The Dawuni Files - A White Shadow

Chapter Thirteen

The Little Boy, the large house owned by Mr Kuma, looked slightly out of place in the midst of the other buildings in Yilinaa. The Little Boy was the official residence of the multi millionaire fashion tycoon. He owned several other properties who were much bigger, compared to the Little Boy.

As Dawuni pressed the  bell and looked through the metal bars on the wall, he realized just how small the house really was, for a man of such fame and wealth.

A man in uniform - whom Dawuni presumed to be the security guard- opened the gate after Dawuni's first ring. Before the man could say anything, Dawuni flashed his badge and introduced himself.
"I need to speak with Mr Kuma."

The guard- whose name tag read Prince - gave him a puzzled look.
"What do you need to see him for?"

"That's for him to know, not you." Dawuni said politely.

Still with a puzzled look, Prince let Dawuni in and  took him into the house. The living room wasn't that big, but Dawuni could bet his last cedi
that the money used in furnishing the room could pay his rent for ten years.

A large curved plasma television stood at one side of the room and two glass bookshelves lined the another  side. There was a large case displaying numerous awards whilst gorgeous couches formed a loose circle in the middle of the room. Several antiques  hung on the walls and a golden chandelier completed the exquisite look of the room. The whole place reeked of money.

A young woman stood by one of the glass shelves, dusting it. She looked mildly surprised to see Dawuni.

"Talata, this man says he's a detective and he wants to speak with Masa."  Prince told the woman.

Talata also gave Dawuni a puzzled look and another look passed between she and Prince , as if they knew something Dawuni didn't.

"Okay. Sir, this way please." Talata led Dawuni down a long hallway. She stopped at a door and looked at Dawuni." I hope you'll be successful."

She didn't knock, but pushed the door open leading Dawuni inside.

Mr Kuma, a man in his seventies,  sat on a cane chair. The entire room was flooded with sunlight and large windows overlooked a small garden. Immediately he saw Dawuni, Mr Kuma got up unsteadily and walked to him, a huge smile on his wrinkled face.

"Ah!! Akwesi . You finally came." Mr Kuma hugged Dawuni as if they were old friends." Have a seat."

Dawuni sat down awkwardly, not sure exactly what was happening.

"It's been a long time." Mr Kuma beamed." How are  your children and wife?"

"Um, Sir, I'm not Akwesi. I'm..."

"Nonsense. Of course you're Akwesi, I can recognize you anywhere in the world."

Dawuni was sure something wasn't right. He motioned for Talata to meet him outside the room.

"Don't tell me you are leaving already." Mr Kuma asked, when he saw Dawuni getting up.

"Oh,no Sir." Dawuni smiled."I'm just going to get us a drink."

"Then hurry up , we have a lot to catch up on."

Dawuni smiled broadly and followed Talata into the kitchen.

"Is everything alright with him?"

Talata sighed sadly. "Unfortunately, Mr Kuma has dementia."

Dawuni now understood why Prince and Talata had been puzzled when he told them that he wanted to speak with Mr Kuma. They had probably been wondering what information a detective could get from an old man with dementia.

"Can I speak with you guys?" Dawuni asked.

Talata nodded and left, coming back shortly with the security guard. Prince picked up an apple and bit into it , leaning on a cabinet and Talata sat on a high stool.

"When did Mr Kuma start developing dementia?"

"He started showing signs about a year ago, but it intensified, I think, after he came back from that Pan African Art Festival." Talata answered.

Was it a coincidence that Mr Kuma had attended the same event as Monique and the president? Dawuni decided to look into it later.

"Does he have any family?"

"Not that we know of. He has a daughter though, but thier relationship is basically in shambles. They haven't spoken for the past year." Prince replied.

"Considering the fact that Mr Kuma isn't mentally stable, how do you get paid?"

"We've an agreement with the bank, so every month salary is paid to us. Prince is in charge of security whilst I take care of the house and Mr Kuma. I'm a nurse."

"Was a drone delivered to this house some weeks ago?"

"A drone?" Talata tapped her chin in thought." Ah! Yes, about  four weeks ago."

"Didn't you guys find it strange that Mr Kuma would order a drone?"

Talata smiled." Mr Kuma orders a lot of things all the time. You see, he still has control over his  money , since his daughter refused to accept his fortune when the judge gave her control over his finances. So him ordering a drone was no surprise at all."

Dawuni was beginning to see how complicated the case was becoming.

"So where's the drone?"

"Well." Talata glanced at Prince,." I think that's a question Prince should answer."

"It was stolen." Prince said, slightly uncomfortable.

"Stolen?" Dawuni's suspicions rose.

Prince nodded." That was two days after the drone was brought. On that day, it was Talata's day off, so I was alone with Mr Kuma. I gave him his medicine and made sure he was asleep before  I went outside. Then a friend of mine visited and we had a few drinks. I know I'm not supposed to drink on duty, but nothing ever happens here so I figured a few drinks wouldn't hurt.

After my friend left, I made sure the whole place was locked and the security systems running. The drinks must have made me drowsy, because I dozed off. I woke up at about 12:28 and realised that all the lights were off. I was alarmed and picked up a flashlight to check round the house.

I was just getting to the back of  the house, when something crushed into my head and that's the last thing I remember before I woke up in the morning.

I quickly checked on Mr Kuma to make sure he was alright before I checked the house to see if anything had been taken. Everything was intact apart from the drone."

Dawuni nodded. Whoever it was, must have hacked into Mr Kuma's account to buy the drone, and then came back and stole it. He had to admit, it was a very smart plan.

"Did you report to the police?"

"No." Prince answered." I didn't think it was necessary."

Dawuni knew he was lying. The young man was probably afraid of losing his job.

"Did the thief leave any evidence?"

"Well...." Prince's brow crinkled in thought." Wait a minute." He rushed out and came back moments later with a bracelet." I found it by the flower beds a day after the break in."

Dawuni turned the bracelet in his hands. It was made of gold with semi precious gems inlaid in a stunning design. Dawuni was frankly surprised that Prince hadn't sold it but rather kept it. Was he stupid or honest? Dawuni hoped it was the later.

Dawuni looked at the bracelet closely and spotted something. It appeared to be some sort of curvy writing. He turned it towards the light saw it clearly. Written in curvise were the initials  N.M .

They  looked oddly familiar. Dawuni racked his brain and then it hit him.
Of course!!  N.M.  Naaedeer Monique.