A Death in the Family Read Online Free Page A

didn’t notice anyone. Not much help, I’m afraid.”
    â€œAnd you, Samantha?” Mabaku’s patience was wearing thin. “I hope you’ve something useful.”
    â€œI have two things, but I’m not sure they’re useful.” She opened her notebook. “A Mma Pooe was walking her dog just before nine. A man ran past her, away from where the body was found. She noticed mainly because the dog tried to chase him and nearly pulled her off her feet. She said the man had a hood over his head.”
    â€œWhere exactly—”
    â€œWhat sort of hood?” Mabaku interrupted Zanele’s question.
    â€œShe said the hood was like the one you get on some tracksuit tops.”
    â€œNot a mask or balaclava, then?”
    â€œNo. Just a hooded top.”
    â€œI wish you’d mentioned this last night, Samantha.” Zanele’s voice was uncharacteristically tinged with irritation. “We might have been able to get some footprints. Where exactly did she see him? It may not be too late.”
    â€œI’m sorry, Zanele. It was long after you’d left, and it didn’t occur to me to get you out of bed at that hour. I kept going to homes until about two thirty in the morning. Pooe’s was my last house. She saw the man opposite Plot 327 on Limpopo Street, just down the road from where Rra Bengu was killed.”
    Zanele stood up. “Excuse me, Director, I’ll get someone there immediately. Footprints from a runner are much easier to find.” She turned to leave the room.
    â€œGet reception to phone the constable who’s guarding the crime scene and have him cordon off the block where the man was seen. We may still be able to find something.”
    â€œI’m so sorry, Director,” Samantha said. “I should have phoned Zanele. It’s my fault.”
    Mabaku stared at her, not quite sure what to say. Samantha had certainly made a big mistake, but it was unusual for a low-level detective to admit it. And she had stayed out longer than anyone.
    â€œBe more careful next time. If we’re lucky, there may still be something there.” He looked around the table. “Anything else?”
    â€œYes.” Samantha consulted her notes again. “Rra Bengu was carrying a cell phone. Apparently, that was very unusual for him. I checked the logs on the phone. Over the two weeks prior to his death, he’d made no calls, but he’d received six: three were from Kubu and the others from landlines. I’m having those numbers traced. I’ve also asked Mascom for a printout of all his calls for the past three months.”
    â€œLet me know as soon as you’ve any information.”
    Samantha nodded.
    Mabaku looked around the table. “Anything else?”
    Everyone shook their heads.
    â€œI have something else to say,” Mabaku continued. “First, this case has top priority. Until I have reason to believe otherwise, I regard Rra Bengu’s murder as a strike against the CID because he’s Kubu’s father. We have to find out whether the murder is connected with any of Kubu’s current cases. I’ll do that after this meeting. I’m meeting with Kubu at his home. Second, Kubu is to have nothing to do with this case. NOTHING!” He banged the table with his fist, startling everyone. “If he tries to get involved in the investigation in any way, you let me know immediately! If you hear that he’s doing stuff on his own, you let me know immediately! Understood?”
    Everyone nodded.
    â€œHe’s going to want to be involved, to help. That’s understandable. But any involvement is through me only. No one else! Understood?”
    Again, everyone nodded.
    â€œGod help you if I find anyone disobeying me on this. Even if I don’t fire you, you’ll be investigating petty crimes in the most remote village I can find. If Kubu gets involved, it’ll prejudice any case we’ve