Connecting the dots
I wonder what on earth I'm doing here hey, this place is very spooky for some reason, detective Thoko thinks to herself as she sits in her car parked across the street a coffee shop. She nervously looks at her watch before looking through her rearview mirror to see if there are any cars parking behind her. There is none. She takes her phone and scrolls down through the messages and then thinks, Now why would the captain ask me to here at this time of the night without giving me much information, as she looks at her watch.It's a day after she and her partner Mxolisi had visited Mthoko at his home for the ongoing investigations on the killings in the area, which now seems to have her neck-deep into whatever is going on. She looks scared a little bit as she keeps tapping her thumb on the steering wheel while looking across the streets fir any movement.
At this time of the hour there's not much people walking on the street because most shops are already closed but there are one or two that are open and they look empty themselves. So she sits there anxiously and wait a little longer wondering why she is here in the first place. But as she is wondering, she sees two cars driving towards her direction in the opposing lane but they are still far off. As they get closer they slow down and park next to the coffee shop that is opened. Now this gets Mthoko interested as she wonders if this is the reason she is instructed to be here at this time of the night.
The two cars are black BMW 4x4s but it's hard for Thoko to make out the plates on both because it is dark where they are parked. She suddenly remembers that the captain mentioned binoculars in his text, he said they’d be in the backseat. She looks at the back and sees a midsize black bag...I wonder how he got these in here, she thinks as she opens the bag and finds high tech binoculars, video camera and other equipment.
She looks through the binoculars towards the two cars in anticipation of who will get out. Wow, these are really great...night vision? she thinks as she looks at the binoculars in her hands. She then zooms on the plates of the cars...can't recognize them. She decides to write them down in a piece of paper she pulled from the dashboard. But now what begins to worry her is the amount of time the people in the cars have taken to come out. She is wondering if she may have spooked them or something but she is parked a little far off from them and there are a few cars down the road between them.
She opens the dashboard and pulls her gun. She puts it in the passenger seat, just incase these people walk up the road towards her. Once again she looks through the binoculars and sees in the second car two men coming from the front. They look like body guards dressed casually. They go ahead into the opened coffee shop...it looks like they are securing the venue.
Thoko can't make out who those men are as she continues to watch attentively through the scope. A moment later, two men in the front car also get out from the front seats and head to the coffee shop. This could be interesting, Thoko thinks to herself as she continues to watch. She also doesn't recognize these ones but she can guess that they are also bodyguards for whoever might be at the back of that car. But what happens next makes her take a deep breathe as back doors from the two cars slowly opens. The man in the second car comes out first. What on earth is going on here? Thoko thinks to herself.
That is Fana Zikode, what is he doing here? she thinks as she zooms in on his face to make sure she has a positive ID. Yep, it's definitely him, she thinks. Now she is breathlessly and anxiously waiting to see who comes out of the front car. Well, nothing could have prepared her for what she sees as she zooms in.
"What the hell..." she says out loud as she sees Police Commisioner Naidoo comes out. What the hell is going on here? she thinks as her eyes pop. Luckily for her the binoculars are installed with video camera, so she records as the two men greet each other with smiles. She wishes to hear what all this is about but there's no way but this is enough to work on. Now, what could the Police Commisioner be doing with a Taxi boss so late at night? she thinks as she continues to record from her binoculars. Suddenly the two men walk inside the coffee shop where their bodyguards have been waiting.
Thoko immediately takes her phone and scrolls down but she then thinks for a second. Maybe this is not a good idea, I should talk to the cap personally. It's hard to know if my phone is tabbed or not, she thinks to herself. She then looks across the street one more time before driving away.
***
Meanwhile, Mthoko is visited by his brother at his home but this time they are sitting in balcony instead of the basement study. They are having whiskey after supper while his wife and kids are inside the house watching TV.
