Corrupted
"Well, well, well I'm glad that you finally made it" Zikode says as he greets the Indian man who comes and sits down in the table across him at this very weird coffee shop. This place is not in a shopping centre as such but across the street, far from the busy establishment. But because it's around 20:35 in the evening, there aren't people around coming from the centre. The coffee shop itself is empty, which is how Zikode likes it.It's been a week or so since Mthoko's man, Bhekani, did a hit on a Pakistani shop and there has been a little hype around that matter in this area. Everyone, especially the shop owners are on high alert as no one knows why a shop owner in this relatively quiet place was killed. Since that day many small shops on this street that are owned by foreign nationals close early, hours between 19:30-20:00.
"I'm sorry I'm late Zikode. As you know, I have to be careful when driving in this area to meet a well known taxi owner" the man says. This leads to a little silence as Zikode looks away as if he's ignoring the man while he is sipping on his tea. As they look at each other in the eyes the shop's waiter interrupts as he brings tea for the gentleman. "I took liberty to order for you, Rooibos tea with no sugar, right?" Zikode says with a smile as he takes another sip of his cup. "Yes, thank you" the gentleman says as he receives his cup from the waiter who smiles and leaves.
This leads to another silence as both men seem to be enjoying their refreshing cups. "So, what do you have for me?" Zikode says as he breaks the silence. "Look, it's not that easy man. It's a process but I'm working on it and..." the man says but doesn't finish as Zikode, who cuts a frustrated figure interrupts him, "Naidoo, you are the police commissioner. How hard can all this be?" he asks as he raises his voice a little bit. Naidoo breaks eye contact as he can sense the tension in the air.
"Look Naidoo you only have one job, okay?" Zikode says furiously. "I handed Mandla and Nsizwa over to you, did you interrogate them? Did they give up anything at all?" as he takes another sip of his tea. "Yes ofcourse we interrogated them" Naidoo responds with somewhat irritation. "But there was nothing much they said and there's nothing tangible linking either of them to any of the murders, Zikode. So we couldn't hold them any longer. We let them go" as he also takes a sip of his tea. "You did what?" Zikode shouts. "You let them go? Are you insane? You should have released them to me Naidoo. Now you gave them the opportunity to go alert whoever they work for" he is irritated.
"Relax, okay?" Naidoo say as he tries to calm the upset Zikode. "We are tailing them to see if they can lead us to whoever they are working for, if indeed they are the ones responsible for the hits" as he looks around to see if anyone is listening.
"Look, it is them okay?" Zikode says as he tries to whisper. "We just have to keep an eye on them, they will slip up you'll see" he says calmly. "Yes we will do that" Naidoo adds as he is relieved that Zikode is calming down. "What about the journalist?" Zikode interjects. "Have you questioned her? She has a source who feeds her the information that these are nothing but turf wars. That source might be the person behind these killings." as he looks around the room. This leads to a somewhat uneasy silence for a moment. "Uhmm, I don't know about that Zikode" Naidoo cuts in. "The journalist will obviously not reveal her source and remember, our own police preliminary thinking was that these are indeed taxi violence related killings. So it became common knowledge" he says much to Zikode's annoyance.
"Okay fine" he says with a dissatisfied face. "Are you monitoring the guys in charge of this investigation?" he asks curiously. "Yeah ofcourse but they report to Captain Dube but I have met him also and emphasized the importance of prioritizing this case. We have an understanding" Naidoo says calmly.
"Okay good" Zikode says calmly. "But you know, even on the streets the word is quiet" he says as his face now changes again to being upset. "There's no talk about a new product sold. If the product taken from Fezile and from Njenje emerged on the streets it would be easy to track down the killers. But it is as if it disappeared" as he takes another sip. "Unless the hitters were not from the province" Naidoo cuts in. "You could be right" Zikode adds. "Most likely foreign nationals. Or it could be people from here but selling it outside the province or even country so to not draw attention to themselves. Which could mean we are dealing with very connected individuals" as he put his hands on his head.
"I will look into that okay?" Naidoo says as he stands up. "Thank you commissioner, you do that" Zikode says as he also stands to shake Naidoo's hand and watches him walk out the door. He sits down to finish his tea. He looks like a man very deep in thought over this whole thing.
