Facets of Death

by Michael Stanley

  Did he need six months’ consideration? Mabaku wondered. He went through the rest of the file but found nothing else odd. Tshane was a good employee. “Helpful, punctual, follows instructions.” He was willing to do overtime when needed. In his latest assessment, his manager had suggested a promotion.

  But Mabaku was worried by the unexplained six months.

  He picked up the file and went across the corridor to Tau’s office. The head of security’s door was open, and he went straight in.

  “I’ve been reviewing the personnel files,” Mabaku told him. If Tau was surprised by that, he didn’t show it. “Peter Tshane. There was gap from when he left his previous job at a jewellery store and when he joined you. And there’s no reference letter from the store.”

  “Let me take a look,” Tau said, and Mabaku handed him the file open to the summary of the interview.

  “Oh, yes, I remember now. He said he didn’t see eye to eye with the manager of the store. He was unhappy and decided to leave, even though he didn’t have another job. He tried to find something in Gaborone for a while without success and then looked further afield. That’s how he came to us.” He added as an afterthought, “We’ve been very happy with him.”

  “Didn’t you check his story with the store?”

  Tau nodded. “We asked the HR person to phone the manager to confirm it.” He paused. “Isn’t that in the file?”

  Mabaku shook his head.

  “Well, easy enough to ask her.” He glanced at the note again. “Oh, it was Jenny.” He hesitated. “Goodman let her go. She was rather unreliable.”

  Mabaku asked if he could use the phone, and Tau slid it across the desk to him. After a quick call to directory enquiries, Mabaku dialled the number.

  “Dumela. Bright Star Jewellers.”

  “This is Assistant Superintendent Mabaku of the CID. I need to speak to the manager.”

  There was a short pause, then a new voice came onto the line. “This is Abena Dibane. I’m the manager here. How can I help you?”

  “Dumela, mma. I just need some information. Do you remember a man called Peter Tshane? He worked as a guard for your store a few years ago.”

  There was a pause, then, “Yes. I remember him.”

  “He said he left because the two of you didn’t get on.”

  There was no response.

  “Is that correct?”

  “Assistant Superintendent, he left because I fired him. He stole a diamond ring.”

  That made Mabaku sit up. “Please tell me exactly what happened.”

  “The shop assistant was showing some rings to a customer. When the customer left, she took the most valuable ones to the safe, and when she returned, she realised one of the others was missing. Tshane was the only other person in the shop at that time.

  “He denied it, of course. Said the customer must’ve palmed it, but my assistant was adamant that the ring had been on the counter when she left. I said we were locking the shop, and I was calling the police. No one was to leave, and we would all be searched. Suddenly he gave a cry and bent down and picked up the ring from behind a pot plant. He said it must have fallen down and slid behind the planter. He’d just suddenly seen a glint.”

  “What did you do then?”

  “I didn’t believe him, of course. Rings don’t just roll onto the floor. They’re laid out on velvet for display. He’d taken the ring but realised he couldn’t get away with it. I said he could leave at once and not come back, or I was going to lay a charge with the police.”

  Mabaku nodded. He could see the woman’s point. Even if Tshane hadn’t taken the ring, she could never trust him in the future.

  “Was this ring worth a lot?”

  “Not really. About two thousand pula if I remember correctly.”

  That seemed like a lot of money to Mabaku, but he didn’t pursue it.

  “One last question. Did Debswana ever phone you and ask you for a reference for him?”

  “Absolutely not. If they had, I would’ve told them the same thing.”

  Mabaku thanked her, ended the call, and turned back to Tau. “Your exemplary guard was fired on suspicion of theft of a diamond ring. And your HR person never bothered to follow up. I need another talk with Peter Tshane.”

  He left the head of security looking very upset.

  Chapter 36

  After Kubu returned to the airport and Nari had let him through the gate, the two went to Nari’s office.

  “Did you ever check to see where the bomber got into the airport?” Kubu asked.

  Nari shrugged. “It wasn’t worth it. The fence is quite high but isn’t really a security fence. More one to keep cattle off the runway. They could have got in easily almost anywhere.”

  At first Kubu thought Nari’s answer was reasonable, and then he realised it wasn’t. He shook his head. “Please go now and try to find the place. And if you find it, be careful not to disturb it. There may be clues we can use to find the person who did it.”

  Nari grumbled but headed out, and Kubu walked over to the runway to speak to the investigator again. The man saw him approaching and came over.

  “What can I do for you now, Sergeant?”

  “I apologise for interrupting, but I have a couple more questions. First, where would someone get devices like the ones you suspect caused the fires? Both the devices and the radio receivers?”

  “Anyone who can read can easily manufacture a simple bomb or incendiary device from commonly available chemicals and electronics.”

  “So, there’s no source we could go to in the hopes of finding the bomber?”

  “Unfortunately, that’s right.”

  “Where would I go to buy the electronics to make a transmitter and receiver that could trigger the explosives?”

  “It would be easiest to get the components in Joburg. There are lots of shops that sell stuff like that. Here in Botswana? Maybe a bit more difficult, but still easy. There are probably ten or so sources in the country.”

