She streamed through the footage until she found what she had been searching for. In her excitement she almost missed it, and there he stood in frame five. The man she had previously thought was irrelevant when she had gone through the footage earlier. The man with the hideous scar that streamed up his arm.
Could it be him? Is he Sarah’s murderer? A chill ran down her back as she stared at the figure on the screen. She needed confirmation. She had to find Shafika and get her to confirm the man’s identity. Mamoloko took a screen shot and sent the image through to the printer. She drummed her fingers on the printer waiting anxiously for the image to come out.
She paced anxiously up and down the entrance of the lecture theatre LU240. Her star witness was inside for her 8 a.m. lecture. Her heart beat erratically as the anticipation of finally solving the case suffocated her. Her head was swarming with questions and she could no longer wait for the answers. The door groaned as it was forced open, protesting as it made its way open across the concrete floor.
Mamoloko walked into an empty lecture theatre where she paused confused. Her eyes moved across the empty room and landed on a man sitting in the front row.
“Hello. Can I help you?” he asked.
“Uhh no… uhh yes…” Mamoloko said stumbling to find the right words. “There was supposed to be a class in here? Biology 103?” she continued, uncertain of her questions.
The man rose from the desk and approached Mamoloko.
“Oh yes there was, but class was cancelled. Due to recent events the university gave everyone a day off to mourn their loss.”
“Well that does not really help me,” Mamoloko sighed in frustration.
“Are you supposed to be in my class? I have never seen you before.” the man asked nonchalantly.
“No I am just looking for someone.” Mamoloko replied.
“Oh OK and you are?
“My apologies, my name is Mamoloko Setati.”
“Nice to meet you Ms Setati. I am Johan Smit.” he said reaching over to offer a handshake.
Mamoloko’s eyes shrivelled in horror as she saw the material of his shirt move back over his arm when his hand reached out towards her. The scars that ran up his arm looked familiar. They caressed his arm in a disfigured fashion, making them almost unbearable to look at. As her brain processed the scene unfolding before her eyes, it seemed to have forgotten to send messages to the rest of her body.
The screen shot that she had brought to show Shafika slipped from her fingers and landed like a feather on the ground. Mamoloko quickly bent down to pick it up but Johan was faster than her. As he rose from the ground his eyes brushed over the image staring back at him.
“Well, well, well Mamoloko Setati it looks like you have quite an unflattering picture of me,” Johan said as a sly smile morphed onto his face.
Mamoloko turned to run; the shock semi paralysed her limbs. Just as she reached the door a scarred hand forced it shut.
“Moenie worry nie poopie. Alles gaan okay wees.” The words rang in her ear but they were soon replaced by the sound of the door locking.
***
Tell us what you think: Did you guess that the killer was a lecturer?