***
Somewhere else Bhekani is meeting with Mandla and Nsizwa in a small soccer field that is far away from the community. This ground is not being used by the people of this area as it hasn't been maintained, so it doesn't have lights in it. Bhekani is sitting at the back passenger seat of the car that Mandla is driving, with Nsizwa sitting besides him. There is clear tension in this car as everyone looks nervy.
"Where have you two been, huh? I've been trying to reach you for a week or so now" Bhekani says with a low voice as he sits straight looking forward. This question makes Nsizwa and Mandla nervous as they look at each other as if to say, Who's going to answer him?
"Uhmm, 'maBhiza' we, uhmm...we had a little trouble to, uhmm..." Nsizwa tries to respond, but words can't seem to come out of his mouth. "Stop mumbling" Bhekani says. "I asked a simple question, where have you two been?" as he raises his voice, much to the discomfort of these two. They know that he doesn't like it when things aren’t properly organized to his standards. It's a good thing that they are sitting in front so they can't really see his facial expressions and his eyes that are burning with rage. No one really likes him when he is angry.
The mumbling Nsizwa is rescued by Mandla who says, "We got arrested Bhekani. We got arrested" with a low and nervous voice. This leads to a little silence as if these two are waiting for Bhekani's reaction to this. They are both so wrecked it's written all over their eyes.
"Well, explain yourselves then" Bhekani shouts as he breaks the awkward silence which does not seem to help the situation.
"Uhmm, we were picked up by the police few weeks ago and took us for questioning in connection with the Fezile murder" Mandla says with a low voice to which Bhekani sits quietly as he listens. "But Bhekani, I can assure you man, we didn't tell them anything" he continues but Bhekani cuts him off, "How did the police find you? And where did they say they got the tip from?" he asks but Mandla shrugs his shoulders as he seems to not know how to answer that. But he is rescued by Nsizwa who says, "Oh, maybe you should tell him about that other thing" he whispers.
But as Mandla gives him the look as if to say Will you please shut up, Bhekani cuts in, "What other thing?" he asks curiously as he leans forward from the back seats. This question leads to another awkward silence as Nsizwa and Mandla look at each other. But this seems to irritate Bhekani who shouts, "I asked, what other thing are you two talking about?"
"Uhmm, few days before the police took us in we were called in by Mqeqeshi and Shoes who asked us if we knew anything about the Fezile matter" Mandla says nervously. "But even then, I can I assure you 'maBhiza' that we didn't tell them anything" as he turns around, attempting to make eye contact with the obviously upset Bhekani. He shakes his head in disbelief as he realises that this situation has become a mess. Mandla turns around to look upfront once again as he couldn't see Bhekani's facial expression.
"So, why do you think they suspected you two?" Bhekani asks softly. "Why pick you two, of all the people in this industry? What did you two idiots do? Who did you f*cking talk to, huh?" he asks as his voice gets louder and louder.
"I swear 'maBhiza' bro, we didn't talk to anyone. I promise" Nsizwa says nervously as he raises his voice as well. "We didn't speak to anyone man. They may just have been guessing" Mandla says as he reiterates but Bhekani cuts him off, "Oh you think it was just a lucky guess?" he asks as he raises his voice. "You think it's just a coincident that few days after Mqeqeshi called you, the police also came knocking at your door? How can you be so stupid? Huh? Now tell me, who the f*ck did you speak to?" He is really angry.
"Look man, we don't know what to tell you but we didn't tell them anything" Nsizwa says as he shrugs his shoulders as if to say, I give up. But this seems to annoy Bhekani very much as he shakes his head, "You two drunkards, don't you perhaps think that someone may have overheard you talking sh*t at a tavern somewhere and decided to tell the police or Mqeqeshi?" he asks with a low voice.
The question catches both the front seats guys off guard as they look at each other wondering if this indeed was possible.
But as Mandla attempts to try and give an answer to this difficult question, a sound of a silencer echoes in the car as blood sprinkles on his face. His ears are ringing since the windows are closed. He looks next to him, there Nsizwa's head is on the dashboard with a bullet hole at the back. As he turns to look at Bhekani, his eyes meet the barrel of the silencer pointed at him. He doesn't have time to react to this as his voice fails him when he wants to beg for his life. Bhekani shoots him in the forehead and he goes down, banging his head against the steering wheel.
