Sarbah dismissed that with a wave of the hand. “Not only is he not that kind of person, he didn’t even have the strength. He was in deep depression. He wouldn’t eat. He shed kilos the same way my father did. I was afraid.”
“Both of you went through a terrible ordeal.”
“As terrible as it was, life goes on. Have you spoken to my son?”
“I have. I can tell he is still in pain.”
“He is. I feel for him.”
“And maybe you were angry enough with Charles to hire two or three men to kill him?”
Sarbah snorted derisively. “If I ever decided to kill someone, Inspector, you can be sure that I wouldn’t hire anyone to do it.”
Dawson watched him carefully. “Mr. Sarbah, can you tell me where you were on Monday, the seventh of July and the following day, the eighth, when the bodies of the Smith-Aidoos were found?”
“That Monday Forjoe and I went to Tarkwa to look into buying some gold. We stayed overnight and returned Tuesday evening. Everyone was talking about the Smith-Aidoos when we got back. You’re welcome to check with Forjoe about the trip. He’ll confirm it.”
Dawson stood up. “Thank you for your time, sir.”
“Not at all. I’ll see you out.”
After Sarbah had said goodbye, Baah pulled out of the front yard.
“Drive slowly just a little bit and then stop,” Dawson told him.
He got out and walked quietly back to the house, listening for a moment for any conversation between Sarbah and Forjoe. He heard none. That’s what Dawson wanted-to talk to Forjoe alone.
“Forjoe!” he called out softly. “It’s me, Dawson.”
“Yes, sir?” Forjoe said from the other side. He opened the gate again a crack.
“I forgot to ask you something. Do you remember the day those people, Charles and Fiona Smith-Aidoo, were kidnapped and then killed? It was the seventh of July, and they were coming from Ezile Bay.”
“Hmm,” Forjoe said, considering. “Eh-heh, yes, I remember now.”
“It was a Monday. Do you remember where you were that day?”
“Yes, I went with massa to Tarkwa. We were looking into setting up some gold business, and we came back on Tuesday evening. I remember because when we came back, everybody was talking about what happened.”
Dawson nodded. “Okay, thanks.”
He trotted back to the car, satisfied. Richard Sarbah was not on his list of suspects.
