Darling... I Need Your Corpse: Detective Mike Sanse #2 (Mike Sanse series)

by Anthony Mugo

  “Ciuri facilitated Mbotie’s death so it was two birds with one stone,” Pai said.

  “I am innocent.”

  “Prove it,” Sanse said.

  “My nephew vouched for me.”

  Pai and Sanse accosted Wachira.

  “You did time for theft,” Pai said. “Now you’ve graduated to kidnap and murder.”

  “I told you the truth.”

  “I should have shot you,” Pai said.

  “Do you honestly believe I chopped off a man’s head, arms and legs because of seven thousand?”

  “When you add revenge it makes a lot of sense,” Pai said.

  “What revenge?”

  “Ciuri facilitated Mbotie’s death, didn’t he?” Pai said.

  “Mbotie has been dead for a year. Why take revenge now?”

  “You are patient,” Pai said.

  A Regular Police walked in and whispered to Pai.

  “Your wife just arrived,” Pai told Wachira who stared at him stonily. “I think I’ll charge her as an accomplice.”

  “Leave her out of this!”

  Jennifer, Wachira’s wife, stared at the wall to avoid eye contact with the two detectives.

  “It is criminal to lie to the police,” Pai said. “Your husband didn’t arrive home at nine.”

  Jennifer continued to stare at the wall.

  “Look at me,” Pai said. “We know that your husband arrived home late.”

  “He was working,” Jennifer said. “It wasn’t his first to arrive home late. He is willing to work odd hours to provide for us.”

  “Is your kid a boy or a girl?” Sanse asked.

  “A boy.”

  “How old is he?”

  “A year and a half.”

  “Such a delicate age,” Sanse said. “Trust me, if your husband killed Ciuri we will get him. That means jail term. Or the gallows. You could also go down as an accomplice. Where does that leave your son?”

  “I have done nothing wrong.”

  “What do you think?” Pai asked Sanse once the two were out of the room.

  “They know we don’t have much to go on,” Sanse. “We should establish where the murder occurred. Any word on the missing parts?”

  “None. I have an idea.”

  Pai called one of the new Regular Police and dictated a confession to the effect that Wachira and Gethi had killed Oscar Ciuri. He was admiring his ingenuity inside thirty minutes. Sanse accompanied him to where Wachira was being held.

  “Your brother-in-law is not as tough as you,” Pai said. “He cracked.”

  Wachira’s face was marred by rage. He opened his eyes and skimmed the document that Pai had placed in front of him. When he raised his eyes he was smiling.

  “Gethi has the best handwriting,” Wachira said.

  “He talked, I wrote,” Pai said.

  “It is still a lie.”

  “The rascal!” Pai cursed once he was out of the interrogation room.

  It was time to be debriefed.

  “That is not much to go on,” Boko said after Detective Pai had recounted the events of the day. “The motive is wobbly. Again, you can’t really connect the two to the crime.”

  “Some of these criminals don’t need much of a motive to kill,” Pai said. “Some have killed for as little as a hundred shillings.”

  “Mr Sanse?”

  “I think they are guilty of a different crime,” Sanse said.

  “What crime?” Boko said.

  “Wachira lost his balance on learning that Gethi had confessed but relaxed after skimming the document,” Sanse said. “Even after Detective Pai had owned the handwriting he still called our bluff. This is because he wasn’t reacting to the handwriting but the content. The two can’t give an alibi as it would amount to a confession.”

  Pai stared at his ex-partner. “What evidence do you have of an alternative crime?”

  “Here and now?” Sanse said. “None. As it were, I wish I had answers to quite a number of issues. How did Gethi’s family cover the deficit for the operation? Where does style Jo fit in all these? Why did Fredrick Maru rush to his rescue? Did other families whose sons got killed forgive Oscar? Did Kathare Stars forgive Oscar for swindling them?”

  “Good work gentlemen,” Boko said. “But we need to wrap this thing up fast.”

