Deadly Harvest: A Detective Kubu Mystery

by Michael Stanley

  THE MOMENT JOSHUA ARRIVED HOME, his wife realized that she would have a more pleasant evening with friends. So she told Joshua to order a pizza and headed out as quickly as she could.

  As soon as his wife left, Joshua found a flashlight and went to the garage. He crawled around, shining the beam on all the underparts of his BMW. When he looked under the front left wheel well, he saw it. He reached in and plucked it off the metal.

  It was a police bug, used for tracking vehicles remotely. Why were the police following him? he wondered. Had they captured the witch doctor? Had he confessed? He almost dropped the device on the concrete floor to crush it with his shoe, but he stopped. If it stopped transmitting, they would know he’d found it. He opened the passenger door and put it on the seat. Maybe he could use it to throw the police off his tracks.

  Joshua went inside and prowled around the house with a gnawing pain in his stomach.

  He tried watching the Botswana soccer team, the Zebras, play a friendly against South Africa’s Bafana Bafana, but he couldn’t concentrate.

  Eventually, at about 9:30 p.m., he couldn’t contain himself anymore, so he sent another e-mail to the Hushmail address.

  “PLEASE call me. Need to talk URGENTLY.”

  He was frantic with the fear of being found out.

  THE PHONE CALL CAME just before 10:30 p.m.

  “The place we last met. In an hour. Stay in your car.”

  Joshua heard a click as the phone was hung up. He had no chance to respond.

  FIFTY-NINE

  JOSHUA SLOWLY PUT DOWN the cell phone, his heart racing, the witch doctor’s voice still echoing in his head. He jumped up. He only had an hour! He needed to hurry.

  Then he told himself to be calm and sank back into his chair. I have the power, he thought. Let me use it. Let me think. He took a deep breath. Could this be a police trap? He shook his head. He’d recognized the witch doctor’s voice immediately. Always cold, sibilant, reminding him of a snake.

  He left a note for his wife saying that he’d been called to a breaking case, and she should expect him when she saw him. Then he went into the garage, opened the door of his BMW, and immediately saw the tracking device he’d left on the passenger seat. So why were the police watching him? he wondered, also remembering the man who had followed him outside the Internet café. It’s Mabaku. He’s trying to find some lever to blackball me. Or perhaps my stupid uncle told them I was interested in witchcraft, and now they’re trying to use me to get to the witch doctor. He ground his teeth.

  His first thought was to leave the tracking device in the garage, but he took time to think it through. If he were Mabaku, he would have someone watching the house. That man would report his comings and goings and, if he left the device behind, they’d assume he’d found it and tail him by car. It would be hard to lose them on the empty late-night streets of Gaborone. No, he’d need to be cleverer than that.

  He evaluated a couple of plans, then, after a few minutes, went back into the house, took his service pistol from the gun safe, and checked and loaded it. He put on a shoulder holster and a jacket. Then he returned to the car and confidently drove out into the night.

  KUBU HAD JUST FALLEN into a contented sleep when the phone jarred him awake. It took him a few seconds to orient himself. When he realized what had woken him, he grabbed the phone.

  “Bengu.”

  “Assistant Superintendent, this is Edison. Edison Banda. Our man outside Suspect A’s house phoned and said he’d just driven out. I’ve alerted the director, the rapid-response team, and Detective Khama.”

  “And you’ve got the suspect’s car on your screen?”

  “Yes. He’s heading toward the A1.”

  “And what about Suspect B?”

  “Nothing happening there.”

  “Good. I’ll be there in fifteen minutes.”

  Kubu checked his watch. It was 10:45 p.m. A very unlikely time for Joshua to leave his house and start driving around Gaborone. This may be it, he thought.

  JOSHUA DROVE TO THE A1, then turned south. When he came to the Game City shopping center, he pulled into the parking lot and turned off the engine. Right next to CID headquarters. Just the place to make Mabaku look stupid!

  WHEN KUBU ARRIVED AT the assembly point, six armed policemen were milling around under the floodlights. Kubu saw Edison and walked over.

  “Welcome back, Edison. Did you have a good vacation?”

  “Yes. It was wonderful.”

