A WEB OF DECEIT

chapter 64

Nkosikhona

The morning sun filtered through the tall windows of my real estate office, casting a golden glow across the polished wooden floors. I sat in the corner, drumming my fingers on the arm of the leather chair, feeling the weight of the previous night hanging heavy on my shoulders.

The phone call had shaken me more than I wanted to admit. The threat of Thelani being in danger had me on edge. But there was another twist-the mysterious man who visited her yesterday..

I was so deep in thought, I barely noticed Thabo walking in until he dropped a file on his desk. "You're still chewing on that phone call, aren't you?"

I nodded, eyes narrowed. "I've got to pay up. But I don't trust this guy. We need to figure out who he is and how he knows so much about us."

Thabo sat down across from me, lighting a cigarette and exhaling a cloud of smoke. "If you pay, there's no guarantee he'll back off. But if you don't, he's got Thelani in his crosshairs. It's a lose-lose."

My phone buzzed again on the table, snapping me out of my thoughts. **Unknown number.** My chest tightened, but I picked it up.

"You got the money?" The gravelly voice from last night came through the line, dripping with menace.

"Yeah, I got it," I lied, buying myself some time. "Where do you want it?"

"Good boy," he sneered. "9 p.m. sharp. Corner of Jeppe and Commissioner. Drop the bag by the trash can and walk away. Don't try anything smart, or your girl won't be so lucky next time."

I gritted my teeth. "You don't touch her again."

The man chuckled darkly. "That's up to you. You've got your instructions."

The line went dead again, and I threw my phone onto the desk, running a hand through my hair in frustration. Thabo leaned back, blowing another cloud of smoke. "You going through with it?"

I nodded, jaw clenched. "I don't have a choice. But I'm not letting this guy get away with it. After the drop, we'll check the street cameras. I need to know who I'm dealing with."

---

Later that evening, I stood at the corner of Jeppe and Commissioner, a small, inconspicuous bag clutched in my hand. The streets were quiet, with only a few cars passing by and a couple of pedestrians milling about. I kept my head low, eyes scanning the area for anything suspicious.

I made the drop, just like he said-left the bag by the trash can and started walking away. I felt the tension rise in my shoulders, waiting for something-anything-to happen. But nothing did.

I hurried around the corner and ducked into the shadows, where Thabo was waiting with his car.

"You see anything?" I asked, breathless.

Thabo shook his head, eyes scanning the street. "Nothing yet, but he'll show. Let's hope those street cameras caught him."

We waited in silence for what felt like an eternity, and then, just as the clock ticked past 9:30, a figure emerged from the alley. He was wearing a cap pulled low over his face, but something about the way he moved triggered a memory. I couldn't place it yet, but I recognized that cap.

"That's him," I whispered. "He's the one."

Thabo reached for the laptop, already pulling up the footage from the nearby security cameras. As we watched the grainy video, the man's figure was barely visible, blending into the shadows like a ghost. Even when he picked up the bag, he didn't linger long enough for us to get a clear shot of his face.