by Kwei Quartey
The two women sat down beside each other.
“So,” Emma said, “how are you feeling these days?”
“Now that the mystery of my niece’s death has been solved,” Dele said, “I sleep much better. But . . .”
“But?”
Dele shook her head. “I still don’t understand why she did it—Dr. Caroline, I mean. How could she hate Araba so much?”
Emma thought about that for a moment. “I think it was less of a hatred for Araba than a consuming love she had for her son. I don’t think a lot of people realized just how much she cared. He was her only child and the apple of her eye. In her view, Lady Araba was a malevolent force bent on destroying Augustus’s life. Of course, we know that wasn’t true. It was Caroline’s imagination at work.”
“Araba never wanted to hurt anyone,” Dele said, her eyes brimming. “It was always people hurting her, and I just don’t understand it. Look at what her father, my brother, did to her. I still feel guilty about not doing more to save her.”
Emma nodded. “I know you do, Auntie. I only hope that with time, you’ll come to terms with it and forgive yourself a little.”
Dele smiled at her. “Thanks. You lift me up.”
“Of course.”
“Is the case against the Seezas strong?” Dele asked. “I keep worrying they’ll wriggle out of it, especially with Julius being a judge—or ex-judge, I should say.”
“The trace DNA on the weapon, Dr. Seeza’s stethoscope, is consistent with Araba’s DNA. The DNA on the metal clip at the crime scene, which was dislodged from the stethoscope during the act, is consistent with both Araba’s and Dr. Seeza’s DNA. Those two things alone put her at the scene. Then there are other things: the BMW, the fact that Augustus realized that Sunday night around eight-twenty that his parents weren’t home. Interrogated separately, they gave alibis that didn’t match up. So yes, the case is strong.”
“Thank God for that.”
Emma’s phone buzzed and she took it out of her pocket. “That’s Courage. We’re meeting for lunch. Auntie Dele, I have to go now.”
The two women embraced.
“When I’m settled into my new place,” Dele said, “I’ll invite you over for a good meal. And a beer.” She laughed. “Only joking. I know you don’t drink.”
Emma walked away with mixed feelings. Sometimes, the solving of a murder brought a sort of peace to those left behind. That was the case with Auntie Dele. She would rest easier now. But as far as Augustus and the Tagoes were concerned, Emma’s guess was that they would be working through their pain for a long time to come.
GLOSSARY
Asem (ah-SEM): trouble, drama (Twi)
Ashawo (ah-shah-WOH): prostitute
Awurade (Eh-woo-rah-DAY): God
Ayekoo! (ah-YAY-koh): well done, nice job
Banku (bang-KU): proportionate mixture of fermented corn and cassava dough in hot water mashed into a smooth, whitish paste and formed into balls
Batakari (ba-ta-ka-REE): plaid or striped smock
Bola (BOH-lah): trash, rubbish
Cedi (SEE-dee): Ghanaian monetary unit
Chaley (cha-LAY): bro, dude, buddy
Ete sen (eh-tih SENG): how are you? (Twi)
Fufu or fufui (foo-FOO): starchy food such as yam, cassava, or plantain pounded into a glutinous mass and eaten with a variety of soups
Ga: language and peoples of many coastal regions of Ghana, including the Greater Accra Region
Kontomire (kohn-tohm-ee-ray): stew prepared with cocoyam leaves, palm oil, dried fish, and other ingredients
Kwasea (kwa-se-YAH): fool, idiot
Maate (mah-TIH): Got it, I hear you; literally, “I have heard” (Twi)
Medaase (mih-dah-sih): Thank you (Twi)
Nyame adom (Nyah-mih Ah-dohm): [by] God’s grace, [I am fine] in response to ete sen (Twi)
Oburoni (oh-boo-roh-NEE): white person
Pesewa (PEH-swah): monetary unit, 100 p = 1 cedi
Red-red: black-eyed peas cooked in palm oil and spices with fried ripe plantain
Tro-tro (traw-traw): minivan transportation for the masses
Twi (chwee): Akan language spoken by a large majority of Ghanaians
Wahala (origin Nigeria): trouble, drama
Yaaey! (yah-AY): response to ayekoo!
PRONUNCIATION GUIDE
Ghanaian languages contain combinations of vowels and consonants unfamiliar to the English language.
Dz, dj, or gy: “J” sound, as in just (e.g. Djan, Gyan)
Ei: “Ay” sound, as in hay (e.g. Kyei)
Ky: “Ch” sound, as in church (e.g. Kyei)
Oa: “Wa” sound, as in whack (e.g. Boateng)
Acknowledgments
I’m deeply grateful to Bronwen, Juliet, Amara, Rachel, and all the crew at Soho Press, where I have found my literary home. I would be nothing without their skill and support in the writing and editing process. I applaud Soho’s dedication to the discovery of the global voices out there, which have much to say.
Thanks to Trasacco Valley and its realtors for giving me a tour of their beautiful community and impressive mansions.
I’m also grateful to Jordan Sakre for introduction to Accra’s clubs and Ghanaian celebrities; and to Writers Project of Ghana, and Vidya Bookstore in Accra, for their continued support.