  “Well, you returned to a hornet’s nest. You’ve been briefed on what’s happening?”

  “A little bit. Nobody seems to know what’s really going on or who the suspects are.”

  “I’ll fill you in on the details after this is over. We’re trying to catch a witch doctor who, we’re sure, has been responsible for a number of muti murders. Obviously we didn’t want to tell our men that. They think it’s a diamond heist.”

  Kubu could see the hesitation in Edison’s eyes. “It’s okay, Edison. Nothing’s going to happen to you. He’s just a criminal.”

  Kubu didn’t think that Edison was convinced.

  Just then a man ran over. “Suspect B has just started moving. It looks as though he’s heading west towards the A1.”

  “Thanks,” Kubu said. “Edison, get the men together. I want to brief them.”

  As Edison was gathering the team, Mabaku and Samantha arrived. Kubu quickly filled them in.

  “Director, both our vehicles have backup communication systems. Each will acknowledge every one of your communications. If you don’t hear an acknowledgment, check immediately with that vehicle. If you can’t make contact, switch to the backup system. Each vehicle also has a cell phone. Edison has those numbers.”

  Kubu turned to Samantha. “If the team moves in, you are not to go with them. You must stay in the vehicle until cleared to move. Understood?”

  Samantha stiffened and didn’t reply.

  “Samantha. It’s not because you’re a woman. It’s because it’s dangerous, and you don’t have the appropriate training or experience. I won’t be going with my team, either.”

  Samantha nodded reluctantly.

  “The men are ready, Kubu,” Edison said as he ran up.

  Kubu turned to the men. “Listen carefully. The men we are following are very dangerous. We think one of them has killed several times. However, you must do everything possible to capture them alive. No shooting unless absolutely necessary. They’re very careful and may lay traps for anyone following. Fortunately, both their vehicles have tracking devices on them. Director Mabaku will be in charge of letting us all know what they are doing. He will also give us the order to go in, if that’s appropriate. It’s essential that we work together and don’t jump the gun. Wait for orders. Don’t do anything unless ordered to do so. Each vehicle must acknowledge every communication from the director in order. Who is in charge of Vehicle One?”

  A stocky man raised his hand.

  “When the director has finished a communication, you must acknowledge by saying ‘Vehicle One, roger.’ Vehicle Two must acknowledge only after Vehicle One has acknowledged. If either vehicle fails to acknowledge, switch radios, and the director will ask you all to acknowledge again. We can’t afford to make a mistake. This may be the only opportunity we have to catch these two. Understood?”

  The men nodded.

  “As a final backup, you all have cell phones. On speed dial the number one will ring in the control room. Use it only as a last resort.”

  Kubu turned to Mabaku. “Would you like to say anything, director?”

  “We’ve been tracking Suspect A for the last fifteen minutes. He has stopped in the parking lot of Game City. Suspect B has just started moving toward the A1. Good luck, men.”

  Kubu frowned. Why had Joshua stopped at Game City? he wondered. Surely not for a late-night snack.

  “Samantha,” he said. “You go in Vehicle Two. I’ll be in Vehicle One.”

  He turned back to the men. “Okay. Let’s
go.”

  JOSHUA ASSESSED HIS OPTIONS. It was already after eleven on a weekday night, and Game City was nearly empty. There were only a few people who’d been to the movies, chatting and drinking coffee at the Wimpy. Then he spotted a taxi parked outside the fast-food restaurant. The driver had just come out of the Wimpy and was heading back to his car. Immediately Joshua saw his opportunity. He got out of the BMW and sauntered over to the taxi, timing his arrival so that the man was already seated when he reached him.

  “Dumela, rra,” he said. “I’m afraid I’m a bit lost. Can you help me? I’m looking for the Broadhurst shopping mall. I’m from Lobatse.”

  The driver gave him detailed directions, illustrated with pointing and hand movements.

  Joshua was effusively grateful, leaning into the cab to pat the man on the shoulder and shake his hand.

  “You are a Good Samaritan, rra. Where are you going from here?”

  “I won’t get more fares after eleven on a Thursday. I’m off home to Mogoditshane.”

