Blood Stones (32 page)

Stella had felt her throat tightening so that she could hardly swallow. It was a terrible effort to speak. ‘If Jacob wasn't murdered by political opponents, then who did kill him?'

‘Gangsters,' he said it simply. ‘There are plenty of them in the Township. They sell drugs and alcohol and stolen goods. They kill for money. Someone paid one of their gangs to murder your husband, Mrs Yakumi. And to use machetes so it would look like a political killing.'

She felt Paul Mkoza's arm come round her and supposed she looked as if she might collapse. She remembered moving away, freeing herself.

‘Who paid them?' She heard herself repeating it. ‘Who paid them? Tell me …'

Then his answer. ‘I don't know the name; it could have been a personal enemy, perhaps. But then people said he had no enemies. He'd been in exile. A white racist fanatic, maybe. But you weren't with him. There was talk of a white man with a lot of money, asking for a job to be done … only whispers through the Township. A rumour coming from Johannesburg. The gangs operate there, too. Just talk and nothing more. But I believed it – there was truth in it. I believe someone had him murdered and it wasn't anyone in ANC or Inkatha. It was a private killing.'

A private killing
. She had conquered the panic rising in her. She mustn't lose control or she might scare the young man off. She saw the Mkozas watching her intently.

‘Nobody knew this white man … knew what he looked like?'

He had hesitated for a moment. ‘I have tried to find that out, too,' he said. ‘Now we are in government the police have to listen. I felt very deeply about this murder. I said, it's not too late for justice. Now … we can get justice for our people. There are informers in Soweto. In every township. It's a legacy of the past; soon,' he said confidently, ‘they'll be stamped out. But I gave one of them some money to ask in the criminal element. All he could tell me was the white man was small and thin like a snake. And not Afrikaans. But he had power. Power and much money from a great business in our country. That is what the informer was told. That's all. It was a business killing, that was all he could find out. Business makes no sense to me, Mrs Yakumi. Your husband had no links with any business.'

‘No,' Stella heard herself agreeing. ‘No. He was a civil rights barrister. All he ever did was try to help his people.'

‘It was one of so many deaths at that time,' he said quietly. ‘Whoever is responsible will not be punished now. I tried, but I couldn't find out any more. He was a great man, your husband. He won't be forgotten.'

He had spoken Jacob's valedictory. Paul and Rose Mkoza nodded in agreement. ‘A great African taken too soon. He would have been in our government if he had lived.' Then Paul came close to her again, comforting her. ‘You must be proud of him, Suki. And glad that it wasn't treachery that killed him. It was a terrible burden for us, thinking that fellow Africans would kill such a good man. We were afraid ANC members were jealous of him coming home, that one of our people was to blame. That gave us a lot of grief. Inkatha kills for the love of it, it's in the Zulu blood. But now we know it was a white crime, bought with white money. It's easier for us all to bear.'

Stella had looked at him, so serious, so sure that he spoke for her, too. She got up slowly. ‘I'm so glad,' she had said, ‘that makes it easier for you.'

She had walked out, leaving them staring, puzzled, after her.

‘If you want to go to Brussels, I'm perfectly all right to come. Jamie, I don't want to feel a burden to you. I want to be part of what you're doing.'

They had driven out of Paris that Sunday, and lunched in a pretty restaurant near Fontainebleau. It was a cold day with rain clouds gathering outside.

James said, ‘What's all this about, darling? I don't want to go to Brussels at this time, anyway. As for being a burden … come on, what's bugging you? Something is.'

Elizabeth took a breath,
Talk to your husband. Tell him what you feel
. Advice from a man whose own marriage had failed. Given because he loved her.

‘I feel there's a lot going on and you're not involving me at all. It worries me, because I know how much the business matters to you and I don't believe in compartments in a marriage. You're going to freak when I say this, but I can't help it. I don't like the idea of Ruth Fraser being in on everything and me being left out.'

James stared at her.

‘I knew you'd be furious, but that's how I feel,' Elizabeth said. She began to destroy the bread roll, exactly as she had done with Jean Pierre. He didn't say anything, he watched her pulling it to pieces.

