Germ of Death (eBook)

An Obed de Swardt Thriller, Book 9

Gerrie Radlof, Pieter Haasbroek (Autoren)

Pieter Haasbroek (Herausgeber)

eBook Download: EPUB

2025 | 1. Auflage
98 Seiten
Pieter Haasbroek (Verlag)
9780001026407 (ISBN)

Infos

They framed him for a murder he didn't commit.

Now, the ruthless spy who destroyed his life has an even deadlier demand.

To save the woman he loves, he must kill for the woman he loathes.

In the shadowy parks of Johannesburg, a string of savage murders captures the attention of the brilliant private investigator, Obed de Swardt. But a mysterious client's desperate plea is a lie. A perfectly crafted trap that paints Obed as a cold-blooded killer and turns him into the city's most wanted fugitive.

The mastermind is Treschika Valenti. She is a beautiful, ice-cold foreign spy with a personal vendetta. She's kidnapped the only woman Obed has ever loved, holding her hostage over a diabolical death trap where one wrong move means instant death. To keep her alive, Obed must become an assassin and steal a terrifying bioweapon. It is a medieval plague germ capable of wiping out a continent.

Hunted by the police and manipulated by his nemesis, Obed must walk a razor's edge. He is forced to fake the deaths of high-profile officials and outwit a deadly espionage ring, knowing one mistake will mean a gruesome end for the innocent woman he's fighting for.

A high stakes blend of classic pulp adventure and gripping spy fiction, this electrifying thriller will leave you breathless. Perfect for fans of Lee Child, Vince Flynn, and classic adventure tales.

You've seen the Wanderer survive bullets, bombs, and betrayals. Now, see him face a foe he can't punch. Germ of Death is the ninth and most unique chapter in the saga, rewarding loyal fans with a relentless biological thriller. The infection is spreading. Don't miss this one!

Textauszug

9. GERM OF DEATH

Chapter 1

A WOMAN’S FEAR

“Sex murders!” Obed de Swardt tapped the newspaper with his forefinger and then plucked a grape from the bunch in the fruit bowl on the small table beside the sofa where he lay stretched out after dinner in the comfortable living room of his home, Drie Gewels, in Linden. “I tell you, Jagter,” he continued confidentially to the large wolfhound, “the world is going to rack and ruin.”

Jagter did not stir his tail, but where his head lay on his front paws, he merely turned one eye towards his master. It was often expected of him to lie here on the carpet beside the sofa and listen to things that did not really interest him.

Obed’s brown eyes roamed over the page. His crew cut looked neat and his features were relaxed. His straight lips and strong chin moved evenly while he chewed the grape. His broad shoulders were slumped against the cushions and one of his legs hung over the edge of the sofa.

“Second similar case within a week,” he mumbled and, as always, he gathered the information and stored it in the special compartment for possible investigations in his subconscious. He felt an urge to stick his nose into this case. It had been a while, almost a full week, since there had been sufficient excitement in his life. And Obed believed that a man’s mind, just like his body in the case of rugby, must stay in practice if he wished to deliver a superb performance at all times.

“Amos!” Obed called out loudly, “where is my second cup of coffee then?”

Obed de Swardt lived alone in this magnificent house nestled deep amongst the rose gardens and arbours. He had inherited a great fortune. He owned a large farm in the Bushveld, which was managed by a capable foreman, and it provided Obed with an income that even the most extravagant young man would find difficult to spend.

But Obed never wanted to use this pleasant state of affairs as an excuse for an idle life. His alert mind and effervescent energy had always driven him to study and action. After his university career, he pursued subjects such as psychology, sociology, criminology, and languages. He could speak seven languages fluently.

He regularly made his provincial rugby team and participated in various other sports. Boxing, in particular, had for various reasons always demanded much of his time.

And because he did not have to work for a living, he did private detective work as a pastime. In reality, it was his serious passion and he had made it his life’s task. He could become so engrossed in an investigation, in cases of which the police were often completely unaware or which were beyond their reach, that he would go for days and nights without food or sleep.

And from his background knowledge and practical experience, Obed had developed a sixth sense. News in newspapers that was of little everyday importance to the common man aroused peculiar premonitions in Obed. This was now the case with this report about the two mysterious sex murders committed in Botha Park.

The cook with his peppercorn hair, Amos, entered the living room with a cup of coffee. He placed it on the table beside the sofa and Obed watched him inquisitively for a moment.

“Where is Miss Tessa, Amos?” he inquired accusingly.

“I do not keep watch over her, my young master,” Amos replied with a smile.

“Then call again,” Obed requested. “See if anyone answers now.”

While Amos did so, Obed’s eyes went over the report on the front page again. The suspicion was that the murders were committed by the same person. Both victims were mutilated and their clothes half torn from their bodies. Their bodies were found amongst lush shrubs.

“She is still not there,” Amos informed him and placed the receiver back on its cradle.

