Dlameni & Jones Part 2

By Kevin Taylor

Dlameni & Jones Part 2 is a Boy's Detective Series, specifically for teenagers and young at heart adults. It is the second book in a Trilogy which solves all the mysteries involved.

Jabulani and Digby, with the help of Shelly’s boyfriend, Howard Jackson, write a computer programme in order to try and find the Hufften-Jensen twins. Sgt Khehla gets reunited with his daughter and Digby, while injured on the touch line helps Sea Breeze High School in an attempt to beat their arch rivals Inyoni High School in their annual rugby derby.
Digby gets a girl-friend only to have her dump him when Digby refuses to help her get a family friend out of jail.
Queen Nefertiti continues in her thieving ways and both Digby and Jabulani are hard pressed to stop her.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Kevin Taylor
• Release date: Jun 1, 2019
• ISBN: 9780639815602

Kevin Taylor

Kevin retired from the business world five years ago and with his wife Nola moved to Knysna in the Western Cape. He grew up in the rural districts of Kwa Zulu Natal and having Zulu boys as playmates learnt to speak the language. He was educated at Pietermaritzburg College in Kwa Zulu Natal and for a few years studied Zulu as a second language. Unfortunately due to lack of teachers he had to give up Zulu and switch to Afrikaans. He now spends his spare time writing and playing bad golf. Kevin is the proud owner of a vintage Mercedes Benz sports car and with his wife Nola, enjoy their Sunday drives to lunch at all the quaint restaurants in the Garden Route area. There are two more Dlameni and Jones books in the pipeline and the fourth book in the series should make its appearance in the latter half of 2020.

Book preview

Dlameni & Jones

Part 2 of the Trilogy

ISBN Number: 978-0-6398156-0-2

All characters and events in this publication, other than

those clearly in the public domain are fictitious and any

resemblance to real persons, living or dead, is purely

coincidental.

Thanks

Nat Goodchild. Nat understands the mysteries of the internet. The art of downloading books onto websites and more importantly, Nat shows patience when I yell and pound my desk in frustration.

To the Coffin Dodgers of Cotswold Downs in Hillcrest – KwaZulu Natal. Keep on running!!!!! Thanks for the ideas and I’ll certainly use them in future books.

Knysna October 2018

South Africa.

Dlameni & Jones

Boy Detectives

Part 2 of the Trilogy

Synopsis

Jabulani and Digby, with the help of Shelly’s boyfriend, Howard Jackson, write a computer programme in order to try and find the Hufften-Jensen twins. Sgt Khehla gets reunited with his daughter and Digby, while injured on the touch line helps Sea Breeze High School in an attempt to beat their arch rivals Inyoni High School in their annual rugby derby.

Digby gets a girl-friend only to have her dump him when Digby refuses to help her get a family friend out of jail.

Queen Nefertiti continues in her thieving ways and both Digby and Jabulani are hard pressed to stop her.

Knysna

South Africa

May 2019.

Dlameni & Jones

Boy Detectives

Part 2 of the Trilogy

Chapter 1

To say Jabulani Dlameni was not happy was an understatement. He would lie awake in bed for hours on end wondering how he could help Sergeant Khehla and more importantly Aunt Huffy. He really felt sorry for Aunt Huffy. To have to small babies kidnapped and never know what happened to them must be the most awful experience one could possibly imagine. It annoyed him that although he was not responsible he felt absolutely powerless. He had to something about it but the problem was, what could he do?

Unbeknown to Jabulani Dlameni not fifteen meters from where he lay in bed another young man was having the same problems. He too, would lay awake in bed wondering what he could do to help Aunt Huffy and Sergeant Khehla. He now understood Aunt Huffy’s smile. The laughter had gone out of her soul because she was in mourning. Mourning for her two little lost girls. Digby Jones realised there was only one thing he could do to help Aunt Huffy and Sergeant Khehla. He and Jabulani would have to do everything in their combined powers to help find the missing twin sisters.

The very next morning as Digby climbed onto his new, although second hand, eighteen speed mountain bike he decided to broach the subject of Aunt Huffy with Jabulani. It was no good feeling helpless. If Jabulani would not help him he was going to do it alone. What he was going to do was a mystery but he felt he had to do something. At last, a very tired looking Jabulani arrived.

Jabbers, we have got to do something.

I know, I have been having the same problem, replied Jabulani. We have got to find the twins. Even if we are not successful, at least we would have tried.

