sure there was no foul play. He was overweight and smoked. Heavily by the looks of his lungs.”
“How old was he?”
Ian had to think about that. “I’d say mid to late fifties. Early sixties at the latest.”
“Fifty-nine?”
“That would fit.”
“Well, Ian, our friend is Aka Ndode, late of Broadhurst. Died of a heart attack on the twenty-fifth of April, 2012, buried by Funerals of Distinction on the eighth of May, 2012.” Kubu quickly explained Rampa’s deception. “One of the other deceased men died of heart failure, but he was seventy-eight.”
“Get me Ndode’s dental records, and we’ll be sure.”
Kubu thanked him and mused about the protocol of what he should do next. In his own mind he was certain that Owido was buried in Aka Ndode’s elegant coffin with, no doubt, a fine headstone on order. So he was within his rights to open Ndode’s grave without reference to the family. But he felt that was the wrong thing to do. The wife’s grief was still fresh. What if she came to the grave to be near her departed loved one and discovered an open hole with her husband gone? It was out of the question. His next visit would have to be to the widow.
THE NDODE RESIDENCE WAS a middle-class house on Kgame Street. The garden was neat, the house recently painted. Kubu knew that his visit, so soon after the funeral, would be a most unwelcome intrusion.
A neatly dressed woman answered his knock.
“Mma Ndode? I’m Assistant Superintendent Bengu of the Botswana Police. I phoned earlier and asked for a few minutes of your time.” He showed her his identification.
“Oh, yes, rra. Please come in.” She led him to a sitting room where the furniture was carefully positioned, the cushions plumped, the side tables clean and polished. Neat, thought Kubu, is what seemed to characterize this couple. Even the funeral would have fitted with that. Until now.
Once they were seated, and he’d refused refreshment, Kubu started to explain the matter as best he could.
“Mma, I’m very sorry to disturb you when you are in mourning for your husband.” The woman nodded, idly playing with the black-cloth mourning strings she was wearing round her neck. “It’s in connection with your husband’s funeral that I wish to speak to you,” Kubu continued. He hesitated, trying unsuccessfully to find a gentle way of breaking the news. “I’m sorry to tell you that a terrible mistake occurred at the undertaker’s premises. Two bodies were switched and buried in the wrong graves. Your husband was one of them.”
The woman sat for several seconds trying to digest this. “You mean I didn’t bury Aka? How can that be? That very morning I saw him in the coffin that Rra Rampa helped us choose. How could there be a mistake?” He could hear the growing tension in her voice.
“It’s very regrettable, mma,” Kubu said. “A very strange story indeed. But all is well. Your husband’s remains are absolutely safe, and as soon as the whole matter has been cleared up, he’ll be placed in the correct coffin and restored to his proper resting place. If you and your family would wish to be involved with that, it can be arranged, of course.”
Mma Ndode thought about that. “Why are the police involved? Why haven’t I heard from Rra Rampa? He was so helpful before . . .” She was close to tears.
“Mma, you can appreciate that when such a serious event occurs, the police have to be brought in. To ensure that the remains are safe and properly treated.” He thought it tactful not to mention Ian’s activities of that morning. “I’m sure Rra Rampa will speak to you in person. He’s very busy trying to discover exactly what happened, and he’ll want to tell you himself when he finds out.”
“Who . . . who is in Aka’s grave?” Tears filled her eyes and started to run down her cheeks.
“We’re not sure at the moment. We’ll know soon.”
“And you’re sure he’s safe? I’ve heard terrible things. Things about witch doctors . . .”
“Yes, mma. His remains are absolutely safe.”
She hesitated, then nodded. “I’m sorry. This has brought it all back to me. Would you leave now?”
Kubu nodded and rose. “There is just one more thing, mma. Could you tell me who your husband’s dentist was?”
“Why do you want to know that?”
“We’ll be able to get an absolutely definite identification from his dental records.”
“I could identify him.”
Kubu shook his head. “I don’t think that would be wise.”
She understood and gave