Sam and Rose stood in the entrance of the pool house and watched Commissioner Akida as he charged Robert Scott Watson and Vivian Scott with the murder of Nina Scott Watson.
They stepped back to allow Marina and Thabiti past, carrying trays of sandwiches and cakes back to the lodge.
“Just a minute,” called Sam, and he helped himself to several sandwiches.
Thabiti drew close to Rose and muttered, “I knew Robert killed his wife, but I just couldn’t work out how he did it.”
“And that was one of the issues. The crimes were committed in different locations, different countries even, making it almost impossible for the authorities to connect them. And it enabled Robert and Vivian to perfect their routine and keep repeating it. They killed all those poor women.”
Marina and Thabiti walked towards the lodge, and Commissioner Akida joined Rose and Sam.
The commissioner rubbed his hands together and said, “Congratulations, Mama Rose. That’s another case you’ve successfully solved. And if you hadn’t, I doubt we would ever have learnt the truth. You are like a wise old chimpanzee, which watches what those around her are doing and draws conclusions from their actions. Don’t you agree, Sam?”
“I do, and this time I was completely in the dark. It hadn’t dawned on me that Nina never returned to the lodge after the race. Once you realised that, I suppose everything slipped into place.”
“Not exactly,” responded Rose. “I guessed what they had done, but I doubt we would have found any evidence, even if you did interview all the competitors and officials.”
She turned to the commissioner and said, “By the way, that was an inspired move. Without it, and the threat of Isiolo prison, I think Vivian would have persuaded Robert to remain silent and we wouldn’t have been able to prove they killed Nina.”
The young constable approached them, escorting a still struggling Robert. As they walked past, Robert spat, “You meddling old witch. If it hadn’t been for you, we would have got away with it.”
Rose raised her eyebrows at Sam.
He laughed and said, “Don’t take it personally.”
Constable Wachira led Vivian by the arm. They stopped beside the commissioner, who said to Vivian, “We won’t handcuff you if you behave and don’t try to escape. The journey will be uncomfortable, and you’ll need your hands to steady yourself. But if you try anything, anything at all, my constable will not hesitate to restrain you.”
“Where are you taking us?” Vivian asked, in a dignified voice with just a quiver of anxiety.
The commissioner replied, “To the police station at Nanyuki. You will be formally charged and brought before the magistrate tomorrow, and either returned to the police station, for more questioning, or sent to Nanyuki prison to await trial.”
Vivian looked out over Borana and up at the sky. Rose followed her gaze and watched a bird circling above them.
Vivian sighed. “Will I ever be free like that again?”
Constable Wachira led her away as Rose continued to watch the bird. It swooped down and perched on a yellow poui tree. It tilted its head. Was it watching her? Or trying to tell her something? And then it rose into the sky, flying above their heads so its white undercarriage and the red tip of its tail were clearly visible. It swooped over them again crying k’werk, k’werk, k’werk and then soared up and out over Borana.
“What a beautiful bird,” mused Rose.
“An augur buzzard,” noted Sam. “I wonder if it was searching for its mate, as they’re often seen in pairs.”
“A free spirit,” said Commissioner Akida in an unusually emotional tone.
The mood was broken by a shout and the pounding of footsteps, and they turned as Thabiti ran towards them. Catching his breath, he said, “Mama Rose, it’s Craig. The Cottage Hospital just called. He’s had another stroke.”
Rose looked up at the sky, but the buzzard had vanished. She felt a heaviness inside her chest. Life would never be the same without Craig.
“Come, Mama Rose. We must leave immediately for Nanyuki,” urged the commissioner.
She felt a large arm encircle her shoulders, and she lent into Sam’s reassuringly robust frame as he led her to the commissioner’s car.
Marina was standing by the vehicle holding a brown paper bag. She hugged Rose and said, “Something for the journey, or later when you feel like eating.”
“Do you want me to come with you?” Thabiti asked as he kicked at a stone in the dusty ground.
“Thank you, but there’s no need,” said Rose in a brittle voice. “Chris will be at the hospital.”
She climbed into the commissioner’s vehicle and as the car backed away, she watched Marina place her arm around Thabiti and wave them off.