CHAPTER EIGHT

Sunday morning came. Cool, breezy, and partly cloudy, the weather was simply lovely. Jane called a taxi after finishing her breakfast. She was dropped off at the bus station around nine-thirty-five. “Fuck, I must’ve missed the bus.” She hissed, and hurried to the boarding point…sadly it had already taken off. She went to the waiting room. The lady seated next to her informed her that the next bus would leave in thirty minutes. She used the remaining time to find something to eat.

When the bus finally arrived she occupied the back seat, next to an older man. They greeted each other in their native tongue and began chatting until the bus took off. Old people are really wise and should be included in the nation-building programs, she mused.

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MaidercalledGilandtheytalkedaboutthe weekend.

“Hey, where are you, charmer boy?” “At work, girl,” he responded.

“Don’t you have time for a little chat, darling?”

“Ok, what about?” Gil asked. “Did she say bye?”

“Yep!” he wished he could ask Maider what exactly she is after, but he couldn’t. What if Maider was a part of the plan, and any suspecting question could bait him in.

“And… you like her, right?” she poked him.

“Are you spying for her?” He giggled over the phone. “Did she say something about me?”

“Not really, just asking.”

“I do, I really like her, but I'm not sure I’m doing the right thing.” He tried to milk her for some insight.

“Did you say that friend of yours was a lawyer, I need some legal advice, may I have his contacts?” she asked, changing the topic.

“Hold on please, just a sec,” he had a brief exchange with someone on the other side and was back on the line again.

“You mean Professor? Yes, he is and his numbers are +267…” She wrote them down as they were called out to her. His boss was on his case over him being on the phone during work hours. He quickly gave the number without even trying to find out the real reason why she needed it. The fact that Maider had mentioned having some issues with legal stuff was enough for him to give the number.

“I have to go,” he cut off the call.

She punched Jane’s number, “Hello…hello…” then it was cut off, it seemed like there was a network problem. She put the phone aside. I will call her later. She murmured onto the phone. She left the living room, collected the laundry from the bedroom, and piled it in the bathroom. She then started working on it.

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At 14:50 the bus arrived in Rakops. She de-boarded, a bit exhausted, and then returned Maider’s call as she walked to her house.

“Hello, Jane.” Maider was breathing heavily.

“Yes, why are breathing like that?” She giggled at the question. Maider laughed too, she knew what her friend was thinking.

“Hell no! Just doing my laundry,” she reproached.

“I missed your call earlier, anything of importance?”

“Not really, I got the contacts of the lawyer guy, you remember him? Your boyfriend’s buddy.” She added with a naughty chuckle.

“Good. Maider…” she called out. “I have a bad feeling that he is the one. What do you think?

“Not certain about it, maybe he is, maybe not” she was exhausted. “Just carry on with the investigations, girl.” She gave her the number.

“Okay… thanks.” They hung up.

She turned left and followed the dusty gravel road to her house. The realization of the wide difference between urban and rural areas in Botswana hit her. From the Rakops rank to her house, one had to follow the gravel road that goes across the river.

She went past the bridge and stopped for a few moments, enjoying the breeze from the currently flowing Boteti River. She resumed her journey after five or so minutes. When she reached her place, she made a quick security check, unlocked the door, and threw everything she was carrying on the sofa. She went to the bathroom and filled the bathtub, then had a long relaxing bath.