Kagiso stood up and rubbed his face, hard, as if to wake himself from a dream. For the first time in months, perhaps even years, he’d let his guard down. He felt like a prisoner who’d just been released, pleased to be out but unsure how to navigate his way through his new-found freedom. He heard the door knob turn.

‘That was quick … Oh, sorry, I thought it was my friend.’ Even in the dim light he could see that Khethiwe Shabangu had a face like thunder. She shut the door with purpose and stood there with her hands on her hips, like a bully about to do violence. ‘What’s going on?’

‘Funny, that’s just what my friend wanted to know before she left the room.’

‘Funny? You think I’m smiling? Eh? No. Because I can smell trouble and it is right here in this room. Who is that woman? What does she want?’

‘It’s got nothing to do with her.’

‘Then who?’

‘I owe you an explanation …’

‘Don’t be explaining anything. I want the truth, child. You mixed up in something bad? This Lesedi business?’

‘What makes you say that?’

‘I’m a woman. You not the first man to try to hide something from me. I see your face when the radio start talking just now.’

The door behind Mama Khethiwe opened. It was Lindi.

Khethiwe stretched out an arm and held the door. ‘Wait.’

‘No, let her come in. She needs to hear this. She’s a good friend.’

Lindi walked in and stood next to Khethiwe.

‘Okay, let me do this properly. Ma Khethiwe, this is Lindi Seaton. She’s from UK but her family are from South Africa and they were very good to me and my mother. Lindi, this is Khethiwe Shabangu. She owns my digs in Malelane and she’s been like my aunty ever since I moved east.’

Khethiwe looked unconvinced. Lindi held out her hand, which the other woman took as if she were handling stolen goods.

‘This may take a while. Do you want to sit down?’ He was looking at Ma Khethiwe and gesturing towards the large drum of cooking oil. She shook her head.

‘Who’s looking after the shop?’

‘The boy has come. He’s there.’

‘Lindi, you going to sit down?’

‘No, I’m fine.’

‘Look, I’m taking a risk telling you and you’re taking a risk listening so now’s the time for you to … to be sure you want to go through with this.’

Nothing. They remained silent.

‘Okay, I’ll give it to you straight. The police are right. There is an underground group and I am part of it.’

Ma Khethiwe covered her mouth with a hand. Lindi moved to the corner of the room where she’d left her rucksack.

‘But they are absolutely wrong about Lesedi’s murder. I had nothing to do with it.’