“Okay, let me do the questioning. I know how you get with wives of dead husbands,” Mira warned Tefo.

“Nothing wrong with showing kindness,” Tefo protested.

“There kind of is,” Mira said. “Just keep silent and we’ll be fine.”

They walked up to the door of the big house in Phakalane. There were lots of expensive cars parked in the large lot to the left. After four knocks a young man opened the door. “Hello?”

Mira showed him her badge. “I’m Inspector Mira Labane and this is Sergeant Tefo Nokane. We’re from CID, investigating the murder of Dick Solomon.”

“Yes … okay, I’m his son. But we’re having a meeting right now. Relatives have come from up north and … do you think you could come back?”

“No,” Mira said.

Tefo, despite previous instructions, interrupted. “We just have a few quick questions. We can talk to you and your mother in private. It’s quite important, in order for the investigation to proceed.”

Mira stared at Tefo as he spoke but said nothing. She wondered why this young man could not follow simple instructions.

The son moved to the side and let them pass, pointing to a dorrway. “Here, wait in this room and I’ll get my mother.”

They went into what appeared to be some sort of small lounge. The son closed the door and left. Mira looked at Tefo.

“I … you know … sometimes you catch more bees with honey …” he stammered. Mira’s stare was difficult to contend with.

“Keep quiet. That’s all I need from you right now.” She was not angry, just tired. She didn’t like repeating herself.

Just then the door opened revealing a small, expensively dressed, middle-aged woman, and the son. Mira stayed sitting; Tefo stood and held out his hand.

“Sorry to meet you under such difficult circumstances,” Tefo said to Mrs Solomon.

“I understand you must do your job,” she said. “Please everyone sit.”

The son and mother sat on the plush two-seater where Tefo had been sitting, and Mira stayed in the straight-backed chair she’d taken when they arrived. Sergeant Nokane found himself without a place to sit and chose the footstool near Mira’s chair. He looked like the child sitting with the grown-ups. Mira hoped he was a child who could follow instructions.

“Mrs Solomon, could you tell me more about your relationship with your husband?” Mira said.

“I … please call me Odessa.”

“I prefer Mrs Solomon, if that’s all the same,” Mira said.

“Yes … well, we had a good marriage. Married 32 years this July.”

“And were you involved in the business?” Mira could see the wife looking at her son, her hands clasping and unclasping. Some conflict there; Mira would need to look into that.

“My mother knows nothing about the business,” the son said. “If you want to ask anything about that then ask me.”

The mother looked visibly relieved.

“You’re Roland Solomon, the only child, 30 years old. Is that right?”

“Yes.” He looked at his watch impatiently, his leg shifting back and forth. He was not a patient young man. That would work in Mira’s favour.

“I understand you have a second-hand car business in Mogoditshane. Is that correct?”

“Yes, yes. That has nothing to do with my father’s murder.”

“And how would you know that Mr Solomon?” Mira asked.

“I mean my father was not involved.”

“But you were involved in his business?”

“Not involved per se.”

“But you said you know all about it,” Mira said.

“What I meant is I know more than my mother. Okay? Don’t twist my words.”

“So I understand that your father had a partner.”

The mother spoke up. “Molefi is devastated. He doesn’t know what they’ll all do now. Dick was the anchor that held the place together.”

It sounded as if the mother knew more than the son thought she did. “So Mr Molefi Sebego is aware of the murder?” Mira asked.

“Of course he is! What a silly question! He is Dad’s partner. He was here immediately, that morning when we found out,” Roland said.

“Is it? I was told he was in South Africa; that he spent most of his time there,” Mira said.

“Who told you that? Molefi was here all week. He helped me with a new shipment of cars,” Roland said. “We were together the night Dad was killed.”

“So Mr Sebego is a partner in your business as well?” Mira asked.

“Not a partner, just a friend.” Roland’s leg was bouncing back and forth even faster. Mira remembered Bashi saying he was a drug addict. Perhaps it was time for his next instalment. “Are we done here?”

“Not really. But I can see that you seem anxious to be elsewhere.” Mira looked at his leg and he immediately stopped moving it. “One last question. Mrs Solomon, was your husband ever unfaithful?”

Roland jumped to his feet. “How dare you ask such a thing? I’ll report you to the Minister. He’s a personal friend, I’ll have you know!”

“Please do,” Mira said. “He really does not hear my name enough.”

Tefo stood, and was about to talk, but Mira’s glare shut him up. She turned to Mrs Solomon. “Might I have an answer to my question?”

“As far as I know, my husband was faithful.”

 ***

Tell us what you think: What ‘weeds’, if any, were cleared in this interview for Mira?