Botha looked at her in amazement. Why had Ken Downey's name provoked such a swift and petrified reaction from this woman who lived way down the street from him? He could see she was terrified that mentioning his name might bring him hurtling through the window! It was obvious that she expected something dreadful to occur if he ever did. Botha would love to know why. He leant forward and looked her straight in the eye. Then he asked about Lizzie, Ken and Zaharina Downey, and Shirley, in a very quiet voice. At first Annetjie wouldn't say a thing. 'No, no,' she said.
No, no. I can't say anything....'Her glance kept darting from the windows back to Botha. But he persisted, gently and calmly, to probe her for information.
After a while, so suddenly that Botha could actually see the change in her attitude, Annetjie seemed to mentally brace herself and make up her mind about something.
Then she blurted out, 'I know why you want Lizzie!' and added urgently, ' Do you swear on your mother's life that you will never tell Ken Downey or any of his family or friends or anyone else my name and address. Botha solemnly gave his word.
Botha noticed that her hands had started to shake. She clasped them tightly together as tears gathered in the corners of her eyes.
Then Botha mentioned Alec Steenkamp's name, and Annetjie reared back in her chair and covered her ears with her hands. She rocked silently back and forth as tears rolled down her cheeks. Botha could see that Annetjie had been terrified for a very long time, and that she was near to breaking point.While he felt bitterly sorry for her, he was also elated. She was going to spill the beans. She was ready to unburden her soul. Botha knew he had struck gold. Annetjie was the neighbour he was looking for. He realised that he would have to walk on tiptoe with her. He needed to ally her fears and assure her that she could trust him if she was to tell him anything about about Alec Steenkamp and Kennith James Downey. Annetjie, he thought, might know what had happened at 75A Putney Street eight years ago - was that the secret that haunted her? Now behind closed doors, hesitatingly and in great distress, Annetjie started to tell him what she had heard from Lizzie Nkosi all those years ago. Annetjie told him that she was terrified of Downey. Then she told him why.

EXTRACT TAKEN FROM 'THE SHALLOW GRAVE$ AND OTHER TRUE CRIME STORIES'



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