"Hey man, you really look and sound worried...what's going on, really?" Siyanda asks as he takes a sip of his glass. This makes a worried-looking Mthoko thinks for a second before saying, "Hey man, uhmm...your guys are still watching my family and kids right? They haven't noticed anything amiss?" with a low voice. Siyanda thinks for a moment as though he is trying to recall something. "Uhmm...no man, nothing. They haven't noticed anything...why? Is there something wrong?" he asks with curiously as he puts his glass down and looking at his older brother.
"Arg, no man...nothing is wrong per say. It's just that the walls are closing in on me man" Mthoko says as he sighs. "These people in the association are looking for the journalist and since she has 'disapeared' they suspect that someone from within may be the mole" as he finished off whatever was left from the glass.
"Uhmm, yeah I can see how this may be a problem man...so what are you thinking?" Siyanda says as he also finishes off whatever was left on his glass but Mthoko shrugs his shoulders before saying, "I'm still working on it" He looks like he is in deep thought or troubled by something but he continues, "Look, I went to see Phuthuma yesterday morning and uhmm...I explained some of the things to her...well, not everything but I tried to explain why she is in hiding" he says as he pours for both of them again and gives a glass to hos brother who is trying to think about this.
"Uhmm...and how did she take it?" Siyanda asks curiously. "Well, ofcourse she was in shock as expected man but I had to give her something." Mthoko says with a low voice. "Maybe once she knows what's going on I won't have to keep going there every second day to check if she hasn't done something stupid or something" as he shrugs his shoulders.
"You know man, this whole situation is threatening my family and if my wife ever finds out about this Phuthuma situation all hell will break loose" he says as he takes a strong sip but Siyanda cuts in, "You are still thinking about that? If she finds out about your other life...what will happen?" he says as he looks into his brother's eyes. "Man please don't remind me okay? I don't what I'd do" Mthoko says with a worried face. Suddenly there's a moment of silence as the brothers take a moment to think but Siyanda says, "But look man, it comes with the job alright? It's the sacrifice you have to make"
This makes Mthoko thinks a second as he looks to the stars. "Yeah man, I just want this whole thing to be over so that I can get back to my normal life" he says as he takes another sip but Siyanda cuts in, "How far are you with that man? I mean, are you guys any closer to knowing when the deal will happen?" he asks as he also takes a sip.
"It's not long now" Mthoko says with a low voice while looking through the glass sliding door to see if anyone is listening. "Our intel indicates that Faroukh's men are landing in the country tomorrow. Well that can only mean one thing...the deal will take place anytime between now and next week." he says which makes Siyanda to look a little worried but Mthoko continues, "But it's highly unlikely that it will happen this week but it could definitely be next week. That means we need to find out who is selling arms to these people. It got to be someone or people high up in government" he says as he finishes off whatever was left on his glass.
"Yeah man, things are getting real" Siyanda says with worry on his face. "Yeah but it will be over soon man" Mthoko says as he tries to reassure his younger brother. "But I need you make sure that my family is safe bro" as he looks worried. "Don't worry man, your family is my family too. Nothing will happen to them, I promise" Siyanda says as he taps his brother's shoulder which Mthoko appreciates.
"So man, how can I help, really?" Siyanda asks as he looks through the sliding door with caution but this makes Mthoko smile a bit before saying, "Nah little brother...you have done plenty already okay? You are protecting our family and now I know they are safe because of you. But if I need you to do something else for me I will sure let you know okay?" as he taps his brother on the shoulder which Siyanda accepts with a smile.
The brother sit there in quiet for a moment as they think about this whole thing. Mthoko is just happy that he has someone he can talk to about this, someone he truly trusts. What always worry him if his wife ever finds out about this, let alone his affair with Phuthuma. It would kill her for sure and that's the last thing he fears the most.
"So man...I know that you shouldn't tell me this but I really got to ask..." Siyanda says as he puts his glass down. "Look man, we are brothers man, how come I have never suspected any of this? That you work for the State Security...I mean, when did they recruit you, really?" as he looks through the door once more but there's no one listening. This makes Mthoko to think for a second as he didn't expect this question to come back again. He also looks through the door before looking at his brother who is looking at him dead in the eyes. He knows there's no turning away from this, he owes him something.
