A clear & present danger
Danni’s sudden death tears through Ruiterbosch.
Family and friends are devastated to learn that Danni ( Vashti Prins) has committed suicide. Her father Simon (Elron Landrew) refuses to accept her passing and he is inconsolable. “It is completely understandable,” explains Vashti, “and emotions are running high at her memorial ceremony.” Her friend Zoe (Lauren Joseph) is more furious than anything and she hits out at Danni’s boyfriend Tim (Marco Spaumer), blaming his philandering ways for leading to Danni’s suicide.
IT’S ALL HIS FAULT
“Zoe is struggling to work through her friend’s death,” explains Marco. “She is caught between tremendous pain and wild rage that she’s directing at Tim. In her mind, if Tim didn’t cheat on Danni, she would still be alive.” Tim’s father Chris (Marcel van Heerden) tries to console his son at the memorial but a broken Tim asks for space and heads to his boss Ian’s (Abduraghmaan Adams) holiday house in Jakkalsfontein. But when he opens the door, Danni is there!
FEARING FOR HER LIFE
Vashti explains that her character had to fake her death. “Danni couldn’t prove that she didn’t murder Izette (Shana Mans),” adds the actress. Tim cheated on Danni with Izette, who also stole money from Suidooster Properties. When Danni found out, she threatened Izette and was actually arrested for her threats at the start of April. Danni was secretly fear-ing for her life because she was being hunted by Izette’s actual boyfriend
Rudolf (Chris van Rensburg), who she had seen killing Izette. “She had to disappear to save herself. The only people who were in on the plan were Tim and Ian,” says Vashti.
EMOTIONAL ROLLERCOASTER
Danni feels horrible about having to mislead her family and friends. “This has broken her,” explains the actress. “When her dad finds out that she faked her suicide, he won’t understand and it will damage their relationship. But at this stage, Danni needs to prove her innocence first or she could be sent to prison for a murder she didn’t commit.” Ian was adamant that Danni needed to be safe first and foremost and while they think that they’ve thrown Rudolf off the trail, they don’t realise that he has been following Tim all along…
DRASTIC MEASURES
Zoe confronts Tim again when he returns to work and it’s making his lie all the more difficult to keep. Marco says that Zoe is confusing Tim’s nonchalance as being heartless, but while it would be easy to stop Zoe in her tracks, the fewer people who know that Danni is alive, the better. Ian meanwhile hears whispers that Rudolf is coming and he plans to secretly shuttle Danni off to Canada. “Tim isn’t sure about this plan but he can’t stop Ian and Danni,” explains Marco.
The last thing anyone is expecting is a knock at the door as Danni packs her bags, but it’s Detective Malherbe (Riaan Ellis) and not Rudolf. He tries to arrest Danni but Tim helps her escape. Perhaps they should’ve tried to explain things to the detective, because in their panic they’ve alerted Rudolf and he is about to have them trapped like rats. Are Danni’s days numbered?