She’d gone. Yet another person he was going to have to trust. One by one they were working through the people he knew. He had to warn Lindi.

Lindi was sitting upright in her bed, her knees tucked under her chin and her arms folded tight around them. She’d been in that position since Sanjit Patel’s call. That was over two hours ago. Now the first light of the day was peeping through the curtains. She still couldn’t believe that Father Petro, the avuncular soul she’d met less than twenty-four hours previously, was dead. The tears were gone now. All that was left was the thought of him praying, laughing and coughing his way through life.

Patel had said he would call back once he’d found out exactly what had happened.

Her phone rang. It was an unknown number. She was on to it before the ringtone began its second cycle.

‘Mr Patel!’

‘No, this is Kagiso.’

‘Oh, sorry, I was expecting another call.’ And quickly added, ‘I’m so glad you called.’

‘Who’s calling you this early?’

‘Long story. Something terrible has happened. If it’s what I think it is.’

‘Lindi, what are you talking about?’

‘I’m sorry, I’m sorry. There was this guy, a priest, who was helping me – you know, helping me to meet people and so on – and, anyway, he’s dead now.’

‘Dead? What’s his name?’

‘He told me he knew you. Father Petro de Freitas.’

‘Jesus! I knew him pretty well. He used to be there at the meetings I organised between farm labourers and owners. They trusted him, especially the Mozambicans. How did he die?’

‘I don’t know exactly. That’s what I’m waiting to hear. Apparently he crashed in his car. I don’t feel good about it at all. I was with him yesterday when he sort of got a warning from these dodgy-looking blokes …’

‘Dodgy? What do you mean?’

‘Dodgy, suspicious …’

‘Why do you think they were suspicious?’

‘Christ! Kagiso, I don’t know, I’m just trying to explain that the whole thing feels wrong. They just looked thuggish to me.’

‘Lindi, listen to me. Something is wrong. Big-time. You’ve got to be really careful.’

‘What’s happened – what’s happened since we met at the funeral?’

‘We can’t discuss this on the phone. Who are you waiting for?’

‘A local businessman.’

‘Be careful.’

‘I didn’t like him at first but I think Father Petro trusted him.’

‘Don’t trust him. Don’t tell him you’ve spoken to me. Don’t tell him anything you don’t have to.’

‘Shit. Shit!’

‘What’s up?’

‘I think that other call I told you about is coming through. I’ll call you back.’