Mma Makutsi rolled her eyes heavenward as she contemplated the immensity of filing all the wills made in Botswana. She would have no trouble in coping with it herself, of course, but the Master of the High Court, whatever else his training, would not have had the benefit of studying at the Botswana Secretarial College. Had he done that, then he would have studied filing under the tutorship of the legendary teacher who had taught Mma Makutsi, a woman who was now living in retirement in one of the western suburbs but whom she saw occasionally doing her grocery shopping. It pleased Mma Makutsi that her tutor remembered her name. It can be difficult for teachers, through whose hands pass so many students every year, but she had remembered, saying, ‘My goodness, Grace Makutsi, you are the one who did so well. And now I hear that you are a very senior investigator. We are proud of you, you know.’

Mma Makutsi agreed with Mma Ramotswe. ‘I am sure, though, that they have it under control, Mma. It may take them some time to find it, but they will have it.’

They moved on to discuss Mma Soleti. Mma Ramotswe told Mma Makutsi about the whispering campaign and the identification of the potential enemy. Her assistant listened with interest.

‘It may be that woman,’ she said once Mma Ramotswe had finished. ‘It may be that she is angry because Mma Soleti has stolen her husband. You should go and see her.’

‘I am intending to do that,’ said Mma Ramotswe.

Mma Makutsi bit her lip. ‘May I ask you something, Mma?’

‘Of course.’

‘May I come with you? You see, I want to get back to work as soon as possible, and if I can do the occasional small thing then that will help me so much. It is not that I do not like being here with my baby – with Itumelang – but it’s just that… well, Mma Ramotswe, I know I’ve only been away for a few days, but I’m missing our office, I’m missing the conversations we have, the discussions. I miss making tea for you. I even miss filing.’

Mma Ramotswe was taken aback to learn that, even with a new baby to care for, her assistant shared the same feelings she had experienced, but then she knew that, were we suddenly separated from them, we all would miss the things that made up our daily lives – even if these things were mundane and inconsequential.

‘Your filing is exceptional,’ said Mma Ramotswe. And the compliment was received with all the gravity accorded to those compliments that are fully intended – and fully justified.

‘I think I’ll come back very soon,’ said Mma Makutsi. ‘The baby is small, but —’

Mma Ramotswe interrupted her. ‘The baby is very, very small, Mma.’