Answers
"You wanted to see me, boss?" Phuthuma asks as she enters the office of News Editor, Rethabile Motsoaledi. She is Phuthuma's boss. She looks like a very serious person with an intimidating appearance. In a black 2-piece suit she sits in her huge desk in this huge office decorated with many pictures of herself and some awards.
"Oh yes Phuthuma, please come in" Rethabile says as she folds her laptop so that she can pay full attention to a nervously looking Phuthuma, who comes in slowly to sit down. She looks like a little school girl coming to the principal's office as she avoids eye contact with her intimidating boss.
"Uhmm, I wanted to quickly make a follow-up on the ongoing taxi war story that you are currently following Phuthuma. What's the latest there?" Rethabile asks with curiosity as she fixes her eyes on the nervous Phuthuma. "Uhmm, as far I know it's turf wars in the South Coast area, Retha. There isn't anything different to that at the moment" Phuthuma says as she straightens up in the chair and making eye contact. "But the latest shooting? That involved a taxi driver and some Pakistani? Is it still connected to the turf war?" Rethabile asks again curiously as she also straightens up.
"As far as my source would tell me, yes. It is all connected" Phuthuma says as she clears her voice. "But that doesn't make any sense" Rethabile says as she raises her voice and her tone changing. "I mean, what are the police saying about it? Because as I recall, they haven't linked the recent shooting to any taxi conflicts. They haven't even found motive yet" she says as she tries to read Phuthuma's eyes.
Rethabile is a seasoned journalist, just over 20 years experience. She is the hardcore type and has won numerous awards for her work. She has been all around the world reporting from dangerous places so, even though she now sits behind the desk she knows all about field work and how covering stories like this take.
"I don't know what the police are saying but..." Phuthuma says but doesn't finish as Rethabile cuts her off, "Is your source in the law enforcement?" she asks curiously. "Oh come on Retha, you know I can't discuss my sources and..." Phuthuma says but once again she is interrupted, "Look, clearly there's something that doesn't add up in all this, Phuthuma" Rethabile says as she raises her voice once again. "It's either the police are dragging their feet, which on its own raises red flags...or your source is selling you smoke. But either way, you will have to dig a lot deeper into this. And your source better not be throwing us off the trail or else this institution's reputation will be on the line, and quiet frankly yours too" as she looks at Phuthuma dead in the eye.
"I get it Retha, I will arrange a meeting with my source. Or perhaps work on finding a new source" Phuthuma says as she shrugs her shoulders. She clearly is just as frustrated over this as well. "Do you want someone else to take over this story?" Rethabile asks as she cuts her off, much to Phuthuma's annoyance.
"No, Retha...this is my story" she says angrily. "I have worked so hard on this and I have made sacrifices to get information, so you better not pull me off from this" as her voice begins to tremble with rage. This leads to an awkward silence as Rethabile looks at her in the eyes as if she's trying to read her mind. "Alright then, but you better make sure you verify your information first because it is more and more becoming like something is hidden in this." Rethabile says with a soft voice as if she's trying to calm Phuthuma down. "I know you are a good journalist, Phuthuma. I don't doubt that okay? But it's the little things that turn journalists from heroes to villains" she says as she holds Phuthuma's hand.
"Yeah I hear you" Phuthuma says as she breathes a sigh. This leads to another uncomfortable silence as both ladies don't seem to know what to say to each other anymore. "Well, that would be all Phuthuma, thank you" Rethabile says as she breaks the silence. To which Phuthuma gives a half smile as she stands up and walks towards the door.
***
Over at Sibisi house, Mthoko is in his study with Bhekani who doesn't look happy at all. There seems to be a very strong tension in the room even though not between the two gentlemen themselves but rather tension from a lot of non spoken words.
"Say what on your mind, come on" Mthoko says to Bhekani with a low voice. "I can see that something is bothering you, what is it?" as he looks at Bhekani. This leads to some silence as Bhekani looks but as if to look for words before saying, "Look man, you know I've always had your back, always. I have never given you any reasons to doubt me" as he looks at Mthoko. "So you have no reason to doubt me now, do you? You have always been straight with me regarding any job you've ever sent me to do. But the ones you have me do lately, you are not letting me in much. You say we aren't on the cocaine business, but then you send me on these jobs. What's going on man?" as he looks his boss in the eyes.
This brings yet another uncomfortable silence in the room but before Mthoko who seems to be struggling for words respond, Bhekani jumps in, "Look man, I'm with you either way you know that. It's just that I really need to know what I'm getting myself into here" he says with a low voice, understanding how awkward this conversation is.
