Dark Intent (23 page)

Pretoria

When David Staples, Krige’s lawyer, read about the killing of the blacks on Krige’s farm his sixth sense told him they were after revenge or something else, like the white file.

After Staples had made copies of the file, he had locked the original in a well-concealed safe at his house.
Now, with news of the killings, he phoned Krige on the farm. Krige answered.

‘Jan, David Staples. I have just read about the killings on your farm. Do you know what they wanted?
I think I can guess but you tell me.’

‘They think that I had something to do with a recent job in KwaZulu-Natal, which I rightly denied,’ said Krige, calmly.
‘I was nowhere near there. They had also heard about my involvement in the Cartwright case and the existence of the white file. They said I had it, which again I denied. I sensed they were not in the mood to accept my defence and that at some stage they were going to kill me. I took my chance and after chasing me through the bush, they returned to the house. I had to reach the Land Rover and when I came to the house they jumped me. It was a bad mistake.’

‘I’ll be quite frank,’ said Staples.
‘All this makes me uneasy and I would rather you kept the original of the file. You have a safe that would take a lot of experience and a cutting torch to crack. Alternatively, you could hide it somewhere away from the house.’

Krige thought for a moment.
He had thought about collecting the original before Staples phoned. ‘That’s fine by me,’ he said. ‘I can understand how you feel. I’ll collect it in a few days if that’s alright with you.’

‘Good,’ said Staples.
‘Phone me before you come and I’ll have it ready.’

After the call Staples felt an enormous weight had been lifted from him.
He was not known for his guts.

Pretoria

In the early morning after meeting Dalton in the Black Panther bar, John Kallis was sitting in his lounge drinking a cup of strong coffee without really enjoying it.
He was already becoming impatient and his desire to hold the white file in his hands was stronger than ever. At ten when he felt he needed something to relieve the waiting, he went downstairs to his car and began the three-kilometre drive to Bosch’s house. He had to see if someone had read the message on the phone that had been left by Dalton the previous evening.

When he was a short distance from the house, he drew up at the curb, switched off the engine and waited.
He remained in the car for five minutes, looking for the presence of anyone in the vicinity of the house. He saw nothing and after leaving the car went along the grass verge next to the road. Just before reaching the gates he vaulted the fence and approached the house, using carefully planted trees for cover. He left the trees and went across to the front verandah and up to the glass doors. Inside the house he went to the phone; the light was off. Excited, Kallis sank into a chair. It was exactly what he wanted to see. His message had been received. After a few moments in the chair, Kallis crossed to the doors and let himself out of the house. He was returning to his flat to wait for an update from Dalton.

Pretoria

Two days after speaking to David Staples, Jan Krige decided to go into Pretoria and get the file.
He phoned Staples and agreed to meet him at his office in three hours, time for him to go to his house and collect the file.

At the appointed time Krige reached the offices in Pretoria and was shown through to the lawyer who was sitting pompously in a buffalo-hide chair that was close to suffocating him.

‘Jan,’ said Staples, rising from the leather. ‘I was glad to hear you on the phone. I’m sure you understand my position.’

‘I do,’ said Krige, extending his hand and wanting to leave as soon as he could.
‘I’m sure it is of deep concern holding something of such value that is desired by people who we would not exactly call our friends. Where is it?’

‘Right here,’ said Staples, bending over and removing a large plastic carrier bag from the lowest draw in his desk.
He handed the bag to Krige who took one look inside before placing it firmly under his arm.

‘You’ve helped me a lot with this,’ said Krige without meaning it.
‘But it is time I took responsibility for it. Do not be surprised if people pay you a visit. The good thing is you are clean.’

Staples paled.
‘If they come here they must think I have either got it or know where it can be found. What do I tell them?’

‘The guys in the DSO are the only ones who know for certain that you have the original,’ said Krige.
‘I told them you have it and I’m sure they believe me. I know for a fact that the group do not have a clue regarding the whereabouts of the file. They are playing in the dark. If they come here you can say you have never heard of the file and certainly haven’t got it. They will have absolutely nothing to go on and will leave you alone. Trust me on this.’

‘I feel reassured by that,’ said Staples.
‘If I can be of any further help on this or any other matter, please contact me.’

‘Thanks,’ said Krige.
‘I will.’ He went to the door and was soon gone.

Pretoria

Dalton arrived at the Plaza Hotel and went directly to the main desk.
There was a woman on duty and she looked up as he approached.

‘Good morning sir,’ she said.
‘How may I help you?’

Dalton smiled, disarmingly.
‘I’m sure you can,’ he said. ‘My name is John Dalton and I am up here from Durban. I believe a very close friend of mine has been staying here. I have tried several times to contact her but to know avail. Her name is Kirsty Krige.’

