Operation Delicate

Copyright © 2014 by Adie Greenland.

ISBN:      Softcover      978-1-4931-4120-3

                Ebook            978-1-4931-4121-0

All rights reserved. No part of this book may be reproduced or transmitted in any form or by any means, electronic or mechanical, including photocopying, recording, or by any information storage and retrieval system, without permission in writing from the copyright owner.

This is a work of fiction. Names, characters, places and incidents either are the product of the author’s imagination or are used fictitiously, and any resemblance to any actual persons, living or dead, events, or locales is entirely coincidental.

Rev. date: 02/12/2014

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Contents

Chapter 1

Chapter 2

Chapter 3

Chapter 4

Chapter 5

Chapter 6

Chapter 7

Chapter 8

Chapter 9

Chapter 10

Chapter 11

Chapter 12

Chapter 13

Chapter 14

Chapter 15

Chapter 16

Chapter 17

Chapter 18

Chapter 19

Chapter 20

Chapter 21

Chapter 1

T he police had blocked the road on both ends so as to prevent motorists using that section of the road. All vehicles were being diverted to the annoyance of other motorists who where in a hurry. There was a major incident which was being dealt with. The media and paparazzi and their zoom lenses were trying to capture every moment but could not because the incident was further away, in the middle from both ends of the road being blocked by the police, obscured by trees. The sound of a hovering helicopter, which belonged to one of the news companies, could be heard, and the helicopter was easily seen. It appeared to be the only source providing view of what was going on at the scene. Sirens from police, ambulance, and fire vehicles could be heard in the distance. Yes, another body had been discovered. This had become a subsequent murder case. There was a scramble with the media with the notion of wanting to know if this murder was similar to the other that had occurred two week s ago.

I was in my office, minding my own business as usual, when my phone rang.

I took a pause, looking at the shrieking handset before I picked it up and said ‘Hello, Sam speaking.’

‘Sir, there is a Ms Davies on the line, and she would like to speak to you,’ my secretary said. ‘Put her through.’ I leant further back into my chair, wondering who this Ms Davies was and why she was calling me.

‘Hello, may I speak to Mr Moyo please?’ she said with a shaky voice, which sounded desperate.

‘Speaking,’ I said. ‘And how may I help you?’

‘Have you been watching the news?’

At this moment, I was taken aback because I began to wonder how someone could just call me and ask if I had been watching the news during working hours. Of course, I had a fifty-inch plasma television mounted on the wall in my office, and I was the boss and could watch the telly at any given time, but I had been working very hard, I thought this to myself but to Ms Davies I said, ‘No, ma’am, why?’

‘My daughter Alison was murdered two weeks ago, and I am of the opinion that the girl’s body that has been found today was murdered by the same person who killed my daughter.’

‘Ms Davies, what are you talking about?’ I asked desperately, and confused at the same time, reaching out for the remote control and pressing the on-button. It appeared as if every channel was reporting on what was going on.

‘I am saying, my daughter was murdered, and I am not happy with the police investigations. That’s why I’m coming to you.’

‘Ms Davis, before I can give you an answer, I would need you to come to my office tomorrow or later on today . . .’

‘Later on today is fine by me, just tell me the time,’ she interjected.

‘Okay, around 4.30 p.m.’

‘Yes, I will come around then.’

‘Do you know where our offices are?’

‘Yes, I know where you are. See you later and thank you for talking to me,’ she said affably. ‘There is nothing to thank for, Ms Davies, see you then.’

‘Okay.’

There was a click from the other end of the phone, and I put my receiver down.

Let me take this time to introduce myself to those who do not know me. Most people, who know me, prefer to call me ‘detective’, although I was christened as Sam Moyo. The name detective stuck on me after solving a case which had shook the city of Harare. That was my second mystery case, but I feel I should share with you some of the horrible, scary, and unbelievable things that happened, in this mysterious case.

My mind was in a whirlwind as my thoughts raced everywhere, trying to figure out what was about to happen. Since the mutilators, I had not done a big case, and I liked the break for it gave me time with Lisa. I called my secretary into my office. ‘Do you know anything about this?’ I asked, gesturing my face and eyes towards the TV.

‘Oh! Don’t tell me it is another one in just two weeks,’ she said, looking shocked and confused. ‘Yes, there was a girl who was murdered two weeks ago by the name of eh… eh… eh . . .’

‘Alison,’ I added.

‘Yah,’ she said with wide eyes, holding her mouth at the same time.

‘Alison! They found her near Borrowdale, wrapped in strong melamine used for building.’

‘How do you know this?’

‘Mr Moyo, from the TV, Internet, and newspapers,’ she said, with a voice that was questioning if I lived on the same planet as her.

