
When the ambulance drives off, Nqaba is also getting into his car making sure his son comfortable in the back seat. He seats with for a minute, "Are you ok, did she hurt you?" He inspects him, trying to make sure that he is ok but it's more of confirming to himself that his son is real, that he is here with him. "Dad, I'm fine, I promise. Can we go home please." He smiles at his son who acts so grown up at the age of only eight. His grandfather once said he said that he takes after Nqaba, who was also like Lwandle and still is. He kisses his forehead, gets of the backseat closing the back door with a soft click, moving to the driver's side. Just before he gets in the car, Detective Mbhele calls out to him as he walks closer towards him. "I'm glad he is ok. Take care of him. Take him home and spend some time with him but I need you at the station early in the morning tomorrow for your statement. Also we need to meet with your lawyer as well. Drive safely." Nqaba just nods and gets in the car as Mbhele walks back to the warehouse. He drives off and the peace of knowing he son is safe with him washes over him and settles softly deep in his heart. He knows that Milani is not done with him. He knows she is still going to fight him. She is dead set on getting those shares.
MILANI CELE
I've since last night. The doctor just left my room telling me that my would will heal. The removed the bullet and no permanent damage done. He says I was lucky it was not a big rifle otherwise I would have lost an arm. Imagine losing an arm. I really under estimated Nqaba. This really didn't the way I wanted it to. I'm not going to worry about Nqaba today, I need to worry about getting out of here. The door creeks open snapping me out of my thoughts. Malusi walks in looking annoyed and not please at all. Arg! He'll survive. A girl has got do what a girl has to do. "What the hell Milani. What were you thinking? Are trying to get Nqaba to kill you. What is the matter with you?" He is definitely not pleased. "How did you know I was here?" He looks at like I have just asked him to cut off his arm. "My contact at the police station called and told me you were here and he told me what happened. Milani I thought you said you didn't take him."
"I took him ok. I needed Nqaba to play along fast and give us those shares." He takes a seat on the chair next to the bed. Keeping his voice low. "Milani I told you that if we can't get those shares we'll find another way. You just messed things up for us. Honestly, Milani, what were you thinking?" He must not start with me. What does he mean what was I thinking. This is what we wanted. I was fighting for what we need. "Don't do that. You know exactly why I did what I did. Those shares are the safest thing we could have. Money going through the bank, no one would suspect a thing." He must just not come with that attitude here. "Your problem Milani is that you are too personal with this. The cops know now that you want Nqaba's shares and it won't take long them to figure out why you desperately want those shares."
"This isn't personal?" I shoot back, my voice rising just enough to attract the scrutiny of the nurse passing by. "You're putting everything at risk. You should have thought this through." I can see the tension in his face as he tries to rein in his frustration. He's right, of course. But the thought of handing over those shares to anyone else is unbearable. "I have the right to take control of my life, Malusi. I won't let Nqaba dictate what I can or cannot do," I argue, my tone sharper than I intended.
Malusi shakes his head, running a hand over his hair, a sign of his own mounting stress. "You're right. You could have—" he hesitates, searching for a more diplomatic way to express his disappointment. "You could have handled it differently. Now they're watching us. This adds to your implications. If you didn't want Nqaba dictating anything about your life you should have not taken his son. Funny how you say you don't him dictating your life and yet you've been dictating his for five years. Hypocritical, don't you think sis. I told you we could find another way." I can see the wheels are spinning in his head, he's probably thinking of how he is going to get rid of me. Only if he knew that I am way ahead of him.
"If they think I wanted to hurt him, they're wrong," I reply, my voice steadier now, trying to convey the conviction I feel. "I just needed a distraction while we figured everything else out. I thought… I thought I could control the narrative." He leans closer, his eyes narrowing. "This isn't a game, Milani. You've stirred a hornet's nest. If we don't get ahead of this, you'll end up in that interrogation room, but with the weight of charges against you." I can feel the panic rising again, a storm of emotions swirling within me. "I can't let Nqaba think he's won. I was never meant to end up like this. I am not weak Malusi, I don't vulnerable, I don't lose Malusi. I don't lose. I lost my power over him. That was not supposed to happen. He supposed to be under my control until I am done with him and I am not done with him Malusi. I am not." My voice breaks, and I can hear the vulnerability I tried so hard to suppress. Malusi softens slightly, recognizing that my fight is rooted in more than just greed; it's about reclaiming lost power.
