Chapter 13

It was morning too soon. I closed my eyes and it was morning. I looked to my right at a sleeping Laura. Serene, breathing slowly, still far away in dreamland. She has turned on her back during the night or maybe early morning, who knows. One tends to toss and turn in your sleep.

Words cannot describe what I see, here, sleeping beside me. Someone might say her nose is too big. Or someone may say her eyes are too big. Maybe she’s too short, or too skinny. Who cares? I see beauty. Beauty is in the eye of the beholder. Yes, it might, but to me she is beautiful. Look at a picture of Miss World or Miss Universe. Is that beauty? Depends on your definition of beauty. To me, Laura, IS Miss World. So, sue me.

And Tracy? Loveable adorable bundle of joy. Curiosity on legs? Just starting to discover her world. Two years of her life wasted away. Down the drain, gone. What will the future hold for this little girl? So many thoughts running in my mind. But let’s cross that bridge when we get there. Miss World is stirring.

Laura, her eyes still closed stretched. Bringing her arms up above her head. Pushing her legs downward, arching her back. An “Arhmm”, escaped her lips. What happens when you stretch in a short t-shirt? Okay, you get the picture. Laura stretched, her t-shirt did not! An eye-full of cream hip-hugger panties showed a peek. Eyes opened.

“Oops! Didn’t mean to flash you.” Laura blushing bright red, pulling her t-shit down her legs. I pretend not to look.

“Morning Don, slept well?” Laura said smiling up at me, blue eyes soft and sexy.

“Morning Loo. Yes, I did sleep well. You?”

“Like a log. What time is it?” Laura asked. I picked up my watch from the nightstand.

“Something past six,” I said.

“Kiss a girl good morning.” and Laura offered her lips. I bent over, kissed her.

“Hmm ... Morning Don.” words little deformed around our lips.

“Morning again, Loo.”

“Loo? You come up with the sweetest names for me!” she said. “ ... Better I run and get dressed ... or we’d not get out till lunch!”

“I suppose so.” I sighed, letting Laura go. The: “ ... not get out till lunch,” part had me wondering.

Laura sat up, swung her feet to the ground, stretched again, and stood up. The sunlight from the window doing a great job of highlighting those long slender legs. Running her fingers through her hair, she smiled at me.

“Got to be going ... Before I’m missed.” Laura said and went out to the room she shares with the one lady cop. I got up and got ready to face the day. Wondering what the day may bring.

With little bumps and skids, the humanity inside the lodge awoke and started the day. Breakfast was a rowdy affair with fourteen females of various ages conversing at the same time. I did not want to know what it may be all about so Aubrey, Charley, and I escaped to the patio slash bar and sat down. I lid my pipe, drawing deep. Sweet tobacco smoke dispersing in the light sea breeze.

“You think we could arrange something for today, like a shopping trip for the girls. Get them out from under our feet or something?” Charley said.

“Could be a possibility. We’re out of the eye here and it will take at least two days for the Sleazes to find us, that’s saying if they have the resources to find us.” I said.

“Ditto!” Aubrey said. “The Boss said they got most of the gang secured. But a few strays may be about and around. One never knows...”

“My thoughts exactly,” I said.

The female contingent trooped out. I see little friendships forming. The group as a whole, but here and there I see two or three teaming up. Mostly girls who share the same room, but with that said, I heard about room positions being swapped. Good, I like it.

The girls liked the idea of going shopping. Especially shopping for more feminine stuff. Girls need a lot of paraphernalia. Don’t even go there. You’ll just embarrass yourself, Don.

While sitting on the patio, surrounded by the better-looking half of the population, an observation was offered by one of the lady cops. Her name was Suzie. The one sharing a room with Laura.

“Laura, you seem to have gone MIA last night. I went looking for you but gave up. Where were you off to girl?” Laura blushed. Tracy sat with her one hand propping up her head, smiling. Six pairs of eyes were looking at me. Aubrey, Charley, and Tracy.

“Oh, I went ... walking on the beach. Yes, that’s right ... Went up to the rocks up by the cove.” Laura said, trying to convince herself. I kept quiet.

“Awful long walk to keep you out all night,” Suzie said.

“I’ve seen her walk that way,” I said, trying to salvage some for Laura. Mistake!

“And you did not think that it would be dangerous for a girl, alone on the beach that time of night, in her nightie?” Suzie fired at me.

“Okay!” Laura said. “I’ve been with Don.” The group went quiet. Tracy, still smiling, got up and went over to Laura and hugged her.