Digby turned and looked sharply at his friend while trying to change gears on his bike. In so doing he nearly upended himself but with a quick wrench of his handlebars he avoided crashing into the pavement and immediately stopped riding and dismounted.

What’s the problem? asked Jabulani.

My thoughts exactly, replied a smiling Digby. We have got to find the girls.

Diggers, we can talk at small break, but if we don’t hurry know we are going to be late for school.

Five seconds later two young men were cycling like mad down the road towards Seabreeze High School. The way they rode any bystander would have noticed that not only were these two lads friends but they were working together to gain more speed from their cycling machines. One would take the lead while the other would ride in his slip stream to regain his breath. As the lead changed so they maintained the high speed. It was not the case of who would reach school first, but how fast they could get to school.

Small break arrived and the two boys met behind the school library. Within seconds they had decided a plan of action. Talking to Aunt Huffy was not the solution. They would have to discuss their plans with Sergeant Khehla. After all, it was still Sergeant Khehla’s case and although the official investigation was closed, they both knew, the police file remained open.

By three thirty that very afternoon the two boys arrived at Seabreeze Police Station and enquired about Sergeant Khehla. The officer on duty knew the boys well and when they enquired about Sergeant Khehla they were duly informed he had already gone home.

Let’s go and see your Uncle, suggested Digby. He might have something for us. The two young detectives proceeded down the passage only to be met not by the station commander but by the Police Commissioner himself.

Well boys, he asked, what brings you to our now famous police station?

Famous? echoed Jabulani. I mean Sir, why is Seabreeze Police station famous?

Well boys, said the police commissioner, you lads recovered nearly three quarters of a million rands worth of stolen property. That is an amazing achievement considering you did it on your own after I had insisted that the investigation be closed.

Commissioner Mkize, said Digby, we apologise for disobeying your instructions but we knew we were on the right track and to put it simply we took a chance and played a hunch.

Great hunch lad, and if you’re looking for Staff Sergeant Dlameni, he’s in his office.

Thank you Commissioner, said Jabulani as he started to make his way down the passage.

Before you go Jabulani, are you boys about to try and solve another crime?

Yes, replied Jabulani, No, answered Digby.

Commissioner laughed as he made his way back to the front office. He, Commissioner Mkize, an experienced policeman, would never stop solving crimes. Solving crimes was food for his soul. He could remember the old days when he was his happiest. On the trail of some bank robber or trying to trace a stolen or hi-jacked vehicle. Commissioner Mkize recognized the look on the boys faces, he knew they were on the trail again and some thief was going to be arrested.

Jabulani knocked gently on the door to his uncle’s office. He waited patiently for a few seconds and tried again. Enter boomed a voice from within. The boys were almost falling over each as they made their entrance. The office still looked the same but was different. Digby stared at the walls. Same dull grey paint. He stared at the carpet. The same reddish threadbare carpet, and even the visitor’s chairs looked no different. Jabulani stared at the man behind the desk. The man was smiling and the grin stretched from ear to ear. Jabulani’s uncle did not smile. He was about to step back and check the name on the door when Digby said That’s it!

What’s it? queried Jabulani.

Congratulations Staff Sergeant Dlameni, said Digby as he stuck out his right hand to congratulate the station commander.

Thank you, thank you, thank you, said a beaming Staff Sergeant Dlameni after shaking Digby’s hand and then extending his right hand towards Jabulani. Jabulani shook the proffered hand in the Zulu cultural way and promptly sat down. The Sergeant was still on his feet and he strutted across his office and removed a certificate from the wall. With shaking fingers the Sergeant pride the certificate loose from its frame and replaced it with another. He then rehung the certificate on the wall and Digby promptly took his photograph with his mobile phone. It took several moments for the Sergeant to regain his chair. At last he turned to Digby, the only person who paid him any attention and said,

Well boys, what brings you down to Seabreeze Police station?

Jabulani was completely mystified at what had just transpired but fortunately he had his wits about him and he was the first to answer the question.

We have come to offer our help to Sergeant Khehla. We too want to find the missing babies. Aunt Huffy helped us, and we want to help her.

Jabulani, said Staff Sergeant Dlameni with an exaggerated sigh, Lady Hufften-Jensens’s babies are now in their mid-forties. That would make them the same age as me if they were alive.

Are they dead Sergeant, asked a concerned Digby?

