The Death of the Mantis Read Free Page A

was horrified by this development. Another problem, a
scandal! The paperwork to determine insurance and pension payouts!
How like Monzo. Causing trouble from the grave. He pulled himself
together.
    “No, no, Mma Monzo, that is, er… You can certainly stay for the
moment. No rush to leave the house. It will take us time to get a
replacement for your husband… I mean Monzo. And there will be some
money, I’m sure. You’ll be the common-law wife and, of course,
these are his children. We’re definitely on your side. You mustn’t
worry.”
    She gave him a strange look with a mixture of emotions. Then she
folded her arms, lifting her generous breasts, and smiled.
    “Thank you, Rra Vusi,” she said. “You are very kind.”
    ♦
    The detective was taking his time, Vusi thought with irritation.
The man settled himself into a chair and glanced around the office,
peering at the wall calendar. He looked relaxed despite the
two-hour drive from Tsabong through the sand and heat. A Bushman,
wrinkled and wizened, of indeterminate age, leant against the
office wall. Detective Sergeant Lerako had brought him, but hadn’t
introduced him. Ndoli sat on the edge of his chair, looking
uncomfortable.
    “I understand that Monzo went to meet some Bushmen,” Lerako said
at last. “Have you had any problems with them here?”
    “Certainly not,” Vusi replied. “No problems at all, as far as I
know.” He looked at Ndoli for confirmation, but was met by silence.
“Why?”
    Lerako ignored the question and turned to Ndoli. “Exactly what
did Monzo say to you when he left?”
    Ndoli shifted in his chair. “He said he’d had a report that the
Bushmen were poaching in the game reserve. Said he was going to put
a stop to it one way or another.”
    “What did he mean by that?”
    Ndoli shrugged. “He was angry. I guess he meant to chase them
off.”
    Lerako turned back to Vusi. “Did he say anything like that to
you?”
    “No,” he said flatly. “What’s it matter why he drove out there
anyway?”
    Lerako folded strong arms across a broad chest. His neck spread
from his head to his heavy shoulders. He looked like a bodybuilder.
And he didn’t smile.
    “In homicides, people found at the scene are often involved.
There were Bushmen at the scene.”
    “But this was an accident! He fell into the donga !” Ndoli
exclaimed.
    “We have to consider every possibility. I’ll want to know where
everyone was that morning. Another fact is that most murders
involve family, or friends, or persons who knew the victim.”
    “Murder? That’s ridiculous!” Vusi had an uncomfortable feeling
that he was losing control of the situation. Where was I yesterday
morning? he wondered. I was late. Monzo had already left when I got
in. “You can’t think one of us was involved!” he said. “We’re a
team.”
    Lerako ignored him and changed tack. “Who benefits from Monzo’s
death?”
    Vusi swallowed, hesitated. “Well, he had a wife and family.
Marta and the two boys. There will be pension and insurance
benefits for them. Little enough to bring up two young children,
I’m sorry to say.”
    Ndoli looked at his boss sharply, but Lerako appeared not to
notice. “How much?”
    “I can’t say yet. It depends on certain things… Perhaps fifty
thousand pula.”
    “I need to see the place where he was found. Will you take
me?”
    “Ndoli will do it,” said Vusi, firmly. The day was already hot.
“He’s the one who found Monzo with the Bushmen. He can tell you
about it.”
    Lerako nodded. Turning to Ndoli, he indicated the Bushman. “I’ve
got a tracker with me. He may be able to help if we can’t find
these Bushman suspects. I’ll get my stuff, and we’ll meet you at
the vehicle.”
    When they had gone, Ndoli turned to his boss. “Do you know Marta
wasn’t Monzo’s wife?”
    “Yes, I know. Just a technicality. Nothing to worry about. I
don’t think we should bother the police with it.”
    “He had another woman, too. Not the wife.