“Good for you!” Tracy said. “I knew it!” Tracy, still hugging Laura, looked over at me. Her green eyes are soft. Melting me. “Be good to my Sister, Poppa-Don.” Me, I just wanted to sink into the ground. Then the group started a chant: “Laura’s got a boyfriend. Laura’s got a boyfriend...”

We all laughed. Laura got up and both she and Tracy came over to me. Both sat down on each of my knees. Each placing an arm around my neck. I felt, besides being crushed by these two beauties, very good. I love them both. Then Tracy floored the group:

“So, Poppa-Don, no more snuggling at night for sad old, orphaned Tracy, Hmm... !” She made sad puppy-dog eyes at me, pecking a kiss on my cheek. All looked at me. I had nothing to say ... That sinking into the ground? Yes, it could help wonders, right now.

“DARN! I struggle to get one ... He’s got TWO!” Charley sighed. I saw Suzie’s eyes light up, so did two or three sets of eyes in the group! I suspected some competition for attention being formed. Let’s sit back and watch. A thought was planted into minds that has as to hereto, not had such thoughts. The Hunt is on. But I suspect the Hunter will be hunted...

(Meanwhile in Pretoria-North)

Alex did not feel comfortable. Not the wound. He was a little limp, but otherwise, healing was nice. Only skin damage. The bullet went in and out just under the skin. No muscular tissue or bone damage. He was fortunate. The flatfoot could have killed him. He was careless. Is he losing his touch?

But something else still bothered Alex. Dlamini did not contact him again. Igor has possibly taken over the mission. Alex heard the Radio News bulletin about a farm attack in the North-West Province.

He has seen Television footage of the farm where the attack took place, but as TV footage goes, he could not identify the place as where the Bitch was holed up, looking at the TV footage that is. Sometimes the scene is photographed in such a way that it did not properly portray what was etched in Alex’s mind. The camera lenses do distort things.

What bothered him was that it was stated that the attacker was shot. Now, no sound from either Dlamini or Igor. If that is true, then Alex can assume that Igor is no more. That would mean that the situation at hand is not the normal thing. And Dlamini? Has she abandoned him? What is she up to?

The opposition is cunning and clever. He did not expect this Donovan guy to rally such opposition. This Donovan almost seems to always be two steps ahead. Donovan must go as well. Collateral damage, well worth it.

Besides, he has the feeling that he is being watched. Something about the people here at the guest house. There is this man and woman, always together, always near where Alex was. Alex needs to move. Besides, he has seen, quite by accident, that although the woman and man seem to know each other very well, they don’t share the same room. Odd.

Why are they watching him? How do they know about him? Was Dlamini also compromised? Is that why she’s so quiet? Alex got to the assumption that he must regard that Igor and Dlamini were compromised. It’s only him, and Ludwig.

Slip away. Vanish. But where to? Back to Cape Town? If only he could get some direction. Ludwig maybe. Alex should call Ludwig. But not from his cell phone or here from the guest house. A call box in town. That’s it. He must get to a call box.

Ludwig also seems quiet. Not calling. Not finding out the status of the mission. Ever since that yacht was caught leaving the harbour in Cape Town with nine crew and nine young girls. Was it something to do with Ludwig and his dealings? It sure seems so. Ludwig said he’s going to move the nine girls. And Dlamini said there are nine more witnesses. That means the yacht and Ludwig and the nine girls are connected. Where is Ludwig? Dlamini said he is hiding. Then Alex remembered the beach house in Gordons Bay. Yes, that’s where Ludwig will be.

Alex got up from the bed he was laying on. He took a small travel bag and placed it on the bed. Then Alex took some of his gear, not all, just enough to last him until he required more. As an afterthought, Alex took his toiletry bag and placed it at the bottom of his travel bag.

Alex moved. He got out to his car. Alex looked around. No-one in sight. Alex got into his car, started the car. He drove out through the main gate of the guest house, turning left on the suburban road towards midtown. No one had seen him go. Alex felt as if he achieved something. He will not be going back. He’ll get what he needs whenever he gets to where he needs to go.

As Alex turned his car into the street, a curtain in a window opened up fully. A woman standing by the windowsill turned to a man sitting in a chair, reading a book.

“The Suspect has left.” She said. The man dropped his book and took out his cell phone. He’s got a call to make. The woman also took out her cell phone. Instead of making a call, she opened up an application on her smartphone. Pressing a soft button, she looked at the display.

