Mira and Tefo sat in the car eating their lunch, near the main mall. Luckily it was a cool day, though the sun was out.

“Was it really necessary to basically call the dead man a cheater?” Tefo asked.

Mira dipped her paleche in the soup of the beef stew. “I was checking if the wife was aware he had a mistress. It’s a motive.”

“How do you know he had a mistress? There are honest men around, men committed to their families.”

“I agree that there are, it’s just that Dick Solomon was not one of them. I went through his personal bank statements. He leases both a car and a flat near Maruapula. And went through his cellphone. He had a mistress. And you know love is such an incentive for murder. If not the wife killing the husband for cheating, then the mistress killing the husband reluctant to leave his wife. It’s an old story.”

Tefo was dumbstruck. “You know, Inspector, I could be more help to you if you let me in on what’s happening in the case.”

“Or, alternatively, you could come up with your own angles and work those.” Mira did tire of training these young ones. She would be far more efficient on her own.

Tefo lifted the chicken leg from his plate and took a bite. He chewed and swallowed and then said, “I think the son does drugs. Did you see his leg?”

“Good observation.”

“And the wife knows more about the business than she’s letting on,” Tefo said.

“I agree,” Mira said. Maybe he was not as useless as he appeared on the surface. “So, have we cleared any weeds?”

“Not from my seat,” Tefo said. “It actually seems weedier than ever.”

Mira laughed. “Yes, that’s normally the situation about now.”

They finished eating and headed to the leased flat. It was time to meet the victim’s side chick.

Olivia Dithebe was the same age as Dick Solomon’s son. But where Roland Solomon had a cushy existence where everything fell into his lap, Olivia Dithebe was streetwise and a hustler of the highest order – primarily because she had no other options. She tried to pretend otherwise but Mira smelled the falsity straight away.

“It was such a shock to hear that Mr Solomon was murdered. My first job was at MasterChem. I started as a lowly accounts clerk but Mr Solomon was always so kind to me. I can’t think who would want to murder such a nice man,” Olivia said.

Mira was in a hurry and didn’t have time to watch dramatic performances just now.

“Who would want to murder such a nice man?” Mira said. “You, for one.”

“Me? For what reason?” Olivia feigned shock.

“You were his mistress. Maybe you wanted the situation to change. Maybe you wanted to move into the big house.” Olivia started to protest. “Stop. I know he pays for this flat, that new Corolla in the parking bay downstairs, and I know it has been going on for some time now.”

Olivia’s face changed so much when her real personality took over that Mira nearly laughed out loud. “Okay fine. You got me. A girl’s gotta live. But why would I murder him? Now who’s gonna pay rent? A dead meal ticket is not useful at all.”

Mira thought the same thing. She looked around the small flat and spotted a sports jacket hanging on a hook in the bedroom. It was not one that would fit the bulky murdered man.

“Maybe your other man will take over the rent.”

“You know about Gil?” She took out a cigarette, lit it, and opened a nearby window to let the smoke out. “Yeah maybe. He thinks my parents pay.”

“Gil?” Mira asked.

“Gil Heiden. He’s German. They’re a very naïve people,” Olivia said. “He believes everything I tell him.”

“And what do you think he’d make of you sleeping with a married man to get your flat and car paid for?” Mira asked.

“You’re not going to tell him, are you?” She looked properly concerned.

“Not if I don’t have to.”

***

Tell us: Would Gill Heiden have motive to kill Dick Solomon?