33 Heads

This world has no peace, when you think the end is coming you only realize it's actually the beginning. 13 years ago my father was a police officer. Everybody knew him and our family was respected. When I was doing grade 10 at Rakoko high school, my father was killed brutally so. When I completed my matric, I decided to go study policing, I graduated as police officer "investigations". In my first year of working, I didn't have so many cases because my superior thought that I was incompetent and I know nothing about being a police officer. One day, a woman came to the office, crying The woman: police, you are not doing your job, my husband is killed and nowhere to be found. Me: calm down mama, please sit down and wait in a queue, your time will come. My superior came out, gun blazing Superior: officer Mmusi, my office now. Me : I am still certifying sir, I will be with you shortly. Superior: I said now. I had to tell the people to wait for me as I attend my commander. I got into his office. Superior: Officer Mmusi, when I summon you, your world stops and you attend to my summoning. I am your superior Me: I am sorry commander, I thought Superior : that's what you always do, you always think, I see there is a commotion coming that side, I want you to attend that woman, leave those documents you been certifying, let Officer Mazi handle them, take that woman to the interrogation room now. Me: all clear sir. I quickly went to fetch the woman and took her to the interrogation room, gave her water and waited for her to calm down. Woman: officer, my name is Ntombi, yesterday my husband did not come home. Me: sis Ntombi, what's your husband name ? I asked her all those questions. After a while, commander came into interrogation room, he asked me to leave and I stood up, I could see the woman was scared because immediately when commander came in, she asked me not to leave. I stood outside the door. I couldn't hear properly what they were talking about. After a while, the woman came out smiling and all happy. I was back at my ordinary job certifying documents, I saw her leaving. Commander called me again and told me that the woman is crazy and I should forget about her. I wasn't aware that commander wanted to cover up some of his unruly ways. After few days, the woman came back to the police salvation and wanted to open missing persons case. I opened the case for her without commander knowing. I made sure he doesn't see it. The only thing I wanted was his signature so I can start investigating the missing person report. Only to find out I was late. Commander knows that I have the lady's case and he doesn't want it in my hands. He summoned all 4 investigating officers except me. He gave them the case. Superior: officers of the law, I put my trust in you with this case. The missing person is a very important friend of mine and I need him alive, he left his wife and kids. He knew what he was doing, he misled the police officers, he told them wrong place where the man could be found. He knew what he did. Privately so, I did my own investigations. I met with Pholoso, my college ex boyfriend. He is a private investigator in a special unit force. I explained to him what has been happening. We planned things ahead for the commander. Few weeks later, clothes for the man was found in busabusa region, allegations says he went to see his mistress. The guy was a business man. I called Pholoso immediately after hearing this. Me: Pholoso, they found his clothes and they were found in busabusa. Pholoso: The clothes were planted, I have been following one of the investigative officers from your office, he was given a brown envelope and the same night he went to busabusa to plant those clothes. Me: what? What does it mean? Does it mean the guy is dead? Pholoso: unfortunately yes, I am still on the officers lead, look I will get back to you in no time. I see something here. Me: okay bye. When I got off the call, commander was looking at me and seems like he knows something about the conversation with pholoso. After a while, I received a call from someone On call: hello, this is officer Mlazi, I am informing you that Mr Pholoso Has been involved in a car accident and is rushed to Moses kotane hospital. I couldn't take it. I remember it well, after the call, I fainted. I was also rushed to hospital. I woke up, there was commander Commander: I am so happy you are awake, bad things happen all the time and you never know what's making this happen. Me: what happened? Why am I here? Commander: you were on your phone and you collapsed. Me: oh, I remember. Can I use your phone? Commander: oh yes, I called pholoso's number and it didn't get through. In commander's phone, pholoso's number were saved already. I acted like I didn't see anything. Commander: officer Mmusi, if I was you, I wouldn't stick my nose in other people's business. Do you mind minding your own business, stop investigating unnecessarily. Your job is to certify. Me: Commander, with all due respect, I did investigations I am a police officer that deals with investigations, not certifying matric results that are not satisfying and ugly ID copies for heaven sake. I need you to appoint me in my position. I deserve it. Commander: you will only be placed in your position when you deserve it, right now, stay in this hospital and come back when you have accepted your appointment as certifying police officer. Me: okay, what do I have to do for you to see that I am capable of getting the investigation done.? Commander: