Recipes for Love and Murder. Sally Andrew

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СКАЧАТЬ just arrived at the Dwarsrivier B&B where Dirk is staying,’ I told the detective. ‘She’s got a gun.’

      ‘I’m on my way,’ he said.

      ‘We may need an ambulance too,’ I said, just before he hung up.

      ‘What room is Dirk van Schalkwyk in?’ I asked the girl.

      ‘Maaaaaa . . . ’ she called, her eyes wide open.

      I heard noises and saw an open door leading to a courtyard. A woman in a floral dress with a scarf covering her curlers came waddling out of a little office.

      ‘Jaaa . . . ’ she said to her daughter.

      But I was already on my way outside. A row of guest rooms opened onto an area with a pool, a table and chairs with a big umbrella, and some deck chairs. Kids and teenagers were swimming, and lying around the pool. Jessie was trying to get them to move into the reception area but they were ignoring her.

      ‘Emergency evacuation,’ said Jessie. ‘Move it!’

      A girl on a deck chair rolled from her back onto her side.

      ‘I was here first,’ she said.

      A little boy ran and jumped into the pool, splashing us all. It was a rude thing to do but I welcomed the cold drops on my face and arms.

      Anna was moving along, checking on each of the rooms. Her gun was held behind her back. These were badly behaved youngsters, I thought, but they didn’t deserve to get caught in a gun fight. I slipped off my shoes, stood on the first step of the pool and opened up my Tupperware. I unwrapped the cake, and held it out in front of me. I had their attention.

      ‘Cake,’ I said. ‘If you hurry inside now, you will each get a piece. Stay inside till I call you.’

      The kids were up and in that room like spring hares. I could hear the redhead and her ma shouting at them as they dripped water across the carpets. I felt bad lying to them about food. But I had a plan, so I wouldn’t really be lying.

      ‘Clear out,’ said Jessie, waving her pepper spray at a couple peering out from one of the rooms. They looked at Jessie and Anna then scuttled away.

      There were just two more unopened doors.

      ‘Don’t do it, Anna,’ I called. ‘Come sit and talk and with me. I’ve got a lamb sandwich and cake.’ I clutched my Tupperware to my heart. ‘Please.’

      But she was as focused as a lioness stalking her own dinner. Jessie was following her, getting closer.

      ‘Fok off,’ she said.

      She turned the handle on the second-last door, and opened it a crack. I closed my Tupperware and took a few steps back. Things were looking bad. Jessie gripped Anna’s shoulder and Anna struck out at Jessie, sending her flying backwards. Jessie lost her balance and toppled into the pool, splashing us with some more cool water.

      Anna pushed the door open with her foot, holding her gun out in front of her. The room was empty.

      Then I heard a toilet flushing, and the sound got louder as the bathroom door opened. It was not Dirk who stepped out, but a woman in a long dress.

      ‘Voetsek,’ said Anna, chasing her from the room.

      The woman shrieked and ran into the main house.

      There was still the sound of gurgling and splashing . . .

      Oh my God, Jessie! She can’t swim, I remembered.

      I jumped into the pool and managed to get a grip on her chin and hold it out of the water. She sucked in air. I held her head up and dragged her to the shallow end, where she sat on the step, coughing.

      Anna was rattling the door of the last guest room. It was locked. The curtains on the windows were closed. She stepped back a couple of paces from the door, the gun at her side. I thought I saw the curtains twitch slightly, but I had water in my eyes and couldn’t be sure.

      Anna ran and kicked her big boot smack into the door. I heard a crunch as the lock splintered; it fell open and she flew in.

      Then the shooting began. It was loud. So loud.

      Then it was quiet. Very quiet.

      The silence was broken by sirens. Getting closer. They were here at last. But it was all over now. Dirk came staggering out of the room, his face and sideburns all bloody, his arms bleeding. There was blood on his hands, dripping off his fingertips. I watched him stumbling towards the pool. He couldn’t see.

      I should’ve called out, to stop him. But I didn’t.

      He fell in. I could’ve jumped in to try and rescue him. But I didn’t.

      Jessie and I rushed to the room. Anna was sprawled across the floor. Her jeans darker than they should be and her white shirt blotched a bright tomato red.

      ‘No,’ I said. ‘Anna . . . ’

      I tried to go to her, but big hands were pulling me back, out of the way. Men in uniforms were everywhere. Then I was sitting. On a chair, outside, I think. Anna. I wondered if she was where she wanted to be now. Together with her Love. United with Martine.

      People, people were swarming all over.

      But I felt so alone.

      CHAPTER TWENTY-ONE

      ‘Are they all gone, Tannie? My ma said it was firecrackers but Pa said it was shooting.’

      I am not sure how long I had been sitting there in my own world, before this little voice pulled me back. My blue dress had dried, sticking to my skin.

      ‘And then I saw the people with the blood,’ he said, ‘so Pa must have been right. Firecrackers can’t do that to you, can they, Tannie? Ma says they are dangerous. There were policemen here, Tannie, there are still some.’

      He was looking up at me with big eyes, his hands held together in front of him. A skinny boy in swimming shorts and hungry ribs. There was a policeman putting yellow tape around the room. ‘POLICE’ was written in blue capitals across the tape. Another policeman was taking photographs.

      ‘Are they dead, Tannie? Are they?’

      ‘I don’t know,’ I said.

      ‘Me and my sister went inside, like you said. We were hiding behind the couch.’

      I realised I was clutching the Tupperware to my chest. I relaxed my grip and put it on my lap. His gaze followed the food.

      ‘I was scared, Tannie. We were all scared. But it’s over now, isn’t it?’

      ‘Yes,’ I said, ‘it’s over now.’

      The adults and some of the children were going back into their rooms, but a few of the children stayed in the safety of the main house, peering out from the doorway. They were frightened and needed something for the shock.

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