Death has Wings (eBook)

An Obed de Swardt Thriller, Book 4

Gerrie Radlof, Pieter Haasbroek (Autoren)

Pieter Haasbroek (Herausgeber)

eBook Download: EPUB

2025 | 1. Auflage
113 Seiten
Pieter Haasbroek (Verlag)
9780001021501 (ISBN)

Infos

She's the most famous woman in the world, a film star adored by millions.

But in the shadows of a conspiracy, she's not a person.

She's a prize to be sold to the highest bidder.

Johannesburg, South Africa. After surviving two abduction attempts in London, glamorous actress Manine Minette believes she's safe. But during a glittering reception at the opulent Randover Hotel, she vanishes without a trace. The only clues left behind are a sedative-laced drink and bedsheets dangling from a third-story window. Is it a perfect, impossible crime?

The police have their prime suspect. The brilliant but roguish private investigator, Obed de Swardt, known only as the Wanderer Detective. The problem? He's innocent, perfectly framed by the very men he's hunting. Now a fugitive, Obed knows this isn't about ransom. A bankrupt director, a corrupt lawyer, and a rival film company have orchestrated a conspiracy far more sinister. If he fails, Manine will be smuggled out of the country and sold into a life of slavery, never to be seen again.

A classic, high stakes mystery thriller packed with twists, daring escapes, and pulse-pounding action. This is a must-read for anyone who loves gripping international spy fiction and classic adventure tales. Perfect for fans of Alistair MacLean and Desmond Bagley.

More action. More mystery. More reasons to fear the sky. Fans of pulp fiction, get ready for Death has Wings, the fourth electrifying book in the Wanderer Detective Series. The adventure has reached new heights. Are you ready to take the leap?

Textauszug

4. DEATH HAS WINGS

Chapter 1

ONLY TWO GOBLETS

The great aeroplane descends. The crowd of nearly three thousand waits tensely at Jan Smuts airport. When Manine Minette, the famous film star, appears in the doorway at the top of the stairs, a loud cheer erupts. Men whistle and teenagers scream hysterically. Behind the alluring blonde, whose hair conceals half her face, stands Harold Cordal, the renowned director of the Magnum Masters film company. He smiles broadly. His right hand rests on her left arm.

“They love you, Manine,” he says in her ear.

She nods. She waves with her right hand and the acclamation intensifies. Suddenly he is aware of the abrupt jolt in her body and the slight movement of her arm.

“What is it, Manine?” he asks with concern.

“There is a man in the crowd,” she whispers back over her shoulder. “He looks like one of those who tried to abduct me in London.”

“It doesn’t matter,” he replies hastily. “I have made arrangements with the police. There are most likely a dozen detectives here around the aeroplane. Smile and wave, Manine! The crowd did not come here to see your worried face.”

She waves but her eyes constantly stray to the side where she had seen the man with the slender face, the prominent nose, and the eyes that are set so close together. She remembers him well from that evening in London when their car was stopped on the way from the hotel to the theatre. Shortly after that there was another attempt to abduct her and she had not felt safe since.

When they reach the gates and walk through the crowd towards the great hall, Dennis de Wilten comes to meet them. Behind him are a few of Johannesburg’s city councillors and other dignitaries. As soon as he has greeted Manine Minette and before the others are within earshot, De Wilten says to Cordal, “I received your message, Harold. What is behind these attacks on Manine?”

“I don’t know, Dennis,” Cordal answers. Dennis de Wilten is the head of Magnum Masters and the financier of “Woman of the Ages,” which is now being filmed in Africa.

“Probably for a ransom, what else?”

“I have made arrangements,” De Wilten assures them. “Half of Johannesburg’s detective force is hidden here amongst the crowd.”

Manine Minette sighs. Then she smiles.

“That is reassuring,” she replies.

A quarter of an hour later, after they have chatted for a moment with the welcoming committee and passed through customs, they depart for the opulent Randover Hotel in the city centre. Here too a crowd is waiting, but after Manine turns and waves a few times from the top of the steps, they go inside. On the third floor, Harold Cordal closes the door of her suite in the faces of the reporters.

“You can hear what we have to say at the reception this evening,” he assures them.

While Manine freshens up, De Wilten orders drinks. When everyone has gathered around the table in the large sitting room, he says seriously, “First tell me what happened in London.”

“Not much,” Cordal answers, and Manine looks at him with a half-indignant expression. He smiles. “What I mean,” he continues, “is that they did not accomplish much. We were on our way to the theatre and at an intersection in the dense traffic a few men wrenched the door open and tried to pull Manine out. Purely by chance, a few constables were so close that they appeared on the scene at the first shout. After that, it happened twice that strangers tried to reach her in the hotel. We can only assume that someone, most likely a gang, wants to abduct her.”

“But why did you expect the attempts to continue here in Johannesburg?”

“It was Manine’s wish that we take precautions,” Cordal answers with a shrug.

“And my intuition was right,” Manine interjects. “From the aeroplane steps, I recognised one of the men in the crowd. They have come on ahead of us.”