  Kubu was disappointed. He’d hoped for a pointer that would help the investigation. “One final thing. When the bomber placed the bombs, what parts of the plane would he have to touch? Maybe forensics can find fingerprints.”

  The investigator nodded. “Good thinking. He’d have to touch the filler cap to get into the fuel tank and maybe the wing around it. And the ladder he used to get there. To get into the engine, he’d have to touch the part he removed. We think the bomb was on the right side of the engine.”

  “Please can you be careful not to touch those parts anymore until forensics has a chance to process them?”

  “Okay. We’re going to move everything into the Debswana hangar so we can open the airport again. We’ll set aside the filler cap and engine casing, but your forensics people will have to check the wing—we won’t remove that from the fuselage unless we have to. At some stage, we’ll probably send any pieces of interest to Pretoria for further investigation. They’ve better capabilities than we do.”

  Kubu shook the man’s hand. “Once more, thank you for your help.” Then he headed off to wait for Nari to return from his tour of the airport perimeter. He felt that this time his investigation would meet Mabaku’s standards.

  Chapter 37

  Tshane looked even more nervous than he had the previous time Mabaku had interviewed him. He fiddled with his fingers while he watched the detective turn the pages of his file.

  Mabaku made him wait for several minutes before he looked up and asked, “Why did you leave the employment of Bright Star Jewellers?”

  Tshane went rigid. “The manager was very difficult. She—”

  “You’re lying to me!” Mabaku was almost shouting. “I want the truth!”

  Tshane looked down. “She fired me. She said I stole a ring. It wasn’t true! The assistant had knocked it onto the floor. She was a s
tupid, clumsy woman.”

  “But you didn’t tell Rra Tau about this.”

  “No.”

  “Didn’t you think they’d check?”

  Tshane shrugged.

  Mabaku slapped the desk. “I asked you a question.”

  “I had nothing to lose either way. I needed money. I’m good at my job. And her story wasn’t true!”

  Mabaku sat and looked at him for a long time. Then, in a quieter voice, he said, “When did you first realise you could make a lot of money here at the mine?”

  “What do you mean? I only have a guard’s salary here.”

  “And that’s not such a lot, is it?”

  Again, Tshane shrugged. Then, seeing Mabaku’s glare, he said, “It’s okay. I get by.”

  “But when you were approached and offered a lot of money, you couldn’t resist it, could you? Just for some information. Just for a little help.”

  Tshane shook his head. “I don’t know what you’re talking about.”

  “I’m talking about the people who asked about the diamond transport boxes and how security worked here at the mine. Maybe they bought you a few drinks. What harm could there be in telling them what everyone knew anyway?”

  “No one asked me anything! We don’t talk about mine security. Not even to our families. It’s not allowed.”

  “Look, Tshane, I’m giving you a chance here. A chance to make things right. You didn’t know what was going to happen. And you needed a bit of extra money. If you tell me now what you know, help us catch these murderers, recover the diamonds, I’ll see what I can do. Maybe what you did wasn’t that serious. Maybe all that happens is you lose your job. That’s history anyway now that Rra Tau knows the real story about the jewellery store. Tell me right now what you know, and things can still work out for you. Otherwise I’ll arrest you, and you’ll spend the rest of your life in jail as an accessory to murder. The rest of your life!”

  “No, no, I did nothing! I told no one anything. I know nothing about the robbery. If I could help you, I would. But I can’t. Please. You can’t arrest me. I’ve done nothing!”

  Mabaku leant back in his chair and thought. He’d been sure that Tshane’s nerves were because he was somehow involved in the robbery, but perhaps he was just scared of losing his job if the jewellery store story came out. He’d looked almost relieved when it did, as though the worst was over, instead of ahead.

  “All right, Tshane. I’ll give you some time to think it over. Maybe you’ll remember something if you really think about it.”

  “There’s…there’s nothing to remember,” Tshane stammered.

  “This isn’t the end of it, Tshane. I’ll want to see you tomorrow. And the next day. Until you tell me the whole truth.”

  “I have told you the truth.”

  “Don’t try to leave town. We’ll be watching you. Now get out!”

  Mabaku watched him leave, and then sighed. He’d keep pushing Tshane as hard as he could, but his gut feeling was that the guard actually was telling the truth. And most times, his gut was right.

  Chapter 38

  It didn’t take long before Kubu was fidgeting. He didn’t like waiting. He wanted to do something. Then he remembered the parcel in the back of Roberts’s car and went to fetch it, carefully carrying it back in its Pick n Pay bag.

  It wasn’t heavy, and it rattled slightly when he shook it. When he was back inside, he took it out of the bag, put it on the table, and looked at it carefully. There was nothing unusual about it. Whatever it was inside had been wrapped in brown paper and bound with a long piece of brown twine. He nudged it around with a pencil so he could see all sides. There was nothing suspicious other than the fact it had been given to Roberts by an unknown man wearing a jacket in the sweltering heat.

