with all due respect,” sê die statige Zola Nyathi sag en hoflik, “there is a man’s life at stake here.”
“I can assure you, colonel, we are doing everything in our power to help,” sê die konsul-generaal.
“Is Morris’s life at stake?” vra Graber. “Or is he a suspect in a criminal case?”
“You know who he is,” sê Griessel, want nou is hy seker.
Hulle kyk hom in die oë, kalm en reguit.
“Captain,” sê Doreen Brennan beredeneerd en diplomaties, “I receive Foreign Office bulletins about persons of interest on an almost daily basis. To be absolutely honest, this Paul Anthony Morris could be one of at least twenty British subjects of concern to our government. But at this stage – with no certainty as to his real identity, and with your not being very forthcoming about the details of the criminal incident – speculation will do more harm than good.”
Uit ’n duisend ondervragings van verdagtes weet Griessel dat wanneer mense eers begin praat van “to be absolutely honest”, lieg hulle soos tannetrekkers. Hy vermoed die twee Britte het deeglik gekoukus voor hy en Nyathi aangekom het en hulle weet presies wat hulle wil sê.
Maar voor hy kan reageer, sê Nyathi: “I’m reading between the lines that you are willing to trade information, should we be willing to divulge details about the case.”
Die konsul-generaal staan op uit haar stoel. “If you’ll excuse me, I need to call my family to tell them I’ll be home soon … No, please sit down, gentlemen …” Sy stap statig deur toe, en maak dit agter haar toe.
Miskien moet hy sy bek hou en Nyathi laat praat, want hy het die subtiele boodskap gemis.
“I have to tell you that the consulate cannot officially comment on an identity based on a fake passport, unless we’ve had time to thoroughly examine the document in question,” sê Graber.
“And unofficially?” vra Nyathi.
“I’ve been known to speculate, should a conversation catch my interest …”
“And how do we obtain your interest?”
“That would depend.”
“We’d consider lending you the passport, in a day or two …” sê Nyathi.
“I’d surely appreciate that, but …”
“You want it sooner?”
“That isn’t my strongest need.”
“You want details of the case.”
“Now that would be immensely helpful.”
“We could provide it, if we were properly motivated,” sê Nyathi met ’n effense glimlag, en Griessel besef die kolonel is goed met dié soort ding. Die gerug is dat hy in die intelligensievleuel van Umkhonto we Sizwe was, in die ou dae. Dalk is dit waar.
“I’m a firm believer in motivation,” sê Graber, “but as you know, speculation is not fact. And the idea of speculative information reaching our friends in the media is too ghastly to contemplate.”
“I absolutely share that fear,” sê Nyathi. “That is why, despite tremendous pressure, the media is still very much in the dark about the details of this case.”
“How do we ensure that it stays that way?”
“By giving you our word that captain Griessel and I will not divulge any speculative information, unless third parties are mutually agreed upon.”
“Does that include your colleagues at the Directorate of Priority Crime Investigation?”
“It does.”
Graber knik liggies. “Has this ‘Morris’ committed a crime?”
“No.”
“Has he been the victim of a crime?”
“Do you know who he is?”
“We have a very strong suspicion.”
“How?”
“The photograph.”
“He resembles someone your government is looking for?”
“He does indeed. Is he the victim of a crime?”
“He is.”
“A serious crime?”
“Yes.”
“Has he been killed?”
“Who?” Nyathi glimlag weer, asof hy dit regtig geniet.
“Paul Anthony Morris.”
“Is that his real name?”
“No.”
“Who do you think he is?”
“Has he been killed?”
“No.”
“Is he in your custody?”
“No.”
Dit laat haar stilbly. Haar gesig is uitdrukkingloos, maar Griessel kan sien die ratte draai.
“Who do you think he is?” vra Nyathi.
“Do you know where he is at the moment?”
Nyathi swyg.
“Has he been kidnapped?” vra Graber.
“Who is he?” vra Nyathi.
“Colonel, I really need to know if he has been kidnapped.”
“We really need to know who he is.”
Sy kyk na die foto van koningin Elizabeth teen die muur, dan terug na Nyathi. “We think he is David Patrick Adair.”
Griessel haal sy notaboek uit en begin skryf.
“Why are you so concerned about mister Adair?” vra Nyathi.
“Has he been kidnapped?”
“Yes,” sê Nyathi. “All evidence points in that direction.”
“Shit,” sê Emma Graber met die mond wat vir Griessel so mooi is.
* * *
Sy vra hulle om haar net ’n minuut lank te verskoon.
Hulle staan op toe sy uitgaan, gaan sit sodra sy die deur agter haar toegemaak het.
Griessel kyk na Nyathi. Die kolonel swaai sy wysvinger dak toe, dan in die rondte, plaas dit eindelik
