Horseman found he needed Singh’s logic and practicality more and more. He trusted her enough to use her as a sounding board for his own speculations. He didn’t know why he hadn’t told her Melissa was arriving for a holiday on Friday. He should. He must. Apart from the super, he hadn’t told anyone yet.
21
Melissa said her goodbyes to her colleagues and left the hospital. She smiled to herself, touched by their excitement for her. Tomorrow she’d spend in airports and in the air, arriving in Nadi, Fiji early on Friday morning, skipping almost a day in the process. Always jittery before a flight, she decided to walk home to settle her nerves.
The walk didn’t really help. She fumbled the key in the lock. Her hand trembled as she poured her camomile tea and carried it through to her bedroom. The open suitcase, neatly packed, reassured her some. There was really nothing more to be done that would take more than five minutes. She kicked off her shoes and padded into the living room, sat on the sofa to drink her tea, and tried to relax.
She pulled the coffee table closer, put her tea down and her feet up, stuffed a cushion behind her head, and closed her eyes. When that didn’t work, she couldn’t resist picking up the wallet from the table and checking each item: passport, Fiji visa, vaccination record, air ticket and itinerary, printed in duplicate, US$500 emergency cash, the compact Fiji information brochure the embassy had sent her. All there. She had to talk to Joe one more time.
She made an omelette with her last two eggs and ate it with odd remnants of salad vegetables. It was now 8:00 p.m. on Tuesday in Oregon, so only 3:00 p.m. on Wednesday in Fiji. Far too early!
But she sent him a text anyway: ‘Skype in 2 hrs?’ She waited, tried to distract herself by cleaning out the fridge. She switched on the CNN news, but nothing registered. It was eleven when her phone rang. She snatched it up. ‘Ready now?’ Good, Joe must be home early, she knew he’d never Skype at the station. She tapped in to video call, tried to relax her face.
‘Hey Joe, how’s it going? I can’t see you yet.’
‘Hang on, okay now?’ His voice warmed her. Then his face came into focus. As usual, he looked tired out, but she could tell he was happy to see her.
‘I’m all set, honey, checked everything a zillion times. I can’t wait to be with you!’
He smiled, his eyes crinkling. ‘Me too!’
‘How’s your case going, Joe?’
He sighed. ‘No breakthrough today, Melissa. We’ve got our suspicions, but no evidence yet. We’re waiting on forensic results, goes without saying. This killer is organised and careful. Communications are limited and we spend a lot of time travelling to and from the scene. It’s the usual story here—everyone’s cooperative, but they either know nothing or they’re keeping it to themselves.’
‘Joe, this isn’t a good time for me to come. I can still change my tickets. I don’t want to get in your way. That’s the last thing I want.’
‘I know, darling. You’re a saint. My job’s unpredictable. But we agreed last night, if you postpone, there’s no guarantee I’ll be free later. I want you to come. Please.’
‘Whatever you want. I know you can’t let your team down, honey.’
‘We’ll handle it somehow. I’ve got the super’s support. Don’t look so worried, Melissa.’
She didn’t want to go on and on. He wouldn’t like that. She put on what she hoped was an enthusiastic face. ‘Okay, let’s do it, Joe!’
He looked relieved. ‘That’s my gal!’ he said in his hopeless attempt at an American accent. Melissa laughed.
‘I promise I’ll be at Suva airport to meet you. The super insists.’
‘Right. I’ll call you when I land in Nadi. While I wait for the plane to Suva.’
‘Can’t wait, darling. Good flight.’
‘I will. I love planes,’ she lied. ‘Love you too, Joe.’
‘Now I find out I have to compete with planes! I don’t think I’ll win. Moce mada, Melissa.’ His handsome face vanished.
She went to bed but lay there, worrying about her competitors: his job, his family, colleagues, and possibly most of all, a clever murderer.
