The superintendent waved a hand. “Oh, I’m sure you didn’t. Mma Ramotswe has told me that you are not the sort to get mixed up in these things. I trust her judgement.” He paused briefly. “But you have obviously been drawn into bad company.”

Mr. Polopetsi looked miserable. “I did not know about these things, Rra. I was unaware.”

“Yes,” said the superintendent. “These people are very cunning. They get hold of people who are not suspicious of others. You are not alone, Mr. Polopetsi. There are many people who are sucked in that way.”

Mma Ramotswe leaned forward. “He will do everything to help,” she said. “He has agreed.”

The superintendent looked pleased. “Good. In that case we can—”

“But,” interjected Mma Ramotswe, “there is that other matter I mentioned. That commercial issue. All the people who invested because of Mr. Polopetsi are getting a full refund. They will not be complaining.”

“In that case,” said the superintendent, “we can disregard that. We are not interested in commercial issues unless there has been fraud.” He looked intensely at Mr. Polopetsi, as if to assess him as a possible fraudster.

“There has been no fraud,” said Mma Ramotswe quickly. “At least not by Mr. Polopetsi. There has only been a misunderstanding, and all the people he spoke to are, as I say, getting that refund.”

“Then we can get back to this other matter,” said the superintendent. “You have been asked by this man to bring a consignment of illegal drugs over the border.”

“I do not want to go to Zambia,” said Mr. Polopetsi.

The superintendent assured him that he would not have to go anywhere. “All we want from you is a statement about what he asked you to do—along with some details of where you were meant to go in Zambia and who you were meant to meet there. We have other evidence against this man, and once we have your statement then we will be able to proceed against him for attempted importation. That will be enough to put him behind bars.”

Mr. Polopetsi looked alarmed. “I will have to stand up in court?” he asked.

The superintendent nodded. “I shall be there. Don’t worry.”

“And I shall be there too,” said Mma Ramotswe.

“There you are,” said the superintendent. “It’ll be simple.”

“Mr. Polopetsi will do it,” said Mma Ramotswe firmly. “There will be no problem.”

The superintendent sat back in his seat. “Mma Ramotswe tells me you are a chemist, Mr. Polopetsi. Is that true?”

“I teach chemistry,” said Mr. Polopetsi. “I used to be a dispensing chemist, but I am no longer that.”