The Script of Evil

26 - The Contact

The young girl behind the cash register kindly smiles.

"Good morning, Uncle. Uncle is here early for your breakfast as usual on Saturdays. But where is your granddaughter? I see uncle has bought only one breakfast this morning."

Professor Johan de Ridder smiles back. He has seen her many times before and noticed her nametag: Jasmine. "Floret, you always smile so beautifully. I dropped Martie at her school before you opened. She had porridge and has a lunch box for lunch because she will be busy the whole day at school. They are practising for a concert. She has a role in a play and she is going to perform a piano solo in the concert."

"Goodness, she is not only beautiful but talented as well, Uncle."

Johan smiles proudly. "Floret, you keep on calling me 'uncle'. I am going to call you 'aunty' if you persist."

Jasmine blushes and looks to an attractive, sturdy, middle-aged man next to Johan waiting to be served as if she wants him to support her while she explains. "I only want to show respect, Uncle."

Johan bites back. "Okay then, Aunty Floret, I understand aunty ..."

The stranger winks. "Jasmine, just call him by his title: 'professor'."

Jasmine is dismayed. "Wow, I didn't know you are a professor, sorry Uncle Professor."

Johan frowns. "Oh no, Aunty Floret, this is even worse. You are not a student of mine."

Surprised Johan looks at the stranger. Who is this man? He never forgets a face, but this man is a total stranger. Perturbed he takes the bag of groceries that the girl hands over to him. "Goodbye, see you later, Aunty Floret."

He briskly walks out of the shop but at the entrance, someone pulls on his sleeve and he looks right into the eyes of the stranger that revealed his title. "Professor Johan de Ridder, you left your receipt at the counter."

He holds a different receipt out and Johan sees something has been written at the back of the receipt. With questions in his eyes, he looks at the man that only nods encouraging him to take it.

"Thanks." He quickly takes it and hurriedly walks out of the shop and gets into his Toyota Camry and anxiously reads the message.

Oh no, damn! Not again! 'They are here for you, Professor. You are being followed and monitored. Discard this message and talk to no one. Meet me at your favourite spot where you and Martie regularly picnic in Settler's Park. I am your only hope. Quick, before it is too late!'

***

Johan is near the picnic cove between the plants just before the footpath turns and climbs steeply to the upper part of Settler's Park. This is the place where he and Martie every fair weather Saturday morning picnic under a giant tree. There is a cement table on which they play chess with the pleasing sounds of birds in their ears. He wonders how the man knows this. Anxiety gnaws in his guts because he can easily walk into a trap! He thinks back to the episode in the SPAR. The man spoke English with an Afrikaans accent and he has an open, honest face. Definitely not a foreigner, but what if his first impression is wrong? What if this man is a mercenary that has been hired by the same people that destroyed his life many years ago? Those devils probably tracked him down after all these years. However, he is compelled to only go forward and meet the man! He must just cling to the hope that someone can help him!

Johan hears a radio playing when he is nearing the cove. He feels a little more at ease when he hears it is Radio Sonder Grense a local Afrikaans station. He is now entering the cove and sees the man sitting at the picnic table with a portable radio and his laptop in front of him. The man puts his finger in front of his lips warning Johan not to say anything. He rises and standing in front of Johan takes out his smartphone and points at it and then at Johan. Johan realizes the man wants his smartphone and he hands it over.