The naked lady

Part 1: Julius - eight

He cannot leave the hotel.

The detective said so; there's no questioning.

But he cannot even get out of his room.

He can see Table Mountain; like a blanket, the clouds circle it.

The sorrow and grief also hang in the room.

Another difficult day has come.

Julius has to speak to his daughters.

Phoning Rada, their eldest daughter, will be the hardest.

She answers the phone quickly.

'Hi, how is the holiday? Getting along?'

Julius cannot say the words he needs to say.

'Dad? Is everything alright there?'

Softly he lets out a cry, 'No.'

With tears flowing, Julius tells Rada about the murder.

Rada is surprised and shocked.

'I wish I was there with you.

I wish I could see her one last time.'

Julius cannot help but smile.

Hearing Rada's voice is a great conciliation.

'Do you know my last words to your mother?'

Julius has gotten emotional again.

'We had a big fight,' Julius continues.

'And I told her that she is a whore.'

'What was the fight about?'

'Penn, of course,' Julius says with certainty.

'You know she has a soft spot for him.'

'Dad, you are lying again.'

Julius feels his blood leaving his head.

The mist is slowly clearing from Table Mountain again.

'She phoned me that night.

When she was at the swimming pool.

Mum told me about the fight and her feelings.

You didn't fight over Penn.

Your fight had been about far more.

I guess I'm the last one she spoke to.'

Once more, Julius is defeated.

His daughter knows about everything, it seems.

'Tell me the truth, what was your last words?'

'I have to go, Rada.

It does not matter she is gone.'

Julius puts the phone down, knowing he has lost.

It is what it is.

He starts packing all of their things.

It's time to go to Moscow, to his family.

His home waits for him.

He has never longed for anything more.

For the first time in days, he eats something.

'Detective Nakia? This is Julius.'

'Julius,' Nakia is as stern as always.

'Yes, I need to get out of this country.

I need to go home.

And I'm taking my wife with me.

There is nothing more I can do for her.'

The detective is very unfriendly, 'If you go, I will arrest you.'

'But what purpose do I have for you here?'

The detective is very hostile, 'You, Julius, are our number one suspect.

I listened in on your phone call to Rada'