“Ntoko, I think that you’re right about Margaret’s office. We need to keep an eye on it. Why don’t you stay here? Keep track of who is going in and out. Here,” Kate said handing Ntoko a digital camera from the glove compartment. “Try and get pictures of anyone you don’t know. We’ll see if the student registrar can help us with names. If Margaret won’t give us the information we need, we can always get it the hard way.”

“Go siame. Are you off to the boyfriend?” Ntoko asked.

“Yes, I doubt he’s the killer. What reason would he have to kill Olebile and Keletso? But still, he likely hasn’t been told about the murder.”

“Remember Mr. Rafferty’s wise words, things are not always as they seem. It is not uncommon for people to kill other people they don’t want dead so as to cover up the reasons for the one that they do.”

Kate thought it unlikely, but was too tired to start another argument. It wasn’t even noon yet. “Yeah, you’re probably right. I’ll check him out thoroughly. You okay here until they knock off at the Counselling Centre?”

“I’ll be fine. Mma Ntoko made me a nice packed lunch I can eat it here in the car just as easily as eating it at my desk back at the station.” He smiled patting the bag next to him.

“Okay, great. Then I’ll meet you at the office at about 6:00.”

Kate drove out toward Maruapula School. She was still fuming about Margaret. Why couldn’t she have given them just the list of names? They didn’t need intimate details; they could find those out for themselves. She was being very protective and Kate wondered why? Maybe she was starting to believe that one of her patients could actually be the murderer and she didn’t want the police to find out. Maybe she thought she could solve the problem herself? She could counsel the murderer to stop. Kate knew that that was an unlikely prospect, but more than that, a dangerous one. The killer was pathological and no amount of therapy was going to cure him. Once caught, he’d have to remain away from other humans for the rest of his life. Kate hoped that Margaret, at least, knew that and wouldn’t put herself in danger.

She pulled into the private school’s parking lot. It was nothing like any school she had ever attended growing up in the sleepy, Tswapong village of Malaka. This school had state of the art facilities. Computers, swimming pools, tennis courts and well paid teachers. The children of the rich went here to ensure that the next generation had the education to keep the money rolling in. She walked up the pavement to the reception.

“Hello, how can I help you?” the white woman with an obvious British accent asked at the reception.

“Hi I’m Detective Gomolemo from the Gaborone CID. I wanted to speak with one of your teachers, Mr. Akim Chirundu.”

“I’m sorry Mr. Chirundu is out. Actually, he said that he was on his way to the police to report his girlfriend missing. I hope nothing has happened to her. I’ve met her a few times, they’re a lovely couple.”

“I’m sure they were. Here’s my card. Can you have him call me when he gets in?”

The woman took the card and read it. “You said were…. has something happened to Sarah?”

“I’d rather not say right now. Just tell him to call me.” Kate headed out the door just when a big, tall man was getting in. He held the door for her and she headed down the pavement to her car.

“Wait! Detective Gomolemo!” Kate turned and saw the receptionist chasing after her. She was breathing hard when she finally caught up. “You certainly walk quickly. That was Mr. Chirundu coming in just now.”

Kate followed the young woman back into the office. She offered that they talk in a side room. Inside, it appeared to be a conference room of some sort.

“It’s funny you’re here so quickly. You know I’m just from the police,” Mr. Chirundu said taking a seat opposite Kate. “My girlfriend, Sarah Sechele is missing. Do you know anything, Detective Gomolemo? I’ve been up the whole night worrying.”

“I’m afraid I do, Mr. Chrundu and the news is not good,” Kate began. “Sarah Sechele was found dead in the early hours of this morning. Her body was found in an open space near the golf course.”

Mr. Chirundu stood up. “No! Are you positive? Are you sure it is her?”

“I’m afraid I am. I’m the one who identified her. I met her some weeks ago at the Counselling Centre at the University.”

Kate didn’t know what to do, so watched quietly as the realisation of his girlfriend’s death seeped through and he slowly fell apart. She didn’t see this man as a murderer, but still she had promised Ntoko to do a thorough job and he’d likely check that she had. She explained the details of Sarah’s death to him as he slipped into a chair, almost melting before Kate’s eyes.

“Mr. Chirundu, how long had you known Sarah?”

“About three years. We were planning to get married.”

“Do you know anyone who would have wanted to kill her?” Kate asked.

“Of course not. That’s crazy. Why? Why would someone want to kill such a sweet, kind young woman?”

Kate hesitated before continuing. “And you, where were you last night?”

“Me? You think I killed Sarah?” He stood up and moved around the table toward her and Kate realised she had underestimated his size and his emotional state. Unfortunately, he was between her and the door. He beat his hand hard on the conference table, rattling the metal legs underneath.

“I know who killed her and so do you! It’s the monster out there who you incompetent police can’t seem to find! Meanwhile good, beautiful, compassionate women like Sarah are being killed.” He started moving toward Kate with his fists clenched.

When he was inches from her, the conference room door opened. It was the friendly receptionist. “Is everything okay in here?”

Mr. Chirundu turned to see who was at the door and Kate slipped around him as quickly as she could and stood next to the receptionist still in the doorway. Now safe with an easy getaway, Kate warned the big man, “I’m sorry about your loss Mr. Chirundu, but in the future I’d advise you against making threatening gestures against a police officer.”

He looked at her without a word then looked away and sat back down at the table. Kate took the chance to disappear. As she passed through the front door she could hear the comforting words of the receptionist and the sobs of the big man. She got in her car just as her breathing and pulse went back to normal.