  On his way from the station Sanse wrote Mathew a message. Thank you for acting on my concerns. Despite the results I am glad we tried.

  ***

  The funeral was over by one. The politicians left unhappy because Diana had denied them the podium. She couldn’t stand their crocodile’s tears and the battle for Ciuri’s political space. After the funeral Diana had gone to town to see off Oscar’s elderly aunt. She stopped in her tracks on entering her compound.

  Stacey was resting on Willy’s lap.

  A new doll laid a few paces from them. She rushed to them, grabbed the doll and flung it over the fence. Willy’s frozen grin infuriated her further.

  “What do you think you are doing?” Diana demanded.

  “Shhhhhh,” Willy said. “We are in the middle of something here.”

  “Stacey, go to your room.”

  The young girl ran off to the house. Willy got on his feet to stand shoulder to shoulder with Diana. He held his grin in place.

  “If you ever get near her again I will kill you with my bare hands,” Diana said.

  “She has but one father, me. The one she knew was an impostor who shot blanks.”

  “It gives you no right over her.”

  “It gives her right over me.”

  The two held each other’s gaze.

  “Now you can give me the dates, can’t you?” Willy asked.

  “I have just buried my husband.”

  “I gave you a child,” Willy said. “Am I right to assume that you want to keep her?”

  “You can’t touch her!” Diana said between clenched teeth.

  “Try me.”

  Diana watched Willy stroll out of the compound. Where the hell were Claire and Kelvin? Of course she had left a stern warning that Stacey shouldn’t be left out of sight. She stopped in her tracks as Kelvin strolled into the compound carrying a polythene bag.

  “Claire sent me to the shops,” Kelvin said.

  Diana stormed the house only to find her sister snoring on the couch.

  Chapter 18

  Sanse bumped into Timothy Mavedi at the entrance to Kathare Police Station. The young detective’s second-skin suit was under such strain the coat tails projected outward in protest. The pencil trouser stopped three-inches shy of an oversize pair of white shoes. Sanse would have preferred tear gas over his perfume.

  “Only one man can look and smell this way,” Sanse shook Mavedi’s hand. “How many hearts have you broken?”

  “Funny that you should ask,” Mavedi said. “What is a man to do? I hear you inherited me while I was away.”

  “Are you aggrieved?”

  “I’ll be the moment my pay lands in your pocket.”

  Pai was at his desk when the two walked in. The three proceeded to Boko’s office.

  “Welcome back Detective Mavedi,” Boko said. “Gentlemen, I promised all and sundry a quick investigation. It has been nine days and what do I have? Another body.”

  “Sir...?” Pai started.

  “You heard me right,” Boko said. “This is unacceptable. I always deliver on my promises. Get down to the bridge and give me results!”

  Pai lagged behind. “Sir, my partner is back.”

  “I know,” Boko said. “I also know that three heads are better than two. What is between you anyway? Have a seat.”

  Pai sat down reluctantly.

  “Talk to me.”

  “The first time Mr Sanse drew his gun he shot a bystander, a woman who was eight months pregnant. The force had a hard time cleaning up his mess. The incident affected his confidence so much he hesitated during a stakeout and cost his partner his life. He couldn’t find a partner for months until I thr
ew caution in the air and offered myself. We were doing great until he pointed his gun at me.”

  “Why would he do that?”

  “We had had a disagreement,” Pai said. “When you work with Mr Sanse there is always a disagreement. They say that anger is half madness. It is so true with Mr Sanse. I transferred to keep my distance.”

  “Why didn’t you share this information earlier?”

  “With all due respect sir, you didn’t want my input.”

  Boko was now squirming in his seat. It was easy to relate to what Pai was saying after witnessing Sanse blow a gasket. Putting the two men together was a mistake.

  “How is the going so far?”

  “Strained,” Pai said. “Sir, how can we deliver when we are jostling half of the time?”

  Boko studied Pai. “Can you accuse him of any wrongdoing as far as the matter at hand is concerned?”