But just when Mthoko takes a sigh before opening his mouth to answer, the door opens and Mthoko's younger brother Siyanda comes in. "Oh sorry man, I didn't know you had a meeting" Siyanda says. "Look I can come back later if you guys are..." he doesn't finish as Mthoko cuts him off, "No, no, no it's okay man" he says. "I'm actually glad that you are also here. Please come in, there's something I need to talk to you guys about" as his voice and face change to be a little bit serious. This makes Bhekani and Siyanda curious as they look at each other, wondering what is going on.
"Hey, you okay man?" Siyanda asks curiously with a worried face. Another silence passes as Mthoko goes to the side table and pours whiskey for the three of them. He then gives each of them a glass. He downs his double in one go as he sits down, which makes the guys look at each other in confusion. This must be big.
"Look, Bhekani...You are right. You deserve the answers. You deserve to know the whole story about the jobs you did recently and you my brother also deserves to know some stuff since you help protect this house" Mthoko says with a very reluctant voice. Can he be out with it already? Bhekani thinks to himself as he also downs whatever is left of his own glass. I suppose the nerves are getting to him as well.
"Look bro" Mthoko says as he turns to his brother, "I know I kept some things from you, okay? But I will let you in on some" this much to his brother's confusion. "Do you remember that shooting involving Fezile Mpulo? Well, uhmm...I did that" he says with a low voice that almost sends his brother stumbling on the floor. "What?" Siyanda shouts. "But why man? Why did you do that? Was he shooting at you? Threatening the family?" but before Mthoko could answer, Bhekani jumps in, "Uhmm, rather I did that. Uhmm...at his instructions" he says pointing at Mthoko. He probably thought that was funny but Mthoko ignores him. So does Siyanda.
"No he didn't threaten my family okay, atleast not directly?" Mthoko says as he goes over to pour himself another drink and downs it there and then before coming to sit down again. "What do you mean by that?" Siyanda asks curiously but Mthoko turns to Bhekani and says, "Oh yeah, I meant it when I said we aren't in the cocaine business"
But Siyanda cuts in, "What cocaine?" he asks wide-eyed. "Guys, what the hell is going on? What cocaine are we talking about now?" he looks at both the gentlemen. But this leads to Mthoko to stand up and go stand next to the big monitor on the wall. "Well, gentlemen...I'm State Security" he says looking at the reaction from both his associate but if anything he sees confused faces. "What do you mean?" Bhekani asks curiously, still very much confused. "I mean, I work for the State Security Agency" Mthoko says, showing no emotion which sends the room into complete confusion as both Siyanda and Bhekani almost fall off their chairs in shock.
"You work for what?" Siyanda asks as he raises his voice with eyes wide open. "Uhmm, so you are...So you are, uhmm...you are..." Bhekani can't find words. "A government spy, yes Bhekani" Mthoko says with a straight face, trying help out his shocked friend. This is not what Bhekani and Siyanda expected at all. Nothing could have prepared them for this.
"I'm sorry guys, I really am. I couldn't tell you all this" Mthoko says as he looks embarrassed at this himself. "But I realize that it was not fair to send you to do the job you have no idea about, Bhekani. I'm sorry about that. The cocaine we took from Fezile and the one we took from Nazeel was going to finance a terrorist cell. That cocaine belongs to a guy called Faroukh, he is the leader of this terrorist group ISIS cell." he says as he turns to the monitor screen which then shows the pictures of a few individuals including Faroukh.
"This Faroukh guy flew in the country recently to facilitate an arms sale that will happen in a few months time. As of now, we don't know who the dealers are and we don't know who the buyer of these arms is. But we do know that Faroukh is the key" as he points to the monitor. It is hard to tell if Bhekani and Siyanda are listening or they are still in shock.
"The cocaine has been sold to many unidentified individuals but some Taxi owners, friendly towards Faroukh have been used as mules to transport this cocaine to the buyers. That's how Fezile and Njenje were involved. So we can assume that Zikode and Mavusana are involved. They may not know that Faroukh is a terrorist but they are paid by him to be drug mules" he says, much to Siyanda's shock. Bhekani is still processing all of this, he finds it too much. He goes to the side table and pours himself a double and downs it there and then, to which Siyanda and Mthoko look at each other, but ignore him.