***
At Sibisi house, Mthoko has a visitor in his younger brother Siyanda who does pop in from time to time to see him. These two are very close and Siyanda is one person Mthoko trusts and in this line of business it is difficult to trust people. This is one of the reasons Mthoko decided to use his brother's security services- blood is always thicker than water.
"How have you been man?" Mthoko asks his brother who sits next to him in the balcony of his big house. "I'm okay man, hey. And I hope my guys aren't giving you any problem here" Siyanda says as he sips on his whiskey. "Oh no man, they have been very professional. I haven't had any problems at all" Mthoko says as he also takes a sip. "Which I almost forgot, are you still tailing my kids and my wife?" he asks curiously as he turns around to look through the glass sliding door to where his family is seated in the lounge.
"Yeah man, my guys are still tailing them. Why, is there a problem?" Siyanda asks curiously as he also turns around. "Oh no man. It actually means your guys are doing a great job at being invisible. Remember, we agreed that they must not be spotted?" Mthoko says as he takes another sip. "I don't want my family to know they are being tailed and so far they haven't complained about anything suspicious" as he looks at his brother.
"I hear you man. What? Something makes you be on edge?" Siyanda asks curiously but this leads Mthoko to look down as if he is thinking about something, which makes his little brother worry a bit as he says, "Hey man, what's going?" he whispers.
"Oh no nothing man" Mthoko says with a low voice as he scratches his forehead. "It's just that uhmm..." he is looking for words as he turns around again to look in the house. "Look man, the guys I have been working with on this... you know uhmm..." words allude him again. "The guys I've used on the operation may have been compromised, I'm not too sure at this stage man. So it's just a hunch that I have and I don't want to take a chance with my family man" he says with a somewhat worried voice which now makes his little brother a little uneasy too.
"Look man, I won't let anything happen to your family okay?" Siyanda says as he taps his big brother's shoulder. "I will emphasize to my guys to stay frosty at all times. Do you want me to beef up here at home as well?" as he looks into the house again.
"No man, I don't want my wife and kids to start panicking and ask too many questions" Mthoko says as he pours himself another double. "Besides, I think we have enough personnel here in this place already" he says. "Alright man, if you say so" Siyanda says as he finishes whatever was left on his glass. "Look I got to run man, if you need me my phone is always on" he says as he stands up, hugs his big brother and they go back inside the house.
***
Later on in the house Mthoko is in the lounge watching TV with his family. He and his wife Lindiwe are the only ones really paying attention to the news that's playing. His eldest daughter Londiwe is busy with something on her laptop, while his son Ukuthula and younger daughter Mbali are fixed on their phones. They don't often sit in the lounge all at the same time but today is just one of those days.
"Is everything okay?" Lindiwe asks her husband who is glued on the TV screen as she brushes his shoulder gentle. "Oh yes baby everything is fine, why you ask?" Mthoko responds softly but still focused on the news.
"Oh no, I'm just checking since your brother was here, I thought maybe something could be up" Lindiwe says as she looks across the room to see if anyone is listening to their conversation. "Oh no, he just came to check on us baby, that's all. You know how Siyanda is like" Mthoko says as he looks at his wife with a smile. "Ever since that Fezile thing happened, he is a little uneasy, that's all my love. But there's nothing to worry about really" as he kisses his wife on the forehead. Lindiwe decides say nothing but just smiles at her husband, even though she clearly doesn't buy what he's saying.
"Guys I'm going to my room. Goodnight" Londiwe says, interrupting the conversation as she takes her laptop with her. "Oh okay sweetheart, you are sleepy already?" Lindiwe asks curiously. "Oh no mom, I just want to reply to a few emails and make some calls that's all" Londiwe says but her brother jumps in immediately, "Oh no, she wants to make a zoom call with a man. Don't you sisi?" he says, much to Londiwe's obvious annoyance.
"Shut up you idiot. Who says I have a man?" she says as she seeks to shrugs off what her little brother just said but Thula just bursts out laughing. Mthoko and Lindiwe don't know what to say to all of that but they don't get a chance anyway as Mbali also stands up to leave.
