?There is a team following her and we?ve dispatched another team to Guguletu, sir. The house belongs to a Mrs. Miriam Nzu-lulwazi and I expect that was her on the phone. We will find out what her relationship with Mpayipheli is.?
?Thobela Mpayipheli, also known as Tiny. And what are you going to do, Janina??
?The tail reports that she is traveling in the direction of the airport. She could be on her way to Guguletu. As soon as we?re sure, sir, we?ll bring her in.?
The director folded his delicate hands on the shiny desktop.
?I want you to hang back a bit.?
?Yes, sir.?
?Let?s see how this unfolds.?
She nodded.
?And I think you had better call Mazibuko.?
?Sir??
?Get the RU on a plane, Mentz. A fast one.?
?But, sir ? I?ve got this under control.?
?I know. I have absolute confidence in you, but when you buy a Rolls-Royce, sometime or other you must take it for a test drive. See if it is worth all the expense.?
?Sir, the Reaction Unit??
He raised a small, fine-boned hand. ?Even should they do nothing, I think Mazibuko needs to get out a bit. And you never know.?
?Yes, sir.?
?And we know where the data is going. The destination is known. This creates a safe test environment. A controllable environment.?
?Yes, sir.?
?They can be here in?? the director examined his stainless-steel watch??a hundred and forty minutes.?
?I?ll do as you say, sir.?
And I assume the Ops Room will get up and running??
?That was next on my agenda.?
?You?re in charge, Janina. And I want to be kept up-to-date, but I?m leaving it entirely in your hands.?
?Thank you, sir.? She was being put to the test. She and her team and Mazibuko and the RU. She had been waiting a long time for this.
3.
The boy was not waiting on the street corner, and unease crept over Thobela Mpayipheli. Then he saw the taxi in front of Miriam?s house. Not a minibus, a sedan, a Toyota Cressida with the yellow light on the roof? PENINSULA TAXIS? hopelessly out of place there. He turned up the dirt driveway and dismounted, more a case of careful extraction of his limbs from the motorbike, loosened the ties that held his tin box and the packet with the fungicide on the seat behind him, rolled the cords carefully in his hand, and walked in. The front door was standing open.
Miriam rose from the armchair as he entered; he kissed her cheek, but there was tension in her. He saw the other woman in the small room, still seated.
?Miss Kleintjes is here to see you,? said Miriam.
He put down his parcel, turned to her, put out his hand. ?Monica Kleintjes,? she said.
?Pleased to meet you.? He could wait no longer, looked to Miriam. ?Where is Pakamile??
