it was made. How it was distributed and sold. But why would someone choose an assegai? We will talk to the forensic psychologists too. Everyone with me so far??
He saw Bushy Bezuidenhout and Matt Joubert nod. The rest just sat and stared at him.
?The problem with all three of these strategies is that they are speculative. We must go on with them and hope they produce results, but there are no guarantees. They will take time too?the one thing we don?t have. The media is on fire and there are political aspects . . . That is why I want to try a fourth approach. And for that I need your help. The question I ask myself is how he selects a victim. I think there can only be two methods: he is part of the system, or he sees it in the media. All three victims were in the news. Davids when he was acquitted, Pretorius when he was in court, Laurens when she was arrested. So he is either part of the justice system, a policeman, prosecutor, court orderly or something?? they shifted around for the first time since he had begun to speak ??or he?s just a member of the public with time to read the papers or watch the news on TV. That?s more likely. But one or the other?that is how we are going to catch him. I want to know of every serious crime against children in the next week or so. We want something we can blow up in the media. We want something that will get everyone talking.?
Jamie Keyter?s voice came from somewhere near the wall: ?You want to set a trap for him, Benny??
?That is correct. We want to catch him in a snare.?
?Sup,? said Bushy Bezuidenhout, ?there?s something I want you all to know from the start.?
Griessel, Keyter, Bezuidenhout and Cupido sat in Joubert?s office while they waited for the lecture hall to be cleared.
?Go on, Bushy,? said Joubert.
?I don?t have a problem with this guy.?
?You mean the assegai man??
?That?s right.?
?I am not sure I understand you, Bushy??
?Benny says he?s like a serial killer. I don?t see it like that. This guy is doing what we should have done a long time ago. And that is to take these evil fuckers who do things to children and hang them by the neck. Christ, Sup, I worked on the original Davids case. Lester Mtetwa and I stood and cried over that baby?s body. When we arrested Davids, I had to hold Lester back, because he wanted to blow that fucking animal?s head away, he was that upset.?
?I understand, Bushy. We all felt like that. But the big question is: will it prevent you doing your work? From bringing him in??
?I will do my best.?
?Benny??
He could not afford to lose Bezuidenhout. ?Bushy, all I ask is: if you feel there is something you can?t do, just tell me.?
?Okay.?
?I don?t know what your problem is,? said Keyter to Bezuidenhout.
?Jamie,? said Griessel.
?What? All I said was??
?I agree,? said Cupido. ?He?s a murderer, end of story.?
?Listen,? said Bezuidenhout. ?You?re still wet behind the ears and you want to??
?Bushy! Leave it.? Griessel turned to Cupido and Keyter. ?Everyone has the right to feel what he feels. As long as it doesn?t affect the investigation, we respect each other. Do you understand? I don?t need any trouble.?
They nodded, but without conviction.
?Talking of trouble,? said Joubert. Their heads turned to him. ?The trap, Benny . . .?
?I know. It?s a risk.?
?I don?t want another Woolworths episode, Benny. I don?t want people in hospital. I won?t have civilians in danger. If there is any chance it could turn into a fiasco, walk away. I want your word on that.?
?You have it.?
Keyter told him it was Inspector Tim Ngubane who had investigated the murder of Cheryl Bothma. Griessel found Ngubane in the tearoom.
?Tim, I need your help.?
?Impressive speech this morning, Benny.?
?Oh, I . . . er . . .?
?You?ve got all the angles on this one.?
?I hope so.?
?What can I do for you??
?The Bothma child . . .?
?Yes.?
?You handled that.?
