via Durbanville on Wellington Avenue, right on the R three-one-two and just opposite the railway bridge go left. Phone me when you get there and I will direct you.?
He checked the cycle on the washing machine. ?Give me forty,? he said.
It was an equestrian establishment.
He drove past the stables before he reached the house. Everything was in a state of partial dilapidation, as all these places were, never enough money to fix everything. Police cars, a SAPS van, Forensics? little bus. The ambulance must have left already.
Joubert stood in a circle of four other detectives, just two from their unit, the other two probably from Durbanville station. When he stopped there were dogs, barking, tails wagging, two little ones and two black sheepdogs. He got out to the smell of manure and lucerne hay.
Joubert approached him with outstretched hand. ?How?s it going, Benny??
?Sober, thank you.?
Joubert smiled. ?I can see. Are you suffering??
?Only when I don?t drink.?
The commander laughed. ?I respect your tenacity, Benny. Not that I ever doubted . . .?
?Then you must be the only one.?
?Come, so we can talk first.?
He led him to an empty stable and sat on a bale of hay. The sun projected perfect round dots on the floor through holes in the corrugated iron roof. ?Sit down, Benny, this will take some time.?
He sat.
?The victim is Bernadette Laurens. She was released on Thursday on bail of fifty thousand rand. Charged with the murder of her partner?s five-year-old daughter. They lived together as a couple. Partner?s name is Elise Bothma. Last weekend the child was hit on the head with a billiard cue, one blow . . .?
?Lesbetarian??
Joubert nodded. ?Last night the dogs began to bark. Laurens got up to see what was going on. When she did not return to bed, Bothma went to look for her. Fifteen meters from the front door she found the body. One stab wound to the heart. I am waiting for the pathology report, but it could be the assegai man.?
?Because she killed a child.?
?And the stab wound.?
?The papers say it is an assegai woman.?
?The papers are full of shit. There?s no way a woman could have murdered the previous two victims. Enver Davids was a jailbird, well built, strong. According to the scene, Colin Pretorius had time to defend himself, but he didn?t stand a chance. Laurens was a strong woman, round about one point eight meters tall, eighty kilograms. And women shoot, they don?t stab with a blade. In any case, not multiple victims. As you know, the chance that a woman is involved in multiples is one per cent.?
?I agree.?
?One of the sheepdogs is limping this morning. Bothma believes it might have been kicked or hit in the process. But apart from that, not much. The Durbanville people will come and help to question the neighbors.?
Griessel nodded.
?I want you to take charge of the whole investigation, Benny.?
?Me??
?For many reasons. In the first place, you are the most experienced detective in the unit. In the second, in my opinion, you are the best. Third, the commissioner mentioned your name. He?s very pleased with your work yesterday and he knows big trouble when he sees it. We have a circus on our hands, Benny. With the media. An avenging murderer, punishment for crimes against children, death penalty . . . you can imagine.?
?And fourth, I have the time, now that I no longer have a wife and kids.?
?That was not part of my reasoning. But I must say this: I thought it might help?keep you too busy to think of drink.?
?Nothing could keep me that busy.?
?The last thing that made me ask you is that I know you enjoy this kind of thing.?
?That?s true.?
?Are you in??
?Of course I?m fucking in. I was in the moment you said ?assegai.? You could have saved the rest. You know that ?positive feedback? shit never worked with me.?
Joubert stood up. ?I know. But it had to be said. You must know you are appreciated. And, oh, the commissioner says you have all the manpower you need. We must just let him know where we need help. He will do the necessary. For the present, Keyter is your partner. He?s on his way . . .?
?Not a fock.?
?Cliffy is in hospital, Benny, and there is no one else available full-time . . .?
?Keyter is an idiot, Matt. He is a little braggart station detective with an attitude and a big head. He knows fuck-all. What happened to the manpower you just promised me??
