a ball around.
“My daughter’s name is Tombi. Tombi Maleng. Do you know her?”
The one boy looked at the others. They shook their heads.
“We don’t know any of their names.”
“There were some girls playing soccer, but they all left a long time ago,” another interjected.
“How long ago?”
“I don’t know. A long time! An hour? Maybe two?”
“No,” another said. “It was only half an hour.”
“You’re sure you don’t know her?”
They all shook their heads.
Witness thanked them and walked over to the school buildings, hoping to find someone working late. His stomach began to ache. Other girls had disappeared . . .
He was in luck. A teacher was still there, grading tests. She knew Tombi but hadn’t seen her that afternoon.
“She probably went home with a friend and has lost track of the time.”
“She’s never this late. Her best friends are Chastity, Zuni, and Asakona, but I’ve no idea where they live. I don’t even know their last names. Do you know any of them?”
“Yes, I teach them all. It’s Chastity Maboda, Zuni Tsimako, and Asakona Ramotwa.”
Witness borrowed pencil and paper and wrote the names down. “Do you know where they live?”
The teacher shook her head. “You can find out at the office. But it’ll only be open on Monday.”
“I can’t wait until then. Perhaps you have their phone numbers?” The teacher took a notebook from her desk and flipped the pages.
“I’ve only got the Mabodas’ number.” She read it out. “I’m sure Tombi’s fine. Don’t worry. She’s probably back home by now. Check there before you get everyone upset.”
Hoping she was right, Witness thanked her, walked back to his car, and drove home.
“HELLO. IS THAT MMA Maboda? This is Witness Maleng—Tombi’s father. Is Tombi there by any chance?”
Mma Maboda said she wasn’t.
“Please could you ask Chastity if she saw Tombi this afternoon?”
He took his cell phone out to the veranda and looked up and down the road. Nobody.
“Rra Maleng? Chastity said they all played soccer this afternoon. Tombi scored a goal apparently.”
“When did Chastity get home?”
“It must’ve been around five-thirty, I think.”
“That’s an hour and a half ago! Can you ask Chastity if she knows where Tombi was going after soccer?”
There were muffled voices on the line.
“Chastity says she was going home.”
“Mma Maboda, I’m very worried. Please call me if Tombi comes to your house. Now can I speak to Chastity? I need to get hold of Asakona and Zuni.”
After speaking to Chastity, Witness hung up. The pain in his stomach was worse.
The calls to the homes of Asakona and Zuni were similar. Both children had returned home about the same time as Chastity. Both said Tombi was going straight home.
Witness grabbed a photo of Tombi and drove to the little cluster of shops at the end of his road. He went into the mini-mart and showed the photo to the woman behind the counter.
“Have you seen her?”
The woman shook her head. “I know Tombi. But she didn’t come in today.”
At the gas station next door, the attendant looked at the photo and shook his head. Finally Witness spoke to a number of minibus taxi drivers who used a vacant area near the school entrance as a parking lot, but none had noticed Tombi.
IT WAS AFTER NINE when Witness walked into the Broadhurst police station. He explained the situation to the constable on duty.
“Don’t worry, rra. Kids do this all the time. She’s off with a friend. Probably spending the night. It hasn’t occurred to her that you’d be worried.”
“She always lets me know.”
“Fill out this missing-person’s form.” The constable handed Witness three forms and two sheets of carbon paper. “Press hard.” He smiled. “Maybe she’s with her boyfriend.”
“She’s not like that.” Witness was having difficulty containing his anger. “She’s a good girl. She doesn’t have a boyfriend. Something’s happened to her. Here’s a photo. Please make copies and have your people go out and look for her.”
The constable took the photo. “Nice-looking girl,” he said. “I’ll make copies. But you’ll see. She’ll be back in the morning.”
Witness banged the counter with his fist. “Something’s happened to her. I’m telling you.” Then he lowered his voice. “Please get your people out and look,” he pleaded.
“Sorry, rra,” the constable replied. “I know you’re worried, but it’s too soon to do anything tonight. Besides I don’t have the staff. Wait until tomorrow. Kids always show up.”
WITNESS HURRIED HOME HOPING desperately that Tombi would be there. But she wasn’t. He didn’t know what to do. He drove back to the school and slowly followed the