“Now you’re talking.” Dawson exclaimed. “Because Cardiman told us it was about fifteen minutes from Ezile to the lighthouse.”
“Yes, that puts the time at twelve forty-five when the Smith-Aidoos get up to the lighthouse. They spend about twenty minutes looking at the view, or who knows, maybe they even go up in the lighthouse. It’s now five after one or a little later. Meanwhile, Cardiman has already left Ezile and-”
“Now he has enough time to lie in wait for them,” Dawson finished.
“Exactly.”
“Good job,” Dawson said. He slapped palms with his sergeant, ending it with the customary Ghanaian mutual snap of the fingers. “This means Cardiman is still a suspect, and he has some explaining to do.”
TUESDAY MORNING, THE SUN was hot and bright under a pale blue sky as Dawson and Chikata arrived at the Malgam office. A guard escorted them to the top floor, where the receptionist asked them to take a seat. The first-floor lobby was nice to look at, but this suite at the pinnacle of the building was spectacular. Geometrically placed Adinkra symbols, each with specific meanings, alternated with the Malgam logo patterned the gleaming wood floor. Overstuffed leather armchairs were set around the room with studied casualness. A skylight provided bright, airy illumination.
“Imagine what it’s like to be king of all this,” Chikata said under his breath, so that the receptionist couldn’t hear him.
Dawson grunted, but made no comment. He picked up a business magazine from the table and flicked through the pages with passing interest.
They looked up as a white man in a dark suit appeared from the hallway. Dressed in a crisp white shirt, navy tie, and dark blue slacks, he was short, late fifties, and expanding around the middle. His brown hair was thinning on the top and speckled with grey at his temples.
“Inspector Dawson?”
They stood up as the man came around the table with his hand extended.
“Good morning. I’m Roger Calmy-Rey. What a pleasure, Inspector. Jason Sarbah has told me about you. Good to have you here.”
“Thank you, sir. This is Detective Sergeant Chikata who is working with me on the case.”
“How do you do? Please, do come this way.”
They followed him to the right down the hallway to an automatic glass door that silently slid open as they approached. Beyond that, in a carpeted anteroom, an attractive, light-skinned woman sat in front of the computer on her shiny desk.
“Good morning,” she flashed a dazzling smile at them.