‘What happened to Alison?’

‘The news say that she was found somewhere near the race course in Borrowdale. It is believed that she was killed by strangulation and was sexually abused.’

‘Any reason why she was wrapped in melamine, and did she have her clothing on?’ I asked.

‘Mr Moyo, I wouldn’t know that and nothing was mentioned to that effect in the papers or on telly. Why have you suddenly taken an interest?’ she asked with disquiet.

‘That phone call you transferred earlier was from Alison’s mother.’

‘Oh!’ she said, with her eyes opening wider, confirming concentration. ‘Does she want you to investigate her daughter’s murder?’

‘I think so. She said she is not happy with what the police are doing. She is coming here at four thirty this afternoon. Could you please phone Jabu and tell him to go to the scene?’ I said looking at the TV. ‘Tell him to poke his nose and sniff out what has been happening,’ I ordered.

‘Yes, sir,’ she gracefully obeyed as she promenade back to her office.

While I was talking to my secretary, the drama never ceased to occur at the epicentre, where they had found the body. More journalists had arrived, and there were now three helicopters hovering above the scene capturing every moment. One belonged to the police, and the other two were from the media. A white tent had been erected around the body to protect the evidence. Men and women in white forensic overalls were busy. The body was discovered by a passer-by who was jogging, just on the outskirts of the university in Mount Pleasant.

Most journalists on the ground were using their iPads and iPhones to keep up to date with what was going on. The rumour circulating was that the body of the woman found was a student at the university. No one knew how true the rumour was as there were many rumours flying around during this time. All of a sudden, the journalists started running towards the deputy commissioner who had arrived. Before he had finished disembarking from his car, mics and Dictaphones were shoved towards his mouth, with camera people filming everything.

‘Good afternoon, ladies and gentlemen,’ he began, ‘I would like to tell you that we have found a body of a young woman who is in her late twenties. The victim’s name is being withheld until the next of kin has been notified.’

‘Who killed her?’

‘Is there a link between this murder and that of Alison?’

‘Who is the suspect?’

The journalists swamped the deputy commissioner with questions. The commissioner looked flummoxed, not knowing how to respond. Once he got his composure, he waved his hands continuously as a gesture to quieten them down.

Still cameras were flashing and clicking all the time.

‘At this moment, I can’t say a lot because our investigation team is working hard to try and piece the puzzle together.’

‘What about Alison? It has been two weeks now, and you haven’t got a lead yet,’ bleated one reporter.

‘Like I said, we must not jump to conclusions. We are doing all we can to get to the bottom of this,’ he responded and pressed on, ‘When we have more information, we will tell you, but for now, please report with care and think of the grieving family.’ He immediately crouched a little and forced himself into his car despite a cannonade of questions which were being detonated at him.

I stood up and went to pour myself a cold drink. My mind was everywhere but could not hit the high notes. Preparation before meeting my clients was always crucial. My mind was deep in thought when the phone shrieked and gave me a jump.

‘Hello,’ I answered, a bit upset that I had been disturbed from my thoughts, which were circulating in a bubble, failing to burst it.

‘Darling, what’s wrong?’

This voice always managed to make me smile. It was like a life booster. It was Lisa, my wife. I got married to her after solving ‘the mutilators’.

‘Nothing,’ I squeaked.

‘Sam! Stop it,’ she retorted. ‘I know you like the back of my palm. So spill the beans.’

‘Are you watching the telly?’

‘No. Why?’

‘Just switch on one of the news channels.’

Since the mutilators, Lisa had taken time off work to make the house feel homely. She was about to return back to work from her leave. I didn’t mind at all because it meant that she will spend more time with me, and to be chauvinistic, I love it when I got home from work to find a nice meal on the table, although we usually ate out on business meetings which we were invited to most of the time. Even though Lisa was on leave, she would come to work on the days we were overwhelmed with work.

‘Don’t tell me that the killer has done it again!’

‘You knew about Alison?’ I asked.

‘Yes, but I thought it was a one off thing. Do you know that the police don’t even have an idea who the killer is? What surprised me most was, Alison’s clothes were discovered in Masasa—’

‘Masasa?’ I cut her short.

‘Yes, in Masasa, near Jaggers.’

‘Anyway, why the interest in what’s happening today?’

‘Alison’s mother, Ms Davies, phoned me and would like me to investigate . . .’

‘Sam, you need to be careful, remember what happened last time. What about the police? Why can’t she let them deal with it?’ she said, with an uneasy voice.

‘Honey, I am a detective, and I will have to hear what she says and make a decision.’

