With a final click of his AD, Mr. Kagiso abruptly ended the conversation, his cold gaze fixed on Inspector Jaquan as if he were looking at an aberration that didn't belong in this world.
Pushing his chair back with a sharp scrape against the floor, Mr. Kagiso strode out of the coffee shop without a single word.
A chill seemed to settle over Jaquan, seeping into his bones and making him shiver as if the air had suddenly turned to ice. The last words that Mr. Kagiso spoke on his AD echoed in his mind, leaving behind a lingering sense of unease.
The whole encounter with Mr. Kagiso felt like a dream, too surreal to be believed. Jaquan couldn't shake off the feeling that something was off about it all. And then there was the mention of Batho being alive and at Mr. Kagiso's house...it was almost too much to comprehend.
Suppressing the sudden urge to dial Mr. Kagiso's number again to confirm the content of their last conversation, Jaquan could almost envisage the bleak prospect of losing his job and returning to the dark, cold inn if he succumbed to it.
The only plausible explanation was that Mr. Kagiso had been deceived into returning home. The haunting image of Batho's lifeless body remained vivid in Jaquan's mind - the contorted, swollen form that inspired a visceral revulsion.
With a hesitant hand, Jaquan retrieved his AD from his pocket, contemplating another call to his superior. Yet, a moment of hesitation swept over him, and he swiftly abandoned the idea.
Perhaps it would be wise for him to return to the mortuary and have another conversation with Dr. Mossing before taking any drastic actions, such as delivering the news of someone's death while that person seemed to be alive elsewhere.
Confusion clouded his expression as he drove back to the mortuary.
Dr. Mossing's reception of Inspector Jaquan's return was less than warm. Raising her eyebrows with a hint of amusement, she queried, "What brings you back to the mortuary?"
Ignoring the slight tone of disdain in her voice, Jaquan waved off her question. "I need to be certain. How confident are you that the body belongs to Batho?" he inquired, noting that the body had now been stored in the refrigerator units.
Frowning slightly at the question, Dr. Mossing's displeasure was no longer concealed. "Inspector Jaquan, are you questioning my professionalism? I assured you I conducted a DNA sequencing to confirm the body's identity. To my knowledge, it's impossible to fabricate an entire DNA sequencing. I also performed a neural scan for further confirmation."
Jaquan held up his hands in a placating gesture. "I don't doubt your professionalism, Dr. Mossing. It's just that... something doesn't feel right. I need to be absolutely certain before I proceed with anything." A rare moment that Jaquan softened his tone while talking to Dr. Mossing.
Even though Dr. Mossing was irked with his repeated questions, she could sense something was amiss.
Without another word, Dr. Mossing led Jaquan to the laboratory, where she pulled up the DNA sequencing and neural scan reports on the holographic display. Jaquan studied the data intently, searching for any inconsistencies or anomalies.
As Jaquan scrutinised the results, a nagging doubt crept into the recesses of his mind - if this truly was Batho, then who was the person appearing alive at Mr. Kagiso's doorstep?
Dr. Mossing's concerned expression reflected Jaquan's own unease. "What's wrong?" she inquired, sensing his unusual demeanour.
Shaking his head, Jaquan muttered more to himself than in response to Dr. Mossing, expressing his gratitude for her cooperation before departing the mortuary for the second time that day.
Exiting the mortuary, Jaquan found himself consumed by a whirlwind of unanswered questions.
His next move was clear: he needed to confer with his investigation team to piece together how the body had been discovered.
Upon his arrival at the department, a heavy silence fell over the room as Jaquan made his entrance. While his presence may not have been universally welcomed, his dedication to his career had garnered him a measure of respect from his juniors and subordinates.
The grim expressions mirrored on their faces confirmed Jaquan's suspicions - news of Batho's appearance at Mr. Kagiso's doorstep had not yet reached them.
Pausing to address his team, Jaquan could sense the tension thickening in the air. Each member averted their gaze, feigning absorption in their tasks.