"But why Taxis?" Siyanda asks curiously, "Why use Taxis as transport for this?" as he looks at his brother with keen eyes. "Well I suppose, drug dealers are known to be driving certain types of cars, flashy...drawing attention to themselves." Mthoko says, "Law enforcement tends to pay attention to such and before you know it, you have become the person of interest. Taxis are a public transport, not easy to suspect they'd be carrying a bag full of drugs. So Faroukh befriended a lot of taxi owners and sold them the idea. They don't have to deal but they only transport the stuff, say at the last load before cashing in...to avoid suspicion" as he turns around to look at the monitor behind him.
"Wow, this is uhmm..." Bhekani says as he's lost for words but Mthoko cuts in, "Yes I know man. It's a lot to take in" he says with a half smile. "Anyways, the plan was to disrupt the sale of this cocaine with the hope of derailing the arms deal that Faroukh will be facilitating, atleast until we know who the dealer is" as he comes back to sit down.
"We figured that Faroukh uses Taxi owners as drug mules who'd then transport the drugs to buyers, most of whom are the members of this terrorist group like Nazeel" Mthoko says as he looks at the monitor. "But why don't you wait for the arms sale to happen so that you will know who is the dealer and who's the buyer?" Siyanda asks curiously as he looks at Bhekani who shrugs his shoulders in agreement.
"Well, what if we wait and we then discover that the dealer is actually the President and the buyer is a Bin Laden-wanna be?" Mthoko asks as he shrugs his shoulders as well. "What then? So you see? It would become more complicated than that. What we are trying to do is squeeze these bastards until they feel the pressure. We don’t have the resources enough for this operation. We are stretched. So we are killing two birds with one stone here- taking the drugs off the streets while catching the terrorists building a powerful cell here in the country" as he switches off the monitor. That leads to an uncomfortable silence in the room as Siyanda and Bhekani are still shocked at all this.
"So when exactly did you join SSA?" Siyanda asks curiously, to which Mthoko looks at him as if to say, Oh come on now! "Siyanda you know I can't tell you that" Mthoko says, to which Siyanda and Bhekani shrug their shoulders. "You guys can't tell anyone either. Not my wife or my kids, your wife or your girlfriend...not your men or anyone. This conversation ends right here" His face turns serious to ensure he drives the message home but it looks like they got it as they nod.
***
Few days later, Mthoko once again finds himself naked in bed with Phuthuma, the journalist. He can't seem to resist this woman's beauty and attractive appearance. She is a very strong character that always gets her way and she'd do anything to get her way. That's what made her the best target for Mthoko...to use her in order to throw the public off the trail. But is it still the reason he finds himself in hotel rooms with her or there's something more to it? Is he getting attached to the seductive woman?
"Well, that was amazing Ms. Cele, I can't have enough of that" Mthoko says as he gets off on top of Phuthuma to lay on his back trying to catch a breathe. He is sweating all over his body. He takes a glass on the side of the bed and downs whatever was left in it.
"Well, I'm glad that you enjoyed that Mr. Sibisi. There's more where that came from" Phuthuma says with a smile as she lays her head on Mthoko's head also trying to catch a breathe. "Yeah I can see that" Mthoko says as he kisses her on the forehead. For a moment there, there's a definite silence as it looks like both of them are enjoying this moment of bliss where they don't have to care about anything but what's happening within the walls of this hotel room. Mthoko is caressing Phuthuma's hair while her hand is busy playing with his manhood, which he seems to enjoy.
"Okay look, I don't mean to be a mood killer but I had a talk with my boss, Rethabile" Phuthuma says as she gets off Mthoko to sit up straight by putting a pillow on her back. She looks like she wants to have serious talk which doesn't impress Mthoko at all but he doesn't say anything as he also sits up straight against the headboard.
"Yeah? What did you talk about?" he asks curiously to which Phuthuma takes a pick at him by the corner of her eye. She seems reluctant to go ahead with this conversation but it's too late now that Mthoko is keen to hear what she has to say. "Uhmm...this thing about Taxi violence Mthoko" she says with a low voice as she looks away. "Yeah? What about it?" Mthoko probes. This leads to another awkward silence as Phuthuma seems to be looking for words to say. She picks up a drink on the side of the bed and downs it all at once, much to Mthoko's curiosity. Well, this must be really serious then, he thinks to himself.