THURSDAY
22
It was nine o’clock in the morning. Singh and Ash had already given succinct reports on what Horseman already knew. He stared at the whiteboard. The incident timeline was distressingly sparse, and the connecting links between the names and attached photos were few indeed. Nevertheless, he valued case review meetings. Face-to-face was far more productive than phone conferencing and emails. More motivating too, just like half-time in a rugby game.
‘Sergeant Taleca, time for you to tell us what you’ve been doing here in the back room while we’ve been tramping about the hills.’
Kelepi Taleca ducked his head to conceal his pleasure at being addressed as Sergeant. ‘Boss! I’ve not been slacking in the back room, not at all. We still don’t know exactly what Vili suspected was amiss at the NLTB. However, given he was murdered, there is no problem with us seizing any files and computers we decide are relevant under Fiji Commission Against Corruption legislation. That’s FICAC to you!’ He pulled out a sheaf of papers and waved them back and forth. ‘So, these warrants will be executed today at NLTB. They’re for Vili’s own working files, and all those he signed out for his projects during the past year. We’ll also seize all files related to Tanoa village and the district.’
Backs straightened, all the officers alerted by the prospect of action.
‘I spoke to the Secretary of the Provincial Council, who has arranged our access to Council files related to Tanoa. We can pick them up later today.’
‘Well done, Sergeant,’ Horseman said, leading the clapping.
Taleca stood and bowed. ‘It’s a lot of reading, boss. Fortunately, two officers from the Financial Crimes Unit are going to be working on this full-time. At least one FICAC accountant, too. They’ll get it moving along.’
‘Even better,’ Horseman said.
The super appeared in the doorway while Taleca was speaking. Everyone jumped to their feet.
‘Superintendent Navala, please take the floor, sir,’ Horseman said. They were all keen to hear where the super had got with Triple C.
Navala gestured for them to sit down. ‘Unlike DS Taleca, I regret I have not been successful in my mission.’ Shoulders slumped in disappointment; only Singh’s posture remained alert.
‘I met with the deputy commissioner, confident he would release the Cultural Properties Unit’s files to us when I filled him in on the facts of our case and the certainty that the two cases are connected. I am disappointed that he refused us access. However, I won’t give up. I firmly believe we have a right to that information. I would certainly give the IO of an overlapping case access to our files, if the boot was on the other foot. There you have it.’
‘What can we do, sir?’ Singh asked.
‘I will pursue the matter, Sergeant. I have an appointment this evening with the commissioner. If that fails, I don’t know. Does anyone know the president?’
‘I don’t, sir. But my wife might know his wife. Will that do?’ Taleca looked serious.
The others laughed, and even the super smiled. ‘I’m sure it will. Please ask Mrs Taleca on my behalf, Sergeant.’
‘Okay troops, jobs for today and tomorrow,’ Horseman said, rubbing his hands together.
The super interrupted. ‘Excuse me, I think you have a general announcement to make, Detective Inspector. Now would be the best time, I think.’
Horseman looked at the curious faces. He had already decided to send the team an email. The coward’s way out, especially as most would be out of the station all day and wouldn’t get the message. The super was right, it was time to come clean.
‘Vinaka for the reminder, sir. On Friday, a friend of mine from the States is arriving for a holiday in Fiji.’ Could he avoid mentioning the sex of his friend? Not really. ‘Melissa’s visit was planned months ago, and Superintendent Navala approved my leave. However, a
s you know, serious crimes, although not frequent in Fiji, thank God, are completely unpredictable. Clearly, I can’t take that leave now.’
He had their full attention. ‘Our super has ordered me to take one day’s leave tomorrow. Therefore I won’t be able to go to Viliame’s funeral at Tanoa. Sergeant Singh will attend with Musudroka and discreetly continue enquiries there.
‘As for today, Sergeants Singh and Taleca will take charge of our social visit to the NLTB. As soon as we get the stuff back here, we’ll start work on the files under the direction of the experts. Except for DS Singh, who plans to talk to Vili’s NLTB colleagues again. What support have you arranged, Keli?’
‘Boss, we’ve got a Finance Unit guy and an IT expert, and two uniforms to fetch, carry, and guard. Enough, do you reckon?’
