Smile’s Golf 7 GTI pulls up to the pavement opposite Jacob’s house just after nine in the morning. He checks the rear-view mirrors once again before he dials Sbahle’s number.
“It is all clear, babe. You can come out,” says Smile.
Sbahle comes out of the house wearing black jeans, a white vest, a denim jacket and flip flops. Her silky dark hair is tied up in a simple ponytail and she is wearing just the right amount of make-up. A blue Ford Figo suddenly comes roaring down the road.
Smile opens his window quickly and shouts to Sbahle, “Wait, babe!”
Sbahle stops dead in her tracks. Smile opens his door slightly while his right hand pulls out the pistol on his waist. The rule of thumb he follows when it comes to being attacked while inside a car is to get out of the car before anything happens. He has even jumped out of a moving car twice and cheated death thanks to following this rule. He grins and breathes through his teeth as the Ford Figo nears.
The Figo flies past Smile’s car. He watches it in the rear-view mirror until it disappears before he exhales and relaxes. With a flick of his hand, he signals to Sbahle that it is safe for her to come to him.
When Sbahle turns around to close the gate behind her, Smile bites his lower lip, squints and shakes his head slowly. Sbahle turns and sees the expression on Smile’s face.
“You want some of this?” she strikes a pose, laughs, and continues to the passenger side of the car.
“Definitely!” Smile reaches over and opens the door for her from inside.
Sbahle gets in and kisses him. She puts on her seatbelt and they are gone.
Sne watches Sbahle and Smile drive off from the kitchen. She calls Zola.
“They just left the house,” says Sne.
“Good! Everything is set, the boys are in place and ready to take care of business. You’ll get your money tomorrow,” says Zola.
“But please, Zola, make sure Sbahle doesn’t get hurt. She’s all Jacob has and I love her.”
“You’ll get your money tomorrow, cuz,” Zola ends the call.
Sne tries to call Zola again but he doesn’t answer.
Smile and Sbahle are hand in hand as the Golf 7 GTI devours the kilometres on the N3.
“Babe, where do you live these days?” Sbahle suddenly asks.
Smile laughs. “You know where I live, Sbahle.”
“I know where your mom and your family lives. But that’s where you used to live. I want to know where you live now?”
“Who sent you?” Smile mimics a common line from action movies, complete with a deep voice. “How much did they pay you? I’ll double it!”
Sbahle can’t help but smile at how accurately Smile does that voice. “But seriously, hun, you’re supposed to know by now that I’d never sell you out.”
“I do, babe, but I’m in so much heat right now that I have to remain a ghost even to my own family.”
Smile checks his mirrors and sees no car following him. In Cato Ridge he takes a few quick turns and ends up in front of a B&B that Sbahle has never seen before. Smile makes a quick call and both the gate and the garage door of the B&B open.
“Home sweet home,” Smile says as he checks up and down the street before driving in.
“You could have bought me a very nice phone with the money you spent here,” Sbahle says, almost to herself.
Smile gives her a not-again look. “Tell me what you want and I’ll give you the money to buy it right now, Sbahle.”
“You know I promised Dad I wouldn’t let you buy me stuff. And that man really knows everything I have, even earrings. I recently bought …”
“Then why are you complaining about me not buying you a nice phone?” Smile protests as the garage door closes behind them.
Sbahle laughs. “I’m just saying this place looks like it costs a lot. Calm down, mister.”
They go up the stairs to the bedroom and have a great six hours together. When it’s time to leave, at around four in the afternoon, Smile calls an Uber for Sbahle.
“Why?” Sbahle asks. “Why don’t you drive me home?”
“I just have a bad feeling about driving you home when it’s this close to getting dark. You’ll be safer in an Uber, babe,” says Smile.
***
Tell us: Do you think they will find Smile?