"And you? Where are you going?" Lindiwe asks curiously. "Mom, I just want to go lie down a little bit, okay?" Mbali says as she shrugs her shoulders. "But what about your favorite series? I thought we were playing catch up later" Lindiwe says with a disappointed face but Mbali just ignores her mother as she climbs up the stairs. She doesn't get a chance to beg her daughter as suddenly Mthoko ups the volume on the TV. He has this curious look about him as he leans forward to hear what is being said on the news. The room suddenly goes quiet as Lindiwe herself pays attention.
"The bodies of Mandla Nxumalo and Nsizwa Ntombela were found in the car parked on this abandoned soccer field behind me. We have been informed that the two gentlemen had been taken in by the police for questioning, in relation to the recent shooting that took place not far away from this area a couple of weeks or so ago.
As of yet, we have not been able to establish how the two men are linked to the investigation or why they were forming part of the investigation but when we spoke to the police a little earlier they informed us that the motive for the shooting of these two men has not yet been established. We will keep on trying to find the answers from the police and the people of this area who may have seen or heard something at the time of this incident. I am Phuthuma Cele of SA News in KZN South Coast. Back to you!
This suddenly sends the room to awkward silence. It is hard to tell what everyone is thinking at the moment. Well, Thula wasn't paying much attention on what's playing as he is busy on his phone. Lindiwe on the other hand is a little curious about the reaction she sees on her husband's face. She can tell that this is making him so uneasy but she doesn't know how to ask that of him.
Mthoko himself is struggling to hide the nerves he is feeling. There could be a few reasons to that one, first being the fact that he knows exactly what's going on. Mandla and Nsizwa worked for him so he is feeling a little guilty about what happened to them. The last thing he wants is his wife finding out about this. The second reason of course is the fact that the woman who just appeared on the TV screen is the woman he is having an affair with and is feeling all kind of guilt about it. He wonders what would happen if his wife were to find out.
"Did you know these men?" a voice of his wife disturbs him as it asks. This leads to a little silence as Mthoko tries to pull himself together. "Babe, did you know them?" Lindiwe asks again to which then Mthoko snaps out of it. "Oh no babe, I didn't" he says.
"I'm just wondering if this is something to worry about, that’s all babe" as he kisses his less than convinced wife. This little moment is followed by silence in the room that goes on for a few seconds as the couple continues to watch the news. But Lindiwe can sense that this has brought a little tension in the room so she stands up and says, "Okay babe, I'm heading to bed myself, are you coming?" with a soft voice. She looks at her husband who continues to fix his eyes on the TV. It doesn't seem like he really heard his wife.
"Love" Lindiwe calls out again. "Oh yeah babe, uhmm give me a minute I will be there soon" Mthoko says as he snaps out of it. A disappointed Lindiwe decides to not say anything after as she walks upstairs leaving her husband and her son who is oblivious of the tense moment there between his parents.
***
Somewhere else, Zikode is on a phone call with Police Commissioner, Thomas Naidoo.
Zikode: "Talk to me Naidoo, what the hell is going on with the murder of those two men"?"
Naidoo: "Uhmm, well so far we haven't had any suspects yet and..."
Zikode: "What the hell do you mean, you don't have any suspect yet? What the hell are you doing there, lazing around?" *he raises his voice*
Naidoo: "Look Zikode, it will take time you must understand that. This happened in some abandoned soccer field somewhere, where there are no CCTV cameras, at night no less. But we are looking into the matter. Just be patient."
Zikode: "Don't tell me to be patient Naidoo, okay? I handed these men over to you so that you can find out who they are working for. You failed to get that information and you then let them go. Look now, they are dead and we are back to square one. So don't tell me to be patient okay?" *he shouts*
Naidoo: "We had nothing to hold them, okay? We had nothing. They didn't say anything incriminating. But we are watching their close friends and families, if there's anything there we will find it. So shouting at me doesn't solve any problem, does it?"
*little silence passes*
Zikode: "Look, these two men were the only link we had to finding out about these killings that have been happening. Now what do we do?"
*A little silence*
Naidoo: "Look, let me try and see if I can't get their financial records. Maybe we may see who is bankrolling them. If there are any random large sums of money going into their accounts, then we will trace that to someone."
*another silence*
Zikode: "Alright good. That sounds like an idea. Please make it quick, we are running out of time"
*Call dropped*
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