06 The escape

Chloe doesn't want to prolong the tension of uncertainty any more. She musters all her courage and asks pertinently: "Is it you or you and your comrades that poisoned our parents?" An ice-cold hand clamps her heart when he confirms her suspicion. "It was an eye for an eye; sweet revenge for the grief that Tony and Hunter inflicted on our family." "Who are you and what did Tony and Hunter do to you?" "It's only me and my brother left. Tony murdered our mother and Hunter our father. We have already dealt with Tony and now it is Hunter's turn." "I don't understand, you are accusing Tony and Hunter, then why kill my mother? What did she do to you?" "Tony murdered my mother here in South Africa, while our father was overseas. He had to hide and flee for his life and had to mourn his wife for a whole year before Hunter found him and murdered him. We paid Tony back by letting him mourn his wife for a year precisely before we dealt with him. That's an eye for an eye, you see." "It doesn't make sense, I know Tony and Hunter and they are not murderers. They are only ex-soldiers. Tony left the army after they got the medallions for bravery from PW Botha for Operation Coolidge. He came back to farm full time. I'm sorry, I don't buy your story." "Chloe, before your birth Tony and Hunter were in the secret service of the previous government. You wouldn't know that Tony left the farm from time to time on special missions for the government. They did the dirty work. That's exactly those medallions that made them loyal confidants of the government. Our parents were also part of the secret service and wanted to expose secret documents about the government's illicit deeds as soon as the new government came into power. Hunter and Tony were part of a special murder squad that secretly had to get rid of so-called loose links in a ‘cleaning up' operation. They had to ensure that atrocities of the previous government never come to light. Tony had the order to eliminate our mother, which he did. Our father was overseas and not an easy target. The murder of our mother was the last order Tony fulfilled before he quitted the secret service and came home to farm for good, but Hunter tracked our father and eventually found him and murdered him. My brother and I were left without our parents and swore that we would track their murderers and take revenge." Chloe now remembers how Hunter would impress her with his specialized knowledge of spyware. She also thinks back to the visits Hunter paid them on the farm when she was still a small girl. She could see that there was a special bond between them. Sometimes she quietly sat and listened to their war stories and their ex-comrades. Hunter even acknowledged recently to her that they had blood on their hands and that they were not proud of what they did because they had to eliminate people in different ways as operational soldiers. But they respected each other in that they did the dirty work professionally and later could continue with their lives. Maybe they shared their experiences in the secret service when she was not listening to their conversations, but even then, she simply doesn't want to believe it. What this man said is not impossible and it makes more sense the longer she ponders it. "You see, Chloe. We are not interested in you or the rest of your family. You must invite Hunter into the room and we will deal with him in payback for what he did to our father. We then will vanish like mist in the sun and you can continue with your lives." However, what he tells her doesn't make sense at all. Questions simply run through her head. Who then is responsible for what happened to Zoey, Lyle and Quinn; who is responsible for what is going on at her place that forced her to move in with Isaac? Does this man imply that they had nothing to do with any of it? Who then? It could only be them, who else? This must be a bluff, but if so, why? What is their agenda? Why dish these lies up to her? What is really going on? She is back to square one. Tension gnaws at her guts. Her situation even deteriorated with these added puzzles. ~*~*~ It's a windy Monday morning the week after Tony's funeral when Hayley opens the shop's front door for Chloe. The clouds are heavy but the wind prevents the possibility of rain. Chloe has her hair tied in a ponytail and braces the wind in a long black shirt, denim and sunglasses. It is eight-o'-clock and the shop is still closed for customers and Chloe wanted to meet up with Hayley before opening time and she becomes busy. Hayley, as usual, is in her office outfit, a light blue shirt-like top with a dark blue skirt and black high heels. She hugs Chloe and caressing her back and whispers: "Take it one day at a time, Chloe; I know it's difficult, but time will make it better and I'm always here for you. How do you feel at this point?" Chloe removes her sunglasses and put it in her carry bag. "Life is so rude, Hayley. I simply can't believe that Tony died in his sleep just like Clea exactly one year back. We all knew he had a weak heart but it seems so unreal. I'm so thankful that the funeral and all is behind us. I'm wearing the sunglasses in town because tears sometimes suddenly overwhelm me. I'm