Деон Мейер - Cobra

It was familiar territory, as well.

And now The Great Transaction. The trains gaveTyrone a moving exchange location – there were not the same dangers of a specific street corner or abandoned building, where the Cobras could hide or stalk him.

Tyrone was clever, as Mbali had pointed out. He knew the trains, apparently he knew the stations. They must be good places to steal from people’s pockets. And there would be some small comfort in the crowds of other people, possible eyewitnesses. The Cobras were rightly wary about going back to Bellville. On the rail system, Tyrone could keep moving, in two directions, keep them guessing. Every station offered its own escape routes, within minutes from each other . . .

He phoned Cupido.

‘Where are you?’

‘Just past Karl Bremer, on the N1. Traffic is a bit better this side.’

‘Tyrone is on his way back to Cape Town.’

‘ Jissis , Benna, he’s fucking us around.’

‘ Ja . I think you must still go to the station. Take the first train to Cape Town.’

‘Then I’ll be without a car.’

‘I know, but I think he’s going to do the whole thing on the trains. He knows the system, and it gives him a lot of options.’

‘It’s taking a big chance, Benna.’

‘It’s all we’ve got.’

56

‘Bones, you’re going to stay here and you’re going to be our controller,’ said Griessel.

‘Me?’ In disbelief.

‘Yes. Mbali and I need to get to the city station. I think Tyrone is going to make the handover somewhere along this railway line. At a station or on a train. And the quickest way to get from station to station is by using the train.’

Griessel searched through his pockets, until he found the earphones for the ZTE. He plugged it into his phone, pushed them in his ears.

‘Dave, you’re going to have to help. You’ll have to call Captain Cupido and give him instructions, but wait until I tell Bones what to do.’

‘Sweet, china.’

‘Bones, call me on this phone. Tell me everything that is happening.’

‘I’ll do my best,’ said Bones nervously.

‘You’ll be OK,’ said Mbali, and adjusted the pistol on her hip.

‘You’ll have to hide the weapon,’ said Griessel. ‘And the ID card. We’re going undercover.’

Tyrone was on train 3414, from Goodwood to Cape Town.

He stood with bated breath and waited for Black Beanie’s answer.

He hadn’t expected them to refuse to go to Bellville. He should have thought of that, it was common sense, he didn’t want to show his face there either for a while.

But it had made his timetable a bit weird. Because Metrorail’s trains ran less frequently until late afternoon.

But it was still OK, if he kept his head.

The phone vibrated in his hand.

OK.

That was their answer.

He let out a sharp, explosive breath.

It was on.

Griessel and Mbali, in the BMW, with the siren and blue light on.

The ZTE rang. Griessel answered, ‘Bones?’

‘Tyrone is moving again, train 3414 to Cape Town.’

‘OK.’ He thought for a moment and then spoke loudly, so that Bones on the phone as well as Mbali beside him could both hear him clearly, ‘He’s moving between the city and Parow. Bones, look at the schedule, is that where the most trains are running?’

‘Hang on . . . Tyrone has just replied to the Cobras’ text, he said “Tell me when you are at Parow Station”.’

‘Has Dave called Vaughn yet?’

‘Yes. Vaughn is on train 3214, it left Bellville at ten, direction Cape Town. It’s the one right behind Tyrone’s.’

‘OK, tell him we’re undercover. No ID, no firearm visible.’

‘Roger . . . Benny, you’re right. The bulk of the trains will be running between Eerste River and Cape Town from now until about four. Just about twenty per cent go to the Strand.’

‘OK, Bones. I think it is going to happen between the city and Parow, maybe Bellville. When is Vaughn going to reach Parow?’

‘He’s already past Parow, according to the schedule. He should be at Thornton now.’

‘Tell him to get off at Maitland. Unless you can see Tyrone leaving his train somewhere.’

‘Tyrone still seems to be moving.’

‘Hang on.’ Griessel wove though the traffic in Strand Street. He had to concentrate on the road for now. Mbali sat staring with wide eyes, clutching the big black handbag on her lap.

Then they were across Adderley, alongside the station. He saw a loading zone, switched off the siren, and parked. Mbali’s door was already open, as though she was relieved to be getting out of the car.

‘Mbali!’ he shouted as they ran to the station. ‘We are going to take two separate trains, just to cover more bases.’

‘Yes,’ she said, already puffing.

Tyrone got off at Woodstock.

Where was Black Beanie? Why was it taking so long to get to Parow Station?

They were going to fuck everything up.

He went over to the schedules again. He would have to wait.

Time to begin chewing the gum. He dug in his pocket, took out the pack, put six strips in his mouth, began to chew.

His cellphone vibrated.

We are at Parow .

He shivered. Was his plan going to work?

His fingers trembled as he typed OK. I know u are 4. Money guy ... and he looked closely at the time tables . . . goes on train 3520, leaving Parow at 10.36, Plfrm 9. Must be alone, or u won’t get card. I will hide card on train 3515, reaching Parow at 10.50. when I have money, will tell u where on train card is hidden.

And then he waited for them to answer.

Bones’s voice was high and almost panicky when he passed on the news to Griessel.

‘OK, Bones, Mbali has just left the station on that exact train, so we are covered. I am going to call her now, and I’m going to warn her. Now you and Dave must try to get Vaughn on the same train, Mbali will need backup.’

‘Roger, out.’

‘No, wait. Where is Tyrone?’

‘Woodstock.’

‘OK, that’s where I’m going.’

If card is not on train, we WILL kill your sister. Just 4 guards at hospital.

How did they know that? wondered Tyrone. Had they been there?

Of course they had been there, you ape.

He would have to get the money, and then take the pistol and go to his sister, these guys just wanted to kill.

Take a deep breath,Tyrone.

He typed on the phone: If money is right, card is there.

Train 3515 pulled into Woodstock Station.

Tyrone ran for the train.

Time to put the card under a seat.

Mbali Kaleni saw the pickpocket running towards the train. Her cellphone against her ear, she told Griessel, cool as a cucumber, ‘I see him.’

‘Good,’ said Griessel.

‘He’s getting on the train . . .’

‘OK.’

‘He’s in the next carriage, I can see him . . . He’s taking off his backpack. He’s sitting down . . . He’s opening his backpack, he has taken something out. I can’t see what it is. He has it on his lap. Wait . . . Now he’s taken something from his mouth. He’s looking around . . . Sorry, Benny, I had to look away . . .’

‘OK.’

‘He . . . Benny, I think he has stuck the card under the seat. Now he’s getting up, the train is going to stop at . . . Salt River Station. I think he’s going to get off.’

‘Mbali, go and see if the card is there.’

She waited until Tyrone had left the train. She watched Tyrone go and stand on the platform. She felt sorry for him, in that instant, he looked so scared and bewildered.

Still she remained seated. Till the doors closed, and the train jerked, and began to move.

Then she got up and walked to the seat he had vacated. She saw Tyrone standing on the platform staring at the departing train.