The Deadly Triangle (eBook)

An Obed de Swardt Thriller, Book 3

Gerrie Radlof, Pieter Haasbroek (Autoren)

Pieter Haasbroek (Herausgeber)

eBook Download: EPUB

2025 | 1. Auflage
107 Seiten
Pieter Haasbroek (Verlag)
9780001021631 (ISBN)

Infos

To catch a monster, you have to become invisible.

But when the monster knows you're hunting him, nowhere is safe.

In the shadowy underbelly of Johannesburg, the brilliant Obed de Swardt, known only to a select few as the 'Wandering Detective', lives a dangerous double life. To the world, he is a man of means. In secret, he is a humble cleaner, sweeping the floors of a ruthless crime lord's empire while listening to secrets whispered in the dark.

His investigation into a brutal debt collection that ends in murder blows his cover, placing him in the crosshairs of the merciless Johnny Bizante. Bizante runs a sophisticated extortion ring, trapping the city's elite in a web of fear. When the dead man's innocent fiancée is marked as the next victim, Obed finds himself in a deadly cat-and-mouse game.

With no proof and no allies, Obed must dismantle Bizante's entire criminal network from the inside. It's a desperate race against time to save the woman he has sworn to protect and to avoid becoming the next body to disappear in the night. This gripping thriller combines relentless action, clever spycraft, and a high-stakes mystery that will keep you guessing until the final page.

You've followed the clues. You've survived the darkness. Now, prepare for the most dangerous case yet. Fans of the Wanderer Detective Series will be hooked by The Deadly Triangle. The adventure you've been waiting for is here!

Textauszug

3. THE DEADLY TRIANGLE

Chapter 1

THE UNWANTED PASSENGER

“He owes me a thousand pounds and I want it tonight,” said Johnny Bizante, drumming with the short, thick fingers of his left hand on the brightly polished surface of his desk. He sat half-askew in the chair, his right arm draped over its back. A thick cigar burned between the yellowed fingers of his right hand. His watery eyes peered through heavy eyelids at the two men across the desk who were listening to him attentively. His thick lips turned down slightly at the corners as he continued.

“He was supposed to have paid last week, but apparently he is seeking an extension. I am not willing to grant it. When he called today, it seemed to me as if he was considering the possibility that he might just get away with not paying this small sum.”

“But if we are to reason with him, Johnny,” said one of the men, “we should at least know where things stand, for example, why does he owe you the money?”

Bizante slammed his left hand on the desk. He looked at the man with flashing eyes.

“You work for me, Jak!” he exclaimed sharply. “You work for me and I pay you for it. I pay you to do your job and keep your mouth shut. It is not necessary for you to know why you must carry out my orders. You either do it or you don’t. Is that clear?”

“I understand, Johnny,” Jak Nasbir interjected hastily. It was as if he had recoiled slightly from the fat man’s attack, and his voice was suddenly almost pleading, as if he were simultaneously apologising for the transgression. “It was merely out of interest. I didn’t know it mattered.”

“Well, now you know!” Johnny Bizante barked. “It matters. My business always matters.”

“But listen, Johnny,” began the second man, who at this moment certainly appeared braver than his companion. “I’ve only been with you for a few days. It is extremely uncomfortable to be sent out on a task of this nature when one doesn’t even know why one is doing it. I would almost say you might as well have sent old Mankes from your café in here.”

Johnny stared at the man in silence for a while. Ore Pieters’s gaze dropped a few times.

“I met you at the prison gates, Ore,” he said slowly. “You had nowhere to go. I took you into my service. Your reward is great. Why do you now want to show this kind of ingratitude.”

“I assure you, I am not ungrateful,” Ore answered immediately. “I know that you are good to me, Johnny. I will do my work. I just wanted,”

“You wanted nothing. The same explanation applies to you too, and I can tell you both that there are a few characteristics of old Mankes that you would do well to learn.”

They both laughed a little uncomfortably. They shuffled their feet.

“You can’t really compare us to old Mankes, Johnny,” said Ore, with an attempt at cheerfulness.

“Why not!” Johnny snapped at them. “Old Mankes does his work. He has never opened his mouth. I don’t think he can speak, that’s a good quality. Perhaps he can’t even hear well, an even better quality. Furthermore, I wouldn’t be surprised if he can barely see, the best of all. But the most important lesson you can learn from him is the fact that for a few paltry cents a month, he sweeps and scrubs all the floors and even keeps the latrines clean. I am convinced that if you were to go and ask him why such a thing as a latrine exists, he wouldn’t even be able to tell you.”

The two did not answer. Johnny Bizante looked at them coolly.

“Is there anything else before you go?” he asked curtly.

“What do we do if he doesn’t have the money?”

“You ask him nicely for Johnny’s thousand pounds,” Bizante explained slowly. “If he doesn’t have it, then you yourselves should know what to do. If, after a while, he still doesn’t have it, you continue, and if he still doesn’t have it when you are completely finished with him, then you add a little extra and let that be a lesson to him. He will most likely show up with the money tomorrow. Do you understand?”

They nodded.

