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Episode 29

Zakes walked into the bar. Ntombi
quickly bent over her drink and
tried to disappear. Luckily a couple
had come up to the bar next to
her, screening her from Zakes, who
was ordering a beer from the
bartender.

“Make it two,” he said, holding up
his fat fingers, and Ntombi turned
to see Mzi come in through the
door. So it was true. Suddenly she
felt sick. She shouldn’t be here, it
was really dangerous.What was
she thinking, dressing up and
coming on her own to this place?
Mzi had gone to sit at a table in the
corner, but he was staring at her
from a distance. She looked down
at her drink and turned her back to
him. Then something terrible
happened. The couple next to her
moved and Zakes was speaking to
her.

“I need a light,” said Zakes. “Have
you got a light?” He was tapping
her on the shoulder. She couldn’t
ignore him.

“Hey, girl,” he was saying.
Ntombi held her breath, hoping
that the wig would be enough.“I
don’t smoke,” she said quickly,
turning her head away.

“Pity,” said Zakes, and then took
the two beers and headed over to
where Mzi was sitting. Ntombi
walked as quickly as she could
towards the door. Zakes and Mzi
were sitting in front of a screen
that divided the bar into two
sections. If she could get on the
other side of the screen, close to
their table, but unseen, she might
be able to hear them. As she
slipped behind the screen they
were already halfway through
their beers.

She was in luck. There was an
empty table on the other side. She
sat down and listened. Her heart
was beating fast, and she was
ready to run if anything
happened.“So you’re on for
tonight?” Zakes asked Mzi. “And
Ntombi? She knows nothing?”
“Nothing,” said Mzi. “She doesn’t
suspect anything.” Then Mzi
actually laughed. “I never thought
she’d be fun, when you asked me
to keep her busy. I can’t imagine
her giving you a hard time.”
“She was just getting in the way,
cramping my style with her sour
looks when I was with her
beautiful mother. I know she
suspected me of something – I
could feel it, the way she looked at
me like I was a criminal. The more
she’s out with you, the less she’s at
home, snooping around. A guy like
you, I knew she’d fall for you. Not
that she deserves your good looks.
She’s never managed to get a
boyfriend.”

“Well, she’s got one now. A good
looking one – and she’s head over
heels. I can get her to do anything.
You know girls. They are really
stupid when they fall in love. And
she’s fallen in love with me.” Mzi
threw back his head as he took
another gulp of beer.

Ntombi couldn’t believe what she
was hearing. Zakes had asked Mzi
to go out with her? To get her out
of the way? She wanted to run
away and stay in her house
forever. But she needed to hear
more.

“Well good luck to you,” said
Zakes. “But I tell you, women are
difficult. Try being married and
having an affair! God, you know
how many times I’ve almost called
my wife the name of my girlfriend
and vice versa. Ntombi’s mother
was fun at first but now she’s
getting way too demanding. She
wants to see me more often. It’s
all, ‘Where are you going? Where
have you been?’ And my wife’s
always trying to get hold of my
cellphone to check my messages.”

Ntombi felt the anger welling up
inside her. This cheating b—–d
had a wife whom her mother
knew nothing about – who he
went home to after taking her
mother out, and telling her lies.
And Mzi? He didn’t love her. He had
been playing her all along.
“But Ntombi’s mother doesn’t
suspect anything?” It was Mzi
again.

“Not a thing. She thinks I’m at a car
rep conference.”

“You could say that – in a manner
of speaking,” laughed Mzi.
“I told the wife I was at a church
meeting.”

“And she believed you?”
“Amen brother.”
“So where’s the next hit?”
“There’s a parking lot behind the
Checkers at that Westend Mall. It’s
dark, no lights, and Siya’s got a job
there now as a guard. Says there’s
a guy who parks his BMW there
every day. The guy leaves work
late, at ten, like clockwork. Only
this time I’ll be waiting for him. We
go there, collect the car and drive it
straight out to the panel shop.

That guy who owns it will never
squeal to the cops. He knows what
will happen to him and his family
if he does.”

“You got the guns?”
“In the boot.”

“So, what we waiting for?”
“To finish my drink,” said Zakes.
Ntombi had heard enough. They
were about to leave. She took off
her high-heeled shoes and started
to run. She must have run four
blocks before she stopped, out of
breath, and took a taxi back to her
neighbourhood.

It was all true. She felt ill, and
cheap, with that stupid wig and
her shoes in her hand, her
stockings ripped. Sh


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