‘I do know her,’ said the woman.
‘I made the reservation for her when she first came here and I have spoken to her several times. She is so charming.’ She opened her register and after a short while said: ‘I am not surprised you couldn’t contact her. She booked out early yesterday morning. A man I had seen her with, James Steiner, also cancelled his reservation.’

‘Did she leave a forwarding address?’ asked Dalton.
‘I was hoping to surprise her. Please don’t tell me this trip has been in vain.’

‘Just a minute,’ said the woman.
‘I’ll see if she left an address in the log.’ She went through a door behind her and after a while she returned, a wide smile on her face. ‘You’re in luck,’ she said. ‘I have the address.’ She read it out to Dalton.

‘Fantastic,’ said Dalton. ‘Thank you very much.
You have been most helpful.’ He left the hotel.

When Dalton reached his house he squatted on a stool in the kitchen and rang Kallis.
He answered.

‘I got the woman’s address from the Plaza Hotel,’ said Dalton.
‘I haven’t heard anything from Bosch.’

‘It is good news about the woman’s address,’ said Kallis.
‘I think we might be getting somewhere with Bosch.’

‘Why do you say that?’ asked Dalton.

‘I went to his house this morning and the light on the machine was out,’ said Kallis. ‘That means it is highly likely he has received your message through his cleaner. I know of no one else who goes near the place and that includes Bosch.’

‘Very good,’ said Dalton.
‘By the way, the receptionist told me Kirsty Krige was seen with a man, James Steiner, and that they had booked out on the same day. Do you know anyone of that name?’

‘No,’ said Kallis.
‘I once had the unpleasant surprise of meeting someone in Durban with that name but I am sure it is not him. It would be too much of a coincidence. But before you burst into her house it would be smart not only to make sure she is there but also that she is alone.’

‘What do we do next?’ asked Dalton.

‘Patience is a virtue,’ said Kallis, sagely. ‘Remain at home for the rest of the day and then go and get her. Just before you do that there is no harm in leaving another message on Bosch’s machine. Make sure you tell me before you try for the woman. I hope you’ve cleared up the small holding so that it’s ready for her.’

‘It’s suitable for a princess,’ said Dalton.
‘I’ll ring you.’ He replaced the receiver and went into the lounge. All the excitement made him thirst for something strong.

Jan Krige’s farm

When Jan Krige returned to the farm with the white file he had retrieved from his lawyer, he went to a large safe down a side passage in the house and locked the file inside.
The safe had originally been police property but when a periodic update of hardware, vehicles and equipment was conducted Krige had managed without difficulty to acquire it. It had been manufactured to the most demanding specification and he was surprised when it was earmarked for replacement. The only answer was that everything regardless of condition came under the axe.

With the file virtually out of bounds to anyone without the safe’s combination, Krige went and sat in his chair on the verandah, his feet on the rail.
His mind soon returned once again to the conversation he had had with Teichmann. Krige knew he and John Kallis were in unique positions in that they were each in possession of one of the coveted files. After listening to Teichmann’s account concerning the files, Krige was sure Kallis had received the black file from Bosch. Bosch then disappeared because he was still wanted by the group and like any sane person he was not going to hang around and risk being caught and killed. Krige was convinced Kallis in his investigation of the missing white file had concluded that only he could have removed the file from Cartwright’s house. Kallis would therefore have deduced he or his lawyer had sent the copy of the file, which Kallis had intercepted, to the Scorpions. It would then have been crystal clear to Kallis that the unknown man in all of this would have got him to admit removing the file from Cartwright’s place and that the condition imposed on him was that he send a copy to the DSO. The corollary was that the unknown man was in effect working for the Scorpions. It wouldn’t have taken a genius to realize that when the file was intercepted, the DSO would have gone directly to him and his lawyer, David Staples, and asked for the original. Staples would have refused because he knew the value of the file and the DSO could not prove he had the original even though he had told them he did. It was their word against his.

Krige realized Staples was a weak link and would figure in Kallis’s plans.
He would readily abdicate if and when Kallis got hold of him and, regardless of what Staples said to the contrary, he would, under duress, reveal that he had the file. Krige knew that Staples had to be silenced at all costs to prevent Kallis from ever having it confirmed that he had the file and informing Teichmann. If Teichmann believed Kallis, and he would, Kallis would come after him with a vengeance. Kallis would be cleared of all suspicion and become a god in Teichmann’s eyes. He would have a completely free hand and authorization to kill him and retrieve the white file. If Kallis then achieved what he so fervently wanted he would disappear with both files. Krige was acutely aware that he had to silence Staples to prevent Kallis gaining favour with Teichmann. As soon as Staples had been eliminated he would hunt Kallis down with the hate that was eating into him like an incurable disease.

