Later, when asked for comment by the media, Silas had a ready answer: he had obviously been the target of the car bomb. The car that Jasper Mlangeni had been killed in belonged to him. And why would anyone want to kill him? Well, because he knew something damning about the leader of a rival political party – he would not say which one; because he had long been a target of the South African government, who knew that killing him would create havoc; and because he had never been a friend of the security forces, who had marked him public enemy number one for all the help he had rendered the freedom fighters right under their noses. The media could take its pick of a reason as long as it understood that Silas Mthimkhulu had been the intended target of the car bomb.

Such a sad business, that.

Dr Gustav Mabuse

DR GUSTAV MABUSE

Dr Gustav Mabuse was once again feeding the pigeons when the Chief Inspector approached him outside the pathology lab. He did not look up, even when the Chief Inspector got close. ‘I knew I would see you again,’ Dr Mabuse said as he made room for him on the bench. The Chief Inspector sat down, and the pathologist offered him the packet of birdseed. The Chief Inspector scooped a handful of seeds and broadcast them towards the pigeons. ‘Silas feared it would come to this. As soon as he met you, he was afraid you would make him have to sacrifice Jasper,’ Dr Mabuse said. It was obvious from the way the Chief Inspector furrowed his brow that he had not been expecting a confession – at least not so soon. For a moment they silently watched the birds hop from one seed to the next.