Tradecraft
"So, are you settling well in South Africa my man?" Fana Zikode asks Faroukh as they sit in one of the coffee shops in this shopping complex. It's not really a busy place but that's how Zikode likes it. He wants to avoid as many eyes as he possibly can.
Sitting across him in the table is a Faroukh, a long beard Pakistani, dressed in a black suit. He has wondering eyes, checking everyone who comes through to the shop to buy. On the other table, far at the corner are two men: One is with Faroukh and the other with Zikode, presumably their muscles. These two men are also having coffee and chatting like friends, in order to not create suspicion from the shop owner or anyone who may come through the door, like the police. They are also keeping a close watch on their bosses to see if they are still okay in the table.
"South Africa is great Zikode, thank you" Faroukh says with a low voice. "But we will talk about that some other time. At the moment can you please explain to me what's going here?" as he raises his voice, much to Zikode's discomfort. "What happened with your guy that was shot and killed? Who else knows about our business Zikode?" Faroukh continues to probe as he looks really unhappy.
"Look Faroukh, it could have been just a hijacking or something man. I don't..." Zikode says but he doesn't really finish his thought as a furious Faroukh cuts him off abruptly, "Zikode, don't give me that bull sh*t okay?" he says as he raises his voice. "News report suggest it was a turf war between taxi owners. So do you want to tell me where journalists got that misinformation? Why would they think it's just another turf war?" he asks as he looks at his associate in the eyes. "I don't really know man but it could have been that there has been turf wars in South Coast for a while now" Zikode says as he shrugs his shoulders. "Faroukh, this s the taxi industry, so there's always turf wars" as he sips his coffee.
"Okay then, what about my drugs, Zikode?" Faroukh asks as he cuts in. "There was no mention of my drugs in that news, why is that? Shouldn't that have been mentioned in the news as well?" he asks as he looks around to see if anyone is watching them. Then he sips his coffee to calm himself down.
"Is that what you want? To have the drugs mentioned in the news, Faroukh?" Zikode asks as he tries to whisper while looking around. "I suppose not" Faroukh says. "But I was trying to make the point that, someone is misleading the media" he sighs. "Zikode, you better find out who took my drugs. Get the word out on the street and see what you can find okay?" He says as he attempts to stand up but Zikode cuts in, "Before you go" he says to which Faroukh sits down to hear what he has to say. "Please try and not draw attention while you are in the country. We meet only when it's necessary because eyes are on us right now, so who ever has your drugs may know just a little bit more" Zikode says, to which Faroukh just nods his head as he looks at his body guard who then stands up and follows him out the door.
***
Back at Sibisi house, Palesa Morena who is Nduna Morena's wife has come to see Lindiwe. It's been a week since that incident at Fezile's funeral where Mrs. Mpulo slapped Lindiwe's face, something that indeed drew attention from many. Lindiwe is a woman of class but very grounded and is a very private person. So when something like that happens it makes her isolate herself from public eye, but she and Palesa are friends. She sees her as someone she can talk to since their husbands are also close associates.
"So how is your daughter?" Lindiwe asks as she sips her tea. They are sitting in the kitchen as Palesa arrived while Lindiwe was busy with baking. She has her apron on. "Bongiwe is okay thank you" Palesa responds as she also sips her own coffee. "You know, she and your daughter Mbali are close so they influence each other positively with things like school" she says to which Lindiwe just smiles with satisfaction. "Speaking of which, how's Thula and Londiwe?" Palesa asks as she puts the cup down. "Arg those two, all they want is to be part of the family business. They drive me crazy" Lindiwe says with a sigh of frustration which leads to Palesa to burst out laughing, "Hahaha, oh come on my friend" she says.
"There's nothing wrong with the kids showing a little ambition, especially Londiwe right? Why? You are scared about something?" she asks curiously. "It's not that I'm scared, okay?" Lindiwe says as she shrugs her shoulder with a face of worry. "Okay yes maybe I'm a little skeptical about this whole business. But above that is the fact we sent these kids to school so that they study for something. Thula is in med school yet he keeps pushing for his daddy to give him a chance" as her face changes to be worried.