  Joshua wished him a good sleep and walked back to his car smiling. The tracking device was now lying on the floor behind the taxi driver’s seat.

  He slid into his car and looked around. He waited a few minutes to see if anyone followed the taxi. Then he drove out a back exit and doubled back. Satisfied that no one was following, he drove back to the A1 and turned south toward Lobatse. After a few miles, he turned left onto a narrow road that had a sign to the Opera House. He drove cautiously down the road, then turned left onto a disused track. After a few more minutes, a cabin near the dam came into sight. He stopped a hundred yards away, switched off the engine and lights, and settled down to wait. If it was like the last time, it would be at least half an hour.

  THE RADIO CRACKLED AS Mabaku came on the air. Kubu could hear concern in his voice. “Suspect A is backtracking, now heading north on the A1. Suspect B is headed south on the A1 and is nearing the Molepolole turnoff. They will pass each other in a minute or two.”

  The driver of Kubu’s vehicle responded: “Vehicle One, roger.” The second vehicle followed suit.

  That’s strange, Kubu thought. Why is Joshua going north? Are they going to have a conversation on the highway?

  A few minutes later, Mabaku radioed again. “Suspect A has passed Suspect B and is still headed north. Suspect B has stopped just south of Millenium Park. All units move to Old Lobatse Road and stop short of the circle just north of Game City.”

  “He’s checking that no one is following,” Kubu said, after the acknowledgments. “I bet he’ll stay there for ten minutes or so.”

  Shortly after the two vehicles had pulled onto the verge of Old Lobatse Road, Mabaku came on the air again. “Suspect A still headed north on the A1. Suspect B still stopped on the A1.”

  Kubu leaned over and spoke to the driver. “Give me the radio, please. There’s something wrong here.”

  He took the handset and pressed the transmit button. “Vehicle One to Home.”

  Mabaku answered immediately. “Go ahead, Vehicle One.”

  “Something’s up, Director. Suspects A and B should be converging, not diverging. Please dispatch a car to check that Suspect A is driving a black, 3-series BMW.”

  “Will do.”

  A couple of minutes later: “Suspect B now going south on the A1 and has turned left on the side road towards the Opera House. Suspect A still heading north.”

  A few minutes later, Mabaku came on the air again. “You were right, Vehicle One. Location device is in a taxi. The driver says a man in a black BMW came over and asked directions to Broadhurst Mall. He must have found the device on his car and dropped it in the taxi. He’s on to us, which is bad, and we don’t know where he is now, which is worse.”

  Kubu took the handset again. “We’ll have to follow Suspect B then. We’ll have to be very careful. He’ll expect to be followed.” I’d better be right that he’s the witch doctor, Kubu thought. Otherwise Joshua’s on his way to meet someone else.

  “Suspect B has stopped about half a mile from the A1. All units move south down the A1. Stop five hundred yards short of the turnoff to the Opera House. Two men from Vehicle Two make a wide swing south of the Opera House road and see if you can locate Suspect B if he’s left his car. But don’t let him see you.”

  As the two men climbed out of the other vehicle with their night-vision goggles and automatic rifles, Kubu’s heart rate picked up. “We’re going to get you!” he blurted out.

  After what seemed an interminable wait, the radios came to life. “This is Scout One. Suspect B has pulled his car behind some bushes and is looking back along the road.”

  “He’s being very careful,” the driver of Kubu’s vehicle whispered.

  Kubu got out of the car and walked around. Everyone else did the same. “We could be here for an hour,” Kubu said to Samantha. “May as well keep the circulation going.”

  Twenty minutes passed before Mabaku called again. “Suspect B now moving very slowly. Move ahead slowly without lights.”

  Everyone jumped into their vehicles.

  “Suspect B has stopped again. Be prepared to stop and deploy.”

  The convoy moved slowly forward until they were five hundred yards from Suspect B.

  “Stop and deploy. Acknowledge on portable radios.” The leaders of each vehicle and both scouts acknowledged.

  Good, Kubu thought. All is going well.

  JOSHUA WAS BEGINNING TO fidget. He’d been waiting for more than half an hour. Was the witch doctor just being cautious? he wondered. Or had something happened to him?