certify those ugly ID copies and matric results. I couldn't believe him. I told myself, I am going to win him. After 3 days I received a call from Pholoso Pholoso: Mmusi, I almost died. Your commander wants me dead and I am not ready to die. Please stop, he will kill me if I don't stop with the investigations. Me: okay no problem. At that time I knew my instincts were right, commander was inside pholoso's ward, threatening him. Few weeks went by as an officer that otnly certifies documents. I didn't stop investigating, of course I did it privately. Things I found first were really surprising. I started digging about my commander, his life before college and after college, I knew what time he would wake up and do his dodgey things, who he talks in the phone. After I found his 10th head, he killed 10 people already and before I can do anything, I have to find the files from his office. There is a specific steel cupboard that no one touches but I am gonna touch it. On the 1st June 2022, I went to his office, offered to make coffee for him. He agreed, I poured my coffee and his, went inside his office. Me: Commander, I would love to take this opportunity to thank you. You know, I been so stagnant about you putting me under investigations,but I see I couldn't manage it, I am fine where i am. Certifying those ID copies has given me so much insight in police department. Commander: I still refuse to give you the investigations. Me: no I am okay where I am actually, investigations are for real police men out there, not for me. He actually believed my act that I am not investigating anything. We just chatted like normal colleagues. That night I knew he was gonna come to my house and see if I am home. I cooked dinner, with my family. Me: oh commander, perfect timing, we just started our dinner. Commander: Mmusi, am not here for dinner. I want to know what are you planning? I acted dumb Me: I am not following sir, I don't understand, I thought you came in for dinner Commander: I know you suspect me of that man's murder, I didn't do it. Me: Commander didn't do that, and commander really I am not understanding what you on about. Commander: no don't worry forget I said anything. He left, that moment I knew he is becoming very careful. I tailed him for 3 months, I found out that the first person he killed was his girlfriend, he buried her head in the room they were living in together. I remember last time when him and I had a conversation about GBV stuff he wasn't really in the topic and felt like the topic shouldn't be discussed at work if any of us is not experiencing that. I had to look for the names for the girl. I started with his high school ex girlfriend Bongi, she stayed in mogwase. She gave me each and every detail for the murder. Apparently it was self defense, the girl was abusing commander. All was left for me was to find proof that links the commander with the murder. Weeks went by, I received a call from his old friend, Motsisi Motsisi: Officer of the offiest, I hear they say you are after the commander, I have information you need. Me: who is this ? Hello Motsisi: I am your friend , new friend because you and I share mutual enemy. Me: I am sorry buti, I don't do enemies. Motsisi: okay, how about this, I know where he puts all his heads. (Hanged up) Me: heads ?? Hello, who is this ?? After he hanged up, he sent his location. "Rustenburg plaza, ronny road, black car, no plate number, I will be waiting, see you in the next hour" I was scared for my life, what if it was commander trying to check if I knew something about him. I decided to follow the lead, I got to the location earlier. I saw the car and 2 girls getting off and the guy was just sitting in the car, couldn't see him well. After a while, I texted him. " I am on my way, are you alone" He replied "be there or keep looking for another heads, who knows maybe the next head is your" I knew I needed a back up. I called my friend "Puso" , Puso: what is it this time? I hope you didn't forget your lunch Me: mmata, I will send you location neh, whatever that may happen to me, just go to the location. Puso: Mmuso, mmusi weeh, I told you to stay away from this commander of yours. You will get in trouble and get killed. Mmuso: thank you my friend, I love you. I got off my car and went to the car. Shame the guy seemed bit off, but whatever he said was real. Me: nice meeting you stranger Motsisi: (laughs) why do pretty women love dangerous games , officer , you so beautiful. Me: thank you for the compliment but I am not here for games, you said you have something for me. Show me Motsisi: ooh getting straight into business, I like. Here, those are the dockets that have been going missing for the past 11 years. Me: what? What am I supposed to do with this ? Motsisi: oh, officer get out of my car, maybe you can burn them, but what I know is that they will come in handy for you. Me:this was just a waste of time, ugh I got off his car and went back home. I found my family lying on the floor, all killed. My 16 year daughter, my 10 year son, my 2 brothers and my mom. All their heads were removed. I never had such heartbreak in my whole life. He removed their heads, and left them there, lifeless. I took a while until I recovered from their deaths. 