"Look man, it was back in the day when I started with the first Shisanyama remember?" he says with a low voice as looks to the stars as though he is recalling something. "You remember those days were during the time of violence in the Taxi industry and you and my wife didn't want me join?" he says with a smile to which Siyanda says, "Oh yeah, yeah, yeah...I remember"
Once again Mthoko takes a moment to think before saying, "Well, I was approached by a government official who pitched this idea that there's a way to stop taxi violence without having to involved the police because that usually ends up escalating the tensions. So they needed someone from within the association to help them fight this thing because it was threatening lives of innocent people. Plus, it will help stop selling illegal firearms on the black market. So they gave me capital to buy taxis, which allowed us to then establish the supermarkets and the garages."
Siyanda is quietly listening to his brother in shock as he tries to piece everything together. He still can't believe he never saw any of this for what it really was but Mthoko continues, "Well, as it turned out, this strategy was very effective as you will remember, so many illegal firearms were seized those days during police raids" as he pours himself another drink. He is now starting to feel it.
"So my handlers felt that the operation should go on" he says as looks at his watch before looking inside the house but his brother interrupts him, "Wait, is that the reason you didn't want me to join you in the industry but instead gave me cash to start a security company?" he asks curiously as he also pours for himself. "Yeah man, I felt that it wasn't safe for you if you joined there but starting a security company was going to guarantee our safety as a family" Mthoko says with a half smile as he downs his drink all in one go which makes Siyanda to think for a second before nodding.
"But man, all these years it has always been about trying to stop illegal arms being sold on the black market. The taxi industry is huge market for this because of the turf wars and all that..." Mthoko says, "But this...that we are dealing with now...this is another level. Now we are talking about possible terrorism on the highest scale."
This seems to make him worried a little bit which informs his younger brother that maybe he has heard enough. He stands up and says, "Look man, I got to run okay it's late now and I'm sure your kids wants to say goodnight before they go to sleep" as he smiles to big brother. "Oh come on man, they are grown hahaha" Mthoko says as he laugh. "And you think they don't want to say goodnight to you, their uncle? Hahaha...Come on let's go inside so that you can say goodbye to them okay?" he says as they both get inside where the rest of the family is.
***
The following day Zikode is at his office in the association building and he doesn't look happy at all. These days he cuts a very frustrated figure since he can't seem to get ahead with the killings that threaten his relationship with Faroukh. The recent incident and the disappearance of Phuthuma has really made things complicated for him because he had promised Faroukh, who is also under pressure his people that we will solve the problem. Now since some of his colleagues don't buy into the suggestion that Mthoko could be the mole within the association, he has to find other means to prove it.
He sits on his swinging chair as he speaks with someone on the phone. By the look on his face, he is a very desperate man.
Zikode: "Look, enough about that man...there is something I need you to do for me, alright? Something urgent"
Man: "Okay I'm listening"
*Little silence*
Zikode: "I need you to gather a few men and follow someone for me"
Man: "Uhmm...okay, who is that?"
*Another silence*
Zikode: "Mthokozisi Sibisi..."
Man: "What? Are you crazy, Zikode?"
Zikode: "Look, stop with that okay? Can you do it or not?"
Man: "Man, do you know what you are asking me to do? It is Sibisi you are asking me to follow"
Zikode: "Yes, ofcourse that's what I said...didn't I?"
*Silence*
Man: "What the hell did he do man? Why do you want him followed?"
Zikode: "It's not important, okay?"
Man: "Ofcourse it's important. Look if you want me to follow a man like Mthokozisi it's best you give me something okay?"
*Long silence*
Zikode: "Look, I believe that he is involved in something that could compromised the association..."
Man: "Do better..."
