Dark Intent (24 page)

Jan Krige’s farm

On the day that John Dalton heard from Rupert Bosch, Jan Krige phoned his lawyer in Pretoria on the private number. Staples answered.

‘David, Jan Krige. Something very important has come up and I would like to see you.’

‘It’s nice to hear from you,’ said Staples. ‘Why don’t you come to my office? I’m available for the rest of the day.’

‘I don’t want anyone to know I have spoken to you and that you are meeting me later,’ said Krige.
‘This is very urgent and must be treated in the strictest confidence. Could I meet you at your home?’ David Staples was divorced and Krige knew there was little chance of anyone else being at the house during the day.

Staples wondered what could be so urgent.
‘I can meet you there in forty-five minutes,’ he said. ‘Does that suit you?’

‘Thank you,’ said Krige.
‘I’ll be there then.’

Immediately after the call, Krige changed into a dark jacket and matching trousers that were more in keeping with the city style.
He unlocked his gun cabinet and removed the Beretta 93R 9mmx19 Luger/Parabellum semi-automatic pistol that he favoured and the silencer. He locked the cabinet and went through the lounge to his Land Rover at the front of the house.

He built up a good speed on the fairly deserted main road and reached the outskirts of Pretoria in a little under forty minutes.
Staples lived on the north side in a palatial house, the norm for successful lawyers. When Krige came to the road he wanted he drove slowly along it until he saw the house and then parked against the curb 200 metres further on. Staples’ car was not in its usual position and Krige knew he hadn’t arrived. He let himself into the grounds through a side gate and went to the front of the building to wait.

Staples arrived at the house a few minutes after Krige and he smiled when he saw the farmer’s Land Rover parked in the road beyond the gate.
Krige clearly liked the spot because he always parked there. He opened the gates and crawled up to the house. When he alighted Krige stepped forward from behind a pillar and casually walked up to him. They shook hands and Staples led the way into the beautifully furnished front room of the building. When they were seated Staples faced Krige.

‘Well, what is so urgent that you leave your farm and come all the way here?’ he said.
‘Whatever it is I’m glad to see you because I need to discuss a few things concerning your divorce. When these matters have been agreed by you and signed the divorce can be settled without delay.’

‘I thought I had made everything clear,’ said Krige.
‘But let’s get that stuff out of the way. Kirsty wants this divorce finalized as quickly as I do.’

For nearly an hour the two men went over the outstanding issues, with Staples typing and printing everything of relevance using his personal computer.
When they had completed the job and signed the papers Staples passed them to Krige and went to the chair he favoured.

‘Now, with that cleared up we can get to the reason for this meeting,’ he said.
‘I must say I am intrigued.’

Krige was silent for a while and when Staples was about to ask if there was anything wrong he came to his feet.
He walked across to the lawyer and stood directly in front of him.

‘I said on the phone that this was urgent,’ he said.
‘But there are some very serious men out there who will not rest until they have the file. I intend to disappoint them and eliminate any potential risk that stands in my way. Unfortunately you are such a risk because you know too much. I am sorry.’

In a blur of speed Krige drew the pistol from his belt and fired twice, the soft-nosed bullets hitting Staples in the centre of his forehead in a tight grouping, killing him.
As the lawyer’s head fell forward Krige, without a glance at the body, went swiftly to the doors and let himself out. He ran across the slate slabs of the verandah and onto the lawn. Without a change in momentum he wheeled to the right and went down a winding gravel path to the side gate. After a quick look up and down the road he bolted for the Land Rover. Once in the seat he accelerated onto the tar, disgorging earth from the thick tyres in a fine spray, and headed for the farm. He grinned wolfishly and quietly said: ‘That leaves two of us.’

Pretoria

It was mid-afternoon when John Dalton had the brief conversation with Kallis and on completion he got ready to go and get Kirsty Krige.
He put sandwiches and a flask of coffee in a sports bag and after pulling on his boots and jacket went to his car parked in the drive. He ignited the engine, reversed into the street and was soon on his way to the house on the Kruger road where he believed Kirsty was staying.

