A Death in the Family by Michael Stanley Read Free Book Online

time.” He hesitated. “And I’d like one also, if it isn’t too much trouble.”
    â€œAnd now they do not want me to go into my own house,” Amantle said. “My own house! And I have to prepare for Wilmon’s funeral.”
    â€œDon’t worry, my dear,” Mma Ngombe said. “All your friends will be here to help. Go and sit down.”
    *   *   *
    â€œMOTHER, WHERE DID Father keep his front door key?” Kubu asked as they waited for Mma Ngombe to brew the tea. “Would he have taken it with him the night he was killed?”
    Amantle shook her head. “I do not know if he took it. Usually, if one of us is in the house or if we go for a walk, we do not lock the door. But that night…” She broke off as she tried to regain her composure. “But that night, he was acting so strangely, I do not know what he did.”
    â€œWhere do you normally keep the keys?”
    â€œThere is an old clay pot on the table in the living room—”
    â€œThe one with the piece missing? I know it,” Kubu interrupted.
    Amantle nodded. “It was a gift from my parents when we got married.”
    â€œI’ll be back in a minute.”
    Kubu heaved himself out of his chair and walked next door to his parents’ house. Before he went inside, he walked slowly around the building to see if there were any signs of a break-in. It would be ironic, he mused, if the intruder had broken in instead of just walking through the unlocked front door. However, there were no signs of anything having been forced.
    When he reached the front again, he climbed up on the veranda and pushed the front door open, making sure not to touch anything. He picked his way through the debris on the floor, and then, using his handkerchief, he lifted the pot and turned it upside down. It was empty.
    Kubu put the pot back in its place, carefully left the room, and returned next door to his cup of tea.
    â€œI’ll arrange to have the locks changed today,” Kubu told his mother. “The key is missing, and I don’t want you worrying when we go back home. I’ll get both outside doors changed.”
    Amantle nodded. “Why are they doing this to us?” she asked. “We have nothing valuable.”
    â€œAre you sure Father didn’t say anything about a person he was meant to meet or an arrangement he was making?”
    Amantle shook her head. “He never said anything to me.”
    *   *   *
    WHEN HE’D FINISHED his second cup of tea, Kubu took his leave and went to speak to the people Mma Ngombe had suggested. He learned absolutely nothing, drew a complete blank. Nobody had heard or seen anything. Mostly, they wanted to talk about the funeral arrangements and were concerned that Amantle would have to get a move on to complete the rituals in time.
    As he was walking back to Mma Ngombe’s house, he noticed that Director Mabaku’s car was parked in front of his parents’ house, but Zanele’s wasn’t.
    He’ll have to wait for her before he can take a good look around, he thought. But when he walked into Mma Ngombe’s house, he was surprised to find Mabaku there, also having tea.
    â€œSit down, Kubu.” This was a command rather than an invitation. Kubu settled himself on the sofa, mentally bracing himself for a typical Mabaku tirade.
    â€œWhere have you been?” Mabaku snapped.
    â€œI just went to see if Father’s front door key was in its usual place.”
    â€œYou did what?” Mabaku jumped to his feet.
    â€œI went to see—”
    â€œI told you to stay out of the house!” Drops of saliva flew out of Mabaku’s angry mouth. “What don’t you understand about what I told you?” Mabaku was close to shouting. “You could contaminate the crime scene and wreck the whole investigation! What makes you so important that you don’t have to listen to