"We do let Londiwe to help out from time to time and she's actually quiet good but this is not what I envisioned for her my friend" as she puts her cup down but Palesa cuts her off, "Well babe, it's not like taxis are the only business you guys have, right?" she says. "She can help out with the other ones. Honestly, would you rather have someone from outside do it? You also can't do it alone. I help Nduna with running the business and it's too much. If I had other kids like you, I'd let them be part but Bongiwe is in high school" as she looks at her friend who suddenly looks defeated at her friend's argument.
"Anyways, enough about that. I had come to check on you my friend. You know, we never had a chance to talk about what happened at the funeral with Mrs. Mpulo" Palesa says as she looks away to avoid eye contact. "How are you feeling since that incident?" she asks her friend who seems to suddenly go uncomfortable with that question.
"Arg, I'm okay my friend. What can I do?" Lindiwe says as she shrugs her shoulders. "You know, while I understand that Mrs. Mpulo was grieving for her son, I still don't understand why she reacted that way" as her voice becomes sad. "We went there to pay our respect because we knew Fezile, he worked for us. We also knew her as his mother as well. But she seems to think we had something to do with her son's murder" she says as she takes off her apron. She now looks upset all over again. "Yeah friend look, she was grieving okay? I suggest that you don't pay much attention to her reaction on that day, okay?" Palesa says as she comes closer Lindiwe who is leaning on the table.
"What is Mthoko saying? Any leads on who might have killed Fezile?" Palesa probes as she asks softly. This leads to moment of silence as Lindiwe shakes her head. "Well, he seems to think it's just turf wars but no one seems to know who ordered the hit and it is leading to uneasiness amongst owners" she says, albeit to another moment of silence.
"Okay look my friend, enough about that okay?" Lindiwe says with a forced smile. "Help me with please. Let's go to the lounge and taste these scones okay?" she says as she carries a trey with tea cups to the lounge, followed by Palesa who is carrying a small basket full of fresh and hot scones.
***
Somewhere else, there is a meeting of Taxi owners amid the death of Fezile. Everyone seems to be on edge as the trust amongst the gentlemen is on an all-time low. The way they are looking at each other is like they are ready to pull guns and start shooting. Since no one knows what's really going on, they all feel that the culprit is amongst them.
"Alright gentlemen, I can sense that there's real tension amongst us this afternoon" Zikode says as he looks at everyone sitting down in this school classroom. He looks like an educator sitting in the front table, on front of the students. "But look, we are here to discuss the recent passing of Fezile and to address all the speculations doing the rounds over what really happened" he says, much to a deafening silence in the room. "So I would really ask everyone to exercise calm and cool heads. Let's hear one another and not quickly jump into any unwarranted conclusions, okay?" he says as he looks at each and everyone taxi owner in this room and sees that all of them are nodding in agreement.
"We are here gentlemen to talk about Fezile and the questions around his death. And.." Zikode doesn't finish his thought as he is interrupted, "We want to know why Fezile died and how is the media linking this to taxi wars guys. That's what we want to know" Shoes Mofamadi says as he looks across the room with eyes of suspicion.
"Mufamadi is right gentlemen. Amongst us someone knows something and this thing that he died over route conflicts doesn't make any sense, right?" another taxi owner Mqeqeshi Xhonywa says looking at Mthoko, who looks at him back without flinching. Suddenly the tension builds in the room again as each man looks at the person sitting next to them. There's little trust amongst the gentlemen here. Others are just looking at everyone's hands to see if they are itching to draw their weapons.