‘Are these two murders linked?’

‘It’s too early to come to that conclusion. I will have to wait and hear what she has to say.’ I paused as I cleared phlegm and took a drink. I could hear heavy breathing from the other end of the phone and sounds from the TV in the background. ‘When I have’, I continued, ‘this meeting at four thirty with Ms Davies, I will be able to piece a few pointers together.’ I clearly heard Lisa letting out a weary sigh before she said.

‘Darling, I have a bad feeling about this one. Maybe it’s because of what happened last time. You know I am not so keen of some of the cases you take.’

‘All I have to do is to listen to what she is going to say and what she would be requesting from us. Only then, will I make a decision,’ I said as I reassured her. ‘I will be quite rational and will not jump into the deep end. Anyway, you had phoned me, honey, is everything all right?’

‘Sam, I just wanted to tell you that I managed to have the front gate fixed, and the electrical people have finished putting the electrical fence.’

‘That’s good. Is it working now?’

‘Yes, they said it will switch itself on at six in the evening and turn off at six in the morning. We can also override it and have it on twenty-four hours.’

‘Did they manage to connect it to the alarm system?’

‘I think they did because I heard them talking to the security about something along those lines.’

‘Thanks for that update, and I promise you that you shall be rewarded.’

She naughtily responded, ‘Cash or in kind?’

In a deep bedroom voice, I said, ‘Out of the two choices, which one would you prefer?’

Laughing with a soft voice she answered, ‘Sam, stop it! By the way, are we eating out or in tonight?’

Still in that same tone of voice, ‘Eating in, darling, please cook my favourite meal.’

‘Which one is that?’

‘Naked woman on the table.’

‘Sam! Bye!’ She hung up, laughing.

I sat there smiling and contemplating how lucky I was to have a wife like Lisa; she was a joy to me and was full of love and wisdom. Not once had she disrespected me or had I disrespected her whilst on that thought, the phone rang, damn!

‘Hello, Sam speaking.’

‘Mr Mayo, Jabu is on the line,’ Gloria said.

‘Okay, put him through.’

‘Hello, sir,’ barked Jabu.

‘What’s up?’

Shouting, ‘Boss, it appears that it’s a big one here, I saw Oliver but didn’t manage to talk to him.’

‘What is the grapevine saying?’

‘A name is vacillating around at the moment.’

‘What name?’ I interjected.

‘The wind is carrying Jakata’s daughter who was doing Medicine at the university.’

‘You don’t mean the Jakata we know?’

‘Yes, that very Jakata,’ responded Jabu, with a heavy sigh.

There was a moment of silence and digestions from both ends. A cauldron of worries were seething in my mind.

‘Hello, boss, are you still there?’ inquired Jabu. With a big sigh, he said, ‘Yes, I am here. Anyway, listen,’ he continued with authority, ‘come back to the office.’

‘See you soon, boss.’

Jakata was a top civil servant working as the permanent secretary in one of the government departments. I had never laid my eyes on his daughter, but I knew Jakata superficially, and he appeared to be a nice person besides working for a government which left a lot to be desired. My mind was spinning, but I did not have the information to motion my thoughts forward. It’s amazing how the media can easily become interested, I thought. A lot of news channels were reporting this incident frame by frame. Gone are the days when every murder will be investigated privately, out of sight of the public, but now everything was laid bare. This case had gathered momentum. I was lost in transition when the phone rang.

‘Hello.’

‘Sir, I have Ms Davies to see you.’ I had forgotten about this appointment already. The time was dead on the dot. ‘Show her in.’ I put the receiver down preparing to meet her. ‘Ms Davies, welcome,’ I said whilst extending my hand for a handshake.

‘Hello, Mr Moyo, how nice to see you, and thank you for agreeing to see me,’ she said, mannerly and shook my hand.

‘Please take a seat.’

We both sat down, sizing each other. Her voice had deceived me, for I thought she was old, but I realised she was in her late thirties. She started to give my office an inspection, at the same time saying, ‘it’s sad, isn’t it?’ whilst looking at the TV which was still on.

‘Yah, it is, and one wonders what type of society we are living in.’

‘Evil,’ she responded passionately but showing that she was deep in thought.

‘Well, Ms Davies,’ I said, fidgeting a little and shifting my whole body in front, my hands rested on my desk, ‘do you want something to drink? I have tea, coffee, or cold drink.’

‘Tea with milk and no sugar will be fine for me,’ she responded smiling, showing her white beautiful teeth. I immediately picked up my phone smiling back at Ms Davies and gave Gloria the order of two cups of tea clearly stating how Ms Davies would like hers. ‘Do you mind if I switch off this TV?’ I asked politely.

