“That friend,” muttered Charlie, and spat, “I’m going to get him.”

The policeman threw Charlie a warning glance. “Look, we can’t stand here forever,” he said. “If this young man has a story, then he can make a statement at the charge office. Then he can go in front of the magistrate, who will look at that statement and decide whether it is true or whether it is all lies. I’m sorry to say this, but sometimes people tell lies, and this young man may well be doing that.”

“You cannot say that, Rra,” protested Mr. J.L.B. Matekoni. “Surely he is still innocent until the magistrate has decided that he is guilty. This is Botswana, you know.”

The policeman turned to face Mr. J.L.B. Matekoni. Out of deference to the mechanic’s dignity and bearing, he did not speak roughly, but there was nonetheless an edge to his voice. “Yes,” he said, “you’re right, Rra. This is Botswana. And in Botswana we do not take kindly to young men who take other people’s cars and then sell them to unsuspecting members of the public. We do not like that either.”

“What are you going to do with him?” asked Mma Makutsi.

“He will stay in the cells,” said the policewoman. “He’ll be all right there. He’ll get a blanket at night. You needn’t worry about him, Mma. I’ll see that he’s all right.”

The policeman now took Fanwell by the arm and began to lead him away.

The young man stumbled, but was kept on his feet by the policeman. “I haven’t done anything wrong.”

“Did you hear that?” exploded Charlie. “Did you hear what he said?”

“Calm down,” said the policeman. “It doesn’t help if people shout.”

“Just keep quiet, Charlie.” Mr. J.L.B. Matekoni put a restraining hand on the young man. “We’ll speak to a lawyer.”

Charlie shook his head. “These people …”

The policeman gave him another warning glance, and Charlie stopped.

They watched in silence as Fanwell was led to the police car parked outside. The rear door was opened and he was bundled inside; the door slammed and the car moved away. They saw his face briefly as he looked back towards them; then the car pulled out into the traffic on the Tlokweng Road and was gone. In the anxious conference that followed, Charlie said very little, but sat morosely shaking his head, muttering about what he was planning to do to Chobie.

“Do you know this Chobie?” asked Mma Makutsi.

Charlie nodded. “I will find him.”

“But maybe the police have found him already,” said Mma Makutsi.

“Then he can tell them that Fanwell did not know,” said Mr. J.L.B. Matekoni.