The journey took him thirty minutes and he soon saw the house situated at the base of a small hill, half-a-kilometre from the road.
He stopped on the grass verge and using a pair of binoculars he kept in the car scanned the area around the small building. There was no sign of life but he knew his only real option regardless of what he saw was to approach the house on foot, using the available vegetation for cover. He started the engine and drove the car past the gate to a lay-by from which he could gain access to the property. He left the vehicle and started on a circular route through the grass that he calculated would bring him close to where he wanted to be before he made his final move. It bugged him he had not seen anyone and the woman was either not doing anything or she was not there. He was also aware that if she was there he would have to assume she was alone.

When he was as close to the house as he dared go, he halted.
He was facing the side elevation. For the first time he had a rear view of the house and he soon saw a small car parked up against the back wall. He was sure it belonged to the woman. He was motionless for a while and then, driven by impulse, went silently to the back door. He turned the handle and when the door opened he slipped inside, finding himself in a kitchen with a passage leading to the rest of the house. He went along the passage, past the bathroom and two empty rooms. As he came to the last door he slowed and cautiously peered round the frame. Seated and facing away from him was a woman he knew must be Kirsty Krige. She was reading a book.

As Dalton started walking towards her she turned round.
When she saw him she quickly came to her feet and took a step backwards.

‘Who are you?’ she said, forcing herself to keep calm.
‘Don’t you know this is a private house?’

‘I was able to figure that out,’ said Dalton, stopping a couple of metres from her.
‘My name is John Dalton and I’m here to take you away with me. I hope for your sake you don’t resist.’

‘You’re out of your mind,’ she said.
‘A friend of mine will soon be here. He won’t be happy when he sees you and I tell him you’re here to abduct me.’

‘Well, we’ll just have to get out before he appears,’ said Dalton.
‘Is his name Steiner by any chance?’

‘No,’ she lied, wondering how he had heard the name and wishing above all else that Steiner would walk through the door.

Dalton moved closer to her. ‘Let’s go,’ he said. ‘You’re testing my patience and I don’t like it.’

As he completed the last word she darted to the left and ran towards the door.
When she thought she was going to get past him he reached out with the speed of a hungry cat and threw himself at her in a dive that had his full weight behind it. His powerful arms encircled her waist in one quick movement and, unable to help herself, she fell heavily to the floor, her red skirt rising immodestly to her thighs. She struggled to free herself but he was too strong. He stood up and lifted her to her feet. With his one hand holding her arm and the other gripping the back of her neck, he half-dragged her across to the passage before forcing her to walk upright to the back door and through to the yard outside.

Dalton didn’t waste any time getting Kirsty into the undergrowth and she didn’t say anything, realizing it was pointless.
They moved at a steady pace until he slowed and changed direction for the main road and the lay-by. The house was now partly obscured and he started to feel satisfied at the way things had gone. He relaxed his hold and kept her going at his pace with only one arm round her waist. When he saw his car he increased his speed until they reached it. After pushing her into the co-driver’s seat he got in, started the engine and with the tyres squealing mutely drove off towards Pretoria.

Kirsty remained silent and when they were on the outskirts of the city Dalton picked up a ring road that led to the area where he had his small holding.
After another ten minutes he left the road and finally came to his destination. He parked out of sight at the back of the unattended house and when he had cut the engine he looked at her.

‘This is where you’ll be staying until the job is complete,’ he said, grinning, the proverbial Cheshire cat.
‘The sooner you get used to it the better it will be for everyone.’

‘Where am I?’ she said, staring ahead.
‘You haven’t told me why you are doing this. I’ve never seen you before.’

‘You’re very attractive,’ he said, feasting his eyes on her large breasts and then down to between her legs.
‘I can’t wait to get you alone.’

‘The thought of you feeling me is revolting,’ she said, her strong spirit fuelling his desire.
‘Where the hell do bastards like you come from?’

He laughed.
‘You’ll soon be begging me for more,’ he said. ‘Now let’s get into the house. I’m sure you will find it comfortable.’

He waited for her to leave the car and then they went into the house. Dalton had cleaned it the previous evening and bought items of food that he had stored in the kitchen.
He led Kirsty into the front room, frugally furnished with a rug, table, three chairs and the essential liquor cabinet that had seen better days.

‘Would you like a drink,’ he asked in his most civilized voice.
He had read that women liked refined, well-spoken men and he was confident he came up to scratch.

‘No,’ she said disdainfully.
‘I want to get out of here and never see you again. I hope you burn in hell.’