  Pai racked his mind for something tangible in vain. He decided that any accusation would reflect badly on his person. “Nothing serious, sir.”

  “Then how do I justify kicking him out?”

  “My partner is back.”

  Boko was lost in thought for a long moment. “Give me a couple of hours.”

  Pai remained seated. If Sanse was kicked out he would definitely fight back. Pai knew it was time he undertook some damage control. A confession to the effect that he was to blame for the reappearance of the List of Shame would be less harmful than being informed on. The thought had been dancing in his mind since morning. He would load the confession with remorse.

  Pai’s heart raced as a realisation struck him. He had messed up with evidence, Boko had hired a maniac. This was a godsend! Boko would hesitate to throw the first stone, wouldn’t he? He would happily let bygones be bygones. If push came to shove Pai could threaten a chat with the Police Oversight Authority.

  “Sir,” Pai started. “I… I have a pressing matter…”

  “What could be more pressing than a wacko who is harvesting people’s limbs and heads? Can we have it later?”

  “Eh… Ah...”

  “Get it over with, then. Hurry up.”

  Wrong mood, Pai told himself. His boss was already angry and revisiting the List of Shame would send him through the roof.

  “You’re right,” Pai got on his feet. “We can have it later.”

  He walked out cursing himself. Mavedi and Sanse were already in the car.

  “You did great in your time,” Mavedi addressed Sanse pushing his glasses up his long nose bridge.

  “You think so?” Sanse retorted.

  “Meet the new breed,” Mavedi said.

  “What would you do with a head, hands and feet that you can’t do with the rest of the body?”

  “Induce terror,” Mavedi said. “Kirindi used it with amazing results.”

  “New crop you said, right?”

  “Watch this space.”

  Pai pulled out and raised the volume of the radio so high conversation was impossible. He drove in his trademark roughshod fashion. When they got to the bridge a sizeable crowd stood on the bridge and either side of the river. Pai pulled up and the three got out of the car. Mavedi led the way to the body. Sanse took three steps then stopped.

  “What?” Mavedi asked Sanse who retreated and leaned on the car.

  The body lay in the exact position as the first one. The murder had occurred elsewhere judging by the lack of blood.

  “I was wrong to think that the killer had intended to toss the first body in the water,” Pai said. “This is a well-thought display.

  Mavedi searched the body and retrieved a wallet which had Willy’s identification card.

  “Obviously the killer wanted the body discovered and identified,” Mavedi said.

  “It is developing into an irritating pattern,” Pai said.

  “Diana reminds me of Ihuoma.”

  “Who?” Pai asked.

  “She is the heroine in The Concubine. Don’t you read? The river god kills her lovers.”

  “Do you believe such things?” Pai said.

  “I am not Nigerian,” Mavedi said. “Your ex-partner fascinates me. How can you work homicide if you can’t stand a body?”

  “Why don’t you ask him?”

  The two rejoined Sanse.

  “We should visit Diana,” Sanse said after looking at the identification card.

  “Aren’t we forgetting something?” Pai said.

  “What?” Mavedi said.

  Pai hesitated. “Nothing.” He had planned to confront Sanse for accepting the body as Willy’s so readily. Boko had requested two hours. Meanwhile it was prudent to avoid a fight. Again, calm would go a long way to veil the fact that he had engineered Sanse’s exit.

  Neither of the three talked on their journey to Ciuri’s home. They met Claire at the gate.

  “Claire, right?” Pai said. “Where is your sister?”

  “She is in the house.”

  “When did you arrive?”

  “Why?”

  “Just answer the question.”

  “Yesterday.”

  “Do you know Willy?” Pai asked.

  “I have heard about him from my sister. I’ve never met him.”

  “Was he at the funeral?”

  “I don’t know,” Claire said. “He came by after the funeral. I was asleep.”

  “What was the time?”

  “Four.”

  “What did he want?” Mavedi asked.