"Let's be smart about this, Milani. We can still turn things around. But I need you to be strategic, not reckless," he advises, placing a firm hand on mine. "We'll figure it out. Together." The sincerity in his voice sends a wave of relief over me, easing the burden—but only a little. I know the stakes have never been higher. He kisses my forehead and tells me, he'll check on me later. After a few minutes the Detective that was at the warehouse walks in with Nqaba, he has an envelope with him. The both greet. The detective sits and Nqaba remains standing. "When they discharge you, you'll be going straight to the police station. You will be formally charged for kidnapping. You will also be charged for conspiracy. You framed your husband for a murder he didn't commit. You lied under oath in court, you will be charged for that." He stays quiet, maybe giving a chance to say something but I don't. I'm still trying to swallow his words. I'm trying to get my head around the murder of Mnqobi. This wasn't supposed to happened. What did I do? How did I get myself into this? Nqaba hands me the envelope. I take and open it. Divorce papers. "I need you sign them now. This is not open for negotiation. Sign now, so that we can this over and done with." He must be delusional. I'm not signing these. If sign these papers I get nothing. "I'm not signing." He thinks I'm just going to let go just like that. I notice the detective taking out his phone and presses on it. "Don't make harder than it already is. Just sign the damn." Hayibo this man. Who the hell does he think he is. "I told I am not signing anything. I am not walking away from this marriage with nothing. I want those shares Nqaba.
Do you think I went through the trouble of framing you for murder, sexual assault and assault just so I can walk away with nothing, think again dear husband. Give me what I want and I'll sign. You took my son, so I'm holding on to this marriage a little longer. I didn't send you to jail for nothing." He has a smile on his face, why the hell is he smiling. The Detective waves his phone and I just realized I said a little too much. F**k. What the hell is wrong with me. "I was just recording this for his lawyer, to show the court how you are refusing to sign the papers and I got gold. I didn't I would a confession so easily from you. Thank you. Now he can be a free man. You just made things easy for his lawyer in court. Don't worry though, you will sign the papers." I hate the smug he has on his face. He stands up and walk out. Nqaba looks at me, really looks at. "I loved you, I loved you so much that I would have done anything for you. I guess the version of you that I fell in love with, never existed. Just set me free Milani. You don't love me, never did. I don't love you anymore. You did me dirty Milani. Just sign the papers." He walks out, leaving stewing in what just happened.
MANDLA MTHETHWA
I received a text earlier from Detective Nxele with a recording of Milani admitting to framing Nqaba for everything. I waiting for Nqaba, so that I can brief him on what's going to happen. How can a person be so cruel. How do you kidnap your own child? The opens slowly and Nqaba walks in with Detective Mbhele. The greet with smiles on their faces. You can tell though that Nqaba is still angry and conflicted. I can only imagine how Nqaba feels right now. I mean this has been daunting on him. Now he is about to be a free man. I must say this first case I've handled with Double Jeopardy.
The air in the room feels thick, heavy with secrets that hang between us. I can see the conflict etched on Nqaba's face, a mix of relief and anger. "She doesn't want to sign the papers," he says, his voice low but firm. "The woman I once loved would never do this. I guess she was never that woman. It was just pretence." His words pierce through me, deeper than any dagger. "She thinks she did what she had to do," I reply, my tone sharper than intended. "It doesn't matter Nqaba. What matters is that you have son your son back and soon you will have your freedom, your name will be cleared. Don't worry about her not signing the divorce papers, she will sign them." That's a promise intend to keep. Detective Mbhele shifts uncomfortably, as if he's intruding on a deeply personal moment. I can faintly hear the murmur of the cars outside, life continuing on as if nothing has changed, while his world crumbles because of someone who is not willing accept defeat.
Look, let's forget about the Milani for a second and focus on why you are here. "You know, I have never handled a case like this. I'm glad that Nxele was available to help. I smelled a rat from the beginning. I glad she confessed. After this, we still have the brother to bring down." Mbhele says before I could say anything. I understand how he feels. This case was very complex. "Yeah, you are right. Right now Nqaba this is what's going to happen; I am going to file a please Autrefois Convict which means Formerly Convicted in term of the Criminal Procedure Act 1977. We have to provide the same evidence we provided and the new evidence. With the charges of Sexual assault against Milani and Mnqobi, we are going to use both the confessions as evidence and solid enough to grand a "Not Guilty" verdict and the fact that the prosecutor was on Milani's payroll is going to help a lot. After that you will a be free man. The criminal record against your name will be expunged, meaning it will be officially removed." I see a smile tug on his face. I can tell that this makes him happy. Now he needs to be even happier, I need to get that witch of his wife to sign the divorce papers. I know exactly how I am going to do it. "You are a free man Mr. Cele." Mbhele says patting him on his back with a smile on his face. "Thank you so much. I don't I would have gotten this far without you guys. Thank you for dedicating your time to my case. I truly appreciate it. Mbhele, I know Milana is going to try something. This is not over. Even if she signs the papers. This is not over. She knows I know what she is up, what she is planning, she knows I know what is in Mnqobi's devices. That alone will give her sleepless nights." He says looking at Mbhele who nod agreement. "For now, let's focus on getting those charges expunged. The kidnapping charges, the frame which she will formerly charged for. For now she is going to be trying to defend herself while we continue dismantling her empire and her brother." He nods at us in appreciation. He sits there taking it all in as if he doesn't believe that this is happening.
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