Chapter 10

Quad Five Investments, Fish Hoek.

A stunned silence dropped over the boardroom as Andrea spoke. At first, the members could not comprehend what was happening. Only Aldermann and the financial adviser knew or had an idea as to this development. Then all hell broke loose, as everyone around the table started to speak at once.

“Who are you!”

“What is the meaning of this?”

“Just get out! We don’t know you!”

“Yeah just get out!”

Andrea held up her hand and uttered one word: “Silence!”

“What do you want!” A voice from the far end of the conference table sounded.

“If you don’t know me, then it is time you start taking note with WHOM you are dealing,” she hissed, and both Dusty and Ash chuckled. The centre screen in Wolvenkopft Manor study displayed a fifty-five-inch image of Andrea, her ice blue eyes flashing fire. Dusty has never seen them so blue before and made a mental note to watch her eyes in the future.

Even seeing it on the screen he could see and feel the emotion reflected in her eyes; an emotion that was not supposed to be in Andrea, but Dusty could understand all that had happened in last few days culminated now in her mind and body. The emotion was hate: Hate towards those who took her mother and father away from her was driving her, and Dusty was afraid that she might lose her control.

“I told you she will be good...” Ash remarked.

“Damn!” Dusty responded.

“So, gentlemen, let me explain who I am and what I want,” Andrea continued, speaking slowly and softly. Dusty saw a little twitching of Andrea’s left eye, magnified on the monitor screen. There was a little nervous tremble in her hands, but she did a good job of hiding it.

“You are doing good. You got their attention. Well done, ” Dusty said into the boom mike on his headset, keeping his voice low. On the monitor he saw an imperceptible nod from Andrea.

“I am Andrea Elizabeth Louw, owner of the farm Morningside Meadows in the Caledon district. Now, who is the current financial manager, or director of this company?”

“I am,” A voice spoke up. Andrea looked over to the man at the other end of the table who had replied.

“Good. State your name and then explain to me WHY you want my farm so desperately that you killed my mother and father to get to it?” All around the table it was quiet; all eyes on Andrea.

Then he spoke up again, “I don’t like your accusation Miss Louw,” in a low voice and with narrowed eyes.

“Your name please, Sir...” she insisted, and both Ash and Dusty at Wolvenkopft chuckled.

“Du Toit, Bruce Du Toit...”

“Thank you, Mister Du Toit. Now the explanation please.”

“I don’t know about your farm Miss Louw, nor about what you accuse us of...”

“Then shall we ask of your ex-CEO what he knows about it? Mister Aldermann, if you please.”

“I don’t know you or about your farm or anything of what you accuse us,” Aldermann spat, still trying to regain control of the situation and the meeting. “Now get out and let us be!”

Andrea held out her hand to Roxy, who made a show of scratching in her notes and with a shy smile handed Andrea a note. Andrea took the note and placed it in front of her on the table. She then adjusted her fake glasses with both hands before continuing.

“Ludwig Adolf Aldermann. Fifty-five years of age. Profession unknown. He was a property broker and estate agent until both his licences were terminated due to conviction of multiple cases of fraud,” Andrea read and looked up.

“It’s not true!” Ludwig shouted. Andrea held up her hand and glanced over the top of her glasses at Aldermann, her lips slightly parted. Aldermann cringed back into his seat.

“Petrus Dijkstra, forty-eight years of age. Profession unknown. Former estate agent but licence to practice was terminated due to theft and fraud pertaining to properties in the Western Cape,” Again Andrea looked up, then again adjusted her glasses and continued.

“Bruce Johannes Du Toit...”

“Okay! Okay ... you made your point!” Bruce Du Toit screamed.

At Wolvenkopft Manor, Ash and Dusty High-fived each other.

“Good, now your explanation please...” Andrea insisted. Around the room the Angels stood grinning. It’s going better than expected. Darya detected the emotion in Andrea, but just kept quiet and moved a little closer to her. For just in case...

“I will not stand for this!” Ludwig screamed and jumped up. “Security! Security ... Someone, get security in here and remove this ... this...”

“SIT DOWN ALDERMANN!” Andrea raised her voice. Back at Wolvenkopft Manor both Dusty and Ash ripped their headsets off their heads. Andrea nearly burst their eardrums.

The door to the boardroom opened and TC with nine of his men entered the room banishing H&K machine pistols. Upon hearing the call for “security,” TC thought it was good to show his hand.

“Miss Louw, someone called for security. Is everything okay?” TC asked. Andrea smiled at TC.

“Thank you, Major, everything is fine. You can still hold the fort outside. If I need you, I’ll buzz you...” Andrea replied with a smile, then turned back to the room, and the smile was gone from her face. “Can we now proceed with this meeting in an orderly and civilised way?”