3 weeks after my family's funeral, he came to the house as if nothing happened. Commander: Mmusi, my deepest condolences my child, you have suffered a big pain, but I am here to request you of something else. Me: Commander, my family is gone because of my profession, clearly someone is trying to send me a message, I am doing something that I am not supposed to do. But you know what, I will hunt down the killer myself and when I find him, he will ask for forgiveness. Commander: you are a young, strong woman who knows what to do all the time, I appreciate that about you Mmusi. I am simply asking you to stop investigating dangerous people, I don't want to loose you. Me: Commander, I am not investigating anyone and if anyone thinks I am investigating them what is it that they doing and they see it's not okay to do. Commander: I don't know Mmusi. Just be okay, next week I am going to need you back to the office. Me: I am coming back tomorrow, next week it's far. Commander: it's up to you, but I don't want to see you crying and doing all stuff because you still in pain. Me: see you tomorrow Com. He left his wallet in my couch, after a while I saw the wallet. It had this white paper with long list of names. It was written "Hidden heads", the list was long and it had dates and names of everyone he had murdered. I couldn't believe the last name, it was my daughter's name " Obonwe- head 16 " . I cried alone in lonely dark home. Puso came to check on me, Puso: mmata heeh heeeh, no maaan, ke 3 weeks ontse o le so,go botlhoko ga ke gane, you have your life too , get up. Me: mmata, it's not easy, I am all alone. Puso: ga ke bonale ?? Ke furniture neh, se ntene , ekae wine yago e turang re ise maikutlo ko tlase. She went to get 2 glasses and wine for us to drink Me: mmata, commander was here and this is what I found in his wallet. Puso: chomi yam ya lepodisa, (reading the list) heads to head, nar head ke tlhogo aker, mus, Maina a ke batho ba ba tlhokafetseng, ke bona Dineo faa, le ene o tlhokafetse a kgaotsw tlhogo, leina la ngwana wago, bana bago mmata mus, pila pila what's happening here? Me: it's commander's list, everyone who lost their heads, main question, what is he doing with the list of people who died in a same way ? Puso: monna o wa makatsa mmata. Go na le motho ko lebating. Puso stood up and went to check the door, it was commander. Puso: oh commander, commie. Mmata, ke Commander wago. Commander: hi puso, long time. Are you okay, tell Mmusi that I forgot my wallet. Puso: wallet? Mmata, commie a re o lebetse wallet, okile wa bona wallet yage, Me: Let me look mo neng a ntse teng, ake bone selo, commander are you sure o e tlogetse mo ?? Commander: I am not sure, I will check by the office. Puso: Ke tsamaye lwena ko go thusa go batla Commie. Commander: no puso, I will be okay. Puso: okay detective , uniform eo ya go tshwanela hl. Commander: Thank you, Mmusi, I will see you tomorrow at the office, goodnight Puso. The commander left. Puso never knew him personally, she was charmed Puso: mmata, commander o pila yana?, nnyaa ka ganela ha se ena wa ditlhogo tsa batho. Me: let's hope not. Puso: mmata, Banna ba ba pila ga ba siama leseng, maar nna yak tlhogo ke e batla a e tshware so. Me: o stout weits, mmata the thing is that nothing links him to all the murdered people, even my family. That's why it's hard for me to believe that he is the serial killer. Puso: le ga a ka nna pila, ke mmolai, mme tsala ke na le leano ke nne close le ene. Me: Puso, no, ga ke batle go looser lwena, I can't risk you like that. Puso: I am a big girl, bona wena kaosane i am driving you to your office, I want us to be very slim ka gang ena, tomorrow we gonna plant his wallet ko officing yage, wetse di copy tsa this list wena. Me: What would I be without you maar ? Puso: Lepodise Lao certify ( we laughed ) The following morning, I woke up and dressed smart for work. Puso came as promised and drove me to work. On our way to work, there was another dead reported body without head, only to find out it was police officer Lwazi. Now,puso and I arrive at work, we walk into the office, planning on how are we going to plant commander' s wallet in his office. Puso: Mmata, I will go in first, put that wallet in my bag. Me: Puso, please, don't be dumb. Puso: mmata o tshogile fla, and after this, onkolota bojalwa, weekend ena ka bo batla. Me: Mmata bojalwa ga se selo, I got you. Puso went to commander's office. Commander: Oh, Puso, I didn't know we had new police officer. Puso: Morning commander, I can be new employee if you want me to (seductively) Commander: you look good for being a police officer, what can I do for you. Puso: Commie, (goes to sit in his lap) weitse nna ne ke sa itse gore o hot yana, ga ke na motho and banake ba tlhoka father figure. Commander: ooh, (clears his throat) Puso , I am work. Puso: okay ( closes the door), Commie, I want you to command me everyday, every morning and every night, can you do that, you said it yourself, I look hot. Commander: You sure do, and no man can resist this, but I am at work now, we can do that later. Puso: so later, are you coming to my place or should I drop by yours? Commander: you come to my place. Puso: no problem my commander, see you later. Oh by the way, did you manage to find your wallet ? Commander: no, but I will look for it, it's not that important. Puso: Okay, see you then my commander. Puso walked out of the office, how she dropped commander's wallet you will never know. She came to my office. Me: I can't believe you, you know what, get out of here. Puso: mmata keng? Ke tlhoka motho le nna, ke batla re etse ga 1 fela nna le ene, then after that he can go and do what he does. Me: ssshhh, someone otla go utlwa. Tsamaya tuu , tsamaya ka koloi mmata, ketla go founela otlo