She thought for a moment. It was clear that Mr Polopetsi wanted some sign from her, some sign that she still trusted him in the performance of occasional tasks. He dearly wanted to do more detective work—he had made that much very plain—and he was no doubt concerned that this debacle would put an end to that. She would find something. She would give him a sign that she still respected his abilities.

Mma Ramotswe thought about her list of tasks. The Mokolodi matter had been resolved—in a very unfortunate way, of course, but still resolved. That left the matter of the doctor and the matter of Mma Tsau’s being blackmailed. She already had an idea of what to do about the doctor, and she would attend to that soon, but the blackmail affair still had to be dealt with. Could she use Mr Polopetsi for that? She decided that she could.

Mma Makutsi summoned Mr Polopetsi into the office, and he sat down in the client’s chair, wringing his hands anxiously.

“You know, Mr Polopetsi,” began Mma Ramotswe. “You know that I have always respected your ability as a detective. And I still do. I want you to know that.”

Mr Polopetsi beamed with pleasure. “Thank you, Mma. You are very kind. You are my mother, Mma Ramotswe.”

Mma Ramotswe waved the compliment aside. I am nobody’s mother, she thought, except for my little child in heaven. I am the mother of that child.

“You were asking earlier on for something to do, Rra. Well, I have something for you to look into. There is a young woman called Poppy who came to see us. She works for a lady who had been stealing government food to feed to her husband. This lady, Mma Tsau, has received a blackmail threat. She thought it came from Poppy, because Poppy was the only one who knew.”

“And was she?” asked Mr Polopetsi.

“I don’t think so,” said Mma Ramotswe. “I think that she must have told at least one other person.”

“And if we can find out who that person is, then that will be the blackmailer?”

Mma Ramotswe smiled. “There you are!” she said. “I knew that you were a good detective. That is exactly the conclusion one should draw.” She paused. “Go and speak to this Poppy and ask her this question. Ask her this: Did you write to anybody, anybody about your troubles? That is all you have to ask her. Use those exact words, and see what she says.”

She explained to Mr Polopetsi where Poppy worked. He could go there immediately, she said, and ask to see her. He could tell them that he had a message for her. People were always sending messages to one another, and she would come to receive it.