At last the shop emptied, and she was able to talk to Lome. She showed her identification, and he took her to a tiny room at the back, leaving the butchery in the hands of his assistant. He appeared nervous and kept looking out into the shop.
“I hope this will be quick,” Lome said. “My apprentice is only learning.”
“I just need to ask you a few questions. We’re trying to trace a man who’s missing. We think you may be able to help us.”
Lome shrugged. “I will if I can.”
“Where were you on Saturday night, the fifth of May?”
Lome jerked round, surprised. “Saturday before last? I had a few drinks at a bar. After that I went home and watched TV.”
“Which bar?”
“It’s called BIG MAMA KNOWS ALL. Fun place.”
“Did you go alone?”
“That’s right.”
“Did you meet up with someone there?”
“No. I said I was alone. Just chatted to the people sitting nearby.”
“And when did you leave?”
Lome glanced at his watch as though it would remind him, and then looked out to the shop again. His assistant was cutting T-bone steaks. “Around nine, I think it was. Something like that.”
Samantha made notes slowly, letting Lome worry about the steaks. Then she looked up and asked, “Did you see an albino man at the shebeen?”
Lome returned his attention to her, and hesitated. “Maybe. I think there was an albino sitting outside. So what? I don’t know him.”
“And you left there alone?”
“That’s what I keep telling you.”
DRIVING BACK TO THE CID, Samantha reviewed the two interviews, deciding how she would summarize them to Kubu.
Molefe was relaxed and self-confident with a conveniently constructed alibi for later that Saturday night. But he’d reacted to the question about the albino, and had given himself time to prepare his answer. Lome, on the other hand, was clearly nervous about something, and had lied about not meeting anyone at the shebeen. Yet his response to the albino question was completely natural. He’d seemed surprised by it, but not at all concerned.
Could he react that way with bits of Owido in his cold room? Samantha shuddered. She didn’t think so, but men occasionally surprised her. She wished Kubu had been with her, but she wasn’t going to admit that to him.
FORTY-ONE
WHEN SAMANTHA REPORTED BACK, Kubu encouraged her to follow up by returning to BIG MAMA KNOWS ALL that evening and talking to the waitress.
She tidied up her office, closed down her computer, and went to the Wimpy at Game City for a quick hamburger. Then she returned to the shebeen, finding it crowded despite it being a Monday night.
Big Mama was very busy keeping the customers supplied with drinks, but she waved to Samantha when she came in, and as soon as she could she bustled over with a Coke.
“Have you discovered something?” she asked, puffing a bit after all the running around.
Samantha shook her head. “I’d like to speak to that waitress you said is here in the evenings—perhaps she noticed something about Owido and the people you didn’t know.”
Big Mama nodded. “Her name’s Nuru, but one of her children is sick, so she’ll only be in later. That’s why I’m so busy. We’ll chat as soon as I have a chance.” Then she was off again.
Samantha sat at a small table out of the way and nursed the Coke, hoping Nuru wouldn’t take too long to appear. About fifteen minutes later, a rather plain girl wearing an apron approached. “I’m Nuru,” she announced, pulling up a chair. “Now, how can I help you? Big Mama is already upset I’m so late, so it better be quick.”
Samantha explained what she wanted, and the woman thought about it. “I don’t know the two girls that sat outside. One beer between them and no tip. There were also two guys that hadn’t been here before, but they joined up with some regulars and left late.”
That was a dead end, Samantha thought, but perhaps the girl knew something about Owido.
“Do you remember the albino who was here that night?”
“Oh, yes. He was sitting outside.”
“Did you notice exactly when he left?”
“It was just before nine. I was going to have a cigarette break at nine, and it was just before that.”
“Did you see anyone else leave at about that time?”
Nuru nodded. “When I went to pick up the empty glass, I saw Sunday Molefe and his friend swallow the rest of their beers and leave as well. None of them left a tip.”
Samantha leaned forward. “You mean Molefe and the other man followed the albino?”
Nuru shrugged. “I didn’t watch them. Maybe they went another way. But they seemed in a hurry to leave as soon as he did.”
Samantha asked several more questions, but Nuru couldn’t help her with anything else. So she thanked the woman and headed for home, getting to bed later than usual.
THE NEXT MORNING SHE slept through the alarm and rushed to interview Molefe’s friend, Wilson Demene, before he went to work. Although it was after eight by the time she found the house, he was still there. He responded to her third knock, unshaven and with a hint of alcohol on his breath.
“What do you want?”
Samantha showed him her police identification.
His face fell. “Oh, police.” He hesitated, avoiding her eyes. “Look, I’m busy. Could you come back later?”
“It’s very urgent, Rra Demene. It won’t take long.”
“Just a minute.” He closed the door, and she heard him talking and a woman replying. He said “police” loudly, and a moment later the back door slammed and footsteps hurried away. Then Demene let Samantha in.
The front door opened onto the living room, bachelor-furnished with a wooden table, a few mismatched chairs, and a large television. He offered Samantha a seat.