“Yes,” sighed Obed. “I wonder where she is wandering about again tonight.” He glanced at Amos. “I might go out for a little while later tonight, Amos,” he informed his faithful servant. “You do not have to wait until I get back.” But as he said it, he knew that Amos would decide that for himself. Usually, he was still in the kitchen and Jagter was sniffing around in the yard when Obed returned to Drie Gewels after a nightly outing, no matter how late in the night it was.

Amos left the living room. Obed plucked another grape.

The rest of the news on the front page was of little interest to him. In the bottom right corner was a small report about the discoveries of two learned men, one a medical doctor and one a scientist, concerning a disease that had last caused an epidemic during the Middle Ages. It had not occurred since, and these two researchers now claimed to have discovered the germ that was responsible for it. According to them, the twentieth-century human would have no resistance to such a germ. However, no comment was made on the matter and what this discovery actually entailed was not explained.

Obed swung his other leg off the sofa as well. He pushed the newspaper aside and sat hunched on the sofa while he stroked Jagter between the ears. Then he stood up, stretched, and walked to the telephone. He dialled Tessa’s number again. The telephone rang for a long time, but there was no answer.

Perhaps she had gone to the cinema with a friend or maybe she had met someone after work and they had gone out for dinner together. He dialled another number.

“Hello, Doctor Uys here.”

“Hello, Albert,” Obed greeted conversationally.

“Obed!” Albert exclaimed. “It is a surprise to hear from you again.”

“I have been on holiday for the past week,” Obed retorted dryly.

“Oh, is that so? And in such times you forget your friends.”

“What is a friend worth to you unless you are in a state of emergency?” Obed asked calmly.

“In that case, old friend,” Albert informed him, “I would prefer you not to call me again unless you have no problems on your hands.”

“You are pretending that it is a problem at the moment, that I am in trouble.”

“Not at all,” Albert answered. “However, I can hardly imagine that you do not want to ask some favour of me.”

“Do you perhaps think I need your help?” Obed said cuttingly. “I am calling you for purely friendly reasons. I am perfectly calm here in my house and as far as I am concerned, you can go your own way and do as you please. The last thing I will do is ask you to do something for me.”

“Well,” sighed Albert. “Then I truly appreciate your call.”

“Good,” Obed conceded. “As I said, do as you please, but call Tessa’s number every now and then during the evening and find out where she was. Tell her that I have tried to get in touch with her several times and that I am particularly dismayed by the fact that she is not sitting by the telephone in her flat waiting in case I should happen to call.”

“So you keep your word!” Albert exclaimed. “You are doing me a favour. Thank you for the privilege of being able to call the beautiful Tessa. May I ask why you will not be able to do it yourself?”

“I will be out of the house.” Obed laughed cheerfully. “I feel like taking a stroll in a park for a while. The fresh evening air will refresh me. I spoke to Tessa this morning and told her that I would look in on her tonight. However, I have called a few times now and she is not home yet.”

“Very well then, Obed,” Albert answered quite seriously. “I will do it. Suppose I also get no answer, what then?”

“Then you call all the hospitals, the police stations, the fire station, the army, the...”

“Of course,” Albert interrupted him. “I will immediately make arrangements to hire a staff. The post office should install a hundred telephones in my house within the next half hour.” He hesitated. “What are you up to, Obed?”

“Nothing,” Obed assured him. “I am honestly going for a stroll in a park for a bit. But you know yourself that Tessa is a reasonably disciplined person. She said she would be home early. It is nine o’clock now. If she has not shown up by half-past ten, I would just like to know that someone who is concerned will start making inquiries. In case she calls here in the meantime, I will ask Amos to call you and put your mind at ease.”

“Obed,” said Albert quietly. “I have known you for a long time. What has gotten into you again tonight?”

“Nothing!” Obed exclaimed. “What are you talking about?”

“I am talking about you.” Albert hesitated before continuing. “You are an artist. A true artist seldom has an objective view of his art. Tonight you sense something, but you are unaware of it. I notice it immediately. I know that certain thoughts in your subconscious are compelling you to action. For you, it is merely a natural sensation. Like someone who gets a hollow feeling in their stomach and only much later realises that it is mealtime. I know that thought combinations have already taken place in the back of your mind. You yourself are still unaware of it. It could become a reality for you tonight, tomorrow, or in a month. You have no judgment of your own insight. You do something because you feel you want to do it. Much later you find out why you did it. Only an outsider can make you aware of your art. You will place a masterpiece with oil paints on a canvas and you yourself will look at it and you will not be able to decide how good or how bad it is. Someone else must offer criticism. I have known you for a long time, Obed, and I feel tonight that you...”

“Look, old friend,” Obed interrupted him, “call me as soon as you perform your next operation. I will come and...

Produkt-Details

• Erscheint lt. Verlag: 18.9.2025
• Übersetzer: Pieter Haasbroek, Ai
• Sprache: englisch
• Themenwelt: Literatur ► Krimi / Thriller / Horror
• ISBN-13: 9780001026407 / 9780001026407