ntsaya. Puso: Okay, omfounele, please stop feeling pity for yourself, bona o montle yang. I love you mmata. Me: please, go, next please I continued working, certifying matric results and ID copies as always, my colleagues could see I was not myself, but I still worked. Commander came to help me certify few documents, making conversation with me. Commander: Officer, I like your dedication to your job, I might give you a promotion very soon. Me: I believe I am okay where I am, can I get back to work now? Commander: Officer, if I were you, I would watch Me: thanks lord you are not me, can I please work. Or should I leave you here. Commander: okay, I was only making a conversation here. Me: Officer Lwazi is dead, she is the one who supposed to make conversation with me, now they cut her whole head off, and you tell me you want to make conversation with me. Afte saying that to the commander I broke off, I cried, everyone in the office was looking at me. Commander trying to cool me off. I remembered that he is holding my head and I jumped off his chest, Me: Commander please, can I go home? Commander: you are free to do so, officer Mosidi will handle your clients for you. I stormed out, just when I thought I had everything in control. My friend was there. Puso: Mmata, I told you okase kgone, you don't even have an hour and look at you. Me: mmata drive me to the cemetery. I need to see my children Puso: cemetery, okay. We drove to cemetery, I cried and cried. Puso knew how to handle me, she calmed me down. We went to my sons cemetery, Me: (sobbing) Kelvin, it's me, your mom, I am with your aunt, Puso, I lost you too early my boy, I need you to be my guardian angel, you and your sister, I need to find the person who did this to you, we need to avenge your death, ngwanaka, ( crying) . Puso: (crying) Kelvy my son, Moretsi is lonely, who is going to guide him when playing soccer, yes your mom needs to find who did this to you. I am going to help her, but we need your guidance, you and Leano must help us. Me: ( I saw a black car driving off) mmata, we need to go home. Right now Puso: mmata aise Reye ko go Leano, Mutlane ene. Me: friend we not safe here. We got into our car and drove off. Puso: Mmata, why ore ga re safe ? Me: look in the mirror, the car has been following us. Puso: Ema, stop the car, mmata kere Ema. Ra tlwaelana faa Me: mmata, wetsang, no I can't stop the car. Puso: stop the car or I will make you stop. Me: Okay . We stopped and the car also stopped. Puso went to the car, took out her gun, honestly I never thought Puso owned a gun. Me: mmata, wena sthunya gape. When did you get a gun. Puso: yesterday, when I heard that motherfucker was cutting people's heads off. She was shooting that car for real, the driver was very scared for his life, his hands in the air, puso went to him. Puso: your name and the person who sent you here. Driver: I am not sent by anyone Puso: do you want me to blow your head off Driver: no mam, I have a new born baby, I am only trying to feed my family. Puso: get out of this fucken car, lay down The driver got out of the car before I could say anything Puso shot him Me: okay, what now? You shooting people now, Puso: let's get out of here Me: Okay, what is this ? Puso: Mmata, that commander of yours took your family, my family, people who mattered the most to me, it's time to burn his ass too. Me: wow We drive off. Commander and his subordinates Commander: you guys are not doing your job, now I have two stupid ladies on my back. Gang leader: Bafo ikatle, stupid ladies, ga ba stupid batho ba le, o bone ba thunya jwang, bona now mylord o vaile, a re ready go tswa ka kasi. Commander: so I must do the job I am paying for you for?, you are fired with no pay, get out of here wena Surface. Gang leader: banna ba ba tlile ka nna faa, without rona, gaoselo. Commander: (slaps The Gang leader) shut up you morron, I will shoot your balls, turn them into tennis balls, don't try f**k your mother, I will f**k you up , if anyone is against my rulling let them leave this place right now. Gang member: We are with you sir. Gang leader: shut up wena sny, fotshek, o bua eng, vtsek Commander: Tom and Jerry, d**k and Tom, I will kill you with my hands, Don't try my fucken patience The Gang became silent, no one spoke or opposed the commander. Now let me tell you a story about this Gang, RSK team. They are known for murder, breaking in, pickpockets, jail is their temporary place, none of them is innocent. Gang leader "Surface" real name Thabang Ranaka, "Phoser" Mpho Molatole, "sticker" known as Vusi Ntwande. Surface was more closer to Sticker than the rest of the team. They were closest friends, they are siblings actually but not in the streets. As for Phoser and Surface were more of "frienemies'', rumors say that Phoser dated the same girl Surface was dating and they fought for her, the girl shot herself in front of them, they burned her to cover their mess. Not knowing that Phoser will see Surface to the commander saying it's Surface's fault the girl died, he was out in less than 4 years but Surface came after spending 7 years in jail. They then created ama RSK gang, Surface, Phoser and Sticker were just friends and through activities they ganged up together to perform them, through had a lot on common crime activities, pickpocketing, shop lifting and shooting, hijacking cars, they were known for such activities. Okay, moving on, me and Puso are planning downfall for Commander and his team. Puso: mmata, let's sit down and settle this for sure.