‘I see,' he said. ‘What you're really saying is you're frightened I'll sleep with her because that's how Kruger ended up? You think I'd cheat on you?'

‘No,' she said in distress. ‘No, of course I don't think anything like that. It's just that she's got such a reputation as a man eater and Valerie didn't realize what was happening until it was too late. And I'm having this baby and I can't go on trips with you …' She fumbled in her handbag for a handkerchief. ‘I'm sorry, darling,' she said. ‘But it's been preying on my mind.'

‘If you cry,' James said softly, ‘I'm going to be really angry. You are the biggest bloody fool – bottling all this up and getting yourself upset till you have to sit here and talk a load of balls about me going off and fancying Ruth Fraser! It's just as well we're in a public place, or I might thump you! Baby or no baby! Now, just listen to me. And for Christ's sake stop taking it out on the bread roll.'

He leaned across the table and pulled her hand away, holding it firmly.

‘Let's start with the business then. You want to know what's happening? All right, I'll tell you. Harris is trying to screw me up; Ruth told me, because Kruger, who sees her every weekend incidentally, told
her
. Karakov has some fantastic red diamond jewellery that he's going to sell on commission for the Russians. I'm not supposed to know about it, but now I do, and I'm working out how to wreck the sale. And Ruth is helping me. That's what's going on. Now why is she doing it? Because she hopes to swap Kruger for me? I can see you thinking it.'

Elizabeth said, ‘Well, she is, isn't she?'

He shook his head at her. ‘For an intelligent girl you're pretty stupid sometimes, darling. No, she isn't. She knows she'd be out on her little arse if she even batted an eyelid at me. She's not interested in men; all she wants is to get on in the organization. Knocking up Kruger was one step up the ladder for her; coming down on my side so I win is another. That's how she operates. And I'll tell you one thing: if I do screw up this deal of Karakov's, I'll be the blue-eyed boy with Heyderman. And that'll rub off on her, too. So I go up the ladder and I take her with me. Only I'm not going to, you sweet silly thing, because I know she'd knife me one day like she knifed Kruger. But at the moment I need her. She's vital to me till this is over. Now,' he demanded, ‘are you satisfied? Have I explained it to you?'

‘Oh,' Elizabeth sighed. ‘Yes, you have. I feel such a fool, as if I didn't trust you … I wish I'd never mentioned any of it.'

‘It's that bloody woman Valerie,' he said, echoing Jean Pierre. ‘She put the poison in. Now you promise me you're not going to think about it again?'

‘I promise,' she said.

‘And I promise something, too,' James told her. ‘I was wrong; I didn't tell you what was happening. Maybe I thought you'd say how rotten it all was, and I don't much like it when you do. You are a bit heavy on the moral aspect, you know—'

‘I know,' she said. ‘But you know what I think so you don't have to keep saying it. That's my mistake. I won't make judgements any more.'

‘You don't have to,' he smiled. ‘I can read you like a book, my darling. You know, I was thinking the other day, you're the best part of me? I'd be a total bastard without you to put me straight. So go ahead and make your judgements. They're good for my soul. I do love you so much.'

‘I love you too,' she said gently. ‘I'm so glad we talked this through. I feel closer to you now than ever. To hell with Ruth Fraser.
I
want you to win!'

James signalled the waitress. He said gently, ‘Madame would like some more bread.'

Andrews put the call through from his hotel. ‘Dimitri? Ray here. I have the letter you wanted with me.'

Borisov laughed. He sounded happy. ‘Bring it over. As soon as you like. You are a man of your word, aren't you!'

Ray laughed, too. ‘You know the old saying, “The word of an Englishman”. No, maybe you don't. People don't operate like that any more. I'll see you soon then. And don't forget, you said we'd celebrate!'

‘I haven't,' Borisov answered. ‘I have the Bolshoi tickets in my desk drawer.'

Later Ray sat reading Arthur's letter. The niggling feeling of doubt had returned as he waited. It prompted him to say, ‘You know that's not binding on Diamond Enterprises? It's only an expression of his good faith. It binds him morally, but it would not commit us without Board approval. That will come with the finalized documentation. And that,' he added as Borisov laid down the letter, ‘should be with you in about ten days. But my boss has put himself on the line by what he's written. It's his reputation he's pledging there.'

