them. When Williams called me I didn’t think there was any harm in trying to find out where they could get hold of you. They seemed quite desperate.”
Ellie looked at his back and had to stop herself from touching him. He wasn’t a bad person – at times just a little lost in his own complex personality. A chameleon with a great variety of colours. She wondered if he always knew himself who and what he was.
“Why does Williams think I’d know something?”
“Evidently Clara has been looking for you recently.”
The words struck Ellie somewhere below the ribs. Where there had been an ache for a long time. She pictured Clara’s face. A young girl with a lot of problems.
“I don’t know where Clara is. And I don’t care who believes it or doesn’t believe it.”
Albert straightened up. “Won’t you just go and see Williams? Tell him face to face that you don’t know where she is?”
“Why would I want to do that?” Ellie couldn’t believe what he was asking. When he didn’t reply, she said: “It’s about you, isn’t it? You’re having trouble with Williams and now you want me to pave the way back for you.”
Albert threw his hands up into the air. “Fuck, babes, do you think it’s easy for me to ask you a favour? Do you think I’d do it if there was any other way?”
“Do you have anything to do with Clara’s disappearance?”
“How stupid do you think I am?” he said, shaking his head. “There was a time when you thought I knew what I was doing. You trusted me. I’m still not sure what exactly happened to make me suddenly worthless. Just give me a bloody chance, won’t you?” He took her hand. “We knew there were going to be risks. Why am I the only one being punished? Why not Barnard, or Zondi, or any of the others who knew what was going on?”
She pulled her hand out of his grasp and got to her feet. “I’m not punishing you. I’m just carrying on with my life. Hopefully I’ll be able to come to terms with a few things.”
“Don’t go. Can’t we just have a normal conversation for a few minutes?”
“What do you want to talk about?”
“How are you?”
“I’m fine.”
When she said nothing further, he shook his head and got up slowly. “You assured me at the time that you knew what you were letting yourself in for, and now you’re playing the victim card. It’s unfair. If you think about it, you’ll agree with me.”
Ellie looked at the handsome man in front of her. Her dad always said his boundaries were too vague, and that this made him dangerous. And that he couldn’t take criticism, which was even more dangerous. Someone who thinks he’s always right never learns from his mistakes.
“I have to go.”
“Mac …”
She didn’t look back. His words felt like grit in her shoes. Could he have a point? Was she playing the victim card, while she had known all along what she was letting herself in for? She had never liked a victim mentality.
CHAPTER 6
Ken Visser had an office at the Victoria & Alfred Waterfront. The letters V and E merged in an intricate design to form the logo on the door. Visser Enterprises. Nick had always found it an unimaginative name. Ken was born in Zimbabwe, where his father still lived. There were rumours that he had close ties with the Zimbabwean government and Nick knew there had been a number of transactions with top South African government officials. The Vissers’ original business had been the import and export of game, but it had long since stopped being that simple.
The receptionist said Ken was in a meeting and didn’t want to be disturbed. Nick nodded, but walked past her all the same and knocked on the door displaying Ken’s name.
The young woman jumped up and hurried towards him as if she wanted to stop him from going in. When there was no reply from inside, Nick opened the door and walked in. Ken Visser was sitting behind his desk. Two men sat facing him. Something told Nick he had seen one of them before.
Ken looked up, then leaned back in his chair. “This is a surprise! Unfortunately I don’t have time to chat. Make an appointment and we’ll talk.”
When Nick showed no sign of leaving, Ken looked at the other two.
“Gentlemen, would you please excuse us for a moment? I apologise for the rude interruption.”
When they had left the room, Nick sat down opposite Ken.
“Luckily for you, I’m in a good mood. No one walks into my office uninvited.”
“I’m looking for Enzio. Do you know where he is?”
Ken shook his head. “No. Why are you looking for him here?”
“It’s important that I speak to him.”
“Aren’t you being paid to know where he is?”
“When was the last time you saw him?” Nick asked in turn.
“I don’t know. Wednesday or Thursday, or Saturday night at the club, maybe. It’s not important enough to remember.”
“And when was the last time you spoke to him?”
“Are you deaf, or just slow? How many times do I have to tell you I don’t remember?”
“Do you remember what you talked about the last time you saw him?”
Ken leaned back, folded his arms, and smiled. “This and that, I suppose.”
“I’ve been trying since last night to contact him. If you know where he is, now would be the time to tell me.”
“You’re the one who’s crawled up his arse, not me. Do you mean to tell me you lost him? I wonder what the old man will say.”
Nick had known Ken Visser for long enough to realise he was wasting his breath, that threats would get him nowhere. Ken Visser was no easy prey. He wasn’t afraid of threats. You had to outwit him.
“Where were you last night?” Nick asked, just to goad the man. His response might be interesting.
“At home. Not that it has anything to do with you.” He smiled again. “You can ask my beloved wife if you don’t believe me. We were in bed all night.”
Nick got up and walked to the door. “If that’s the case, I wonder why she’s always complaining.”
“Fuck you, Malherbe. What gives you the right to march in here and interrogate me?”
“Let me know if you hear from Enzio,” Nick said over his shoulder as he left.
“If this is a fucking trick by the two of you so he can get out of his obligations, you’re going to regret it. Tell your boss that. This isn’t the time
