Sarbah returned to his desk, giving Dawson the pause he needed before tackling a delicate matter. “I know about the story of your daughter, Mr. Sarbah, sir. I want to offer my condolences.”
“Thank you.” Sarbah’s eyes softened and saddened, demonstrating to Dawson how deep his feelings went.
“Angela must have been very dear to you.”
“She was our whole world,” Sarbah said softly. “We adored her.”
“Did you-do you-hold Dr. Smith-Aidoo responsible for her death?”
Sarbah unconsciously fiddled with a pen on his desk. “The doctor could have helped us.” His tone was still professional, but it certainly was not neutral. Dawson heard the emotion creeping into it. “She should not have turned us away like that. I don’t know how she can live with herself, knowing what she’s done. Doctors are supposed to heal, not harm.”
“You were angry and hurt.”
“I think you would be too.”
“To make matters worse,” Dawson went on, so as not to lose momentum, “when you went to Charles Smith-Aidoo for financial assistance, he turned you down.”
“He made up some excuse that he had just invested money and that he didn’t have any liquid funds.”
“You didn’t believe that?”
Sarbah gave a small chortle. “No, of course not.”
“Were you close to Charles? Why did you go to him in the first place?”
“I wasn’t close, but he’s still my cousin, right?” Sarbah said, opening his arms. He had large hands. “If you are able to help a family member, you do so. It’s the Ghanaian way.”
“I don’t know any polite way to ask you this question, sir, but…”
“Did I want to avenge Angela’s death by arranging the murder of Charles and his wife?”
“Oh,” Dawson said in surprise. “Well, yes. That was what I was about to ask.”
“The question has preceded you.” Sarbah smiled. “Chief Inspector Hammond has already posed it and received the same answer. No, I didn’t kill the Smith-Aidoos. On Monday, the seventh of July, I was at my real estate office all day.”
His eyes were looking sincerely into Dawson’s, and he didn’t blink.
“Do you still have the real estate business?” Dawson asked.
“Yes, I do.”
“May I ask where it is located, and can you give me the name of someone there who can confirm your whereabouts on the seventh of July?”
“Sure. The name of the business is Sarbah Properties, and it’s on the second floor in the Providence Building not far from here. You can speak to my manager, or anyone in the office, for that matter.”
“Okay.” Dawson stood up. “Mr. Sarbah, thank you for taking the time.”
