"Am I dreaming or not?" yelled Phil as they all turned their heads to follow the red Pickup as it sped past.
"Who is that?" Mercy asked.
"That is Idriss Kabongo, another notorious vehicle theft criminal," replied Phil. "We have been looking for him."
"Should we give chase?" asked Nawa, starting the engine of their car at the third attempt.
"No. We must maintain focus and do what we came here to do."
Nawa switched off the car engine. He watched desperately as Kabongo disappeared after turning into the main street.
"Let us maintain focus. We are on a specific assignment here. If we lose focus, the next thing we will find ourselves doing is trying to stop a riot just because we happen to be present in the area," explained Phil.
They all got out of their car and then walked towards the semidetached yellow house. Nawa knocked at the front door loudly. Within seconds he knocked loudly again.
"Which dog is knocking on my door like that? Do you want to break it? Are you on heat?" A female voice shouted from inside. The cops looked at each other and smiled. Nawa knocked again, this time louder.
"Which cunt is that? Nyo nyo!" She yelled as she reached the door. She opened the door and saw Nawa, Phil and Mercy.
"Police," said Nawa, staring at her loose chitenge wrapped around her armpits. Her skin was visibly bleached with lightening creams. Her face was sweaty. She had large eyes and pouted lips.
"Police?" She asked with a mock smile. Phil showed her his identity card. Her smile disappeared.
"Are you Jane?"
"Pardon?"
"We want to talk to you," said Phil.
"But what is problem?" She asked him, looking worried now.
"Just a small matter. We can explain once you allow us inside."
"You can come inside."
The three cops entered the house which had green sofas, a TV and a reed mat on the floor. Phil and Nawa took the sofa. Mercy sat on the floor next to Jane.
"My name is Mercy and these two are my colleagues Phil and Nawa. We work for Zambia police," said Mercy. Jane looked at her and said nothing.
"As you are aware, your boss Molly was found dead at campus on Tuesday. We want you to tell us what you know about it."
"Molly not my boss. I stop long back."
"You can tell us what you remember."
"I don't know nothing about killers," she said, looking down at the reed mat.
"The killers?"
"I know nothing please."
"How do you know that she was killed when the police announced that it was suicide?"
Jane remained silent.
"Who are the killers?"
"I don't know."
Mercy raised her voice and said, "Where did the drugs come from?"
"I said I don't know."
"We are going to detain you if you don't talk, Jane."
"What you want from me? Who told you that I know the killers?"
"Your name was mentioned in our investigations. You and Molly were working on a puzzle. We want you to tell us about it."
"Not me."
Mercy shrugged. Then Nawa said, "Your fellow woman has been asking you softly. Me I am rough. I will slap you if you become stupid."
"But what have I done to be slapped?" responded Jane.
"Just answer our questions and don’t waste our time."
"But I answer you."
"What sort of person was Molly?" asked Nawa.
"All I know is that she was also prostitute and drugs."
"Did you personally see her doing prostitution?"
"Yes."
"Where?"
"In hotels."
"How much was she charging for her sexual services?"
"She was getting donor money in exchange for sex. She was sleeping with big people."
"So why did they kill her?"
"Maybe she was talking-talking."
Nawa sighed. He tried again.
"Why did you resign from the NGO?"
"She fired me."
"Why?"
"Because I discover her sex for donor money game."
Phil stood up and then said, "Get up woman, let us go to the station."
"Am I under arrest?"
"Yes definitely."
"Why? You said if I tell you what I know it shall be OK."
Phil looked at her sternly and then said, "Do we look stupid to you? What you have just fed us is a pile of bullshit."
"What do you mean?"
"You are telling us lies, foolish woman!"
"Stop insulting me. What lies?"
Phil sat down and said, "One more chance."
Jane looked at Phil. He raised his forefinger upwards.
"What proof do you have that Molly was exchanging sex for donor funding?"
"I caught her red handed several times."
"Describe what you saw."
"One day, I go to the office around 21 o'clock and I found her in sex act with a big man from Ministry of Social Welfare. Shortly after, the same ministry donated cash."
"Describe the sex act," said Phil as Mercy looked at him in shock.
"I should describe what?"
"How were they doing it? Lying on the floor or standing?"
Jane smiled a bit and remained quiet.
"I am waiting."
"She was bending over and he was standing behind her having sex."
Phil stood up and said, "If you are lying about this sex story of yours, how can we know that what else you have told us is not bullshit too?"
"I am not lying."
"Jane, I have the medical report for Molly at my office. Molly was a virgin so your story is a fake."
"Virgin? Maybe your doctor made mistake..."
"I am arresting you now."
"For what? I didn't kill her. And you can't arrest me for not knowing the truth," she dared Phil.
Phil sighed and then said, "That man who just left your house- do you know that he is wanted by police?"
"So why not arrest him?"
"We shall arrest you for being his accomplice in theft of motor vehicle and aggravated robbery cases. These cases are not boilable. We shall keep you in prison for five or more years while trial takes place. Think about it."
"But I am not involved, I swear!" She said, fear appearing in her eyes.
"Nawa, arrest her."
Nawa stood up and removed handcuffs from his black coat. Jane watched in disbelief as he said, "Miss Jane, we are formally arresting you on a charge of complicity in aggravated robbery."