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Chapter Five
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31 Five ays counted fast. It was two weeks since investigations into the death of Williams started. Foti had pushed in more than enough money to pilot the process. The police were to question Grace that evening on her service gun. At 8 pm that day, four special police investigators stormed Grace’s home. Grace Asong was a police officer. She mothered two heady boys and was a widow in a love affair with a businessman, dealing between Cameroon and Dubai. Ngo, the first son was never home. Rene, a second son, sat on a swivel chair with his legs placed on the table. It was his common practice even in the presence of his mother. He stayed there flipping TV channels hopelessly burlesquing like western rappers. ‘Good evening,’ greeted one of the investigators. ‘Is your Mum or Dad in?’ Rene was mute. He also didn’t care to look at them to show any concern and pretended as if they were not important. ‘Young man, can you talk?’ asked another in a grunting voice. ‘Is your mother there?’ The young boy motioned his hand pointing to the room but his eyes focused on the screen. It wasn’t for any concentration, but for the lone fact of stubbornness. Grace heard them talking. ‘Rene, who is there?’ ‘I don’t know,’ he responded spitting on the floor. Grace darted and saw four men eagerly standing. ‘You this stupid boy,’ she abused, ‘can’t you sit them down?’ ‘Did I invite them?’ Rene fired back. Grace looked at the strange faces. She could feel some strange and cruel thing was in the making. ‘Can I help you, Sirs?’ D 32 ‘It will be a pleasure,’ responded the eldest calmly, but in an unpredictable way. She offered them seats but was still hugely suspicious. ‘We need talk with you in isolation.’ ‘Why?’ ‘Please, your son should leave if you don’t mind.’ She argued further. One of them presented himself as Member, Special Wing, Buea Criminal Police. Grace chilled. She was quite aware of this wing and she knew the kind of cases this wing used to handle. She was left with no choice but to respect the orders. Of all police branches in the country, this was the only that gave the citizens the impression that at least not all was bad. They could work just for months and be transferred to other regions. That is the reason they could not be easily identified even by police officers. They had no uniform. It was hard to identify them on the streets. The only doubt by the citizens was the fact that they were not often involved in the daily bad cases. They were given maximum training such as Public security training, criminology, administration, military, and a high level of sociology and psychology. They were no laughing matter officers. Mula Street was a residential area for first class people, most of them elitists. The interrogation proper started. ‘Are you Grace Asong?’ ‘Yes, Sir.’ ‘A police officer. Is that right too?’ ‘Yes, Sir.’ At this moment, a signed questioning warrant was handed to her. She studied it for a few seconds. ‘We are probing into the death of one Williams shot dead. Do you know anything about that?’ ‘Yes.’ ‘Good. Tell us.’ [3.142.144.40] Project MUSE (2024-04-18 00:47 GMT) 33 ‘I’m fan to BAKWA FM. I heard the bad news from that TV channel about two weeks ago.’ ‘Where were you at the time on the day of the event?’ ‘I was at home. I am on a month’s leave. I am always at home.’ ‘Thanks very much, Grace.’ At this point, the officer relaxed as if all was over. He yawned and the tension in Grace too fell a little. ‘Do you have your service pistol with you?’ ‘Yes, I do.’ ‘Can we see it if you don’t mind?’ ‘No problem.’ Grace fumbled to the bedroom and snatched her handbag. She walked fast back to the sitting room while unzipping it. At first sight, she was taken aback. No pistol. They were seriously watching her in that perplexity. She walked back to her bedroom. Three minutes passed and she continued searching. It was certain, her pistol wasn’t there. ‘Please,’ one of them said, ‘come back if you can’t find it.’ She walked back reluctantly, greatly astonished and then sat. ‘Can you identify it if presented to you?’ ‘Yes. Even the serial number...