MANDLA CELE
1120 Words
Mandla Cele agreed to meet them the following morning.
That worried Naledi.
People with nothing to hide usually didn't agree that quickly.
His house stood behind a high wall in one of Sandton's quieter streets. Security cameras covered the entrance, and two guards stood near the gate.
Naledi stared at the property.
“My father trusted him.”
“Your father trusted many people,” Maseko said.
“And look how that worked out.”
They were shown into a large living room.
Mandla arrived minutes later.
He looked older than Naledi remembered.
His hair was almost completely grey, but his eyes remained sharp.
“Naledi.”
She hugged him because refusing would have created a scene.
He held her briefly.
“I heard about your father.”
“Where did you hear it?”
His smile faded.
“News travels.”
“You knew he was missing.”
Mandla looked at Maseko.
“I know more than I should.”
Naledi's patience disappeared.
“Then start talking.”
He sighed.
“Your father called me two nights ago.”
“What did he say?”
“He was frightened.”
“Of Portia?”
Mandla hesitated.
“Not only her.”
Naledi's heart tightened.
“Who else?”
“I don't know.”
“You're lying.”
Mandla looked at her.
“You sound exactly like your mother.”
“Good.”
He gestured toward the chairs.
They sat.
Mandla poured water but didn't drink it.
“Your grandfather started something that became much bigger than he expected.”
“The money?”
“The network.”
“What network?”
“Companies. Political connections. Private investors. People who moved money across borders.”
Maseko leaned forward.
“And Portia?”
“Portia learned how it worked.”
“She stole from them.”
“Yes.”
Naledi stared at him.
“How did you get involved?”
“I was young.”
“That isn't an answer.”
“I helped move money.”
“So you helped them.”
“Yes.”
“Did you help Portia?”
“At first.”
Naledi's anger rose.
“Why?”
“Because I was afraid.”
“Everyone in my family was afraid.”
Mandla looked at her.
“Fear keeps people obedient.”
“What happened to my mother?”
His expression changed.
“Your mother discovered what Portia was doing.”
“And Richard?”
“He helped her.”
“Then why did they die?”
Mandla looked away.
“I wasn't responsible for Richard's death.”
“You were involved.”
“I was.”
“That's not the same thing.”
“No.”
He admitted that he had once given Portia information about where Naledi's mother kept important records.
Naledi felt sick.
“You betrayed her.”
“Yes.”
“Why?”
“She threatened to expose me.”
“And Portia?”
“She promised to protect me.”
“She lied.”
“Yes.”
Naledi stood.
“Where is my father?”
Mandla looked at her.
“I don't know.”
“Then what good are you?”
He flinched.
“There is something you need to understand.”
“What?”
“Portia isn't the person controlling everything.”
Silence filled the room.
Maseko spoke.
“Who is?”
“I don't know.”
“You expect us to believe that?”
“I know what I've seen.”
“Then tell us.”
Mandla leaned forward.
“Your grandfather built the trust to protect the family fortune. But there was a second beneficiary.”
Naledi frowned.
“Who?”
“Your mother.”
“She died.”
“I know.”
“Then what happened to her share?”
“It was transferred.”
“To whom?”
“Amara.”
Naledi froze.
“My aunt?”
“Yes.”
“When?”
“After your mother's death.”
“Why didn't anyone tell me?”
“Portia forced Amara out.”
“How?”
“She threatened her.”
“With what?”
Mandla didn't answer.
Naledi stared at him.
“You know where Amara is.”
He looked away.
“You do.”
“She contacted your father recently.”
“When?”
“Two weeks ago.”
“What did she want?”
“Protection.”
“From Portia?”
“Yes.”
“And my father refused?”
“He was afraid.”
Naledi laughed bitterly.
“My father has been afraid for twenty years.”
Mandla looked at her sadly.
“He was trying to protect you.”
“I don't need protection anymore.”
“You might.”
Naledi walked toward the door.
Mandla stopped her.
“Be careful with Amara.”
She turned.
“Why?”
“She isn't the woman you think she is.”
“What does that mean?”
“She knows more than anyone.”
“And she's hiding it?”
“Yes.”
“Why?”
“Because she's afraid.”
Naledi left.
Outside, Maseko caught up with her.
“What do you think?”
“I think everyone knows something.”
“And no one tells the whole truth.”
“Exactly.”
They reached the car.
A vehicle parked across the road started its engine.
Naledi noticed it.
The driver watched them.
When Maseko stepped toward the road, the vehicle sped away.
“Did you see that?”
“Yes.”
He wrote down the registration number.
Naledi sighed.
“This is becoming ridiculous.”
“It stopped being ridiculous a long time ago.”
She looked at him.
“Are you scared?”
“Yes.”
“For yourself?”
“No.”
She understood.
“For me?”
“Yes.”
Her anger softened.
She reached for his hand.
“I don't want you hurt because of me.”
“You're not the reason I'm here.”
“What is?”
He looked directly at her.
“You.”
Her heart skipped.
She smiled.
“I don't know what I'm doing with you.”
“Neither do I.”
“That's dangerous.”
“Probably.”
She leaned closer.
Their kiss was brief, but it changed something between them.
When they pulled apart, Naledi rested her forehead against his.
“I don't want this to become another secret.”
“It won't.”
She smiled.
“Good.”
Her phone vibrated.
Unknown number.
A message contained a single sentence.
AMARA IS BACK IN SOUTH AFRICA.
Naledi looked at Maseko.
The woman from the photograph was no longer a ghost from the past.
She was here.
And she was coming for them.
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