“Rra Demene, I want to ask you about Saturday night a week ago.” Demene nodded, looking down at the table.
“Where were you that night?”
“I was with my friend, Sunday Molefe. We drove around a bit, had a few drinks at a shebeen, and then went to the Gaborone Sun and gambled.”
“Which shebeen was that? When did you get there?”
“Around seven. A place called BIG MAMA KNOWS ALL.” He shrugged.
“Did you see an albino at the shebeen?”
Demene became agitated. “No! Why would I? I avoid them anyway. They bring bad luck. We just had a few drinks, that’s all.”
“There was an albino sitting opposite you. You must’ve noticed him.”
“I ignored him. I mean I would’ve ignored him if I’d seen him. I told you I don’t like them.”
“When did you leave?”
“About nine.”
“Did you follow the albino?”
“No. We went to the Sun. You can check with the bartender.” He hesitated. “I told you I didn’t see any albino. How could I follow him?”
Samantha didn’t bother to pursue that. She would just hear Demene mouthing Molefe’s story again.
She tried a few more questions, but Demene stuck to his story despite his nervousness. Eventually she thanked him for his time and left.
Next she went to the Gaborone Sun. The bartender who had served Molefe wasn’t in yet, but the restaurant manager phoned him for her. She spoke to him for several minutes and discovered that he had seen Molefe and Demene, although his version of the money story was different. Then she drove to the CID, headed straight to Kubu’s office, knocked, and went in. She found Kubu in a pensive mood behind his desk, nibbling cookies. He looked up and nodded toward a seat. She accepted an offered cookie; breakfast had been rushed.
“I’ve been thinking about the butcher, Lome,” Kubu said. “Why would he deny meeting someone at Big Mama’s? It happ
ened in front of everyone there. He would know that we could check up on that. And I can’t believe the witch doctor would display himself in such a public place if he meant to abduct and kill someone there. It doesn’t make sense.”
Samantha thought about it. “Maybe Lome met someone else he doesn’t want the police to know about. Nothing to do with Owido.”
Kubu smiled. “Exactly what I was thinking. We’ll still need to check it, but I think if we let him know we’re investigating a possible murder, he’ll tell us the truth.” He finished the cookie and casually reached for another. “What did you find out last night?”
Samantha could hardly contain her excitement. “The server I spoke to at BIG MAMA KNOWS ALL said that when Owido left, she saw Molefe and Demene drain their glasses and leave, too. She said it was just before nine. They may have been the last people to see him!”
Kubu put down the cookie he was about to pop into his mouth. “Samantha, that makes a huge difference. It’s still circumstantial, but if Molefe and Demene were following him, they may be the culprits.”
Samantha nodded. “I followed up this morning with Demene. I didn’t learn much more, but he was really nervous.”
“Nervous?”
“Yes. Not meeting my eyes, glancing away, hesitating over answers. Anyway, he denied he’d seen an albino at the shebeen even though he kept getting confused about that. He said that he wouldn’t go near one anyway because he didn’t like them and they bring bad luck. Apart from that he repeated exactly what Molefe said. Obviously Molefe had told him about my visit.” She sighed. “I should have gone straight to Demene from Molefe yesterday.”
“Maybe not. It may have been a good idea to let him stew. Anyway, Molefe would have called him the moment you left.”
Samantha nodded. “And their alibi checks out as far as it goes. I spoke to that bartender at the Gaborone Sun. He remembered them all right. Molefe definitely only gave him a hundred-pula note, and then made a big fuss. However, it happened some time after he came on duty, and that was at ten p.m. So it only proves that Molefe and Demene were at the Gaborone Sun more than an hour after Owido left the shebeen.”
“You’ve achieved a lot, Samantha. We’ve narrowed the possibilities down, and I think our best bet at the moment is Molefe and Demene. I’ve got an idea about how to handle Rra Demene. I think I’ll pay him a visit.”
“Should I come with you?”
Kubu thought about it, then shook his head. “I think this might work better if I’m on my own. You have a go at getting the truth out of Lome.”
Samantha had to be satisfied with that.
FORTY-TWO
WILSON DEMENE WAS NOT at home, but a neighbor suggested Kubu try a small bar nearby, where Wilson was known to hang out. Kubu followed her advice, and the barman pointed out Demene, sitting with a couple of other men, deep in conversation, drinking Shake Shake beer. Kubu went to their table and sat down.
“Who’re you?” one of the men asked. Kubu ignored him and focused on Demene.
“Are you Wilson Demene?” he asked the man who’d been pointed out.
Demene glared at him. “So what? We’re busy. And this is private.”
Kubu passed him his identification. Demene glanced at it, then scrutinized it properly. “You’re from the police, the CID? I already told that woman you sent everything I know. Why are you hounding me? I’ve done nothing.”
The other two men took their beers and moved off. Demene’s eyes followed them to two stools at the far end of the bar.
“I just want to go over a few points with you. It’s important,” Kubu said.
“I haven’t done anything. Why do you people keep asking me questions? I’ve told you everything.”
“What sort of work do you do, Rra Demene?”