  Claire shifted her weight to the other leg. She recalled Diana’s caution against revealing Willy’s demands. “You better ask my sister. I had dozed off when he came by.”

  “Tell us about your sister’s movements from four,” Pai said.

  “She has been indoors since,” Claire was more confused now.

  “At what time did you go to sleep?” Pai asked.

  “At midnight,” Claire said. “We were watching a movie.”

  “We watched a movie past midnight.”

  “What movie?”

  “Fireproof.”

  “What is it all about?” Mavedi asked.

  “It is about family challenges and how to cope with them.”

  “What do you do for a living?” Pai asked.

  “I run a salon.”

  “Who is running it at the moment?” Pai asked.

  “I have two employees,” Claire said. “Why are you asking all these questions?”

  In answer Pai led the way into the compound. They were almost at the door when Diana emerged from the house holding an envelope.

  “Going somewhere?” Mavedi asked taking the envelope away. “Oh, you are filing the claim. We need to talk.”

  Diana led the way into the house. “About what?”

  “Willy is dead,” Sanse said.

  “What? Oh no, please no.” Diana collapsed on a sofa. Her hands were shaking.

  “How dare you?” Claire accosted Sanse. “Do you want to shock her to death?”

  “Get out,” Pai ordered Claire who walked out reluctantly.

  “Willy came by yesterday,” Pai said. “What did he want?”

  Diana knew that if she mentioned four million she would be in deep trouble. “I paid him to submit to the test.”

  “How much?”

  “Fifty thousand. I paid twenty thousand up-front. He came for the balance.”

  “Was the balance due upon submission to the test or on its outcome?” Sanse asked.

  Diana hesitated. Had Claire mentioned the four million? She decided to risk. “It was payable once the test was done with.”

  “He demanded more, didn’t he?” Sanse said.

  Diana was like a caged animal. “No.”

  “Did he claim Stacey?” Pai asked.

  “Willy wasn’t father material,” Diana said. “He had four kids with four mothers and couldn’t care less. I wouldn’t touch Willy for any reason. His friend is far dangerous than you.”

  “What friend?” Pai asked.

  Diana hesitated. “Stan. Willy
sent him over to investigate because he feared that I was luring him into a rape charge. You should either give me protection or find Willy’s killer fast.”

  “Why pay Willy when you could have gotten a sample from your husband’s relatives for free?” Sanse asked.

  Diana stared at him. “Are you suggesting that DNA can also work between relatives? Damn it! I am so silly.”

  “Have you been seeing someone?” Sanse said.

  “My husband just died for heaven’s sake!”

  “Did you sleep with Willy?” Sanse asked.

  Diana hesitated. “What has it got to do with anything?”

  “Did you?”

  “Go to hell.”

  Sanse walked out.

  “Your sister was present during Oscar and Willy’s murders,” Pai said. “Did you invite her or did she offer to come over?”

  “I invited her the first time. Is it a problem now?”

  “Who do you think killed Willy?” Mavedi asked.

  “Your friend out there,” Diana said. Pai and Mavedi looked at Sanse who was chatting with Kelvin. “He almost tore Willy apart at the station.”

  The moment the detectives left Diana accosted her sister. “Have you told anyone about my deal with Willy?”

  “We agreed it should stay between us,” Claire said. “We also agreed that killing Willy would solve nothing.”

  “Do you think I would jeopardize the claim this way?” Diana said. “Do you?”

  “I dread the moment Willy’s people learn of his death.”

  The two women stared at each other for a long moment.

  Diana called Stan.

  “What?”

  “I am just reiterating my commitment to pay,” Diana said.

  “I swindle people, not the other way round,” the raspy voice said. “

  “The police can’t know of our deal.”

  “The police are expecting good money from me,” Stan said. “Why do you think Willy is free?”

  There was a long silence.

  “I have some bad news,” Diana said. “Willy is dead.”

  “What?”

  “I had nothing to do with his death. I swear!”

  “You’re dead you just don’t know it.”