*another silence*
Zikode: "Okay...I think he is involved in the disappearance of a person who is key in solving the mystery behind the recent killings"
Man: "Alright...There you go"
Zikode: "So you will follow him, his wife and keep an eye on his entire freakin' family"
Man: "Are you crazy, Zikode? You know that the Sibisi mansion is a fortress right? His brother provides security detail for the family"
Zikode: "Ofcourse I know what Siyanda is capable of okay? Plus...I didn't say go storm the house guns blazing. I just need you to watch the house to see who comes in and out, and then you watch where Zikode and his wife go"
*a little silence*
Man: "Alright, I will gather a few men and see what I can do"
Zikode: "Good...this is priority"
*Another silence*
Zikode: "Oh, another thing I need you to do for me..."
Man: "What's that?"
Zikode: "Sibisi has his trusted and loyal man...Bhekani. I want you to also follow him okay? He may just be the person to lead us to the missing person"
*little silence*
Man: "Alright then, I'll get right on it..."
Zikode: "Good man..."
*Call dropped*
***
Somewhere else, someone is also feeling the pressure as Faroukh waits anxiously in a small plane strip that is in an isolated field. It is a privately owned property that is a few miles from the township so no one notices when a plane lands here. So Faroukh looks nervous as a small aircraft lands on the ground not far from him. He and the three men who look like his body guard come closer to the plane as it opens it's doors.
Out comes an entourage of five men dressed in suits which suddenly makes Faroukh look very anxious as he offers a nervous smile to the men. He goes on and shakes the hands of the men who are not showing any emotion at all as they look at him in the eyes. For some reason they look unhappy with him.
"Please following these men to the vehicles behind me" Faroukh says as he points to the four of the men, who dully oblige while he and the one man who can be assumed to be the leader of the entourage are left behind. The four men split as two get into the first car while the other two get into the second car. Faroukh and the fifth man watch on as the two vehicles leave the airfield while they are left with one car and one driver.
"So Faroukh, where are we? What's going on with the deal?" the man asks with a straight face which makes Faroukh thinks for a second. "Uhmm...there was an issue that we had to deal with first before the date for the deal can be set and I believe that we are almost in the clear..." a nervous Faroukh says but the man cuts him off, "Faroukh we sent you ahead to make conditions proper for us to make the deal happen. What were you doing all this time? Were you busy enjoying the South Coast beach with prostitutes?" he says as he now looks upset but Faroukh doesn't know how to answer that question.
"Mr. Habib, you must understand that things are a little more complicated than that and..." Faroukh says but once again Habib cuts him off, "Look, we will discuss this matter at the meeting and we will make our position perfectly clear. I think we should now follow the other gentlemen, we don't want to be late" he says with a straight face.
With that Faroukh doesn't want to upset the man even further so he obliges as he leads Habib to the the car and they drive off to follow the other cars. The trip to the hotel is a dull as it is clear that Habib is not a person who enjoys small talk but wants to get into business. Faroukh himself knows that he will have to explain himself to these men who have flown all the way from Pakistan to seal the arms deal. He takes a look at his watch and sees that it's 13:15 afternoon. This will be a very long day, he thinks to himself.
They drive until they reach a small hotel in the Margate area where in the boardroom the other four men are already seated with Faroukh's men. All of these men are hard to read as they keep a straight face and this makes Faroukh nervous as he enters the boardroom with Habib. "I'm sorry we are late..." he says nervously as he direct Habib to his seat. He then goes to sit at the head of the table to which his men who were driving leave the room to give the meeting privacy. The table itself has a jar of water and glasses and nothing else.
"Uhmm...gentlemen we are here today to discuss the deal that will take place..." Faroukh says but he is abruptly interrupted by one man, "Faroukh, we are not here to discuss but we are here to give directive of what must happen next. But first we want to know what has been the hold up over the past few weeks. And you better make that the truth, no running around" he says as he looks serious.
"Uhmm...Mr Omar, I was coming to that" Faroukh says with a nervous smile. "You guys had sent me here ahead to ensure that the environment is proper for conducting business but we then encountered a few challenges along the way, but we are almost at the end of sorting that out" he says as he pours himself a glass of water to calm himself. "Care to explain what kind of challenges you are talking about?" Another man asks with curiosity which makes Faroukh think for a second before saying, "We suspected that someone wants to sabotage the deal, so we had to look into it" as he looks across the room.