“Are you sure that this fellow, Ben Vorster, isn’t perhaps a friend or acquaintance of Obed de Swardt?” Ore asked hesitantly.

Johnny Bizante sprang from his chair. His short, thick legs carried him surprisingly quickly around the desk to a few paces in front of Ore Pieters. He stuck the glowing tip of the cigar under the man’s nose.

“I would advise you to stop your whining, Ore,” he said crudely. “Obed de Swardt might have succeeded in putting you in prison, but don’t expect us to be as bad as you.”

“That’s not it, Johnny,” Ore said anxiously. “Back then, I didn’t even know of the existence of such a man. It was only when he handed me over to the law that I realised,”

“What could you have realised? As far as I’m concerned, he doesn’t exist either!” He turned to Jak Nasbir. “You two must go now,” he commanded abruptly. “Vorster is usually at his flat by this time. When he goes out for the evening, he leaves at about eight o’clock.”

The two men turned and walked hastily out of the office. Outside, they walked down the passage into the billiard room situated behind Bizante’s restaurant. The tables were all occupied, for it was a popular recreational spot for the young people of the area. Next door was also a hall where they could play records and dance.

The two went out through a side door and a moment later the heavy American car was making its way up the hill towards Johannesburg’s apartment suburb, Hillbrow.

It was barely seven o’clock and the streets were bustling. They found a parking spot in front of a block of luxury flats and went inside. In the lift there were several other people, but Jak and Ore stared at the floor in front of them. On the sixth floor, they got out and walked down a corridor to a balcony. They knocked quite normally on the door with the number 116 on it.

The door was opened and a young man looked out. As soon as he saw the two men standing there, it was as if he flinched slightly. But then he asked sharply, “Good evening, what can I do for you?”

“Johnny sent us,” said Jak Nasbir calmly.

The young man’s hand was still resting on the doorknob. Suddenly he took a step back, and as he swung the door shut, Jak sprang forward and stuck his foot between the door and the frame. At the same time, Ore threw his full weight against the door and shoved it open.

They walked in. Ben Vorster retreated before them. He looked at them, half-defiant.

“You can go back and tell Johnny that I will not tolerate his extortion. If he continues his persecution, I will go to the police.”

“Johnny is not interested in your intentions,” Jak said coldly. “All he wants tonight is his thousand pounds. He sent us to fetch it. We would advise you to hand it over.”

“I don’t have it,” Ben Vorster retorted. “You can go and tell him that I will never have it either. It will do him no good to,”

Jak Nasbir quickly took a few steps closer. His left fist shot straight towards Ben Vorster’s stomach, but apparently the young man was prepared for such an attack. He jumped back, and as Jak stormed forward with a growl of anger, Ben struck him hard under the chin, causing the man to stagger back.

Ore Pieters, meanwhile, had kicked the door shut behind him. Now he swung away to the right and walked along the wall. He glanced fleetingly into the other rooms of the flat and as soon as he had made sure that Ben Vorster was alone, he moved in behind the man.

Jak came closer again. With his long arms, he aimed a few blows at the young man, but Ben Vorster dodged them nimbly. He even managed to keep a sideways watch on Ore Pieters, and when he realised that the man was trying to trap him, he jumped aside with his back against the wall.

Just to his right was the sofa. Ore Pieters crept towards his left. Jak rushed straight at Ben.

Ben Vorster struck out wildly and then he jumped onto the sofa. At the same moment, Ore dived through the air, landing on top of the young man on the cushions. Jak was there at once and they pinned Ben Vorster against the backrest. He struggled but failed to shake off their grip.

“All Johnny wants is his money,” Jak panted. “It’s no use fighting with us, little man. We’re just doing our job. You can save us all a lot of trouble by paying up.”

“I’m telling you, you won’t get a brass farthing out of me.” Ben Vorster strained to free his arms. He kicked high with his legs. Then Jak Nasbir leaned back and struck him hard under the chin. Ben’s head jerked back. Jak struck again while Ore still pinned Vorster down.

“This game can go on for a long time,” Jak threatened further. “I’d advise you to come forward with that couple of pounds.”

Ben Vorster was unable to speak. Through half-glazed eyes, he glared at the man. He shook his head vehemently.

“You hold him, Ore,” Jak calmly requested of his partner. “We’ll teach this fellow a lesson he won’t soon forget.”

Barely two minutes later, Ore threw Ben Vorster’s unconscious body onto the carpet. Jak dusted off his hands, as if he had completed a task well. He looked around him at the expensive furniture and the tasteful ornaments.

“Let’s see if there’s anything here we might fancy,” he invited Ore, and without further ado they walked through the flat, pulling open drawers and rummaging through them, kicking open the doors of the adjoining rooms and searching the place. Among other things, Jak pocketed a box of cigars. Ore picked up a silver...

Produkt-Details

• Erscheint lt. Verlag: 18.9.2025
• Übersetzer: Pieter Haasbroek, Ai
• Sprache: englisch
• Themenwelt: Literatur ► Krimi / Thriller / Horror
• ISBN-13: 9780001021631 / 9780001021631