in your and Ronnie's debt for always for arranging everything. I try to keep busy as much as possible. It helps to keep my mind busy." Hayley hugs her gently. "It was only a pleasure, Chloe. True friends are there for one another in tough times. How does Zoey handle it?" "She tries to be strong and not showing her grief but sometimes she vanishes and comes back with red eyes from crying. They are going back to George later today. Lyle must go back to the hostel as soon as possible. They must take him short cut over the mountain pass before they carry on to George. But I'm worried about Lyle. He doesn't look like the boy we knew. He is lifeless and not interested in anything. He looks angry permanently and now he must go back to school because he lost work last week." "Maybe it will be good for him. The sooner he gets busy with his school work, the better. It will keep his mind busy." "I wish I can help him one way or another. This morning I found him on the veranda when I was leaving. He just sat there and stared into nothing. I asked what he was thinking about and he said he now hated God. First, God took away Clea and now Tony. I had no words of comfort for him; I only hugged him and cried with him." "How late are they leaving?" "They want to have lunch first before they go. That's why I am here so early to be back and greet them properly before they go." They break from hugging each other and Hayley leads Chloe to her office. "I have got everything for Ronnie here in this file, Chloe. We had good sales last week. I need a whole lot of replacements from the workshop and I need Sam this afternoon for deliveries to clients. I hope it is okay with you and Leo." "I will arrange with Leo for Sam to do the deliveries this afternoon." Haley gets the file with orders and hands it over. "Thanks, Chloe. Ronnie has quite a lot to do this week." "Hayley, another thing. I want a place to stay in town as soon as possible. The farm reminds me continuously of Tony. When Zoey and her family depart it will be only me and the two men on the farm and the jealousy is now a strong fire between them. They don't speak to each other and avoid each other. I wish I could be gone even this afternoon, but I don't know where I will find a place at such short notice." "I know of a place …" Then she backs off. "No, forget it, I've spoken too soon, it will not suit you." "What do you mean by ‘it won't suit you'?" "Just forget it. I will ask around for a place." "Why is this place that is available not good for me? I'm not full of nonsense. I don't even want something fanciful. Is the place immediately available?" Hayley looks worried when she answers. "It's available, yes, but not suitable for you, so forget it now. I'll be on the lookout for a better place. I never should have mentioned this place at all." "Oh no, Hayley my girl, what's wrong with you? Why is this place unsuitable even if I can move in today?" "There is more than one reason." "Spit it out." "Okay, first of all, it will be unsafe for you alone there in the forest. It's on a plot just out of town but isolated deep in the dense, dark blue gum forest." "So, you think because I am a small built woman, I can't take care of myself. You sound just like those two men on the farm." "Fine, another reason. A family murder took place on the plot. The man murdered his whole family before he killed himself. No one wants to hire the place. Mrs Kennedy struggles to get tenants because no one wants to stay there." "Well, is that all? I think the place is perfect for me and I want to move in today. Where do I find Mrs Kennedy?" "There's still another reason, Chloe. The place is a ghost house. The people that previously moved in there couldn't even stay two weeks. They were gone and said the place is haunted and that it brought bad luck unto them." "Come on, Hayley. Do you people really believe such nonsense? There are no ghosts. The people became paranoiac because of the murder. They created their own ghosts. Where is Mrs Kennedy?" "Just leave it, Chloe, I am deeply sorry that I even mentioned the place." "Where can I get her?" "It's unbelievable! You're so stubborn. When you get something into that thick skull of yours, no one will stop you. Her hair salon is just down the street: ‘His & Her's'." "Oh yes, I know the place. Is that Mrs Kennedy? She's a kind old lady, a little bit eccentric, but friendly." "Please Chloe, don't do it." Chloe checks the clock on the wall, smiles and winks playfully at Hayley. "Ten to nine, you can open up now, and I'm going straight to ‘His & Her's'." Hayley sighs when Chloe walks out to the hair salon. The wind pushes her around while she strides purposefully. The door is open and she enters the salon. Mrs Kennedy is sitting on a comfortable sofa usually reserved for clients. Her hair is entirely white and she wears a full-length grey dress. She is reading a magazine. She looks up and over her reading glasses at Chloe as she enters. She drops her glasses with a sudden shake of her head and it lands on her breast where it hangs on a chain. Her head shakes a little as she looks at Chloe. "Good morning, my dear. How can I help? You've got the loveliest hair." "Hello Mrs Kennedy, I am Chloe, Hayley, from