"Look, what is really going there, Mthoko, really? I mean, I know you said it's turf wars but this doesn't seem to be anything of that nature." Phuthuma says as she puts her glass down. "The recent shooting of another taxi driver doesn't suggest that this is about routes. If that was the case, why are we not seeing the taxi owners dying? Why only the drivers? Why is the police not saying the recent shooting was connected to the taxi violence? Why no other taxi owners say that?" all the while her voice is only getting raised.
"Oh! So you have a new source now?" Mthoko asks with some level of irritation, not wanting to even look at her. "Oh no, not my source per say...My boss has sources too. That's why she raised this issue Mthoko" Phuthuma says with a desperate voice as if she's begging for forgiveness. "She feels that there's more into this story and quiet frankly I think I'm feeling that too now. There's got to be more into this Mthoko. Are you sure you’re telling everything?" as she restores eye contact because she wants to read what he is thinking. This brings an awkward silence in the room as Mthoko looks at her back. The tension begins to build slowly.
"Look, ofcourse I'm not telling you everything Phuthuma, come on" Mthoko says. "But I can assure you that this is about turf wars, I don't care what your other sources say..." as he reaches out for a bottle and pours himself a double. "My bosses sources, okay?" Phuthuma says with irritation. "Look, my career is on the line Mthoko and that of the media house I work for. I can't risk it on something that doesn't even make sense, I hope you are not selling me smoke because I'd have to find another source to use" she says as she gets out of bed and heads to the ensuite bathroom leaving Mthoko with a worried face thinking about the implications of all this.
***
A couple of nights later at the Sibisi house it's business as usual with everything seems to be a routine. Mthoko's kids are happy and oblivious of anything their father might be involved in. Londiwe is more and more involved in the running of family now while Thula and Mbali are very much focused on their education. Lindiwe, who is mentoring Londiwe seems very much contend with how everything is going in her family that she has had no reason to suspect that Mthoko could be sleeping with some journalist somewhere. Mthoko himself has ensured that he's ever present for his family, making sure they lack nothing, even his time.
Lindiwe is sitting in her bed reading a book when Mthoko comes in and sits next to her. "Hey sweetheart" he says as he kisses her on the forehead. "What are you reading there?" as he takes off his shoes and a watch. He looks exhausted from something.
"Uhmm, I'm finishing the this chapter on this book I got from Palesa. How are you darling?" Lindiwe says sill focused on the book. "I'm okay baby, I'm just a little exhausted hey" Mthoko says as he goes over to the en-suite bathroom to take off his pants and shirt. "How did it go at the meeting?" Lindiwe shouts as she takes off her reading glasses. "Oh yeah, it went really well baby. We are definitely going into business with those young people" Mthoko says as he comes out of the bathroom naked and goes over to the wardrop. He pulls his pyjama and wears them.
"Baby I wish you could see their proposals. Each group brought us fresh produce, great products. Speaking of which, I brought some home" he says with a smile as he tucks himself in bed but sits straight as well so that he can have a conversation with his wife.
"Thank you baby for going" Lindiwe says as she returns the smile. "I know you had a lot on your plate as well but I couldn't go because my back to back meetings with the suppliers ran the whole day and Londiwe was busy with stock taking at the supermarkets." as she kisses her husband. "It's okay my love, I understand the load hey. How did it go with the suppliers?" Mthoko asks as he brushes his wife's shoulder. "It went well my love, looks like delivery will be done on schedule this time, thank God" Lindiwe says as she breathes a sigh of relief. She then puts the book away in order to pay full attention to her husband.
"And with Londiwe? Is everything in order?" Mthoko asks curiously. "Oh yeah, love. I think she's got the hang of things now" Lindiwe answers. "She is capable of handling things now on her own and I know that initially I wasn't fond of this idea but I must say that I'm actually proud of your daughter. She's very mature and professional about the way she's handling the business. The future is looking bright, it is safe to say" as she wears a smile of pride in her seeing thinking about her daughter.
"But there is one thing love that worries me" she says as her voice and facial expression suddenly change, which makes Mthoko curious. "What is it, love?" he asks anxiously. This is followed by a little silence as if Lindiwe is trying to find words for this.
"I'm worried about our safety baby" she says with a low voice. "But why baby? Did something happen?" Mthoko, who is surprised by that asks curiously with an anxious face. "Oh no baby, we are fine. Nothing happened, but these shootings that keep happening are worrying me." Lindiwe answers as she looks into her husband's eyes. "These drivers that keep getting shot...it doesn't seat right with me baby. How long till this escalate to something more serious and bigger than this? What if it is announcing a war that will soon be at our doorstep?" her voice is only getting higher as she shows genuine panic in her eyes.
