A Death in the Family (5 page)

Pleasant drove in, climbed out of the car while the children were closing the gate, and hugged Kubu.

“Oh, Kubu. I'm so sorry. I can't believe it. Your father was a father for Joy and me too. We're going to miss him terribly.”

Kubu patted her on the back. “It hasn't really sunk in yet. It's so unbelievable that someone would kill him!” He shook his head. “Thank you so much for looking after the kids. We've decided to tell them right away. But I'm not sure they'll really understand.”

He let Pleasant go and called out. “Come on, Tumi; come on, Nono. Let's go and say hello to your grandmother.”

The kids ran over and each held one of Kubu's outstretched hands.

When they reached the living room, Joy said, “Girls, go and give your grandmother a hug and a kiss.”

Tumi and Nono walked over to the old woman and both hugged her at the same time. She kissed them on the tops of their heads.

Tumi looked around. “Where's Grandfather?”

Kubu looked at Joy.

“Come over here, please,” Joy said. “Come and sit with me.”

She put her arms around both of them.

“I have something very sad to tell you.” She hugged them closer, fighting back her tears. “You know your grandfather was old and having difficulty remembering who you were?” They nodded. “It is so sad. He died last night. I'm afraid you won't see him again.”

Tumi and Nono stared at her, then at Amantle.

“Will Grandmother find someone else?” Nono asked. “Like I did when my sister died?”

Joy shook her head. “No, my darling. I think Grandmother will live alone. But she's going to stay here with us tonight.”

“Did Grandfather leave us a present before he died?” Tumi asked.

“No,” Joy said with a smile. “But he sent you both his love and a big hug.” She pulled the two girls close to her. “Grandfather is now with Jesus and is very happy. You must remember him in your prayers. Now he can watch over you all the time.”

Tumi and Nono looked at each other. “Will he see us when we're being naughty?” Nono asked with wide eyes.

For a moment there was silence. Then Kubu smiled for the first time since the evening before. “Yes,” he said. “I think he will.”

*   *   *

DINNER THAT EVENING
was a somber affair. Although Amantle had been stoical during the day, when the family sat down to eat, she broke down. Tumi and Nono were unsure what was happening and started crying also, so Pleasant suggested they go outside and turn dinner into a picnic. That immediately cheered them up, and they dashed into the garden.

Joy sat down next to Amantle and put her arm around her, patting her gently. She let Amantle weep without saying a word. Kubu wasn't quite sure what he could do, so he picked at his plate of food. He had long ago learned that keeping quiet was a better strategy than attempting to help.

After about ten minutes, Amantle sat upright. “I am sorry for behaving like a schoolgirl,” she said. “But I miss him so much.”

Kubu leaned over and took her hand but said nothing.

“Thank you.” Amantle squeezed his hand. “Thank you both.”

Joy stood up, took Amantle's plate, and replaced the now cool food. When she put the plate down, Amantle said, “I must go back to Mochudi tomorrow. I can't wait any longer. I have to prepare for the funeral. That is what Wilmon would want.”

Kubu frowned. “Mother, as I said this morning, I think you should stay a few more days. The funeral arrangements can wait.”

“No. I have made up my mind. I am all right now, and my friends will expect a proper funeral. They will be with me all week to help me.” She dried her eyes and smiled. “It will be a big day with many people coming. Sometimes I thought Wilmon knew everyone in Mochudi. I would not be surprised if there are five hundred people.”

“Where will you hold it, Mother?” Joy asked. “Your house is too small for that many people.”

“I will speak to our priest,” Amantle replied. “I am sure he will let us use the church hall. And it has a kitchen big enough to cook for everyone.”

“Are you sure you're ready to go back?” Kubu asked.

“I have made up my mind.” Amantle's voice was now strong. “We will return to Mochudi in the morning, if that is convenient for you.”

Kubu glanced at Joy, who nodded.

“Then we'll leave after breakfast tomorrow, Mother. And I'll stay with you until the funeral. I want to help with the preparations, and I'll pay for all the food.”