Denis B. de Wilten jumps up. With his hands behind his back, he paces around the room.

“But this is simply ridiculous!” he then exclaims. “Why choose this time to interfere with our affairs? ‘Woman of the Ages’ is not far from completion. The main scenes are finished. If Manine were to disappear now for even a month, it would mean a loss of R200,000 for us, much more even. Without her, it is impossible to continue, as she appears in it from the very beginning. For her, there is simply no replacement.”

“It really does seem,” Manine Minette adds, “as if they want to prevent me from completing the film. Why would they follow me here from London?”

“Yes,” De Wilten grumbles, dissatisfied, “and the movements of Manine Minette cannot be kept secret either. The world knows where she is every hour of the day.”

“In any case, we will be on our way tomorrow afternoon to the camp in the Bushveld where the final scenes are being filmed,” Cordal smiles reassuringly. “There we are among our own people. Tonight and tomorrow morning the detectives here will ensure that we are not molested.”

“Are you going to give this story to the newspapers?”

“No.” Cordal shakes his head. “Manine Minette does not need cheap publicity. We did not mention any of it in London either.”

“Yes,” De Wilten, who has taken his seat again, slaps his hand on his knee and then picks up his small glass of wine. “‘Woman of the Ages’ is certainly the most expensive film ever made. It covers the evolution of man, with an application to woman. As you say, Harold, it does not need cheap publicity. The picture itself will give us all the fame we could possibly desire.” He suddenly falls silent and takes a sip of wine. He thinks about how Harold Cordal had owned his own film company, but had gone bankrupt and is now obliged to make films for Magnum Masters.

For a moment they say nothing. Then Manine Minette enquires, “But what about that other company, the one that is busy with a similar picture in Central Africa?”

“Precisely!” De Wilten exclaims. “I have not yet been able to determine who they are but they are operating on a much smaller scale. In any case, it is this very fact that makes it urgent that nothing goes wrong with ‘Woman of the Ages’ now. If another picture about evolution were to come onto the market before ours, Magnum Masters might not be able to withstand the blow.”

Harold Cordal holds up his glass. He looks at Manine.

“Well!” he exclaims. “Then we simply must not let Manine out of our sight. Come, let’s drink to your safety, Manine.”

The doorbell rings. Cordal opens it and two men appear.

“I am Sergeant Eksteen,” the one in front introduces himself. He is sturdily built and has a neat appearance. Both are in plain clothes.

“Excellent!” De Wilten exclaims. “Mr Cordal has just told me what took place in London. I am glad that you are on duty.”

“There were even two men on the aeroplane from London,” Sergeant Eksteen assures them. “If you do not mind, we would like to go through the rooms once more and then you can also give me the report. Furthermore, I must make preparations for this evening’s reception. I understand that only selected guests have been invited, but it will nevertheless be necessary for their identities to be checked.”

“Of course!” Cordal exclaims. “We would, however, just request that it be done as unobtrusively as possible. To the general public, it could easily seem as if we are seeking publicity.”

Sergeant Eksteen proceeds with precision. He takes notes and makes a few telephone calls. Thereafter he leaves to make arrangements.

When the first guests and reporters arrive at about eight o’clock that evening, they are received warmly. Nowhere is there a single sign that Manine Minette’s suite of rooms is under strict guard and no one is aware that they are being minutely scrutinised as they enter. There are drinks and a buffet meal. There are a few short speeches and then the reporters and the others chat with De Wilten, Cordal and Manine Minette. Several of them depart and only a few personal friends and other interested parties remain behind. Manine is talking with Bill Davis, the lawyer who handles Magnum Masters’ affairs in the Republic. Davis is a middle-aged man, but his large, alert eyes, black hair and self-assured manner make him look much younger. He is tall, which enables him to see across the room over everyone’s heads.

“This should truly be an interesting picture,” he says conversationally as he offers her a small glass of liqueur. “The role that woman has played through the ages.”

“It was a great honour for me to be chosen,” she assures him.

“There was not really a choice.”

She smiles. She wets her lips with the liqueur.

“Do I perhaps typify the ultimately perfect woman?” she enquires archly.

“I would accept that you can portray it excellently,” he answers cautiously and they both laugh. He looks to the other side of the spacious room where Cordal is standing and talking with a few men. For just a moment their gazes meet and Davis nods as if he is making the movement in contemplation of his conversation with Manine.

A little later a waiter comes by with a tray on which there are only two small glasses. Davis beckons him closer.

“We dare not let this opportunity pass,” he says to Manine. “Look, there are only two glasses.”

“I really feel,”

“Then you make this your last one,” he says in that penetrating way that reflects so much authority in his bearing. Without further ado, he also takes her empty glass and gives her a...

Produkt-Details

• Erscheint lt. Verlag: 18.9.2025
• Übersetzer: Pieter Haasbroek, Ai
• Sprache: englisch
• Themenwelt: Literatur ► Krimi / Thriller / Horror
• ISBN-13: 9780001021501 / 9780001021501