‘Good job, Keli. Let’s hope our raid will be a surprise.’
They sprang to their feet. Everyone welcomed the excitement of an office raid. Dramatic action but little risk.
***
When the super forced him to tell the team about Melissa’s visit, reality smacked Horseman in the face. In spite of Navala’s support, any number of things could happen with the case to prevent him being at the airport on time. He’d been in denial. Of course he needed support and backup. Well, he knew who to call. And his mother had to find out sometime.
Come to think of it, she was staying in Lautoka right now with his elder sister Julia. As Lautoka was only half an hour’s drive from Fiji’s main airport at Nadi, she was ideally placed.
He tried his sister’s home phone. No luck. The kids would be at school, so perhaps his mother and sister were out somewhere together. He called the mobile phone he’d given her as a present. For some time Mrs Sala Horseman had held this gift, so desirable to the rest of the world, in disdain. He didn’t blame her, as she often paid extended visits to relatives in villages out of mobile service range. Not only that, but for years she had worked as a rural district nurse, where telephones did not exist. This independence had stayed with her all her life. But against the odds, she was now warming to the mobile phone, even starting to use the text function.
This time his mother did not reply to her mobile. So Horseman left a voice message and a text. He was confident she’d be in contact before the day was out.
23
Samu was late. Singh sat at a central table in the Sunshine Food Court nursing a paper cup of chai tea and waiting. She had a good view through the two open sides to the footpaths on Carnarvon and Loftus streets.
She’d been bowled over by the boss’s announcement about his leave. A bit amused too. Navala clearly bulldozed him into telling the team. She respected Horseman’s need for privacy, but—an American girlfriend!
Samu’s tall bulk flopped onto the chair opposite her. He must have entered through the door to the office premises at the back.
Samu puffed. ‘Bula, Sergeant Singh. Sorry I’m late.’
‘No worries, Samu. Would you like a cold drink maybe?’
‘A Coke, please. But I haven’t got much time, I’ve got to catch a bus. I mustn’t miss my class at FIT at four o’clock. I’m allowed to leave work early for that, but there’s not much spare time.’
‘I’ll get it now. You gather your thoughts,’ Singh said hastily.
When she returned with the icy Coke, Samu held the bottle to his face and rolled it over his skin before unscrewing the cap and taking a long swig.
‘Vinaka, I needed that.’
‘You’re welcome, Samu.’ She gave him a moment to settle. He was clearly stressed.
‘You may as well have thrown a bomb in the NLTB today,’ Samu said resentfully. ‘You really shook us all up. No one knew what was happening.’
Singh gloated inside, but she kept her face serious. The raid had indeed gone quite well. She still wasn’t sure whether the calm response of Ratu Sirilo when she presented the warrants was due to his chiefly need to be calm in crisis or whether he’d been tipped off.
‘How are things now? Settled back to work this afternoon?’ Singh asked.
‘Guess so. Sorta. But it’s hard to focus. The files that were taken, for example—it seemed like tons of them when the police carted out the boxes. But only a couple of people were working on them actively. We’ve still got access to the central server. It’s just the shock, I guess. Why didn’t you tell us you needed those files? I’m sure Ratu Sirilo would have handed over whatever you needed.’
Now was not the time to teach Samu about police procedure. ‘It does seem impolite, Samu, for sure. However, you’ll understand that warning criminals that we’re coming to search and seize their property could give them time to get rid of the very evidence we need. That would jeopardise justice, don’t you think?’
‘Sure, with criminals. But this is the NLTB!’ He drained his Coke.
‘Your loyalty does you proud, Samu.’ No need to remind him of the number of NLTB officers or board members who’d been charged with theft or fraud in the last decade. Hardly any of them led to a conviction, so Samu probably felt they were victims of malice.
‘The NLTB protects Fijian lands.’ Samu sounded confident.
‘Yes, it’s a very important job.’ Neither was it the time to remind him the board had failed to protect Indian lessees a few short years ago.