  I’ll give him another fifteen minutes, then I’ll leave.

  “I’LL GO AHEAD,” THE leader of Kubu’s group said to the remaining men. “Follow me in two minutes.” He pulled on night-vision goggles and walked forward, automatic rifle at the ready.

  Two minutes later the rest of the team fanned out and moved warily forward. Kubu wished he could follow them. Samantha climbed into the vehicle and sat down next to Kubu.

  The earpieces crackled as one of the scouts reported. “This is Scout One. I can see Suspect B’s car. He’s standing about thirty yards to the side, behind a tree. There is another car about five hundred yards farther on. It looks as though there is one occupant.”

  “That has to be Joshua in the car,” Kubu said to Samantha. “The witch doctor is making sure nobody’s following.”

  “Everyone stop,” Mabaku ordered. The team leader acknowledged and raised his hand to signal the others.

  A few minutes later the scout reported again. “This is Scout Two. Suspect B is circling behind Suspect A’s vehicle. Am following at a distance.”

  “Move forward another hundred yards,” Mabaku ordered. The teams fanned out even farther and crept forward.

  “Suspect B is now circling back.”

  “Get down,” came Mabaku’s order. The men dropped quietly to the ground, looking around anxiously.

  “If Suspect B sees any of you, capture him alive and take Suspect A as well.” As he heard Mabaku’s words, Kubu said to Samantha, “I hope that doesn’t happen. We won’t have anything to charge either man with.”

  A few minutes later: “Suspect B has entered a small building about one hundred yards from Suspect A’s vehicle.”

  “Close in another hundred yards,” Mabaku ordered.

  The men crept closer. Then nothing happened for interminable minutes.

  He’s getting ready for Joshua, thought Kubu.

  “A light has come on outside the building. Suspect A has left his car and is proceeding toward the building.”

  “Move forward until building is in sight, then stop.”

  “Suspect A now in building.”

  “Yes!” Kubu exclaimed. “We’ve got them.”

  WHEN THE LIGHT IN the house flashed, Joshua knew it was time. He took a deep breath. I’m afraid of him, he admitted. I’m afraid of what he’ll make me do.

  He pulled himself together, closed the car door quietly, and headed to th
e house. But before he reached the front door, he stopped. Something bothered him. A sound not really heard, or a movement not really seen? He stood still and carefully scanned the area, then he silently turned around and peered into the brush behind him. The half-moon was now low in the sky, and what illumination it offered was disguised by tree shadows. He waited for more than a minute. The light in the house signaled again. He felt his confidence build again, as it had when he’d held the albino’s still-warm heart in his hands. He entered the house, gently closing the door behind him, letting the Yale lock click into place.

  The witch doctor was waiting for him, dressed as always in baboon mask and leopard skin. Joshua felt awe, but he also felt power pumping in his veins. It was I who killed the albino, he thought. Not you.

  The room had two wooden chairs set apart, and the witch doctor waved Joshua to one and took the other.

  “Why did you call me?” the witch doctor asked. “What’s so urgent?”

  “They don’t believe Rampa is the witch doctor. I had the commissioner convinced, but the CID people don’t believe it.” Somehow the issue didn’t seem as critical here in the witch doctor’s den. “It was a mistake hurting him. The welts on his body convinced them that he couldn’t be the real witch doctor.”

  The baboon head turned to face him, but Joshua couldn’t see eyes behind the holes in the mask. “It doesn’t work like that, Joshua. Rampa betrayed me. He said things no one should speak. For that he was punished. He will die as he deserves.”

  “Nevertheless, they now believe there was someone else behind it all.”

  “It was your job to convince them that no one else is involved!”

  “They’re looking for someone else. They’re looking for you. They’ve been watching me, too.”

  The witch doctor leaned forward, suddenly tense. “Watching you? Why would they suspect you?”

  “I think my rival for the deputy commissioner job is trying to trip me up. But I’ve been careful.”

  “What if they followed you here?” The witch doctor’s voice rose in anger.

  “I gave them the slip. They’re following their tracking device to Mogoditshane. And no other cars came down this road.”