For a while Krige formulated his course of action. When he was satisfied he went into the lounge and phoned Staples on his private office number.

Pretoria

John Dalton was on his second whisky when the quiet in the room was split by the strident ringing of the house phone. He leapt from his seat, converged on the instrument and lifted the receiver, glad he hadn’t had anymore to drink.

‘John Dalton,’ he answered, sure who was on the line.
‘May I help you?’

‘
My name is Bosch, Rupert Bosch. I received your telephone message.’

Dalton changed his grip on the phone.
‘Thank you for getting back to me. As I said in the message I would like to meet you. There is something I’m sure you will find interesting.’

‘How do you know me?’ said Bosch.
‘I don’t remember having met you before.’

‘I work for the group,’ said Dalton.
‘I know who you are even though we’ve never met.’

‘Tell me briefly why you phoned me,’ said Bosch.
‘You mentioned files. I’m sure you are aware the group are searching for me and it’s not that they are worried about my health.’

‘I have heard about the missing files, File A and File B, and that the group want to contact you to see if you know anything about the latter,’ said Dalton calmly. ‘I want to retrieve the white file.
I am sure I know the person who has it.’

‘Why are you telling me?’ said Bosch.
‘You could easily go to the group and be revered as an icon. Alternatively you could get the white file for yourself, vanish into thin air and make a lot of money.’

‘I need someone to help me,’ said Dalton.
‘One is not enough. If this person and I manage to get hold of the file we would split the spoils equally. The problem is I don’t know anyone I can trust and who has some understanding of what all this is about. That means that the person would need to know the names and contact details of past and present group field operatives and which of these men are responsible for retrieval of the files. You come into that category.’

Bosch was silent for a moment and then he spoke.
‘I already have a shrewd idea who has the white file,’ he said. ‘And now I will tell you something else that only one other person knows. I did remove the black file because I was forced to do it.’

‘So someone else was involved,’ said Dalton, probing.
He was beginning to realize Kallis had kept a lot to himself, but exactly what he didn’t know.

‘Yes,’ said Bosch.

‘You must want it back,’ said Dalton, already guessing the reply. He and Bosch were of the same breed.

‘I do,’ said Bosch, his determination obvious.
‘For that reason I am prepared to get involved with you. Between us we know the men who have the files and we can help one another.’

‘I’m glad to hear that,’ said Dalton.
‘We will have to meet to discuss how and when we make a start and finally get our hands wet.’

‘I suggest we meet at eight this evening,’ said Bosch.
‘The place I have in mind is the bar at a hotel called the The Wanderers’ Haven. It’s on the coast road and is quiet and very private. I am sure you will appreciate why I have selected a public place. I hardly know you.’ Bosch laughed down the line, causing Dalton to shift the receiver slightly away from his ear.

‘I’ve been there before,’ said Dalton.
‘It’s very nice. I’ll be there at eight.’ He replaced the receiver and took a seat in the nearest chair. Things were going exactly as planned. He returned to the phone and rang Kallis.

‘I’ve got some news,’ said Dalton, as if he was about to report a routine daily event.
‘Bosch has just contacted me. We’ve agreed to meet at The Wanderers’ Haven on the coast road at eight this evening.’

‘I know it,’ said Kallis.
‘It is a quiet place with a large car park at the rear. It’s ideal for our purposes.’

‘Bosch chose it,’ said Dalton.
‘We spoke for about ten minutes and he appears driven by a desire to get the black file. I told him I want the white file and we could help one another to get both files. He wants to be involved.’

‘I see you did a good job enticing him to enter the lair,’ said Kallis.
‘He won’t lie down and it’s precisely the reason why he has become so dangerous. Now, I’ll be in the car park well ahead of time. He owns a large, silver Mercedes. When he arrives I’ll move as soon as he opens the door. No one will have the faintest idea what is going on.’

‘What will you do with the body?’ said Dalton.

‘I’ll leave it in the car and get out of there,’ said Kallis. ‘As I said, you don’t even have to turn up.’

‘I’m sure you can handle it,’ said Dalton, ‘and it is time to pull in the woman.
What do you think?’

‘That’s good thinking,’ said Kallis.
‘It will be perfect if you can get her today and the sooner you reach her house the better. You might have a long wait for the right opportunity. The guy from the hotel might even be there and if he is it could complicate things. But you’ll be the man in control. Keep in touch and good luck.’

‘Thanks,’ said Dalton.
He terminated the call.