Silent Valley Read Online Free PDF

suspects.’
    ‘Saturday morning was the first time the girl’s name appeared on the record,’ Bagley said. ‘The Kamberg Valley natives are very traditional and keep to themselves, so that’s no surprise.’
    True. But being off the police offenders list didn’t necessarily make Amahle a girl without a history. Only members of the Zulu community would be able to provide a detailed portrait of who she was in life.
    ‘Would the native constables have any idea what might have happened to her?’ Emmanuel asked. The black and white communities overlapped in specific work locations: the kitchen, the garden, the farmyard and the nursery. Segregation laws kept them apart in the bar and the bedroom.
    ‘It’s like I said.’ Bagley took a deep draw of nicotine and focused on the note fluttering on the station’s front door. ‘The last two days have been a busy time for us.’
    Not one phone call was made or one question asked about Amahle Matebula’s disappearance. Missing persons were the bane of police work, but Emmanuel had no doubt that things would have been different if Amahle had been blonde with blue eyes, freckles and a snub nose. At least Bagley had the grace to look uncomfortable about his negligence.
    ‘I admit I should have looked for her, Sergeant. But you understand how things work . . .’
    Emmanuel understood perfectly how things worked. It pained him.
    ‘ Inkosi Bagley. Inkosi Bagley . . .’ a voice called from the grassy field behind the station. Two black men dressed in the distinctive white robes worn by members of the Zion Church ran towards them, sweating and out of breath.
    ‘Constables,’ Bagley said when the two native policemen stopped short at the sight of Shabalala, now standing with his hands resting on the hood of the Chevrolet. It was an oddly protective gesture considering the passenger in the car was already dead.
    ‘What is it, Shabangu? Spill the news. These men are also police,’ Bagley said to a gaunt man with a receding hairline; the man’s ankle-length robe was splattered with mud and stained with sweat.
    ‘A murder in the valley,’ Shabangu said to the patch of dirt at Bagley’s feet. ‘Chief Matebula’s daughter was found this morning near to Little Flint Farm. Baba Kaleni saw her with his own eyes.’
    ‘Where is Kaleni now?’ Emmanuel asked Shabangu. ‘We’d like to talk to him.’
    ‘He is at the river baptism, inkosi . You must take the walking track that is four miles past the sign for Little Flint Farm. By the rock that looks like a dog’s head.’
    ‘Thanks,’ Emmanuel said and turned to Bagley. ‘We need to see the local doctor. If there is one.’
    There would be no local hospital. Roselet was too small.
    ‘Dr Daglish lives right here on Greyling Street.’ Bagley indicated the road running parallel to the station. ‘What do you need a doctor for, Sergeant?’
    ‘To examine the body.’ Emmanuel moved to the Chevrolet. ‘How will we know which house is the doctor’s?’
    ‘Take a left onto Greyling. It’s the sixth house on the left. There’s a yellow fence and a wild pear tree in the front.’ Bagley crossed the yard while he spoke, drawn to the black Chevrolet by the implication of Emmanuel’s words. He peered through the back passenger window at the outline of Amahle’s body under the tartan blanket. ‘It’s a beautiful house,’ he said. ‘You can’t miss it.’
    Emmanuel paused before getting into the car. ‘I’ll need to use the station telephone when we get back. I have to call Durban.’
    ‘Of course, Sergeant. Whatever the boys and I can do to help. Just let me know.’
    ‘Much appreciated. We’ll scratch around for leads and get you and the native constables on board with the investigation right away.’
    ‘When you’re ready, you know where to find us.’ Bagley retreated to the front steps, his cigarette smoked down to the butt. ‘The station is at your disposal, Sergeant.’
    Emmanuel imagined a headline across