  Kubu wondered whether he should open it. There was a pair of scissors on Nari’s desk, so he could remove the twine without damaging the paper and without any danger of leaving his own fingerprints on the parcel. The one thing that bothered him was the fact that it had been given to a white man, who probably wouldn’t be too fazed by whatever was inside. Why would a witch doctor do that, if in fact the man was a witch doctor?

  Unless…

  Kubu pushed his chair back and moved to the door. What if the parcel was yet another bomb—one designed to take out the pilot at some convenient point in case he discovered something about who had set the bombs on the plane?

  If it were a bomb, Kubu reasoned, it too would have to be remotely set off if it were to be maximally effective. It wouldn’t make any sense to kill the pilot before he took off.

  He looked around and out the windows. The only person he could see was Nari, who was inspecting the fence several hundred metres away, abreast of one end of the runway.

  It didn’t take Kubu long to decide that discretion was the better part of valour. He picked up the phone on the desk and phoned through to CID headquarters.

  “Elias, is that you?” he asked when the phone was answered.

  “Yes. Who’s that?”

  “Elias, it’s me, Kubu. I need your help, please. I have a parcel here that was given to the Debswana pilot the night before last—the night before the plane was bombed. I’m worried that it may be another bomb like the ones that caused the fire. A bomb that can be remotely triggered.”

  “I don’t know anything about bombs.”

  “But do you know how I can get hold of the bomb squad—assuming there’s such a thing?”

  “Hold on and I’ll get their number.”

  It wasn’t long before he came back on the line and gave Kubu the number.

  “One more thing, please,” Kubu said. “Forensics is probably looking at the armoured car that was bombed. They also need to look at the plane because there’s a chance that whoever placed the bombs may have left their fingerprints. Could you please let them know that they need to come to the airport as well? I’ve asked the civil-aviation inspectors to set aside the pieces that may have prints in case they’re not here when forensics arrives.”

  “Anything else you’d like me to do?” Elias muttered.

  “No, thank you. You’ve been a great help. I appreciate it,” Kubu said cheerfully.

  He immediately phoned the bomb squad and told them what he had in front of him.

  “Don’t touch it. Don’t move it,” the man on the line instructed. “It may be booby-trapped.”

  “It may just be a simple gift or maybe something from a witch doctor.”

  There was a silence on the line. “We can’t take a chance. Leave it where it is, and we’ll send someone out first thing tomorrow morning. Don’t let anyone get close to it.”

  Kubu thanked the man, put down the phone, and hurried out of the office, hoping that he hadn’t activated something when he moved the parcel.

  * * *

  Nari was not happy when Kubu told him he couldn’t go back into his office.

  “But my wallet and car keys are there. How am I going to get home?”

  “I’ll give you a lift.”

  Nari looked dubious. “What if there’s a spell on the car?”

  “There isn’t,” Kubu assured him. “The parcel is in your office, and I never opened it.”

  “I don’t think so. I’ll walk into town and get a taxi.”

  Kubu shrugged. “It’s your choice, but I have to ask you some questions first.”

  “I’ve told you everything I know.”

  “I just need some background from you. Let’s go and stand in the shade.”

  When they were standing out of the sun, Kubu continued. “Did you find anything? Anywhere they cut the fence or climbed over it?”

  Nari shook his head. “Nothing. I think they came over the gate. It’s about the same height as the fence. It wouldn’t be too hard to climb over it if you had a ladder and were willing to jump.” />
  “And getting out?”

  “There’s a button to open it on that wall over there.” He pointed to a wall near the gate. “You’ve seen me open the gate for you.”

  “Who else knows about it?”

  “Oh, everyone who’s been to the airport. That’s how they get out.”

  “Wouldn’t the night watchman hear it?”

  “Only if he was awake.”

  For the next ten minutes, Kubu grilled Nari about his previous jobs, his family, and his finances.

  “What the fuck’s going on here?” Nari asked as Kubu probed deeper and deeper. “I’m not a suspect.”

  Kubu pondered that for a moment. How would the assistant superintendent proceed now? He decided he’d be forceful and call Nari’s bluff. “Of course you are! You had perfect access to place the bombs. You’ve admitted you’re terrified of the witch doctor. He probably told you that he’d put a spell on your house or family if you didn’t do it. Or maybe he just offered you money. You could always do with extra money, couldn’t you? Maybe buy a new car? Or your wife a present? You’re not only a suspect—you’re the prime one.”

  “No!” Nari shouted. “You’re wrong. I never did anything. I’d never do anything like that.”

  “It was so easy, wasn’t it? Open the filler cap, drop in the bomb. And when no one was here, put the second one in the engine. Easy.” Kubu paused. “How much did he pay you?”

  Nari looked as though he was going to hit Kubu. “No,” he screamed. “It’s not true.”

  Chapter 39

  As he drove back to the hospital, Kubu was quite pleased with how he’d questioned Nari. He’d have to check what Nari had told him, but he was confident that the man didn’t have anything to do with the bombs.

  He was just approaching the parking area of the hospital when the car pulled to the left, and he heard a flapping sound coming from the front of the car. Although he’d never been in a car that had a puncture before, he realised what had happened. He pulled over onto the dirt shoulder and stopped.