Episode 2
The Inside Man
As he entered the car, depressed and hopeless, a voice came from the backseat. "What took you so long?"
Sizwe turned, his eyes widening. "Senzo!" He felt a wave of relief. "What brings you back to Kyalami?"
"I have a deal," Senzo said. "I heard about your debts. I have a plan that can benefit us both."
Sizwe remained quiet. "Come on, brother," Senzo urged. "We can do this."
"I'm not interested," Sizwe replied. "I have a reputation to maintain."
"Man, I’ve been your brother from the start. Don't let me down."
"What’s the job?" Sizwe asked.
"A bank robbery."
Sizwe recoiled. "No, no! Not at my workplace. I don't want to go to jail."
"It’s a clean job. You’ll just be the inside man. We’ll hit it in two months so it doesn’t look suspicious. I’ll call you to set up a meeting with my crew."
"Fine," Sizwe whispered.
They dropped him at his gate. Inside, his wife, Caroline, was beaming. She told him three men in suits had delivered a cake and toy guns for the kids earlier that day.
"Men in black suits?" Sizwe asked, panicked.
"Yes. Didn't you send them?"
"Oh, yes," he lied quickly. "Just a little surprise."
"Toy guns, Sizwe? What kind of inspiration is that for the kids?"
"In case they want to join the police," he stammered.
"Behave like a father, Sizwe," she sighed.
He went silent and soon fell into a heavy, faked sleep to avoid more questions. He spent the night brainstorming. He loved his family more than the job that provided for them, and by Saturday morning, his decision was made.
The following Sunday, a loan shark called. "I hate following people, especially those who owe me money," the voice growled. "It's been three months. Pay up, or you'll be paying for your wife's funeral."
"Give me one month," Sizwe begged.
"One month. Or you lose her."
When he hung up, Caroline asked who it was. "Wrong number," he said, his voice trembling.
Two weeks later, Sizwe met Senzo in Midrand. "The loan sharks are closing in," Sizwe admitted. "I don't want to lose my wife. Let's move the date up."
Senzo agreed. He organized a meeting with his crew but secretly told one of his men to keep an eye on Sizwe. Senzo had once been a Mafia don in Midrand—a "Godfather" who never took no for an answer. He and Sizwe had grown up like brothers, running the streets of Kyalami and Olivenhoutbosch. Senzo had fled to Cape Town years ago after murdering a neighbor who was set to testify against him.
Sizwe’s life continued to spiral. School fees were overdue, and he was saving every cent for the upcoming heist. He began planning to take the money and flee to Canada. He had no family left in South Africa; he had been born in Bulawayo, Zimbabwe, and still owed $12,000 back there.
Suddenly, his phone rang. It was his wife’s number, but a deep, unfamiliar voice answered. "She's alive for now. I'm taking her until I get my money."
Sizwe rushed home to find the house empty. Only a letter sat on his office table. He opened it, and tears fell as he collapsed into his chair.
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