Disclaimers: This work is a work of fiction and is my property.
The story and characters are fictitious and any resemblance to anyone or any actual event is coincidental. There are three distinctly different main characters that will appear as the story progresses.
You should be legally allowed to read this type of material before continuing.
As it is based on an actual book, I had published a few years ago – free for your enjoyment – the story will not contain explicit material in all the chapters BUT don't fret, as it is more the exception than the rule.
Note that there will be a violent scenario. If this will trigger any trauma for you, please be aware of it before you start reading.
Please direct any comments or feedback to my email address at davidrolsynauthor2019@gmail.com.
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CHAPTER NINETEEN James
Last night I dreamt of Daniel, screaming for me to help him but I couldn't find him in the fog, no matter how hard I tried. I eventually woke up, drenched in sweat and out of breath, and felt completely helpless.
Trying to go back to sleep, I tossed and turned for two hours before I gave up and got dressed.
There had to have been a reason I had that nightmare. I must see Daniel.
With breakfast done and my usual cab waiting for me outside, I get in and we head off for Stellenbosch. The drive there feels like an eternity and the music from the car stereo is annoying, and so I tell the driver to turn it off.
He does as I ask.
Once we get to the wine estate's main gate, I again inform the security guard that I'm here to have an early lunch. The guard doesn't seem to remember me and lets us in.
When we drive up to the main building, I get out and run up the stairs into the manor. The big front doors are standing wide open.
A short lady of about fifty or so sees me come in and walks up to me. "The wine tasting will only be after 1:00 pm. You can sit in the restaurant if you want to wait." She sounds mildly irritated by my apparent eagerness.
"No. That's not why I'm here. Can I see Daniel please?" I give her my biggest smile.
Her eyes go wide in surprise. "Do you know him?"
"Yeah."
"He doesn't work here anymore. He left yesterday, in the middle of the night, and if it wasn't for the note his superior gave us, we might have suspected foul play. We can't understand why he just up and left, without so much as a good bye, or at least give us notice of his intentions. He obviously hasn't contacted you yet either."
She must be one of the owners. There's an air about her and the way she sounds disappointed by Daniel's behaviour is enough to tell me that she isn't happy about it either.
"Can I speak to Johan then, please."
"You may. I'll call for him. You're welcome to wait in my office here." She leads me to the same office I made out with Daniel in, before I ended up punching Johan. It's her office then.
I sit down on the guest chair and wait for Johan to make an appearance and he enters a few minutes later. He stops when he sees me. "What the fuck are you doing here?"
I ignore him. "Where's Daniel?"
"I don't know. Thought he was with you?" Johan seems genuine but, then again, who knows.
"I wouldn't be here if he was. Thanks for the video, by the way." I glare at him.
"It was exciting to watch, hey? That boy can suck. Man! And his ass. Tightest fuck I ever gave!"
I breath in deep, trying to not react to his obvious rudeness, and something occurs to me. What if Daniel wasn't entirely willing to have slept with Johan? Frustration turns to anger and I stand up and come up right to his face.
"Why do I get the feeling you're not telling me everything?" I can smell his awful breath and step slightly back to escape it.
"I have no idea what you're taking about. What has he told you?!" His left eye's twitching and he glances around nervously, avoiding any direct eye contact.
There's definitely something seriously wrong with all of this. "What did you do to him?!" I try and keep my voice down.
"Hey, buddy. Don't come lording it around here. I can have you thrown out, you know?" Johan man's up to me by straightening up.
A feeble attempt on his part to make it about me.
"I asked you a fucking question!" Now I'm shouting.
He pauses and then grabs my arm to pull me out of the office. But with a, "Get your filthy hands off me, dumb fuck!" I shove him away from me and he lets go of my arm.
He swings his fist at me and I duck. I come up with an upper-cut and hit him square on his jaw, causing him to fly backwards and hit the door frame.
A large guy rushes in. "What's going on here, Oom Johan?"
I look at the guy. "I'm trying to find out from this imbecile where Daniel is."
"He disappeared last night and we only know what Oom Johan told us was in his letter. He seems to have just up and left."
"I don't buy it for a second. He loved this job." I rub my still throbbing fist with my other hand.
Johan's holding his jaw, staring at me. "Koos, get security to drag this fucking asswipe out of here, and get him off the estate! Now!"
"Ok, Oom." He pauses. "Don't you want me to call the cops rather?"
"No! Now do as I say!" Johan barks at him.
Koos leaves to go call the security.
Time to leave. I'm not going to get any answers here.
