Kate dropped Chanda at the bus station and turned around and went back to the university. She found the University Counselling Centre at the back of the campus in a tidy, face brick building. Inside, the walls were covered with one continuous mural of young people happy: playing, working, studying. The office burst with colour from every corner, bright cushions on chairs, bold patterned curtains, a deep magenta carpet. The place gave Kate a good feeling.

Behind the counter sat a thin faced receptionist. “Can I help you?” she asked as if she really wanted to.

“Yes,” Kate said. “I’m looking for Mma Basupi.”

“Please take a seat, I’ll check if she can see you just now.”

After a few minutes a tall, big-boned, athletic looking woman came out of the door to the side of the receptionist’s desk. She wore a bright African patterned tunic and faded jeans. Her hair was styled in a towering afro streaked with strands of grey and large gold-hooped earrings hung from her ear lobes. She came toward Kate reaching out her hand. “Hi, I’m Margaret Basupi.” Her smile was so inviting Kate instantly liked her.

“Hi I’m Kate Gomolemo from the Gaborone CID. We’re investigating the murder of one of your students here at the university….”

Before she could finish, Margaret said, “Keletso Thapo. I still can’t believe it’s true. What a waste.” She shook her head, obviously affected by the girl’s death. “Can we go in my office?”

“Sure.” Kate followed her into the warm office full of carpets and soft welcoming chairs, the colour from the reception spilled into the office with a worn, comfortable feeling. Kate chose a red chair in front of the desk and Margaret sat next to her in a deep purple one. The winter sun streamed in through the window behind the desk.

“Can I get you something, some tea maybe?”

“No, I’m fine thanks,” Kate said. “Keletso’s friend, Chanda, said that she sometimes came to talk with you; that she was sometimes depressed. I wondered if she ever said anything that might help us in this case.”

“Ah Chanda, yes a beautiful girl, very fond of fun.” She smiled knowingly. “Yes, Keletso had a hard time, especially first term. Like many students, they miss their families. She also had a boyfriend. That makes it even more difficult. We used to see each other pretty regularly. But second term, like most kids, she adjusted and needed less of me. She was a good girl. Hardworking. Of course, since I heard that she was dead, I’ve been thinking about her quite a bit these past few days. I’m even thinking of going up to Kalamare for the funeral.”

“Did she ever mention anyone troubling her? Anyone she might be afraid of? What about the boyfriend, everything fine there?”

“Nothing, believe me Kate, can I call you Kate?”

“Sure.” It was not common for Kate to let people get close to her so quickly, especially people she met on the job, but there was something about this woman.

“Kate, I’ve even gone through my records trying to find anything, but there’s nothing. The boyfriend was an angel according to her. He just finished at the building brigades and he and his brother, who’s apparently an electrician, are starting a construction company. He and Keletso were intending to get married, maybe next year. Everything seemed lovely from her point of view. Of course, this may not have been how it was, but from her side, I thought it was a good, healthy relationship. Something you don’t find often in the young people nowadays I’m afraid.”

She got up and made tea for them despite Kate having refused the offer earlier, then she sat back down in the purple chair, folding her legs under, waiting for the water in the electric kettle to boil. “But like I said, I didn’t see her much this term. Things can change, especially in kids her age. You might want to talk to my husband. He’s an English literature professor here and he mentioned that she was in one of his classes.”

“Is that so? Yes, that would be helpful.” Margaret got up to make the tea then brought the steaming mugs back to where they were sitting.

When she finally left the Counselling Centre, Kate was surprised to find it was dark outside. After their tea, Kate and Margaret talked for some time about other things and before she knew it, Kate realised that she had made a new friend. “So how about tomorrow after you interview my husband, you and I go for lunch? You’ll be around in any case,” Margaret asked at Kate’s car in the parking lot.

“It sounds great. I’ll see you then.” Kate got in her car and drove out of the parking lot towards Gabane. Thinking over her day, she realised that she’d spent the whole day on the murder case and she wasn’t any closer to finding Keletso’s murderer. Her high spirits disappeared upon the realisation and she drove the rest of the way home in silence.

***

Tell us what you think: What do you think Kate should do to find the killer?