‘Samu, when we met on Tuesday you recalled Vili was concerned about something he’d come across at work. Have you remembered more about that?’
Samu brightened. ‘I followed your suggestion, and I was amazed that more of what he said did come back to me, little by little. But not in as much detail as I hoped.’ He looked rueful and apologetic again. Singh waited until he was ready, suppressing her desire to give him a shake.
Samu began again. ‘It’s probably not enough for you, but I remember waiting at his desk one day when we were going to FIT together. He said something like, “You know, mahogany roots invade everything,” sounding worried. We were running a bit late, so I didn’t ask him what he meant. Do you think this has anything to do with his murder?’
‘I don’t know yet. It’s a piece of the puzzle, and each piece helps. Before long we’ll understand who killed Vili and why. Anything else you can tell me?’
‘Another time, we were doing an assignment together in the canteen at FIT, sharing a Coke. Vili was looking like he was far away—he did that a lot recently. Then he said, “I just saw my great grandfather’s name in a file. What a shock.” I asked him what he found, and he just said, “I don’t know if it’s true, I can’t believe it can be true.” Something like that. He didn’t want to say anything more, so we went back to our assignment. That’s it. Sorry I’m not much use.’
‘Samu, what you’ve told me may prove very useful indeed. It tells me quite a bit about what was troubling Vili these last months. Vinaka vakalevu.’
Samu looked down, blushing. ‘I have to run now, Sergeant Singh. Sorry.’
‘That’s fine, Samu. I’m very grateful. Please, don’t hesitate to phone me if you remember more.’
‘Vinaka. Moce, Sergeant.’ He hefted his backpack onto his shoulders and hurried off, knocking over a chair on his way.
The first bars of the Fiji national anthem interrupted her thoughts. She picked up her phone hastily.
‘May I speak to Sergeant Singh, please?’ The voice was soft, uncertain, but Singh recognised it straight away.
‘Is that Kelera? This is Susie Singh. Where are you?’
‘I’m ringing from the Kumi police post. I want to speak to you. I’ll be able to come to Suva tomorrow, after the funeral. School has been cancelled for the day. Could I see you then?’
‘Can you tell me what it’s about now? If you think it might be important, the sooner I know the better.’
‘Of course, I understand, but that’s not possible. Not now.’ Kelera was almost whispering.
‘I will be at Tanoa tomorrow, Kelera. DC Musudroka and I will be attending Viliame’s funeral as police representatives. I can talk with you either be
fore or after the funeral, or both. Will that be okay?’
‘I hope so, but I’m not sure. Let’s see how it goes.’ Her whisper dropped even lower so Singh could barely hear. ‘I need to get away from here. Maybe I’ll come to Suva anyway. For the weekend.’
‘We’ll speak tomorrow, Kelera. I understand it’s difficult for you right now. See you then.’
‘See you tomorrow,’ Kelera whispered.
Singh was worried. It was natural Kelera was reluctant to speak at the police post, where she could be overheard. But Singh had detected a note of real fear in her soft whisper. What or who was she scared of?
24
Could he miss Junior Shiners’ training this afternoon? No, he just had to make it. Sifting through the seized NLTB files under the direction of the forensic accountant was important, but he knew his skills in this area were average at best. He could contribute no more to this task than any other conscientious detective. Besides, he had to admit that worrying about Melissa’s arrival was disturbing his focus. He managed to get two more officers from Financial Crimes seconded to his team starting from tomorrow. That was the most useful thing he could do.
He arrived at Albert Park on time, and managed a light jog across to the grandstand to the cheers and hoots of the ragtag assembly of Shiners.
‘Eeeeh, Josefa Horseman. You come today!’
‘Watch me, coach, watch me! I been training, coach!’
Tevita stood apart, quiet. Back in January, when Horseman returned from the US, Tevita had urged his hero to revive the fledgling team that had fallen apart the previous year. The boy felt responsible for getting the Shiners going again, and he was right.
Death by Tradition: Fiji Islands Mysteries 2 Page 12