I begin leaving the office, when I stop and turn to Johan. "If I find out you've done anything to him, I'll be back and you're going to wish I didn't. Men like you are nothing but cowards and I will show you what I do to fucking cowards!"
I don't wait for a reply and head out the front door and get into the cab. "Let's go!" I yell at the driver.
As we approach the main gate, they open and we head back to the city. I need to get help in finding Daniel. I can't just leave it. Reporting it to the Police would be pointless. No one seems to think or care that he may be in danger and why would a foreigner be looking for him? It will just raise too many questions that I'm not prepared to answer.
I have to find him though. He needs me. I can feel it in my gut.
On the way back to the hotel, I take out my phone and Google for a local private investigator agency, hoping they have such a thing here, like we have in the States.
I get a few options and pick the one that seems to promise the best service.
Calling the number on the web link, he picks up almost immediately. "Mark Hughes speaking. Can I help you?"
"Yes. This's James Leonard and I'm an American on vacation in Cape Town. I suspect someone, I've gotten to know recently, might be in grave danger and I need a PI to find out what has happened to him."
"Did you report it to the South African Police Service?"
"No and I wasn't planning to. He's not technically missing but I think he's been a victim of something or another and may be in a bad state."
"Ah. Sure. I'll text you my address and we can meet up today if you like.
"That'll be great, thanks. I'm on my way back to Cape Town from Stellenbosch and will make my way straight to you."
"I'm in Milnerton. Are you driving your own car or using a taxi?"
"I'm in a cab."
"Just give the driver the address. My office is in a small shopping centre in the main street and I'm sure he knows how to get here. See you soon. I'm here until 5:00 pm."
"Oh, ok and thank you for seeing me at such short notice."
"No problem, Cheers." The phone disconnects and sure enough, seconds later he sends the address. It's in Koeberg Road. I inform the driver and he says he knows where it is.
We head straight there.
I try and call Daniel but a recording tells me that he's not available at present.
An hour later, we stop in front of the shopping centre and the driver helps me locate his office on the second floor. The building only has three levels.
I knock and he lets me in. The cab driver sees that I'm sorted and goes back downstairs. The office is old and stuffy but at least its tidy. Not a young man anymore, he's nonetheless decently dressed and looks very astute. Possibly an ex-detective.
"Have a seat Mr Leonard." He recalls my name.
I sit down. "Thanks, and its James please."
"Call me Mark. Begin at the beginning and don't leave anything or anyone out. The more information you give me the quicker I can assist you." He falls right in and sits down opposite me on his chair and grabs a notepad and a pen."
I tell him the truth and he doesn't react to the idea of me and Daniel as a possible couple. If he does, he hides it well and remains professional. I think I hit the jackpot by choosing him.
The more I tell him what's happened, the more he takes notes. As I go on with my story, my confidence in him increases. I know he's going to help me find Daniel.
After I'm done and answer some of his questions, he leans back into his chair and frowns. "My instinct tells me you may be onto something here. No one changes like that overnight and for someone to get up and leave in the middle of the night, there has to be more to it."
"My thoughts exactly. Are you therefore going to help me?" I pause. "Don't worry about payment. I'm sure I can afford it."
"Thank you but I work on a strict fee policy, with fifty percent upfront, and fifty percent when I find him and or, give you my final report. He pushes a laminated sheet towards me and his fees are clearly stated thereon. This man's not only diligent but also ethical.
I take note of his fee for helping track down missing loved ones and I tap on it. "This your price?"
"Correct."
"I don't carry cash with me but if you have a credit card machine we can use my American Express, or you can give me your bank details and I'll EFT the money to you. It shouldn't take more than two days to reflect in your account. If you're prepared to wait of course? I on the other hand am desperate to get hold of Daniel."
"Mr Le... James. First off, I don't have a credit card facility. Secondly, I don't do well in this business just because of my experience and skills. Being good at reading people is key and I know you'll do as you say."
I let out a sigh of relief. "Thank you. Just send me your bank details and don't forget about the necessary codes for international transfers."
"Before you go. Do you have a photo of him?"
I don't think so but then remember that I can see his picture on his WhatsApp profile. "I only have this." And I show him.
"It's ok. At least I have an idea of what he looks like."
He stands up and I follow him.
"Thank you for selecting me to help you find Daniel. I'll be in touch, as soon as I find anything, and will send you an update every day, before I do."
He extends his arm across the desk and we shake hands.
"Thanks Mark. Here's my number and email address." I give him my business card.
He looks at it and then puts it with his notes before walking me to the door. After I exit he closes it behind me.
I know he'll get hold of Daniel. He better for my sake.