Dusty detected the tremor in Andrea’s voice. She was nervous but playing an Oscar winning performance.

“What do you want from us, Miss Louw?” A gentleman to her left side asked.

“Your name and position in this company, Sir?”

“Floyd Schoeman, Director of Operations.”

“Thank you, Mister Schoeman. My father had a loan for four hundred thousand Rand at a bank in Cape Town. Somehow Quad Five Investments hijacked this loan agreement and foreclosed on it. I offered a settlement of five hundred and fifty thousand rand to pay off this loan. Your company rejected the offer through your attorney of Miller and Miller. Now, since you didn’t want to listen to me, or accept my offer, I had to do the only thing I could do to get your attention. I bought fifty-five percent of your share stock. That makes me the majority shareholder and CEO of this board. So, why do you so desperately want my farm? ANSWER ME!”

At Wolvenkopft Manor, Dusty turned to Ash, moving the boom mike away from his mouth and covered the mike with his hand to muffle the sound of his voice: “She’s losing it. She’s moved off the script. We need to get her out of there...”

“Leave her a few minutes more...” Ash responded.

All eyes turned to Ludwig Aldermann.

“Mister Aldermann? Can you answer my question?” Andrea asked softly. Her voice low, but it sounded like cannon shots in the silence in the room.

“Before you answer, Mister Aldermann, consider that the hitman you sent to murder the Louw couple, the mother and father of miss Louw here, was arrested, and he has made a statement to that effect,” Erich Eberlin spoke up, “Right after this meeting there’s some gentlemen of the SAPS outside who would like a word with you...”.

Gasps went up around the boardroom table. The tension in the room could be cut with a knife. For some of the board members this was devastating news. For the first time some of them came to the conclusion that there were things going on without their knowledge or participation.

“I told you to just give her the fucking farm, Ludwig! What the fuck have you been up to!” Du Toit exclaimed, trying to distance himself from Ludwig, but failing miserably. To Andrea and those like Dusty, Ash, and the Angels present, it was a clear admission of guilt.

Ludwig slumped in his seat, defeated.

“Also, Mister Aldermann, the bombing of the property of Advocate Arno De Lange SC, is also a question to be answered,” Erich added.

Two of the members of the board went pale, a red flag for Andrea. So, they also knew of the attempt on Dusty. Her Dusty...

At Wolvenkopft Manor, Dusty watched the faces of the two gentlemen go pale. Ash saw it too, turned a page on the folio pad in front of him and spoke up softly to Dusty:

“The one on the right is Isaac Julies, and the one to the left is Ibraham Plaatjies. Both are from the Funky Boys Gang, and both lieutenants to the big boss.

“I know them. I recognised them the first time the camera picked them up.” Dusty responded. “I’ve seen them around many courtrooms in Bellville, Cape Town and Wynberg...”

“I don’t think Andrea has what it takes to expose them,” Ash said. “They are pros when it comes to deception...”

“If they do make a move, the Angels are there.”

“Relax, Dusty. They won’t make a move. They know they are covered and will most likely keep a low profile and stay quiet to avoid attracting any attention to themselves.”

“We only want Andrea to establish herself as the new CEO, not solve the mystery.”

“Tell her.”

“Andrea, don’t go any further. Just inform the board that they are dissolved until a new board will be appointed, as we discussed, ” Dusty spoke into his boom mike. On the monitor he saw Andrea touch her right ear and give a slight nod.

“Gentlemen, this board is dissolved on the authority of the majority shareholder. You are no longer directors of this board. A new board will be appointed as soon as I have conducted personal interviews with every one of you and with other candidates.”

“You can’t do that!” Du Toit exclaimed.

“Watch me...” she hissed, and her ice-blue eyes bore into Du Toit. “The two gentlemen at the far end of the table as well as you Mister Du Toit will be first up,” Dusty and Ash realised that Andrea has picked up on the silence and the attitude of Julies and Plaatjies. Here comes trouble.

“ ... Mister Aldermann, please, go and speak to the gentlemen of the SAPS. You are no longer required here,” Andrea continued.

“I own forty percent of this company! You can’t kick me out...” Ludwig retorted, slamming his fist down on the table.

“Temper, temper, Mister Aldermann. It’s not good for your heart,” Andrea replied. “And, yes, you are fired ... you will be compensated for your shares in this company at what you paid for them plus three percent.”

“You can’t do it! My shares are worth much more! I will not stand for this!”

“And my farm, Mister Aldermann? Same with the farms of the other families you have swindled and conned out of them. You are a pig, Mister Aldermann and I won’t have you on my board or near my new company.” Andrea stated, keeping her voice low and measured. “Am ... I ... clear...?” The light in her eyes was that of deep hate, focused on Ludwig Alderman.

“We need to get her out of there ... she is getting carried away...” Ash whispered.

