By 14 o'clock, Phil was dozing in his office. He stretched as he yawned. The phone on his desk rang. Phil allowed it to ring thrice before picking it.
"Hello sir, this is reception. There is a Ms. Banda to see you."
"Ms. Banda? What is this about?"
"She says that she is missing a relative and wants to... "
"Let her in at once," said Phil quickly. He then cut the line.
He yawned again. He then stared at the hole in the ceiling for the two minutes that it took for the woman to reach his office.
She entered nervously without knocking. Phil regarded her with curiosity as she slowly walked towards the empty chair opposite him. She was short and dark, and had short hair. A silver necklace ran round her neck. She was clad in a chitenge dress and fitting flowery colored shoes. Phil gave her one of those assuring smiles which he normally reserved for nervous clients. With his right hand he motioned towards the chair opposite him, and she sat down.
"Good afternoon madam," he began,
"Good afternoon sir."
"Well my name is Phil and I am the chief detective officer here. The receptionist informed me that you needed to see me."
"Yes sir, it is about Molly."
"Who?"
"Molly. My niece."
"Alright. I am following. What has Molly done?"
"She has disappeared from home."
Phil pulled at his moustache. He took his gaze off the woman and looked briefly through the window to his left side. To him, the visitor appeared too nervous.
"Your niece- how old is she?" Phil asked her.
"She is thirty four years old."
"Well, I am thirty four years old too. What a coincidence," he replied with a smile. She did not smile back.
"Excuse my asking madam, but at thirty-four isn't she married?"
"No."
"Maybe she is with her boyfriend,"
"No."
Phil reestablished eye contact and then asked, "For how long has she been missing?"
"Three days."
"Three days?" repeated Phil.
"Well I was in South Africa since last week. And I left Molly at home. I returned to Zambia this morning. Only for our maid to inform me that Molly is missing. She told me that Molly hasn't been home since Monday. I phoned all the people I know but no one has seen her. So I thought of coming here. I am told that you picked a dead woman this week."
Phil nodded.
"It must be hard for you madam, but indeed we are still keeping a woman's body pending identification."
Her facial expressions changed to a show of anguish.
"I will let you see her and tell me if she is the one."
She nodded as she looked at her short trimmed fingernails.
"Would you describe your niece madam?"
"She is a bit dark and of medium height."
"Body size?"
"A little on the big size. She has big hips and a big behind."
Phil nodded. He wrote something in his notebook which he had opened as soon as the woman had entered his office.
"Like I said, I shall ask you to accompany me to the morgue to identify the body. I need you to be strong. But I must remind you again that the body might or might not be your niece’s. Can we go now?"
She hesitated. Then slowly fighting back tears, she nodded her head.