“That will not be necessary,” Amantle said sharply. “We have a funeral policy to pay for it.”

Kubu decided not to pursue the matter, even though he knew that the payout of such policies seldom kept pace with inflation.

“As you wish, Mother. You and Father planned so well for this sad occasion.” He stood up. “We should all get an early night, so I'll go and pack. You and Joy can have some tea on the veranda; then I'll join you.”

“You are a good son, David. Thank you.”

As he was packing, Kubu realized that an early return to Mochudi was actually a win for him. Whether Mabaku liked it or not, he was going to poke around, even if it was behind the scenes and unofficially.

 

PART 2

 

CHAPTER 9

After breakfast, Kubu took his suitcase and Amantle's cloth bag to the Land Rover and put a couple of bottles of chilled water in a cooler.

“When will you come up?” Kubu asked as he kissed Joy good-bye.

“On Thursday evening with Pleasant and the kids. I'll borrow some foam mattresses, unless you can get some from the neighbors. We can all sleep on the floor.”

“Can't you come up sooner?”

“I'll try, but I've so much on the go at work at the moment.” She saw the disappointment in Kubu's eyes. “I'll do my best, darling. But I'm sure your mother will keep you busy.”

Kubu shrugged. He could really do with Joy's support during the week. It was going to be a long few days looking after Amantle and putting up with her friends.

They kissed once more. Then Kubu lifted Tumi and Nono, hugged them close, and gave them a big kiss each. “Be good, girls. I'll see you in a couple of days.”

With that he and Amantle climbed into the Land Rover and, with a tap on the horn, they set off for Mochudi.

*   *   *

FOR THE MOST
part, the trip to Mochudi was quiet. Amantle didn't speak much, and Kubu did little to encourage her. They both used the time to reflect on the man they had loved—loved in different ways, of course, but loved with similar intensity.

As they turned into Kgafela Drive, Amantle said, “Thank you for coming to Mochudi, David. It will be a big help to me.”

He nodded. “It's what I want, Mother. So it's not a problem for me.”

Kubu stopped the Land Rover in front of his parents' house. He climbed out and went to open his mother's door. He could see that she was struggling to keep from crying. He took her by the arm and walked up the stairs to the veranda.

“Give me your key, Mother.”

She rummaged in her handbag and handed it to Kubu. He inserted the key and tried to open the lock. The key wouldn't turn. He put a little more force on it, but it still wouldn't move. He turned the door handle, and the door opened immediately.

“Are you sure you locked the door when you left, Mother?”

“I think so.”

“Well, it was open. Your mind was elsewhere, I'm sure.”

He pushed the door open and gasped. “You've been robbed, Mother. Someone has ransacked the house.”

Amantle pushed past Kubu and walked in. She looked around at the chaos and burst into tears. Drawers had been pulled out of cabinets and dumped on the floor. Sofa cushions had been ripped open and their stuffing strewn everywhere. And through the open bedroom door, Kubu could see that the two mattresses had suffered the same fate.

“Don't touch anything, Mother,” Kubu said. “Please go and sit outside for a few moments. I need to call the police here in Mochudi and some people at work.”

This is no ordinary robbery, he thought. It has to be something to do with Father's murder. He wondered what on earth Wilmon could have been up to. What did he have that somebody wanted so much?

He called the Mochudi police station and reported the break-in. Then he called Director Mabaku.

“Director, my parents' house has been torn apart. Obviously, someone is looking for something they think my father had.” Kubu's voice started getting louder. “And what's next? My mother killed? My wife and children attacked? I need to be on the case. I know everyone around here. You've never lived here, and Samantha hasn't lived here for years.”

“Kubu, calm down! We're doing everything we can. I've put everyone possible on the case. It's top priority. You know full well we can't have you involved. If you're part of the team, and we prosecute someone, the defense will shred your objectivity to pieces. They'll say you're biased and prejudiced. And they'll be right.”

“But you've accomplished nothing so far. You've—”

“Shut up, Kubu. We've been on the case just over a day. And you expect—”

“Director, you know as well as I do, that the chances of catching a perpetrator go way down after the first forty-eight hours. It's nearly two days now, and you've got nothing. You've got to put me on the team.”

