Winter mornings are cruel, but cold or not, I still wake up early and head to work. Criminals don’t sleep, why should an officer? It’s been two years ever since I started on the force, but it’s only yesterday that I felt like a cop. Detective Jakes Mbonani relieved me from my station duties and told me to go make an arrest. It’s my first big arrest, and it started with Kwaggafontein’s business tycoon.

“Excuse me…” I say, trying to push my way in. The group of female and male journalists standing at the gate with cameras and microphones turn their attention to me.
“Officer Shweni, Timothy Masilela was arrested last night. Was it because of the missing witness, Pearl Mabaso?” asks a female journo.

It’s the second time Timothy has been arrested this month. The first time was about the jewellery heist Pearl Mabaso witnessed three weeks ago at her place of work. She works as a security guard at Angel Pieces. She was on duty that day, together with a male guard. The heisters eliminated the male guard because he was rebellious, but that happened after he pulled one of the heister’s masks off. Pearl got a call just before he was about to tell Radebe the name, and she’s been missing ever since. Do I tell them that I arrested him for Driving Under the Influence?

“I… I’m afraid I can’t say anything at the moment. We’re investigating, but we’ll tell you when there’s something to share. For now, please excuse me.”

They start squeezing me in a circle, each one fighting to speak louder than the other while shoving microphones in my face. A police car honks, scattering the group. I quickly walk in as Officer Phelo drives in, and the gates get closed by two other officers.

“Peakanyo,” he says, hopping out. “What did you say to them?”

He’s a few inches taller, a bit more muscular, and has great hazel eyes that mine get lost in every time we talk.
“That we’re still investigating,” I reply, my hands clasped on the lunchbox bag for warmth.

Nodding, “Good call. Are you still game for Lucy’s live recording tonight?”

This is the only colleague I see as a friend. We trained together at the academy, and we’re from the same neighbourhood. Sometimes we do drinks; this time, he proposed a live performance. He knows how I’ve been wanting to go to one and how much of a music lover I am.

“I arrested her husband last night. I think this is the last face she’ll want to see.” I shake my head, sauntering into the station with him following behind me.

He laughs, “She won’t know.”

Sergeant Radebe is walking toward me with a form; she places it on my chest. “That’s a release form. Go fetch Timothy Masilela.”

Catching it, “No, I…”
“Are you saying no to my orders, Shweni?” she asks.

Radebe likes acting as if she’s the captain of the station, calling shots and poking her nose where it doesn’t belong. She’s just always difficult.
“Sergeant, the BAC limit was 0.35 milligrams. That’s why I arrested him.” I make it a point to say it slowly so she’ll understand.

She folds her arms. “Can you even read a breathalyser? I’m asking, Shweni, because you’ve been working behind the desk for two years.”

“I’m sure she can,” defends Phelo.

She shoots him a glance, and he keeps quiet.
“Tell you what, I came here after you left. The breathalyser read 0.24 milligrams. Actually, I’ll release him.”

She yanks the form from me and marches into the passage.
“Mistakes happen, Pea…” Phelo says as my gaze follows after Masilela, who disappears down the passage.

I ignore him and walk into the passage. I don’t know what I’ll say to that woman, but I can’t allow her to insult my intelligence like that. The end of the passage leads to a burglar bar that opens to a series of cells. It’s not locked, so I just walk in. The sound of people laughing stops me in my tracks. The sound is from the first cell on my right. Radebe is unlocking the cell I assigned Timothy to. I quietly walk back out.

“I’m more than happy, Tim… that’s a lot of money,” says Masilela. “We’ll make sure she’s ten feet under by tonight.”

“That’s not enough; burn the body first, then bury it. Pearl was a pain in the ass,” he says simply. “I need to get home as soon as possible. Benjamin says my wife didn’t sleep at home.”

My mouth hangs open. The lunchbox bag slips from my hands and falls on the floor, making an echo in the passage.

“Shweni?!” she calls out, surprised.

Timothy is behind her with a clenched jaw. He pushes her aside, and it clicks to me that he’s coming for me. I push the burglar bar to his face and run up the passage while he groans.

“Pea, what’s going on?” asks Phelo behind the front desk.

“Take me to Detective’s house now!” I reply, already running out the door.

He emerges, unlocking the car. I throw myself in; he’s inside in a second too, and he drives out. Thank goodness the journos have left.

“Are you gonna tell me what’s going on?” he asks.

“Timothy wants me dead.”

“What?” he exclaims.

My phone rings in my pocket. It’s written Sergeant Radebe.

“Answer it,” says Phelo.

I tap on the decline option and switch my phone off. He huffs and curses. There’s a police van after us. When his phone rings, he answers and puts it on loudspeaker.

“Mokoena, give the phone to Shweni,” says Radebe, and I click my tongue in return. “Shweni, please, we just want to talk.”

“The only talking Timothy knows is of guns and bullets. You guys want to kill me and burn me like Pearl,” I lose control of my voice. My heart is beating so hard that I slightly feel dizzy.

“Where are you going, Shweni?” asks Radebe cautiously. “Peakanyo, don’t do something stupid. Think of my career. Pearl died because she couldn’t keep her mouth shut. Do you want the same to happen to you?”

I hear a deep voice in the background before the line dies. Phelo looks at me with nothing but fear, and I know he’s about to go mushy all over me. He stops a few blocks away from the Detective’s house. Why is he stopping?

He puts his hands together as if praying. “Pea, listen to me. You don’t have to do this.”

I can’t believe he just said that. He’s a cop, for goodness’ sake.
“Pearl was a mum, sister, daughter, and member of this community. She deserves justice.”

“Fuck justice!” he hits the steering wheel. “Will justice bring her back? Will it protect you from Timothy’s wrath? Huh?”

My eyes swell up with tears. Their van is close to catching up with us.
He brushes my chin with his thumb. “You and I both know how much you hate being a cop. All you ever wanted was to become a singer. Why are you suddenly so eager, playing hero and risking your life in the process?”

Pushing his hand away, “Someone died, and since I have the resources to help, I’ll help.”

Jumping out of the car, I’m racing to Detective Mbonani’s gate.
My body comes to a standstill when I hear the crack of a gun firing on my right. A short, dark guy has a gun pointed at me, stepping towards me. The van they’re riding appears on the right and parks inches from me. My hands are on my head at this moment, and I’m shaking. If anything happens to me, I’ve got only myself to blame.

“I hate people who don’t listen, Pea.” He removes my hands from my head. He is a strongly built giant with eyes that hold so much darkness and cruelty that I leer away.

“Oh no…” says Radebe.

I trace her eyes. They’re staring at something in Detective’s yard. It’s him and Lucy Masilela kissing on the doorway.

“Lucy!!” yells Timothy.

This is my chance to run away and never look back.