‘I know,' the Russian said. ‘That's why I asked for it. Because a man in his position couldn't make that commitment unless he was genuine. My friend, I congratulate you. You must have great powers of persuasion.'

Andrews grinned. He needn't have worried. Borisov was convinced, so he should be.

‘I'll take you to dinner tonight,' he said. ‘After the ballet. And you're invited to London when we sign up, as D.E.'s guest. I'll make sure you have a great time.'

‘I look forward to it. I shall see that the President has sight of this as soon as possible. We'll meet at seven. The performance starts at eight.'

He came and shook hands with Ray Andrews. Then suddenly he embraced him in the Russian way. ‘My friend,' he said. ‘I mean that.'

‘Darling,' Sylvia Heyderman shouted. ‘It's Stella! She wants to talk to you.'

She had been swimming when the poolside telephone rang. Julius was swimming at the far end. He swam powerfully for exercise every morning and evening.

He called out to her, ‘Stella? Hold on, tell her I'm coming …'

After months and months of silence, suddenly his daughter was making contact. He climbed out and ran to the pool house, dripping water. Sylvia handed him the phone. She said quietly, ‘She sounded all right, not unfriendly.'

On the line in London, Stella heard the whispered words.
All right, not unfriendly
. Not drunk or abusive. She could visualize the scene. The huge luxury pool, gleaming blue in the sunshine, her father, swimming like an athlete to keep in good shape, Sylvia tanning her neat body with a heap of glossy magazines to hand.

She said, ‘Hello, Dad. How are you?'

‘Fine, fine,' he sounded a little breathless. ‘How are you? It's good to hear your voice, Stella. Really good.'

‘Good to hear you, too,' she said. ‘It's been such a long time and I realize how unfair I've been. So, can we talk a bit?'

‘As long as you like.'

Sylvia draped a towel over him. He shrugged it off impatiently.

‘Reece came to see me,' Stella said. She was amazed at her own calmness. ‘He suggested I came home. I told him to piss off because I didn't like his manners. But I've been thinking about it, and that's why I called. I don't want to deal with him again, Dad. You wouldn't believe the way he talked to me.'

Julius said, ‘Don't worry. He won't do it again. I'll sort him out if he thinks he can take liberties with you. You just tell me what you want.' And then, because he couldn't help himself, ‘Oh God, Suki, it's such a relief to speak with you and know we can still continue.'

Suki. Stella winced. A business killing, the student had said. A thin white man with the power of a snake. The money and the backing to contract on Jacob's life.

‘It's a relief for me too,' she said. There was a pause and then, ‘Dad, I've decided to come home. Living here like this won't bring Jacob back. I'm sorry I've been so bloody to you, but I just had to take it out on someone.'

‘Of course,' he agreed. ‘I understand that. The one you've really been punishing is yourself. And from what I know about Jacob, it's the last thing he'd want. Everything he fought for has come true now. So at least he didn't die for nothing. If you can think of it like that, it'll help.'

I hear you, Stella said to herself. I hear what you're saying and I believe you, because you've never lied to me or pretended. You've cut my heart out with the things you've said, with your lack of love and your priorities for everything else but me. But you never lied. So how can you speak about Jacob like that when you paid to have him murdered …?

‘I'm trying to,' she made herself answer him. ‘That's why I want to come home. He wouldn't see it as a betrayal now that things have changed.'

‘They certainly have,' her father said. ‘And so far, it's working out for all of us. But you'll see for yourself when you get here.'

‘I have a problem,' Stella sounded hesitant. ‘I don't want you to take this wrong, Dad, but I've no money and Reece won't authorize my next allowance. I'm skint. I need new clothes and I want to move out of here; I hate it. I'd like to stay in a decent hotel and get myself back on track. I look like a bloody bagwoman at the moment.'

Julius hesitated. She was asking for money. Money to rehabilitate herself, to leave the miserable environment with all it represented. Or to escape and take off, having made a fool of him.