By 20 o’clock the police pathology unit had completed examining the scene in Jane's sitting room. They had examined the body and taken photographs. They checked the other rooms too. Then they carried her body out into the waiting police van, where a huge rally of curious onlookers had formed. Some were talking loudly while others were holding their faces in disbelief. Every other second, someone in the crowd would ask what had happened. Phil stood by the door and asked no one in particular, "Who lives next door?"
"She is not around. She went to village!" answered an elderly woman with a crying baby strapped to her back.
"When did she go?" Phil asked the woman.
"Maybe even one month now mwe. She went to visit sick mother."
Phil sighed. Then he asked the crowd again, "Did anyone see a person coming out of this house between 18 and 19 o'clock?"
No one answered.
"Did anyone hear anything?"
There was still no response. Phil walked away from the door of the house. He reached his car and found Mercy looking distraught.
"I am sorry my flower," he said covering her in his embrace. Mercy lowered her head into his chest. They stayed that way for a full minute.
He released her when he saw Ray walking towards them.
"I am sorry sir," Ray said to Phil. "I understand that she was your key witness to the Goma lake murder."
"Thanks Ray," replied Phil. Then he asked, "When will my autopsy report be ready?"
"It’s a gunshot to the head, Phil. Clearly."
Phil nodded. Ray walked away from them. He went to his van where the body was. He got in and sat in front. Phil also walked over to his car while holding on to Mercy's arm. They got in and sat at the back together. Nawa then entered the car, passed a quick surprise look at the two cops in the back seat and then started the car engine. He then followed the police van ahead, careful to avoid hitting someone in the crowd.
"How is this even possible?" Mercy broke the silence once they were back on the main tarred road. .
"Obviously, someone was already in Jane's house waiting for her. It is someone who knew that Jane was talking to the police."
"Why don't you just say what we are thinking Phil?"
"What do you mean Mercy?"
"Well," said Mercy hesitantly. "There is an informant from amongst us. Someone who is updating the murderers on what we are doing."
There was a minute of silence following that statement.
"But," said Phil thoughtfully, "Only the three of us in this car know about this operation."
"Maybe Kabongo organized this killing," offered Nawa.
"Kabongo?" Phil asked.
"Yes, after all he saw us earlier near Jane's house. He must have guessed that we were closing in on them."
"That is probably the most plausible explanation."
"What is the next move sir?"
"We knock off for the day. We start our investigations all over again."
"I have a suggestion," added Mercy. "Why don't we jumpstart our investigations by ambushing the Agency in Rhodes Park?"