The question of how the body was found lingered on Jaquan's tongue, leaving a bitter taste in his mouth. He dismissed the notion of voicing it aloud, opting instead to signal to Yamane to join him in his office.
With a subtle sigh, Yamane followed Jaquan into the confines of his office, where the weight of unanswered questions hung heavy in the air.
Once inside his office, Jaquan gestured for Yamane to take a seat, his mind racing with a multitude of inquiries.
"Yamane, I need a detailed account of how the body was discovered," Jaquan began, his voice steady but tinged with urgency.
Yamane nodded, his expression serious as he recounted the events leading up to the discovery of Batho's body. He described the meticulous search operation conducted by their team, using the same methods that they had used the previous days to scan for foreign objects in the river. And this morning, at about one meter below the water surface, an unusual object blocking river currents was detected. And this was how the body was discovered.
Listening intently, Jaquan absorbed every detail, his mind working overtime to connect the dots and uncover any potential discrepancies.
As Yamane finished his account, a heavy silence settled over the room. Jaquan leaned back in his chair, his brow furrowed in deep contemplation.
Shifting uncomfortably in his seat, Yamane couldn't help but wonder why Jaquan wasn't out dealing with the dead body and delivering the grim news, instead of lingering in the office asking questions that might not provide immediate answers to their pressing predicament. Summoning his courage, Yamane finally spoke up, "Inspector Jaquan, is something amiss?"
Jaquan's gaze remained fixed on Yamane as he shook his head solemnly. "Everything is awry," he replied with a heavy sigh.
Yamane's lips parted slightly, his confusion evident at Jaquan's cryptic response.
Rubbing his temples as a headache began to throb, Jaquan continued, "Mr. Kagiso claimed Batho was alive at his house."
A moment of stunned silence hung between them, before the reality of Jaquan's words began to sink in for Yamane. "What?" the word escaped Yamane's lips, caught in a mix of shock and disbelief.
"Have you informed Senior Inspector Morathi about this?" Yamane managed to swallow his initial astonishment.
At the mention of his superior, a disdainful curl formed on Jaquan's lips as he shook his head. "I can already imagine his reaction if I were to bring this to his attention," he muttered bitterly. The mental image of Morathi's smirk only added to Jaquan's frustration. "I need to unravel this mystery on my own."
Jaquan proceeded to recount how he had stumbled upon the news and Dr. Mossing's confirmation of the body's identity. Yamane's jaw dropped inch by inch as Jaquan revealed the events surrounding Batho's death and the shocking encounter with Mr. Kagiso. Soon, Yamane's expression mirrored Jaquan's own ashen face.
A heavy silence settled over the room as both men pondered the gravity of the situation.
"If the body in the mortuary is indeed Batho, then the one in Mr. Kagiso's house must be someone else," Yamane suggested with a hint of insight.
Jaquan nodded in agreement, the realisation sinking in deeper. Having realised the extent of the investigation's derailment, Jaquan knew that his only chance at redemption lay in uncovering the truth. If someone was masquerading as Batho and infiltrating Mr. Kagiso's home, it could only spell trouble. If Jaquan could intervene and save Mr. Kagiso from potential harm, he might just salvage what remained of his tarnished reputation.
With the urgency weighing heavy on his shoulders, Jaquan found himself arriving at the imposing gates of the Kagiso estate, and was met by a sense of foreboding.
The door swung open before him, revealing the cavernous interior of the mansion. Mr. Kagiso stood in the foyer, his expression unreadable as he greeted Jaquan with a curt nod.
"Inspector Jaquan," Mr. Kagiso's voice cut through the silence, his tone guarded. "To what do I owe the pleasure of this visit?"
Jaquan squared his shoulders, meeting Mr. Kagiso's gaze with unwavering determination. "I need to speak with you about your son, Batho," he began, wasting no time in addressing the matter at hand.
A flicker of emotion passed over Mr. Kagiso's features, his facade momentarily faltering before he regained his composure. "I see," he replied evenly, though the tension in the air was palpable, "to see if he is still alive?" his tone was icy cold.
