Present Tense by Natalie Conyer

Author:Natalie Conyer [Conyer, Natalie]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Tags: Thriller - Crime
ISBN: 9780648556763
Publisher: Clan Destine Press
Published: 2020-10-15T00:00:00+00:00

The Clifton side of the mountain was protected from the wind and so the beaches were crowded again. Schalk got out of his car and stood for a moment, hands on hips, savouring the stillness.

Then his feet danced down the long shady stairs to Miri Pieterse’s flat. He buzzed, she opened. She wore a silky-white Chinese gown, tied at the waist, and he could see there was nothing underneath. He came in fast and they grabbed at each other. He pressed her flat against a wall, the full length of his body against hers, and forgot how she had irritated him before.

It was late by the time they collected themselves. At some point they’d moved into the bedroom and were lying on their backs, Schalk with his arm around Miri’s shoulders.

She found cigarettes, gave them each one, lit hers, passed him the lighter. His eyes were on her breasts. He was used to sheets pulled up to armpits, not this flaunted, gorgeous nakedness. He reached for her but she put a hand on his chest.

‘Schalk,’ she said, testing his name, trying to get the pronunciation right, ‘Schalk. You’re really something, you know that? I don’t think you even realise what’s going on inside you. Remember when we met? I said I could recognise wildness. I was right.’ She moved her palm in slow circles. ‘Nice. I don’t like this fashion for hairless men. Hungry?’

‘Starving. I haven’t eaten since this morning.’

She got up and, still naked, walked into the lounge to retrieve her gown. He stepped into pants and leaned on the counter, watching her place bread, cheese, olives, on a wooden board. She gave it to him to hold, poured them both wine and took the glasses to cane chairs on the terrace. In front of them the sunset burned pink and gold and the sea stretched out forever.

‘Someone told me once that just before the sun goes down,’ said Schalk, ‘in the instant when it disappears over the horizon, there’s a green light. I’ve looked for it but never seen it.’

‘Let’s watch.’ They sat in silence. Miri was curled up, as usual.

Schalk made himself a cheese sandwich and ate, looking out at the sky. ‘By the way, do you know where Piet stored old photos, things like that?’

He could feel her eyes on him. ‘What things? Why do you ask?’

‘I’m trying to track down a photo Piet told someone he had. Would have been years ago, though, before he went to America.’

‘Is it to do with his murder?’

‘Could be.’

‘I thought this was over,’ she said, ‘why do you keep bringing it up?’ She sauntered inside to claim the bottle, brought it back and poured for them both. ‘I don’t like it. Tell me what this is about. Who said he had the photo? Is that why you came to see me?’ She didn’t sit down. Instead, she leaned against the railing, looking out to sea. ‘What do you want from me?’

He watched the way her gown caressed her body.

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