‘I’ve been wondering about that, Lindi. Maybe they thought they could take care of me later. Get everything lined up, link me to the sabotage, make a big deal of my arrest, full media fanfare. Their immediate concern was to make sure no one started to ask whether it was an inside job, a government-backed assassination. They had to make sure the blame was pinned on somebody else, anybody, as quickly as possible. And they succeeded. The Ponte on fire, the lynching of Mozambicans – it’s all going to plan.’

‘I’m not sure about this, Kagiso. You’re the one who hasn’t got any proof. All this is assuming that Willemse was behind Lesedi’s death. Would he really bump off the son of a man he’s doing business with?’

‘That man would kill his own mother for money.’ Khethiwe was now sitting on the drum of cooking oil. ‘Those people in Pretoria, they are all snakes.’

‘You’re right. I don’t have any proof. But one thing is for sure. I’m not going to find any if I get pulled in. They’ve been to my mother’s place during the night and …’ Kagiso remembered that he hadn’t told Khethiwe about the raid on her house in Malelane. He was looking at her now. ‘I took a call from Sissy this morning, just a few minutes ago.’

‘Oh, please, please, that child is not involved in this!’

‘No, she isn’t, but the police have been searching the house.’

‘What? The police have been in my house? I have to call that girl.’ Khethiwe was making for the door.

Kagiso moved towards her. ‘You can’t. Please don’t do that,’ he begged.

‘You get that child into trouble and now you want to tell me I mustn’t speak to her. Eh? Is that what you are saying?’

‘She’s not in any trouble because she knows nothing, but she will be if you start calling her. The police are still there.’

‘In my house?’

‘In your house, at my office.’

There was silence, as if the same thought descended on each of them simultaneously. Lindi gave voice to it. ‘Presumably it’s not going to take them long to work out Khethiwe owns this place as well. They’ll be wanting to question you next. Your niece Sessie may—’

‘Sissy, her name is Sissy.’

‘Sissy almost certainly would have had to tell them the house was yours, Khethiwe. Kagiso, did you tell Sissy that you were here?’

‘No. She doesn’t know where I am. I told her to tell anyone who asks that I’m in Jo’burg. But you’re right, they’ll be coming here next.’

Lindi and Kagiso both looked at Khethiwe. The question was implied but was there nonetheless. Why would Khethiwe get involved?

‘What? You think I’m going to help them, the police?’