“Andrea, conclude the meeting and get out of there,” Dusty instructed, then took off his headset and turned to Ash:

“I don’t want Alderman near his office ... I need to see what is in there...”

“You think...” Ash started, and then realised the importance of getting into Aldermann’s office while it was still intact. “TC, keep Aldermann and anyone else away from their offices!” Ash transmitted to TC.

“Copy!” Was TC’s only reply.

In the conference room Andrea sensed the change in Dusty’s voice and realised she was getting carried away. Without breaking her stride, she continued:

“I’ll notify you of your appointments for interviews with me, gentlemen. Now, Mister Schoeman, terminate the security services at Morningside Meadows and have them vacate the land. I’ll replace them with a company of my choice.” Andrea instructed and Floyd Schoeman got the impression that his job was still secure.

“I’ll see to it right away Ma’am!”

“Good, and while you are at it, tell the rest of the staff to carry on until instructed otherwise, but all decisions about acquisitions or disposal of any real property or financial assets come directly to me for an approval or disapproval.”

“I’ll see to it!” Floyd Schoeman said and got up. “If you will excuse me, Ma’am...”

“Carry on. Meeting adjourned!”, and she got up and left the room, escorted by Roxy and the Angels. Erich and the three Rangers stayed behind to monitor the departure of the rest of the board members.

As Ludwig exited the boardroom, three tough looking guys in suits approached him.

“Mister Aldermann, Ludwig Aldermann?” One guy asked.

“And what is it to you if I am?” Ludwig shot back.

“Mister Ludwig Aldermann, you are hereby arrested on a charge of accessory to murder. You have the right to an attorney, you have the right to remain silent...”

From six feet away, Andrea watched Aldermann’s arrest take place. Roxy saw the turmoil in Andrea and the hate in her eyes, and knew just how she felt. Like Andrea, she had lost a loved one to swindling scumbags. Roxy nodded to Nadia and Mai-Loan, who each gently put a hand on Andrea’s arms and guided her away to the cars outside the building before she could do something she would later regret.

Brigadier Joe Franks saw Andrea’s reaction, shook his head, and got up from a couch he was reclining on. Six men joined him and together they walked towards where Ludwig Aldermann was being arrested.

“Well, I did not think it would be so quick...” He remarked to the captain at his side. “Let me call my source...” And Joe Franks took out his cell phone. He dialled a number. At Wolvenkopft Manor, Ash’s cell phone rang...

“You called, Joe...?”

“Yeah, the time has come to resurrect your friend. I think he, like me, will be interested in the contents of Aldermann’s office.”

“I think he first needs to complete another task...”

“Oh, what’s that to be?”

“Soothing a very rattled new CEO...”

“Yeah, looks like she needs a Scotch right now.” Chuckle. “A very attractive CEO I may add...”

“You want the recording of the meeting?”

“I don’t think there’s any incriminating stuff on there but send me a copy anyway. Video too. I just like to see the expressions on the two Funky Boys’ faces!”

“After hearing Andrea’s; ‘there’s-a-new-sheriff-in-town’ speech? I bet they are planning something ... Something unhealthy ... I’ll have my boys keep an eye on them.”

“Tell your friend to go ahead and look at Aldermann’s office. I trust his experience,” Dusty said to Ash. Ash relayed to Joe and disconnected.

“What now? Are you going to Newlands?”

“Have the Angels bring Andrea here. I’ll take her back to Newlands.” Dusty replied.

Forty minutes later, Wolvenkopft Manor.

It was bright sunlight outside, and I blinked my eyes as I walked out the side door of the Manor house. There was not a cloud in the pale blue sky. Even the Southeaster had let up blowing. The afternoon heat lay heavy on the garden and the grounds of Wolvenkopft. To the east, the Southern Suburbs and Cape Flats shimmered in the heat waves. It was one of those rare windless summer days in the Cape.

I watched the Jeep Cherokee snake its way up the driveway from the security gate at the bottom of the property, past the small vineyard. The Jeep’s V8 engine purred effortlessly up the slope. Through the tinted windows I could make out some happy faces. I suppose the Angels’ femininity and camaraderie has put Andrea somewhat at ease.

The Jeep pulled up next to the steps at the front of the house, and I made my way over to it.

Four doors opened and from the left back of the Jeep, Andrea got out. She saw me and ran up to me and slammed into me and just held on.

“Dusty! Don’t ever do that to me again!” She huffed, out of breath.

“Sorry sweetie pie, but it had to be done, and you did good. Very good. Excellent!” I soothed the trembling girl.

“You need to reward me well ... A huge slice of cheesecake and a double thick chocolate malt to begin with,” She said looking up into my eyes.

“How about a kiss first?”

Giggle. “Plenty kisses...”

I held her tight against me and kissed her, and felt the tension melt away out of her body.