For the date, Liz was wearing a long red dress that hugged her curves and emphasised her long legs. James had never noticed the gorgeous bronze colour of her skin. Liz, on the other hand, had on just enough makeup to emphasise her facial features, although James thought she looked okay when she didn’t wear it. But he had only seen her once without any makeup on, though. She had called in sick, so he had gone round to her flat to check up on her and give her some chicken soup to help make her feel better.

Once James had gotten to her flat, he had ended up staying the entire day taking care of her, warming up soup for her and making hot lemon juice with honey for her. He had later put her to bed after she had fallen asleep on his lap, lying next to him on the couch after they had watched old movies.

After that, James had decided that he liked sick Liz. She was cuddly, and the truth was that he liked cuddling her. He had sat playing with her hair as she slept on his lap for hours that night, and for the first time in his life, he had found a shred of good come out of his separation from Nolwazi. He could at long last be with Liz without feeling like he was cheating on her because he cared for her.

Seeing Liz now dressed the way she was, looking as stunning as she did, was causing goose pimples all over James’s skin. Her auburn hair was straightened and looked longer than normal, and he liked it.

“What do you think?” Liz asked, bringing her partner out of his reverie.

James wanted to answer, but he was frightened he might stutter.

“Liz, there’s a black limo outside with your name on it,” Constable Manamela said as he ambled into the bullpen.

“That’s tacky,” Liz quipped.

“You know what I mean,” Constable Manamela said, then laughed. “You look stunning.”

“Thanks. Let’s just hope Silas Baloyi thinks so too,” Liz said, sounding more and more like she didn’t want to do what she was about to do, which was indeed the fact.

“I think you’d get your answer to where the two women are much quicker if you went in with your birthday suit, but I guess that’s not really an option now, is it,” the constable said.

“No,” Liz exclaimed clearly. “Guess I better be going.”

“We’re right behind you. The van is prepped and ready, and I was just coming to fetch you,” the constable said, looking at James.

“Let’s go,” replied James, and the three of them walked out together.

When they arrived, the driver escorted detective Liz to the table where Silas Baloyi was sitting. He was wearing a bespoke suit and looked as smug as ever. When Liz arrived, he stood up then tried kissing her on the cheek, but she leaned back.

“I don’t know what you thought was going to happen here, but I’m here for one reason and one reason only, and that’s so you can tell me the whereabouts of Rachel and Agnes Motsamai,” Liz said in a frank tone.

“Then you had better start entertaining me, detective. Or I’ll never tell you,” Silas said with a smirk.

After Silas spoke, Liz stood up straight and, this time, remained still as he planted a kiss on her cheek. Throughout the experience, Silas’s hand was brushing along the back of her neck as he smelled her hair.

“I’m surprised you haven’t booked a room,” Liz said sarcastically as she pulled away from Silas and sat down.

“I have,” Silas responded. “We’re not eating here.”

After hearing that, Liz quickly stood up. “If you think I’m going to some hotel room alone with you, then you have another thing coming. I’m not stupid,” she bristled.

“But you do want to know where they are, so you’ll do as I say,” Silas responded.

“Then what, you’ll demand I sleep with you before you tell me where they are?” Liz inquired.

Instead of responding, Silas just simply smiled at Liz. In his mind, her suggestion wasn’t such a bad idea.

Outside, while sitting in a white van, Detective Vilakazi, Constable Manamela, Sergeant Peterson and Captain Maseko were all listening to everything Silas and Liz were saying, and it was all thanks to the wire they had fitted on Liz.

“Alright, that’s it, I’ve just about had enough of this,” said James as he began to move towards the door.

As James was standing up, the captain pulled him back down. “Will you relax?” he said, sounding a whole lot calmer than he actually felt. “I’m not going to allow her to go to any hotel room alone with him. Let’s just wait this out a minute.”

“Look, it’s not some hotel room. It’s just more private than this,” Silas said to Liz while looking around at the busy restaurant.

“Where?” Liz asked.

Instead of answering, Silas looked over at the goon standing in the corner of the restaurant. Liz had not noticed he was standing in front of a door.

“Fine,” Liz said. “But if you try anything, I’ll dislocate your shoulder.”

“Feisty too … just the way I like my women.”

“Shut your mouth,” Liz said as she ambled ahead of Silas.

While they were walking, Silas placed his hand on the small of Liz’s back, and guided her over to the guard. Once inside the room, Liz noticed a small table set out for two people with a bottle of wine in the centre. It dawned on her that Silas was a man of his word, so her hopes of him actually telling her what she wanted to know were increasing slightly.

“Nice set up,” Liz said, knowing it would reassure her colleagues that there was nothing funny going on, yet. She then noticed the chaise lounge, and she could only imagine what Silas had in mind involving that. “That’s a little presumptuous don’t you think?” she asked, pointing at the chaise lounge.

“I was hoping we could sit down and have a chat after our meal,” Silas responded.

“We can sit at the table and chat,” Liz said as she helped herself to a seat.

Instead of saying anything, Silas simply watched on as Liz sat down. He had wanted to pull the chair out for her, but he decided he would just sit down and join her, guessing she was Little Miss Independent from the moment she’d squared up to him in the interrogation room.

“You look gorgeous, by the way,” Silas finally said with a smirk on his face. “Better than I had imagined you would, in clothes, that is.”

On hearing the comment, Liz merely looked at Silas. “Can we just order?” She asked.

“I already have,” Silas said.

Silas didn’t know, but Liz despised men who tried to order for her, and she loathed men who did order for her. “So, how long does this have to go on before you tell me where they are?” she inquired.

“Until I’m satisfied,” Silas responded.

“You have two hours, then I’m arresting you,” Liz said in a frank manner.

Before answering, Silas nodded. “I think that should be enough time,” he said

After speaking to Liz, Silas shouted something in his native tongue to the man standing by the door. Liz then watched on as the man walked over, take out a bottle of wine, and pour a drink for her and then one for Silas.

“This is work, and I don’t drink on the job,” Liz told Silas.

“No, detective, this is a date,” Silas responded. “So you’ll drink, or I’ll leave.”

Deciding she could probably do with a drink anyway, Liz took a swig because, she thought, one drink wouldn’t hurt. She then returned her glass to the table. “Now what?” she asked.

“Tell me about yourself,” Silas said.

“Why don’t you tell me why you take such pleasure in exploiting women first?” Liz responded.

Silas laughed. “This is a date, detective, and I don’t mix business with pleasure,” he said.

“You son-of-a…” Liz said, unable to hold in her anger. Silas was ticking her off fast, and she was trying desperately to stop herself from lunging across the table and putting her stiletto in his mouth.

“Where did you grow up?” Silas asked.

“Here,” Liz answered simply.

“What were your parents like?” Silas asked.

“Great,” Liz said, lying.

“What made you want to become a cop?” Silas asked her as he leaned across the table and put his hand on hers.

Even as Silas did that, Liz didn’t bother moving her hand. She hoped a little co-operation would have him talking quicker. Instead, she took another much needed swig of her drink. “Putting slime-balls like you away,” she said

Before answering, Silas laughed at Liz’s remark. “So much anger,” he said as he stared at her, the smile never leaving his face.

“Where are they, Baloyi?” Liz asked as she leaned in.

Before Silas could answer, another door opened and two waiters walked in carrying two trays of food. Silas leaned back as the waiter put the fish starter in front of him, and Liz copied him as her tray was put down too. She then looked at Silas, wondering when the nightmare would be over.

***

Tell us: Do you think Silas committed the crime, and if yes, do you think he will tell Liz?