the furniture shop's, friend. She told me you have a place for rent." Mrs Kennedy stands up and walks to Chloe hunched and stops in front of her and looks deep into her eyes studying Chloe inquisitively. Her head keeps on quivering slightly. "She said there was a family murder and people believe there are ghosts. She said you find it hard to get tenants because no one wants to stay there. I'm urgently looking for a place which I can move in even today if possible. Is it possible? I want to stay there for a month and will decide at the end of the month whether I'd like to stay or leave." Mrs Kennedy comes closer to Chloe and now studies her intently with her face almost touching Chloe's and with a deep frown on her face. "You sound like a very determined lady. Why do you want to move in there, are you a paranormal researcher?" "No, I don't believe in such nonsense. I'm looking for a place that is available today." She looks attentively at Chloe and a weird silence follows while her head shivers even more and Chloe feels all the more upset. Mrs Kennedy shakes her head left and right as if she is flabbergasted. It is really a strange, old lady that studies her like a portrait. "Can I move in today? How much is the rent?" Mrs Kennedy again shakes her head as if she is flabbergasted. "Who is going to move in with you?" "I'm going to live there alone, Mrs Kennedy." Mrs Kennedy's frown deepens. "You know the plot is deep in the dense, dark woods and wholly isolated, dearie?" "I'd like to be alone and look after myself." Mrs Kennedy nods her head as if she reckons she should leave Chloe to bump her head and learn her lesson. "Okay, there are two fully furnished houses opposite each other on the smallholding. You can decide whether you want to rent one or both. If you are going to rent one you must be prepared to accept that you'll probably have neighbors in the near future. A man from Cape Town phoned but he's not sure whether he will be moving in soon or later on this year. He said if I find tenants in the meantime he'll understand, so you have the first choice." Chloe is delighted. "Fully furnished, that is wonderful. I'll probably take the smaller place. How much?" "You'll have to pay double rent when you move in and if you don't stay longer than this month, I'll pay back your deposit. R13000 in advance, thereafter R6500 per month, okay?" "When can I go and have a look at the place, Mrs Kennedy?" "Just say and I will arrange with my caretaker to take you." "I must go and say goodbye to family around lunch time. They are going back to George. Will three-o'-clock be fine?" "Come here to the salon and Robert, my caretaker, will take you." "Good. Then I see you later on, Mrs Kennedy." Chloe exits the salon. When she opens the door of the Cooper she sees Mrs Kennedy still at the entrance staring at her. Her eyes must have followed Chloe all the way to the car. She is a strange woman, Chloe surmises. Maybe it's her eccentric ways that planted the unholy seeds in the superstitious minds of the tenants. No wonder they were paranoiac even before they move in. ~*~*~ Two lorries stand in the parking area of the Sasol garage that looks out on the traffic that passes on their way out of town. One of them is a very special, powerful animal. It is an imported, American lorry monster Dodge Ram 1500 1995 V8 5.9 litre with iron bars around a high lift device. Joss is behind the wheel, invisible behind tinted windows. The lorry next to him is an 8 ton Mitsubishi Fuso FM16-253 2008 model. Two men are on the back with a kit bag and two long poles between them. There are stop signs fastened at the end of the poles and in the bag are walkie-talkies. Joss climbs out of his lorry and walks up to the other driver's window and looks him in the eyes. "They have to pass here and there is a good chance that they will stop here to refill for their journey. I want you to follow them to about sixty kilometers before the mountain pass when you overtake them and drive fast ahead. I want you to have the roadblocks ready before they arrive. If necessary, I will pass them and hold them back to give you time to get ready when we arrive. You must stop them before the pass and make sure there are no other vehicles on the pass before you let them go. Are your walkie-talkies working in both directions as we agreed upon in order for you to communicate on both sides of the pass?" The bearded driver nods his head. "Relax, we tested the radios as you said and we are ready. We had to plant three relays in the pass to relay the sign. We have chosen the best places for the blockades and the radios are functioning perfectly there." "I was informed that they will probably depart after lunch. Someone will call me when they leave the farm. A soon as I know for sure, I will give you the make of the car and the registration number. You then follow them and I will follow you." ~. ~. ~ Chloe is just busy to load stock for the workshop in her Cooper when her phone rings. She looks and sees it is Zoey. "Hello, Zoey. I'm nearly on my way back. Don't go before I'm back, okay?" Chloe gets a fright when she hears Zoey's hysterical crying as if it is the last day of the world. "What happened, Zoey, what is wrong?"