Mma Ramotswe explained that she had only visited the Minor Adjustment Beauty Salon once, but that she had enjoyed a long conversation with Mma Soleti. “I am a private detective, Mma,” she went on. “I am looking into a troubling matter and I need some information. It will be very confidential and nobody else will know about it.”

Mma Soleti (Nails) looked at Mma Makutsi and Clovis Andersen. “And these people, Mma? What about them? Are they nobody?”

Mma Ramotswe was quick to explain. “Mma Makutsi here is my assistant—”

“Associate,” corrected Mma Makutsi.

“Associate,” said Mma Ramotswe. “And this is Rra Clovis Andersen, who is one of the most famous detectives in the United States of America. They are both very good at keeping secrets, Mma. Their lips are permanently closed.”

“Forever,” confirmed Mma Makutsi.

Mma Soleti seemed reassured. “In that case, Mma, what is it you wish to know?”

Mma Ramotswe took the photograph out of the brown envelope in which she had placed it. “There is somebody in this picture who you may know, Mma. Please, will you look at it?”

Mma Soleti (Nails) took the photograph and examined it. She looked up at Mma Makutsi. “Her. Your assistant—”

“Associate,” said Mma Makutsi.

“Yes, your associate. It is you, Mma, standing in the centre.”

“I was standing in the centre because I had the highest mark, Mma. That is why.”

Mma Soleti (Nails) looked at the photograph again. “And …” She looked up, a glint in her eye. “And this lady here. Oh yes! There she is. There she is.”

“So that is the lady who comes here, is it, Mma?” coaxed Mma Ramotswe. “The lady who is the mistress of a certain man called Ditso Ditso who also has a wife who comes here to have her nails done?”

“Ow!” exclaimed Mma Soleti (Nails). “You know everything, Mma. No wonder you’re a detective. Yes, that is all true.”

“Her name is Violet Sephotho,” said Mma Ramotswe.

There was a silence as the name was mentioned, and it seemed that it hung in the air for some time, a chilling presence in the room. Violet Sephotho.

Eventually Mma Soleti (Nails) spoke. “I shall remember that,” she said. “She is a very rude woman. She speaks on her telephone while I am doing her nails and she never says anything to me. She thinks I am just a … a nail lady of no importance.”

Mma Ramotswe reached forward and touched her gently on the arm. “The work you do is good work, Mma. You help people to feel good about themselves. That is good work, my sister.”

Mma Soleti (Nails) patted Mma Ramotswe’s hand, casting an eye on her nails as she did so. “Thank you, Mma. And if there’s anything I can do …” She looked down at Mma Ramotswe’s nails again. “I would be very happy to help, Mma.”