NINETY-SIX

At eleven the following morning, Dazz, Courage, and Emma hung around the CID general detectives’ room waiting for news on the status of Edwin’s weapon. Their mood was somber and Emma understood how the two men must be feeling. Edwin was their colleague. It was demoralizing that he was under investigation for illegal possession of a weapon. Emma wondered how they felt about her. She was the one who had alerted Dazz about Edwin’s rifle and his apparent move to sell it, and then he had called his uncle. They must have been experiencing mixed feelings, she suspected. But they had nothing to chastise her about. The law was the law, criminality was criminality, and they knew that.

Dazz’s phone rang. He listened for a moment then turned to Courage and Emma. “The DCOP is ready to talk to us.”

They all filed into his office feeling anxious. In the room with Laryea were Damptey and Quaino.

“Have you been in touch with Edwin this morning?” Laryea asked Dazz.

“No, sir,” Dazz replied. “What’s happening, sir?”

Laryea was grim. “His weapon is illegal. DI Damptey has been at the Ministry of Interior all morning long. No such long-range rifle is registered.”

Emma glanced at Damptey and thought, goodness, so you really are good for something.

“It likely came in concealed at a port of entry,” Laryea said, crossing to a cabinet in the corner of the room. He removed a bulletproof vest. “Dazz and Courage, get your gear on. We need to go for Edwin. I’m worried he has the missing handgun on his person.” Laryea held out a spare vest to Emma. “That’s for you.”

But when Laryea, Dazz, Courage and Emma arrived at Edwin’s home, he did not appear to be in. His car was gone from the garage and no one answered their repeated knocking. A constable with a battering ram had accompanied them, but the DCOP didn’t want to take that measure yet.

“Try his phone again,” Laryea suggested to Dazz.

Dazz did, but shook his head. “It’s off.” He looked at Emma.

“His mother’s place,” she said. “Mrs. Akrofi.”

The fact that Josephine was Edwin’s mother was no longer a news item for the DCOP. He had not known beforehand, but Dazz had now informed him.

Laryea nodded. “You’re right. Let’s go there now.”

Edwin’s vehicle was parked in the Akrofis’ driveway.

“He’s here,” Courage said.

They piled out of the car and knocked at the front door. It opened and a young woman looked out. She appeared terrified already and her alarm visibly grew as she saw the armed policemen.

“Who are you?” Laryea asked her.

“Araba,” she whispered. “The house girl.”

“We would like to come in, Araba.”

She opened the door wide and stepped aside to let the visitors in.

“What’s wrong?” Laryea asked her. “You’re shaking. We’re not going to harm you. Are you afraid of us?”

“No please,” she said in her tiny voice. “It’s just that a certain man called Edwin came and he’s holding a gun. He took Madam Josephine with him into the bedroom.”

“The missing handgun,” Dazz muttered, looking at Emma. Her heart plunged.

“Show us the bedroom where they are,” Laryea said curtly.

They followed Araba upstairs and she pointed to the end room. “They are in there.”

Laryea lowered his voice. “Thank you, Araba. Please return downstairs to a safe area. Do you have servant’s quarters?”

“Yes please.”

“Then go there and remain until we tell you otherwise. Emma, for now, please stay at the bottom of the stairs for safety.”

Emma complied, but not completely. She stopped halfway down the stairs so she could still see and hear what was going on. Laryea and Dazz went to the bedroom door first while Courage and the constable hung back.

“Edwin!” Dazz called out into the door. “Chaley, what’s up? How be?”

Silence.

“We just want to check on you to make sure you’re fine.”

Edwin replied, but from where Emma stood, she couldn’t hear what he said.

“Are you in there with Mrs. Akrofi?” Dazz asked.

This time, Edwin shouted his answer. “I’m with her. Don’t come in. I’m armed.”

“We just want to talk to you about everything that’s going on,” Dazz said.

Silence.

Laryea beckoned to Dazz and they pulled back to where Courage and the constable stood.

“Ask Araba if she knows there’s a long ladder you can use to take a quick look through the window from the outside to see what the situation is.”

As Courage hurried downstairs and Dazz and Laryea returned to the bedroom door, Emma took a calculated risk and sneaked back to the top of the stairs. She wanted to be closer to the action. But she stayed low and flat.

“Edwin,” Dazz called out again. “Is the door locked? May we open it and enter? We don’t want any problems. We just want to chat with you, okay? Please.” Dazz waited for an answer, but none came. That could mean Edwin was undecided and considering options. “Chaley, we’re friends, right?” Dazz continued. “I know you’ve had some tough things happen in your life, but you’re a good man. You’ve come a long way and you’re one of our best policemen. I’ve seen that with my own eyes. Please, Edwin.”

Dazz looked at Laryea, who signaled him to keep going. Keep the pressure on.

“Edwin,” Dazz continued, “chaley, we can make it fair so that everything will come out right for all of us and no one has to get hurt. Talk to me. Tell me what’s wrong. What’s troubling you?”

“The door is open,” Edwin said.

Laryea whispered something to Dazz and he relinquished his automatic weapon to the DCOP, who stood out of sight in a small alcove in the hallway a few meters from the bedroom door. Courage had returned from outside shaking his head to indicate no ladder. He took a position next to Emma but insisted she back down a couple steps.

“I’m not armed, Edwin,” Dazz called out into the bedroom. “I’m going to open the door now, okay?”

Emma saw Dazz shut his eyes for a second, as if sending up a quick prayer. He pushed down the door handle and slowly opened the door.