"Yes gentlemen, that's why we are here. We are all here to get answers over this" Zikode says as he attempts to calm the situation down. "So everyone who has something to say, let them do so with an orderly fashion so that we can all be able to hear your view. But let me start with Sibisi" he says as he turns to fix his eyes on Mthoko. "Fezile once worked for you Sibisi before I employed him. Do you perhaps have any idea who could have done this to my employee or atleast if you two had bad blood after he left your employment?" he asks without showing any emotion to Mthoko who is trying is utmost best to hide discomfort over this.
"Well gentlemen, I suppose it was inevitable that I'd be the first person people look to for answers since Fezile once worked for me. But I had nothing..." he says but doesn't finish as he's interrupted by Zikode who says, "Oh no Sibisi, no one is accusing you of anything. We are all just looking for clues so that we can together try to solve this puzzle. Anything at this stage can help a great deal"
This comes as a relief and surprise at the same time for Mthoko because it's not what he'd expected from Zikode. He and him aren't really close and they hardly ever agree on anything. One could even go as far as saying their relationship borders on hostility. "Well, I hear you Zikode" Mthoko says as he clears his throat and moves his eyes across the room. "As you all know that Fezile once worked for me and yes we didn't part in greatest of terms but I really have no idea who and why anyone would want him dead. I mean, he wasn't a taxi owner. He had no say in the deals owners make amongst themselves, right? Unless this wasn't at all related to the taxi business. Anyone here with a clue as to his personal life, if he had any enemies or dangerous business he did on the side?" as he looks at Zikode before moving his eyes across the room once again.
This suddenly brings dead silence in the room as everyone shakes their heads pleading ignorance, except Zikode who fixes his eyes on Mthoko. It is as if he's trying to read into him, trying to figure what where he's going with this.
"I hear what Sibisi is saying but there's still another issue” Mqeqeshi says as he also looks across the room. "The media seems to be receiving information that this is a turf war. Clearly whoever the source is, he is trying to create that impression in order to hide the real reason why they killed Fezile. Sibisi could also be right that it may be people outside this room...people who had a beef with Fezile" he says to a little commotion in the room. But then it is interrupted by Shoes when he says, "We need to find the source of this story gentlemen"
Everyone seems to agree with this as they nod but Zikode cuts in, "I don't know, I would have known if Fezile was doing something on the side" he says fixing his eyes on Mthoko, who looks at him back. Now this looks like a game of poker as these two gentlemen are trying to read each other without giving too much away.
"Look, I say we either find the killers or we get the journalist who wrote this story to tell us who her source is. We will compel her to tell us her source" Zikode says as his face changes to being a little serious. With his eyes still fixed on Mthoko, he now looks a man who has set his mind on doing something really evil. But this seems to please everyone else in the room except Mthoko ofcourse, who seems worried at the moment about Zikode reading much into him. "Look guys, can I just say something here?" Nduna Morena says with a low voice, which makes everyone pay attention to him.
"Maybe we shouldn't rush into threatening journalists now. Is that really a good thing at this present moment?" he asks as he looks across the room. "Everyone is watching us, so if we go on and start fighting with journalists that will lead to police conducting raids in our ranks and end up finding things they shouldn't, like unlicensed firearms etc. Is that what you want?"
This question from Ndoda seems to make everyone in the room think for a second, even Zikode himself as he takes a look at Mthoko who is looking at everyone else in the room. "I suppose you are right, Morena" Zikode says as he sighs. "We don't want war with the police or even with the journalists. But we do however need to find out who killed Fezile and why they did, right? So I say let's try and get some leads on that then" he says to which everyone seems to be please. The meeting goes on for another hour or so...
***
Few days later, Mthokozisi is spending time with his wife on a Saturday noon. They don't always get time to focus on themselves as there's loads of work to do with the business. But Mthoko had promised his wife that this weekend will belong too them, alone. It is not something his wife, Lindiwe would complain about for sure.
"Where are your kids?" Mthoko asks his wife as he wraps his hand around her while they sit on the couch, in front of the TV. They are having snacks and whiskey. The TV is on but the volume is turned down since they are listening to a jazz CD. Both of them love jazz music and if there are any festivals happening in the area around them they attend. It is something they really enjoy better than going out for lunch or movie.
