“I’m sorry to say this,” Martin said sitting down, “but if you have anything to do with that woman, then you are in deep trouble.”
“I don’t understand, why would I be in shit when I was the one robbed?”
“Robbed? What does robbery have to do with anything?”
“That slut tricked me into thinking she was vulnerable and victimized.”
“What the hell are you on about?”
“She came here so I could represent her.”
“Represent her for what?”
“She said she wanted to divorce her abusive husband?”
“A man like Sam October was anything but abusive. If he was, then why did they celebrate their one year anniversary at Sun City just last week?”
Martin’s face told me he was telling the truth. I was feeling more used and confused.
“What? Then why did he kick her out? Wait a minute, anniversary? One year? Do they have children?”
“The newspapers would have mentioned it. They are a very famous couple, especially because Sam was 42 years older than her.”
“What? She was dating an older man?”
“Look Sbu, I suggest you get a lawyer and fast.”
“Lawyer?”
“She is the first suspect on her husband’s murder. If anyone finds out you’ve been seen with her…”
Just after his words the doors swung open. Four men entered the office, one was in a suit and the three others in police uniforms. The one in the suit said:
“Afternoon gentlemen,” the suit spoke, “we are looking for a Sbusiso Mahlangu and we believe this is his office. Which one of you is him?”
Me and Martin stared at each other. At that moment I felt panic come over me. Why would the police look for me? I wished Martin would say he was me, which was impossible since was white.
“That’s me, how may I be of assistance sir?”
“Inspector Vankyker here,” he flashed his wallet in my face. “We have reasons to believe that you have been seen with a woman called Sara October.”
“Yes, but what does the police have to do with it?”
“Let’s save the questions for later. For now, I kindly ask you to accompany us to the police station.”
“For what? Is there anything wrong I did?”
“I’d like to find that out too, if you could co-operate.”
“For what? Am I getting arrested?”
“Sir, I don’t have time for this,” Vankyker was getting impatient, “either you go willingly or we will be forced to cuff you.”
“Hey, I’m a bloody lawyer, I know you are not allowed to do that. Is he?” I asked turning to Martin.
“Sbu, just go, you can’t be asking such silly questions. You know very well that you can’t question the law.”
“What about me? Why the hell do I need to accompany them?”
“Cuff him, he is wasting our time.” Vankyker gave the order and the two the policemen in uniforms cuffed me.
“Martin, please follow us. I need you, please. I need a lawyer. These people can’t just budge in here like this, I’ve done nothing wrong.”
“I’m sorry man, you are on your own, this is way beyond me.”
They pushed me forward while Vankyker and the other one walked in front us.”
I couldn’t understand why it was such a big deal that I was seen with Sara October. I only slept with her, once. She tricked me, dammit. Why should I be arrested for it? Passing reception, a few heads turned in my direction, one of my clients too. I felt like fighting and escaping the cuffs. It was just not making sense, why should I be arrested for being seen with someone?
The most degrading part was when they got me into the back of a police van like a criminal, instead of getting me into a private car like a person who’s going to the police station to be questioned and released.
When we got in the interrogation room I felt sweat run down my spine. Two men at the passage were having a conversation about Sam October’s murder. They both looked very smart and well informed. I heard one of them say: “The higher authorities believe that Sara October had an acquaintance and they believed it might be a man, a man she could have cheated with, of her own age.”
Once Vankyker took off his jacket and hung it on a chair nearby, rolled up his shirt sleeves and took a chair across the desk, I realised that this was far more serious than I thought.
***
Tell us what you think: Did the police have the right to take Sbu out in handcuffs if he was not under arrest? What’s the correct procedure?