"Shhh baby" Mthoko says softly. "I'm not going to let anything happen to you or the kids okay? You have absolutely nothing to worry about. The police are investigating the shootings and the recent one they haven't linked it with anything just yet. And as far as I can recall, we are't at war with anyone" he says with a rather uncomfortable smile.
"No one?" Lindiwe asks as she raises her eyebrow. "What about Zikode? Are you guys buddies now?" as she rolls her eyes. "Of course not baby, but I don’t think we are that hostile towards one another that it can come to us going at war. So please my don't worry about it okay?" Mthoko says as he once again disarms his wife with another kiss in the forehead. She, feeling like her husband is dismissive, shrugs her shoulders and smiles. They talk for about another 30 minutes before they tuck in.
***
Somewhere else, Mqeqeshi Xhonywa and Shoes Mufamadi are hanging out with Zikode in some Shisanyama. It's quiet a popular spot and energetic environment where people come to have meat, drink and dance to loud music. It is hardly ever not full. Zikode is very known and respected by many people around this area, so whenever he comes over he gets a table of his own. Tonight is no different.
"So guys, you said you may have a lead for me about the murder of Fezile?" Zikode asks as he sips on his beer, looking at the men sitting with him. The two gentlemen look at each other as if they are debating on who will go first, which seems to annoy the impatient Zikode a little bit. "Guys, talk!" he says as he raises his voice a little bit while looking at both of them. "What do you know about the death of Fezile?" he probes, as his eyes changes to being a little upset this time around. This seems to frighten Shoes and Mqeqeshi a little more.
"Look man, Shoes and I were chilling at the tavern one day having some beers when we overheard some guys who were sitting at the table behind us talking about a guy who was bragging about a hit he and his friends just did on a taxi driver and took his loot" Mqeqeshi says nervously as he can't even look at Zikode who has that terrifying look on his face.
"What loot? What guy?" Zikode asks as he looks very interested in this lead. You can tell from his eyes that he's looking for blood. "I don't know Fana," Mqeqeshi says nervously. "But when he said that we started thinking that, maybe this was connected to the Fezile murder. "What made you think that?" Zikode asks as he jumps right in. "Because as we sat there trying to listen if we could get more out of this conversation, one of these guys let out a name, 'Mindloz' . And we thought this could have been Mandla, who else could it be?" Shoes says as he gets in there to assist Mqeqeshi.
At that Zikode looks up as if he's trying to think what these two are talking about but Mqeqeshi interrupts his thoughts, "Mandla...remember?" he says. "Many guys used him here. You used him here but he is clumsy and careless with information so people stopped hiring him" as he says as he looks at Shoes who nods in agreement.
"But how do we know it definitely was Mandla they were talking about? How reliable is the information? And these guys you heard at the tavern...can we find them?" Zikode asks as he brushes his well trimmed beard like he is thinking about something. This question leads to a little silence.
"Uhmm, well we don't know who those drunkard idiots were, I had never seen them before" Shoes says as he looks at Mqeqeshi as if he's looking for validation. "Well, even if there's only 10% chance that they were talking about Mandla we have to treat it seriously. Because that might just be possible that it was him indeed" Mqeqeshi says as he sips on his beer. This leads to yet another moment of silence as the three sip on their beers like they are thinking about all this. "Question now is, how do we find Mandla" Shoes asks as he looks at both men sitting with him.
"Well, that's the question now, isn't it?" Zikode says will a low voice. "Not only that, but if it was indeed him who did the hit, who is he working for and who was he with on the night of the Fezile shooting. We need to work on the plan to grab him" he says as his eyes changes to be of a man who is set on doing something really evil.
"Okay must we alert the other guys about this and..." Mqeqeshi says but doesn't finish his thought as he's abruptly cut off by Zikode who says, "No. Let this conversation stay between the three of us okay? We don't know who could have hired him. Let us not be too alerting on this until we know what we are dealing with" as he looks at his colleagues who look at each other as if they are surprised at this. This leads to another silence as the men take a sip of their drinks. "If this was indeed Mandla, I wonder what was the loot he was talking about" Shoes says as he looks at Mqeqeshi but Zikode cuts him off, "Well, we will find out soon when we grab him, won't we?" he says with annoyance.
Shoes nods and shrugs his shoulders as if he's tying to avoid a dialogue between the two of them. He knows how short tempered Zikode can be sometimes so he wants to keep the peace at the table. Afterall, they are all after the same thing.
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