He walked to the liquor cabinet, poured himself a neat Scotch and then sank a third of the spirit in one crude gulp.
‘That was just what I needed,’ he said. ‘Are you sure you won’t have a drink? It will help you relax.’

She didn’t reply and stared through the window, again wishing Steiner would walk through the door.

Dalton put his glass down and went slowly to where she was standing. ‘Perhaps this will relax you,’ he said. ‘It’s part of the service.’

In a flash he took hold of her and swung her round to face him.
He grabbed her with both hands and pulled her to him, tearing her cotton shirt open down to her stomach and then throwing her to the carpet in one neatly executed movement. Consumed by lust he unclipped her bra and slid it up, revealing her firm, beautifully proportioned breasts. They were as he liked them, exceptional.

Kirsty lay still, knowing that she was powerless against him, forcing herself to accept what would surely come.
She moved a little on the carpet, wanting a position that would relieve the incipient pain in her shoulder, the result of the fall. When she became still he opened his mouth like a dying fish and started sucking her nipples, moving alternately between her breasts, leaving a glutinous trail that glistened in the fading light. He was in his element and he soon wanted the prize between her legs.

As Dalton reached for her skirt his cell phone came to life, emitting a shrill whistle and vibrating in his pocket.
He swore and released her. He got to his feet, pulled the phone free and stuck it to his ear.

‘Who is it?’ he said, angry that he had been disturbed.
‘What do you want? I’m busy.’

‘Did you get the girl?’ said Kallis, without introducing himself.

Dalton turned his back on Kirsty. ‘Yes,’ he said. ‘It went as smooth as silk. We got here fifteen minutes ago.’

‘Good,’ said Kallis.
‘It’s just after six-thirty and in another half-hour I’ll make my way to the bar and wait for Bosch.’

‘How long should I stay here?’ said Dalton.

‘Why don’t you let her have a bath and cook her some food?’ said Kallis. ‘After that, and when she is locked up in the bedroom, you might as well go home. I’ll touch base with you later.’

‘I’ll do that,’ said Dalton.
‘Good luck.’

‘I won’t need it,’ said Kallis arrogantly.
He cut the line.

Dalton put his phone in his pocket and looked at Kirsty, still lying on the floor.
The call had disturbed his concentration but he was determined to get from her what he wanted. He couldn’t see Kallis completing his work in under a couple of days and that gave him plenty of time.

‘Why don’t you go and have a bath?’ he said.
‘I’ll cook you something to eat.’

‘I’ll have a bath,’ she said.
‘But I don’t want any food. After that just show me my room and leave me alone. I’m not sleeping out here.’

‘I don’t feel like cooking anyway,’ he said.
‘Follow me and I’ll show you around.’

In addition to the lounge, the building comprised two bedrooms, a kitchen and a bathroom.
When she had seen where she was going to sleep she admitted that at least it was clean, with new sheets, two pillows and a duvet on the only bed. After showing her the bathroom and giving her a towel, Dalton returned to the lounge and his whisky.

When she was completely alone she took the towel and went into the bathroom.
There was no lock on the door but that was of no concern. What she was going to do would only take a matter of seconds. She put her ear to the door and when she heard nothing she extracted the phone from her pocket. Like her keys and some money it had not been removed. She quickly dialled the phone in her house but there was no immediate reply and she waited for the answering machine to kick in. When it did she whispered: ‘Dalton has me. I need you.’

After her bath Kirsty went to her room and Dalton soon appeared.

‘I’m going now,’ he said. ‘But before I do I want to see what you’ve got on you. I should have looked earlier.’

She was sitting on the bed and he went over to her, making her stand up.
He frisked her, airport style, front and back, and then went for her pockets. There were two, one in her shirt and the other in her skirt. The first was clearly empty and he slipped his hand into the second. With a look of triumph he dragged out her keys, money and cell phone.

‘I’m glad I got that,’ he said, holding up the small, compact Nokia.
‘You would have had every man and his dog after me if I hadn’t found it. I’ll take it with me. I’ll be here early tomorrow morning. The door will be heavily locked and I’m sure you have noticed the bars on the window.’

Dalton left the room, double locking the Banham and sliding two bolts into their closed positions.
A while later she heard him go out the rear door and leave the premises in his car. She lay on the bed, fervently hoping Steiner would soon get her message. She was convinced that someone else was also involved in her abduction and she began to fear what they would eventually do to her.