Jaquan felt a chill run down his spine at the sarcasm laced beneath Mr. Kagiso's words.
Before Jaquan could respond, another voice echoed from within the mansion. It was Mrs. Kagiso, her tone oddly cheerful despite the gravity of the situation. "I heard Inspector Jaquan, shall we invite him to join our dinner?"
Mr. Kagiso's cold stare bore into Jaquan as he reluctantly stepped aside to allow Jaquan entry into the mansion. "Yes, of course," he said curtly, his tone betraying none of the turmoil beneath the surface.
As Jaquan stepped into the opulent dining room of the Kagiso mansion, he couldn't shake the eerie feeling that washed over him. The scent of freshly prepared food hung in the air, mingling with the heavy silence that enveloped the room.
Mr. and Mrs. Kagiso sat at the head of the table, Mr. Kagiso's expression unreadable as his wife gestured for Jaquan to take a seat.
To Jaquan's disbelief, Batho was there, seated between his parents, a picture of youthful innocence as he eagerly dug into his meal.
Jaquan felt a knot form in his stomach as he recalled the lifeless body he had seen in the mortuary, the image still haunting him.
Throughout the meal, Mrs. Kagiso seemed radiant, her joy evident as she doted on Batho, feeding him morsels of food and engaging in playful banter. Batho, too, laughed and chatted animatedly with his mother, his innocence a stark contrast to the serious expression of his father.
Every move Jaquan made seemed to be scrutinised by Mr. Kagiso, his expression a mask of concern and suspicion.
"Inspector Jaquan, we are forever indebted to you and your team," Mrs. Kagiso said, her voice filled with sincerity as she reached across the table to grasp Jaquan's hand. "Without your swift action, who knows what might have become of Batho?"
Jaquan almost choked on his food upon hearing this.
Jaquan managed a tight-lipped smile in response, his discomfort evident despite his best efforts to conceal it.
As the meal drew to a close, Jaquan felt a sense of relief wash over him. With each passing moment, the tension in the room had become almost unbearable, and Jaquan longed to escape the suffocating atmosphere of the Kagiso mansion.
"Come have a glass of whiskey with me," Mr. Kagiso invited, his inscrutable countenance betraying nothing as he gestured towards the living room.
Mrs. Kagiso offered a polite smile to Jaquan before withdrawing to the bedroom with Batho. Batho's black eyes seemed to glint eerily under the chandelier, sending a chill down Jaquan's spine.
An uneasy feeling settled in Jaquan's chest as he followed Mr. Kagiso to the living room.
Seated once again across from Mr. Kagiso, Jaquan found himself facing the same scene as before, two glasses of whiskey resting on the table between them.
Mr. Kagiso allowed the silence to stretch uncomfortably before swirling the amber liquid in his glass. "Inspector Jaquan, are you a careful person?" he finally asked, his voice measured.
Shifting in his seat, Jaquan felt a sense of unease wash over him. "I believe so," he replied cautiously, unsure of where this line of questioning was leading.
"Hmm..." Mr. Kagiso nodded thoughtfully before setting down his glass with a soft clunk. "Did you run a proper check before releasing the news to me?"
"I..." Jaquan faltered, caught off guard by the directness of the question.
"As you can see, my wife is now happy with Batho's return," Mr. Kagiso continued, taking a sip of his whiskey. The implication hung heavy in the air, leaving Jaquan with a sense of foreboding.
Jaquan nodded, the lump in his throat difficult to swallow.
Mr. Kagiso leaned forward, his cold stare boring into Jaquan. "If my wife caught wind of any false news you released to me," he said, pouring himself another glass, "I'll make sure you never see daylight again."
Every muscle in Jaquan's back tensed as he absorbed the threat. He wasn't even sure if he managed to nod in response. Without another word from Mr. Kagiso, Jaquan found himself ushered out of the mansion.
And that was a week ago.