All colour drains from Primo’s face as he watches the video. He shakes his head and tries to collect himself. He rolls down the window and takes deep breaths.

Zandile takes out the evidence bag with the blue pills inside and throws it at Primo.

“The hell? What’s this now?” says Primo.

“You tell us?”

“I don’t know what this is,” Primo protests.

“Don’t lie to me, Primo!”

“I’m not lying!”

“Did you see the video?”

“Yes, I saw it!”

“And?”

“And what?”

“And you don’t feel anything about it? You don’t care that your drugs did that?”

“Now wait a minute, Detective Cele. Don’t try to pin this on me. I don’t sell these pills.”

“You know what, Primo? Let’s just decide to part ways. We’ve been paying you all this time but you never give us useful information. You have immunity to sell whatever you are selling because you are our informant. But that goes away right now if you aren’t willing to help us.”

“Come on, Detective Cele. I’d help you if I could.”

“Fine. Then all your privileges are gone. A soon as you open that door, you’re on your own. And the gangsters you deal with will be very happy to know that they’ve been dealing with a police informant. Correct me if I ‘m wrong here, Primo. Isn’t being a police informant considered an unforgivable crime in the 26s gang? Isn’t it a death sentence to work with the police? And are you not high up in that gang?”

“Don’t you dare, Detective. Don’t do that.”

“Why not? You are not helping us in any way so you might as well-”

“Alright! Alright! I’ll tell you what I know,” says Primo. He looks at the pills, lets out a deep sigh and shakes his head. “But both of you need to promise me one thing.”

They both turn to the backseat and look into Primo’s eyes. 

“We will make no promises until we hear what you have to say,” says Gloria.

“I’m serious. No-one can find out you heard this from me. If any of my 26s gang brothers find out I work with the police it will be my death sentence. My own friends will slit my throat, cut out my tongue and take out my eyes,” says Primo.

“Your life is in your hands then, Primo. You tell us what we need to know and no-one finds out you work with the police,” says Zandile.

Gloria takes out a notepad and pen.

“Three days ago this guy came to me with a few of these pills. He said-”

“Stop being vague, Primo! We need details. What’s this guy’s name? Where does he stay? Do you have his cell number? Do you chat with him on WhatsApp? Does he have his face on his profile picture?”

Primo lets out a sigh. He scrolls on his cellphone. “His name is Sthe. I don’t know his surname but I have his number and yes it’s his face on his profile picture.”

He hands the Zandile his cellphone. Sthe’s profile picture is large on the screen. Zandile takes a screen shot of the profile picture. He hands the cellphone back to Primo. 

“Send me that screenshot,” says Zandile. “Go on.”

“Sthe got out of jail a month ago. He served thirteen years for robbery. He showed me these pills. Said he gets them directly from the man who actually makes them.”

“Who is this man that makes them?” says Gloria.

“That I don’t know,” says Primo.

“Come on Primo. You’re doing it again. You’re holding out on us,” says Zandile.

“I’m not holding out. I honestly don’t know the man who makes the pills. I wanted to know him because he’s selling the pills at a cheap price, but I lost interest after I saw what that pill did to one of the guys I use to test new pills. I know you think I’m heartless, but I know wrong when I see it and that pill was wrong.”

“What happened?” says Gloria.

“My tester lost his mind hardly thirty minutes after taking that pill. He became violent, was hallucinating and had the strength of ten men. He just lost his mind,” says Primo. 

“Where can we find Sthe?” says Zandile.

“He lives in a flat in the city centre. He said the man who makes the pills delivers them to him every Wednesday.”

“That’s good, Primo. You did well. This information will save many lives,” says Zandile.

“That’s great. I just hope it won’t lead to my death,” Primo mutters. 

He opens the door, gets in his car and leaves.

Tell us: What do you think about the fact that the police allow Primo to deal drugs in exchange for information?