“Well, I buy and sell stuff. A middleman, if you like.”
“So you fill orders for people?”
“Not so much for people. More for shops and so on.”
“What sort of orders?”
“Whatever they want. I find it for them, get a good price.”
Kubu nodded, as if he were satisfied. “Does that include finding people?”
“What do you mean by that?”
“Tell me about the albino, Mabulo Owido.”
“The man at BIG MAMA KNOWS ALL? I told your detective. I didn’t notice him. I would have avoided him anyway. I don’t like them.” Demene grabbed his beer and took a gulp, but his hand was unsteady.
“You see,” said Kubu quietly, “my information is different. My information is that you were watching him and, when he left, you and your friend Sunday Molefe followed him.”
“It’s not true!” Demene cried. “Where did you get that information from? We went to the Gaborone Sun to gamble. You can ask the bartender there.”
“Oh, we’ve done that. But you see our information is very specific. There’s no doubt about it. Now, what we don’t know is exactly what happened after that. And that’s as important for you as it is for me. What happened to Owido after he left the shebeen? Where was he taken? What was done to him after that?”
Demene jumped to his feet. “You’re just trying to pin it on us with no evidence at all. I’m leaving right now.”
Kubu stood up, too. “I haven’t accused you of anything, Rra Demene. You seem to know something we don’t. What are we trying to pin on you?” He paused. “That you were involved in Owido’s disappearance, perhaps?”
For several seconds the two men stood looking at each other. Kubu knew that this was the critical moment. If Demene left now, he’d pull himself together and would be much harder to break.
At last Demene collapsed back into his chair and stared into his beer; Kubu breathed a silent sigh of relief and settled himself in his seat again.
“I shouldn’t be telling you this, but one of the reasons we know so much about that night is that a man came to us with information. I’m not going to say who he is, but he’s never wrong. He helps lots of powerful people in the government.” Kubu’s voice dropped to a whisper. “He communicates with spirits.”
Demene shrank into his chair. “A witch doctor? Witch doctors don’t work with the police.”
“Actually, we get a lot of information from them. Especially when there’s a murder involved.”
“Murder! Who said anything about a murder?” Demene tried to meet Kubu’s eyes but failed.
“This man said he’d had a communication from Owido’s spirit. That he was looking for the people who’d attacked him. I wasn’t sure I believed him at first, but the man was so sure. And there was a strange feeling in the room.”
As the silence lengthened, Demene said, “What sort of feeling?”
Kubu dropped his voice again. “Hard to describe. As though someone was watching us, but there was no one else there.”
Demene swallowed. “Why are you telling me this? It’s got nothing to do with me.”
Kubu stared at him. “I think you should tell the truth, Rra Demene. I wouldn’t want to be in your shoes.”
Kubu waited for Demene to react, but he just shook his head and clasped his hands together. Kubu continued, “You see, the witch doctor explained to me that albinos have very powerful spirits. The spirit has sucked up everything from the body—even the color of the skin. It’s very bad to free one of those spirits by force. It’s very powerful muti for a witch doctor, but extremely dangerous.”
“I don’t want to talk about this anymore. I had nothing to do with this Owido man. I want to leave now.” Demene looked to where his mates had been at the bar, but their seats were empty. They’d finished their beers and gone. He got to his feet.
Kubu stood up, too, and blocked his way. “I need you to come with me for questioning.”
“Questioning? What about? I’ve done nothing. I’ve told you all I know.”
“I’m busy. I can’t come now.”
“You have a choice. You can come with me now with no fuss—we just walk out of here like old friends and go to my office—or I can arrest you for obstructing a police investigation, handcuff you, and drag you out like a dog.”
For a few moments, Demene didn’t say anything, his mouth opening and shutting. He looks like a guppy, Kubu thought.
“All right,” Demene said eventually, but his eyes flicked from side to side looking for an escape route. Kubu took his arm firmly and led him to the door.
KUBU DROVE TO MILLENIUM Park and left Demene in an interrogation room alone for more than half an hour. Eventually he returned and pretended to turn on a tape recorder.
“This is Assistant Superintendent David Bengu. It is two-thirty on May the fifteenth, 2012. I’m with Wilson Demene, who has volunteered to come in to provide information about the disappearance of Mabulo Owido, an albino.” He turned to Demene. “Please could you state your full name.”
“You said this would be quick. Where’s the statement I have to sign?”
“Please state your full name.”
“You know my name! I’m Wilson Demene.”
“Some new information has just come to light. I need to ask you some more questions.”
Kubu made a show of pulling out his notebook and flipping through the pages.
“Ah, here it is,” he said, nodding. “Someone at BIG MAMA KNOWS ALL says you were sitting at the next table to the albino. Is that right?”
Demene nodded. “I suppose so.”
“So you did see the albino?”
Demene hesitated. “Yes. I saw one sitting at a table outside.”
“Why did you lie about it before?”
“I forgot about it! I have nothing to do with those people. I suppose there was nowhere else to sit.”
Deadly Harvest Page 22