"No mister, as far as I can recall, these are your kids. They came from your sperm, didn't they? hahaha" Lindiwe says as she bursts out laughing. "Londiwe is in my office. Thula and Mbali are out with their friends, I think" she says as she gives her husband a warm kiss which he doesn't really mind.
"She is over working herself babe, I'm really worried about her." Mthoko says with a low and worried voice as he looks at his wife. "Well, you are the one who said we must give her a chance right? I was against it" Lindiwe says as she leans on her husbands shoulder. "She just wants to prove herself to us baby, so let's let her be, okay?" she says as she turns down the volume on the radio with a remote. "Besides, she's just finishing up now and then she said she'll head to the mall after" as she kisses him again. "Yeah look, I know what I said okay? But it's a weekend baby. She's 23. She needs to go out and enjoy herself a little. There's always a Monday for all that" Mthoko says as he sighs with worry.
"Baby, business doesn't have days, okay? It has no holidays" Lindiwe says. "Baby you worry too much okay?" she brushes her husband's chest as if to console him. "Londiwe is excited to be doing this so let's leave her be okay? She will go out when she wants to. Besides, this is their inheritance. They have to work for it. As long as she's not too involved with the Taxi side of the business I'm okay. She can handle the other stuff. So don't worry okay?" as she smiles at her husband with bright eyes. This seems to disarm Mthoko as he smiles back at his beautiful wife.
As they are being cozy on the couch enjoying their moment, they are interrupted by the intercom ring. They look at each other wondering who could that be. Mthoko goes over to the monitor to see outside. His eyes look a little puzzled as he watches two people at the gate.
"Baby, who is it?" Lindiwe asks curiously as she come over to stand next to her husband. "It's okay baby. It's alright" Mthoko says as he presses a button on a key holder and then going towards the door. He stands there looking anxious. His wife is also wondering what is going on. She didn't get to see clearly who was at the gate but reading from her husband's anxious look, there could be something there to worry about. She knows better than to keep asking her husband what is happening. If there was something to tell, he'd have told her already. So she keeps quiet and stands in a distance as she also waits.
A moment later, which must have been like an eternity to the couple, a doorbell rings. Mthoko quickly opens the door. "Officers, welcome" he says, letting in two police officers through the door, right up to the lounge. It's a man and a woman. They come over and sit down.
"This is a surprise" Mthoko says with a nervous smile as he and his wife come over to sit down on the opposite couch. "So to what do I owe this pleasure?" he asks as he looks at both officers with a now relaxed smile. "Mr. Sibisi, my name is detective Mxolisi Zwane and this is detective Thoko Ximba" the man says. "We are from Amanzimtoti police station. We are here, investigating the murder of Fezile Mpulo who was shot and killed a couple of weeks ago. I'm sure you've heard about it" he says somewhat nervously to which Mthoko and his wife look at each other with puzzlement.
"Amanzimtoti police station? Wow, you guys are far from home" Mthoko says with what seems like sarcasm. "Yes sir we may be but we understand that the victim was once under your employ and your taxis operate in the South coast area" Zwane says with humbleness which seems to disarm the defensive posture Mthoko seems to have taken.
"I see" is all he could say in response. "So sir we just wanted to ask you a few concerning that incident, in private if you don't mind" Detective Ximba says looking at Lindiwe who looks back at her. "Uhmm, look...whatever you want to ask, you can ask it in front of my wife. She's my business partner, there's nothing hidden between us" Mthoko responds with a smile. This brings a moment of silence as Zwane an Ximba look at each other as if they were caught off guard by that and not knowing what to do next. "Alright then," Ximba says as she smiles at the couple. She takes out her notebook and then looks at Zwane as if to say, you can go on ahead!
"Alright Mr Sibisi, can you tell us about your relationship with the deceased before his passing? How would you describe it?" Zwane asks with a straight face to which Mthoko and Lindiwe look at each other, not really surprised by this. This question was bound to come at some point.