‘No, not at all, go ahead. I have more important things to talk to you about at this juncture.’ I switched off the TV and gave my full attention to Ms Davies, who had also leaned on the desk from the other end.

‘Mr Moyo, I come to you as a mother who is in pain.’ She paused to clear her throat, then continued, ‘Alison, eh eh, Alison, what I mean is…’ She paused again as if she did not quite know what she wanted to say.

‘Take your time,’ I said, reaching out for a box of tissues, which is always on my desk for moments like these. ‘Here, help yourself to these tissues.’ At this point, Gloria came in carrying a beautiful silver tray which had been imported from China. After distributing the cups according to their ingredients, she left the office.

‘Thank you,’ Ms Davies and I almost said it in unison as Gloria strolled out of the office. Gloria had also brought a plateful of assorted biscuits.

‘Huuugh, huuugh.’

I heard Ms Davies clearing her throat as despair could easily be seen that it had taken the better of her. Her face was pensive and clearly showed stress lines which were skilfully hidden behind the foundation on her face. She tried again. ‘Well, Mr Moyo, my daughter was found murdered and wrapped in a clear melamine which is used for building.’ She paused to blow and wipe her nose. In moments like these, I reserve my comments unless it is really necessary that I talk. In a slightly tremulous voice, she continued, ‘It happened two weeks ago. I was at home with Alison’s younger brother, Tom, when we got a call from the police. I was convoked to the police station, for they needed to talk to me. They refused to divulge the contents of the intended conversation on the phone. Tom and I…’ She paused as she took a bite from the custard biscuit she had carefully chosen from the plate. ‘Tom and I,’ she continued, ‘drove to police station, where we met detective Nzou, he broke the news to us that Alison was found dead wrapped in a clear melamine, unclothed. As expected my son and I became deluded not wanting to agree to the fact that a daughter to me and a sister to Tom was now dead and cold in a fridge in one of the hospitals,’ she said with a high-pitched voice which was full of anxiety. ‘Detective Nzou drove us to Parirenyatwa Morgue, where I had to identify the body of my daughter and confirm that it was truly Alison. It’s like someone had ripped my heart out.’ As she paused and blinked, tears trickled down her cheek, removing some of the makeup in the process. She took a prolonged pause gazing at one spot, as if trying to find what to say next. In-between the pause, she was sipping her tea silently. I shifted back into my chair for greater comfort, but all my attention was focused on Ms Davies. ‘Detective Nzou told us that Alison was discovered by a passer-by in Borrowdale near the race course.’

‘If I may ask, where do you stay, Ms Davies?’ I interjected.

‘In Avondale, near the shops.’

‘Okay,’ I said, nodding my head as a sign to show Ms Davies that I am with her.

‘Alison was nineteen and attending university. She was doing BSc Pharmacy. She was staying on campus, and according to other students, she had gone missing for three days, and they assumed that she had gone home. She was studying for her exams, and we were not phoning her much because she had said she wanted to concentrate on her studies.’ She gave out a heavy sigh, full of sadness. She continued softly, ‘Detective Nzou told us that they are looking for the murderer, but they are taking long, and all I want is justice for my daughter,’ she said with a voice which was like that of a woman who has been carrying a load of deep troubles for several days and who has spent sleepless nights wrestling with questions, which she cannot find answers. On seeing how distressed she was, I once again experienced an eerie sensation.

‘Ms Davies, where is Alison’s father?’ I enquired, after realising that not once had she mentioned his existence. She looked at me with her marble eyes before she said.

‘Alison and Tom’s dad died soon after Tom was born, seventeen years ago, it was a car accident.’

‘I am sorry, Ms Davies,’ I said apologetically, at the same time shifting a bit and leaning on my desk again.

‘No need to apologise, Mr Moyo. When he died, I had to struggle with the two children,’ she said, sounding quite distant. ‘Thanks to Alison, for she was able to help me a lot with Tom despite the fact that she was still a child as well. Alison was quite bright in school. She put her heart and soul into her studies and helped me mostly weekends with the businesses.’

‘What businesses?’ I asked enthusiastically.

‘I am the proprietor of J and D restaurants.’

‘Is that so?’ I said, suppressing my shock and surprise, for J and D was one of our favourite restaurants, and the food was tasty and classical. Lisa always said that the food really hit the taste buds.

‘Yes, and the dream of Alison has really affected me so much, thanks to Tom, he is literally running the show at the moment. You can imagine having twenty-five restaurants, countrywide. Anyway, Alison was not interested in boys, but she had one who was more like a friend,’ she said when blowing her nose with one of the tissues I had put in front of her.