“Tracker is working fine. He’s heading for town.” She said.

“As long as he stays with the car and doesn’t ditch it.” The man said. The women smiled.

“I placed another tracker in the seam of his toiletry bag. He will take that. As a matter of fact, he did take it. I get a signal from the bag too!”

“So, we stay within five kilometres of him.” Both the man and the woman smiled. High-fived each other.

(Back at the bush hideaway, somewhere on the KZN South Coast.)

I suspect that my credit card is going to take a hit again. A HUGE hit. Although the Cops on this escapade do get travel and subsistence expenses paid, the nine teen girls do not. Not having a penny to their names didn’t help either. So, “Uncle Don” has to cough up. Not that I did mind. Being “Uncle Don”, I did not mind either.

Tracy taking Laura’s “letting-the-cat-out-of-the-bag” about us being an “item”, just too good to be true. But with her “ ... snuggle at night...” statement and kiss on the cheek thing, I suspect that sweet miss “I’m a sad old orphan waif”, not giving up on me, being more than “Daddy-Don’’ to her!

So, highly excited girls go shopping. Charley discovered a beach volleyball and net in the lodge. This brought on the idea of a beach volleyball tournament for when the female contingent arrived back. An idea appealing to both Aubrey and me. Aubrey checked on provisions and although ‘Charles Glass’ was not on the menu, he had to settle for Amstel Lager. Not a bad choice either.

That discovery led to the inevitable debate about the right brew and why. Me, I’m not so much of a Beer man. A cold one on a hot day is fine, but I drink for pleasure and not pain. I maintain that if you drink something, it must at least taste good. If I want something bitter, I’ll drink Allow juice. Besides, beer bloats me up something bad. Charley said something about “Police Coffee.” Had us in stitches over his rendition of it. (Police Coffee = Brandy and Coke.)

The three of us went down to the beach and marked out a rough volleyball court. Aubrey and Charley, being the more athletic of the three of us, started to smack the ball about. Their impromptu game being more of a comic relief than a serious competition. I was relegated to be a referee.

While jumping around at the net, so I can get the count as to who is getting what point, I noticed a rubber-duck pontoon type boat slowly running about a kilometre offshore. Funny, fisherman don’t usually come this far south. Oh, well, let’s concentrate on the game at hand.

About an hour later, with Aubrey and Charley painting like steam engines, we three went back to the lodge. Aubrey and Charley each hit the showers. I fixed a soda on ice for me and went to sit in the shade on the patio. Joe Called.

“I’m not available right now, but please leave your name and number ... beep,” I said into the phone.

“Yeah ... yeah! A comedian as usual.” Joe said. “I thought my staff would’ve got you straight by now ... Or killed you.” Joe said.

“I’m not that easy to kill! And you know it.”

“Update. Alex left town. My people are following about four to five Klicks behind him. He’s heading for CT.” Joe said.

“So ... we’re in the clear. Ah ... Joe. I’m just beginning to enjoy this vacation!” I said.

“Yeah, yeah, and you have four pretty girl cops to entertain you,” Joe said

“ME! Rather Charley and Aubrey. I see Suzie making goo-goo eyes at Charley.”

“Charley and Suzie! Boy, will that be a comic strip in the evening paper? Charley and Suzie. Nope, can’t believe it. Suzie’s ... you know...” Joe said, fading away.

“No! Not Suzie...” I said.

“Maybe she’s Bi,” Joe said laughing.

“JOE! Don’t make fun of me!”

“Got you! You always get me. NOW, it’s PAYBACK!” Joe laughed. I could hear he was enjoying his fun on my behalf.

“Okay, Joe ... You got me. Now, where were we ... Oh yes, Alex ... Cape Town?”

“Well ... he’s heading in the general direction. Sixteen hours, and we will know. I have a hunch that he is going straight to Ludwig. If so, we’ll have them both!” Joe, sounding excited.

“Good, we can put this thing to rest...” I said. I still had a feeling of unease. Something nagging at the back of my mind.

“We can put it at rest, though ... there’s still the court case. The ten girls will have to testify.” Joe said.

“We’ll cross that bridge when we get there,” I said.

“We’ll cross ... Hey! You keep repeating yourself. Didn’t you say that the other day?”

“Yes. I did. NOW, I have this lodge booked for two weeks. I’m on holiday, by the sea! WITH fourteen stunning bikini-clad bodies running around white beach sand and blue water.”

“Of which some are under-aged. You Pervert!” Joe said.