"What do you mean sabotage?" Habib asks curiously as he leans forward. "Uhmm...the idea was to form an alliance with a local group here in order to ensure that we don't stand out since we are foreigners here.'' Faroukh says with a low voice. "So far that has worked out pretty well without many glitches and it has allowed us to have extra ears on the ground. The second thing was to raise funds to make this deal possible but that's where the glitch has been" he says as he looks to read the reaction on his guests' faces and immediately sees that it has got everyone's attention.
"Stop stuttering Faroukh, explain yourself" another man says to which Faroukh takes another sip of water. "Uhmm...Mr. Imkran, with all due respect allow me to explain..." he says, obviously irritated. "We believe that we are being sabotaged by someone who may have knowledge of the pending deal" he says as he looks anxious. "With the help of our new ally we have been selling cocaine to certain buyers as means to raise funds for this deal but someone has been on to us and sabotaging that"
This makes the men in the table to look at each other as they all look a little worried but Habib cuts, "But how do you know it is someone who may have knowledge of the deal? Can't that be a coincidence?" he asks as he looks across the room as the others nod in agreement.
"Be that as it may, it is something we are looking into Mr. Habib" Faroukh responds as he bows his head. "We need to know what this person knows before we can continue with this deal, we can't just take chances. We need to buy ourselves some time before..." he says but once again he is interrupted "Faroukh, do you realize that this will put the deal in jeopardy? We will look like armatures if we keep postponing the dates. If I remember correctly we sent you here to this country ahead of us for such things as these...to prevent them from happening. We can't postpone the date" another man says with a raised voice.
"I understand that Mr Rehman but this about your safety" Faroukh says as he also raises his voice but the other man who's been quiet jumps in, "Care to explain?" he says calmly which leads to Faroukh standing up and start walking around the table. It is as though his confidence is coming back now and has shrugged off nerves.
"Gentlemen, if we don't find out who this person who has been sabotaging us is, we won't know who is watching us" he says as he shrugs his shoulders. "Now that you guys are in the country we don't know if this person is watching or not. It is true that it could have just been a coincidence but what if it is not? Are we going to take a chance and set a date for the deal...and risk having you exposed in the process? All I'm saying is that we need to make sure the coast is clear first before we go ahead. We must find this person or these people first and my local friend is assuring me that he is close to finding out"
Once again this makes the men to look at each other as they are trying to contemplate this. It's hard to tell if they are agreeing with Faroukh or not as they all give a straight face. "Well, don't your friend have anyone in the police force?" Imkram asks to which everyone seems interested to hear the response.
"Yes we do have a police officer who is assisting us with information, a police commisioner in fact..." Faroukh says with a level of confidence. "He also has been trying to find out who this person might be but so far nothing. This tells me that it could be someone who has information, but gentlemen, my friend assures me that he has a solid lead. It's just a matter of time before we find out who is behind this sabotage and who they are working for" he says as he continues to stand at the head of the table as the men continue to look at each other as though they are discussing this matter telepathically.
It's hard for Faroukh to tell if he's managed to convince these guys to stall the deal for a little longer as non of them are showing any emotion. So he sits down on his chair and waits to hear the response from them. He is a little anxious.
"Tell you what Faroukh..." Habib says with a calm voice, "We are giving you exactly three weeks to set up the deal. Three weeks and no more" It seems all the other men agree with him as they nod. "But what if we haven't found this person we are talking about? What then?" Faroukh asks as he becomes wide-eyed. "Well you better get moving very quick because that is the deadline. Set up the date for the deal in three weeks time" Omar says with a straight face to which Faroukh seems discouraged as he shrugs his shoulders.
"Well gentlemen, that concludes the meeting for today. Now Faroukh, please show us to our rooms please...it's been a very long flight" Habib says as he stands up followed by everyone else. "Yes sir," Faroukh says as he goes to the door and calls his men to come lead the guests to their respective rooms.
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