“I'll call you right back.”

Kubu couldn't believe that Mabaku had cut him off. Didn't he understand that everything was urgent?

His phone rang again. It was Mabaku.

“I've arranged for Zanele and Samantha to go to Mochudi immediately to see if they can find any sign of the intruder. And I've arranged twenty-four-hour protection at your home and your mother's. Just in case. You'd better let Joy know.” Mabaku paused, then continued, “Listen to me carefully, Kubu. You are not to go back into the house until I say so. You are not to go snooping around talking to neighbors. You are not to contact any member of the team investigating your father's murder. Do you understand? Take your mother back to your home in Gabs—she's had a bigger loss than you, and she's behaving a lot better. Pull yourself together, man. We'll do our job as well as we can, and having you interfering is only going to slow things down.”

Before Kubu could respond, Mabaku hung up.

Kubu stood for a few moments, cell phone in hand, seething with anger. His father had been murdered, his mother's house broken into, and he was meant to do nothing about it.

“We'll see!” he snorted. “We'll see.”

 

CHAPTER 10

Kubu called Joy and told her about the break-in. He did his best to persuade her not to worry, but she was understandably concerned. When he'd finished talking to her, he turned to his mother, who had buried her face in a handkerchief.

“Come on, Mother. Let's go next door and get a cup of tea.” He took her by the arm, but she shrugged free.

“I am not leaving. This is my house, and I have things to do.”

“But, Mother—”

“It is my husband who has died. I have a responsibility to—”

“Mother, you can come back later. You can't go in now. It's a crime scene. Let's go next door for the moment.”

“I do not know what this country is coming to. Everything is getting worse. Nobody is safe.”

“Come along, Mother.” Again he took her by the arm. This time she let him help her to the neighbor's house.

“Hello again, Mma Ngombe,” he said when the front door opened. “Would it be possible for my mother to stay here for a couple of hours? Somebody's broken into her house, and we're waiting for the police.”

Mma Ngombe frowned. “But aren't you with the police?”

“Of course, mma, but we can't go in until the forensic people have taken fingerprints and so on. And I can't do that. Besides, they won't let me do anything because I'm personally involved.”

“Oh dear. That must be hard for you.” She turned to Amantle. “Amantle, my dear. What is the world coming to?” She patted her friend on the back. “Come on in.”

“She was at my home in Gaborone last night, thank God. Did you hear or see anything unusual?”

She shook her head. “No. As you know, there are people in the street until nine thirty or ten every night. I'm sure someone would have seen whoever broke in if it was before ten.”

“And after ten?”

“Well, you would have to speak to everyone in the neighborhood. We were on the veranda until just before ten, and we saw Rra Seema and his wife, and old Rra Nini. And Mma and Rra Macha. And a few people I didn't recognize. But they looked as though they were just out for a stroll. Nobody paid any attention to Amantle's house as far as I can remember.”

“And did you hear anything after you went to bed?”

“No, I slept very well, but you should speak to my husband. He's a light sleeper. And I'm told that Rra Roze doesn't sleep well either—probably too much beer, I think. He lives on the other side of Amantle's house.”

“Thank you, mma. You're very kind. I'm sure Mother would like a cup of tea. It's been a very difficult time.” He hesitated. “And I'd like one also, if it isn't too much trouble.”

“And now they do not want me to go into my own house,” Amantle said. “My own house! And I have to prepare for Wilmon's funeral.”

“Don't worry, my dear,” Mma Ngombe said. “All your friends will be here to help. Go and sit down.”

*   *   *

“MOTHER, WHERE DID
Father keep his front door key?” Kubu asked as they waited for Mma Ngombe to brew the tea. “Would he have taken it with him the night he was killed?”

Amantle shook her head. “I do not know if he took it. Usually, if one of us is in the house or if we go for a walk, we do not lock the door. But that night…” She broke off as she tried to regain her composure. “But that night, he was acting so strangely, I do not know what he did.”