"Well uhmm, Fezile worked for us at some point. Things didn't turn up well so I wouldn't say we parted on good terms" Mthoko says nervously but he continues, "We fired him and he went to work for someone else" but he is interrupted, "Why did you fire him if I may ask?" Ximba asks as she keeps writing the statement down. This makes Mthoko to look at his wife, who is looking at him back, without really showing any emotion. "Uhmm, we learnt that he was stealing from us so we let him go" he says trying to avoid eye contact with the officers. "Did you report this to the police?" Zwane asks curiously which suddenly seems to make Lindiwe a little anxious.
"No, we didn't" Lindiwe says as she comes into her husband's rescue who seems to atleast for a moment swallowed his tongue. "Look, Fezile had been working for us for a long time. We didn't want to escalate things to that level. And for the mere fact that we knew his family propelled us to not press any charges against him" she says as she looks at Mthoko who has snapped back.
"Oh I see" Zwane says as he looks at Ximba who is writing something down. "If I may ask Mr. Sibisi, did you perhaps know if Fezile had any enemies or if he did business with other people on the side?" Zwane asks curiously. But this question reminds Mthoko of the day at the Taxi Owners' meeting, where everyone had their eyes on him. He remembers how he and Zikode kept looking at each other with eyes of suspicion. "No I didn't know" he says looking at his wife. "I knew his mom but we didn't know much about any of his friends." as he turns back his attention on the officers.
"Enemies, maybe?" Ximba asks as she fixes her eyes on what she's writing. "Nope" Mthoko says as he shrugs his shoulders. This brings another awkward silence in the room as the couple wait for Ximba to finish writing the statement.
"Uhmm, well that's it for now folks" Zwane says with a green on his face. "If you happen to remember anything that you perhaps forgot to tell us today can you please give me a call" as he hands Mthoko a card. "We will do" Mthoko says as he takes the card. Zwane and Ximba stand up and Mthoko walks them out the door.
***
Later on at night, Mthoko is at the study and doesn't look happy. Ever since the police left his house his head has been all over the place. He is on the phone with someone:
Mthoko: "Sir, I think we have a problem"
Landlord: "Is this line secure?"
Mthoko: "But ofcourse, Sir"
Landlord: " Okay good. So, what seems to be the problem?"
*a little silence*
Mthoko: "Sir, I had a visit this afternoon from the police. They are investigating the Fezile murder. I thought you said I shouldn't worry about the police Sir"
Landlord: "Yes, that's what I said"
Mthoko: "So you knew about this?"
Landlord: "Ofcourse not. Hey Sibisi, stay focused okay? What did the police want?"
Mthoko: "They asked about my relationship with Fezile and if I knew if he had any side business or enemies."
Landlord: "So where is the problem in all that, Sibisi?"
Mthoko: "But Sir, don't you think I have become a person of interest to the police? I mean, won't they dig even further and end up blowing this whole operation?"
Landlord: "Look, you are really worrying yourself with nothing here okay? This to me seems like routine. I'm sure they'd asked Zikode the same questions as well"
Mthoko: "I hear you Sir. Speaking of Zikode, he wants answers from the journalist. He wants to know her source and..."
Landlord: "Well, you better handle that situation Sibisi. We wouldn't want to have this girl blow your cover now, would we?"
Mthoko: "How am I going to do that Sir, exactly?"
Landlord: (raising his voice) "I don't care how you do it. Just make sure that woman doesn't blow your cover okay? Do what you have to do"
*another silence*
Landlord: "May I remind you here Sibisi that we are running out of time? Faroukh's arms deal is not far off. We were lucky that it was derailed. So we don't have time to be soft. If Zikode makes you, then Faroukh will get away, is that what you want?"
Mthoko: "No Sir"
Landlord: "Good. So, whatever it takes. Zikode must not get to the journalist first. Either change his mind from pursuing her or remove her for good"
*Call dropped*
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