I have no idea regarding the state of their health Digby, the only person who knows anything about this case is Sergeant Khehla and he has gone home.

Uncle, said Jabulani. Do you have any of his files regarding the case because Digby and I would like to read them before we try and help Sergeant Khehla.

My boy, if I had access to those files you would not be allowed to read them. Those files are part of a forty year investigation and copies are not to be handed out to all and sundry.

Jabulani looked crest fallen. He hung his head and shuffled his feet. He was certain they could start their investigation immediately. He was anxious to help and now his help was been turned away. Sergeant Dlameni knew how to spoil the excitement in anybody’s life.

Jabulani, my suggestion is that you two boys go straight home and do your homework.

Digby the thoughtful one was not to be put off. Solving maths problems was easy. All you applied were a few rules and logic. The Sergeant had not presented a closed door, he merely presented a small hurdle. A hurdle Digby was about to leap over in style.

"Sergeant, may I leave a note with you to give to Sergeant Khehla?

Yes of course Digby my boy, I’ll give it to him in the morning.

Digby quickly began delving into the depths of his rucksack. In seconds he produced a pencil and a note pad. He opened the pad and started to write. Uncle and nephew sat quietly on their chairs while Digby laboured for what seemed an eternity and eventually he was finished. Dextrously he folded the note, picked up the stapler on the Sergeant’s desk and stapled the note closed. Digby knew that the Staff Sergeant Dlameni would not be able to read what he had written without damaging the paper.

Thank you Staff Sergeant, said Digby as he rose from his seat. Come Jabulani, he said, we have work to do. Jabulani looked at his friend only to see Digby give him such an exaggerated wink that it distorted his face completely. I mean home work, said Digby as he corrected himself and winked at Jabulani for the second time. Jabulani needed no second bidding. He understood exactly what Digby was driving at and in seconds he had gathered his rucksack and moments later the two boys were out on the pavement.

OK Diggers, said Jabulani, talk to me. Question number one. What were the congratulations all about?

Jabbers, your uncle has been promoted to Staff Sergeant. The Commissioner was there to congratulate him and give your uncle his certificate of promotion.

How do you know? asked a mystified Jabulani.

"As your uncle removed the old certificate from the wall I managed to read portion of it. It read:-

Congratulations to Sergeant X. Dlameni on your achievement, I could read nothing else. The second certificate made easier reading as your uncle stepped back and away from the certificate to make sure that he had hung the certificate straight.

What did it read? asked Jabulani.

Congratulations to Staff Sergeant X. Dlameni on your achievement. You are now promoted to the rank of Staff Sergeant The certificate was signed by the Commissioner himself. Incidentally, said Digby, there was something else that I picked up from Commissioner Mkize.

"What’s that?’ asked a puzzled Jabulani.

In the passageway leading to your uncles office Commissioner Mkize referred to your uncle as Staff Sergeant

Good grief, muttered Jabulani, There I was shaking his hand and tell him what a great uncle he was and I had no idea what I was talking about.

Jabulani, laughed Digby, that why I like you. When you talk nonsense you make it sound so convincing, everybody believes you.

That’s enough about me, said Jabulani, what did you write in the note to Sergeant Khehla?

The expression on Digby’s face changed immediately. Laughter lines changed to worry lines, and the corners of the lips took a sudden downward shift. Jabulani did not like the expressions on his friends face and instinct told him they could be in trouble.

Jabbers, I told him we want to help him find Aunt Huffy’s daughters. I told him we had no plan but that we would gladly donate our time to his cause. I also told him we would like a meeting because I think we can offer a new line of investigation.

A new line of investigation? asked Jabulani. Diggers you’re mad. The greatest detective in South Africa cannot find the girls after forty years of searching. Now you, from Seabreeze High School are trying to tell me that you have a new line of investigation?

Exactly, replied a confident and smiling Digby. Let’s go home and plan a kidnapping.

A shaken and bemused Jabulani climbed on his bike and started to pedal home. Digby was beginning to lose it. He cast his mind back a few weeks. Yes, he thought to himself. It was that rugby game against North Coast High. That’s when Diggers got smashed. That guy from Richards Bay was looking for trouble. He jumped into a loose scrum boots first. The second time he did it he got a yellow card. When he returned from ten minutes in the sin bin he late tackled Diggers. The red card followed but Diggers left the field feeling ill. Now