“Yes, but what kills is the impact of the body with the water,” Labram said. “It’s ninety to a hundred feet from here to the river’s surface. Only a miracle would save you.”

Emma shuddered.

“I’d like to see Kafui reenact what she saw,” Sowah said. “We might pick up something that wasn’t apparent in her narrative.”

Kafui obliged. The most notable part of her performance was the awkwardness involved in lifting the sack over the top of the railing, which showed that the weight of the contents was substantial.

“How far do you think a body would float downstream from here since third April?” Sowah asked.

“Not as far as you might think,” Labram replied. “For a couple of reasons. One, the body or the sack containing it might snag on rocks on the riverbed. Two, you see those islands dotted all over the river? They aren’t true islands at all. They are actually aquatic weeds.”

“Weeds!” Sowah exclaimed in surprise.

“Yes,” Labram said. “They cluster together all over the river in thick, impenetrable clumps and present great challenges to the fishing livelihood. The point is, a resurfacing body could easily become trapped and concealed in one of those masses of vegetation. Third is the issue of nets.”

“Nets?” Emma asked.

“You might have noticed plastic bottles floating on the surface and thought they were trash,” Labram said. “Actually, they mark the spot where fishermen have left their nets to trap fish over a period, like overnight. When they come back for the catch, they know which one is which.”

“Aha,” Sowah said. “Simple but ingenious. So, at some point, the body could conceivably get trapped in a net.”

“Correct,” Labram said. “That’s why I recommend we talk to the fishermen and ask them to be on the lookout. Anything unusual, report to the police and get in touch with you. Which reminds me also, we should pay a visit to the Akosombo police as well. They took my statement when Mr. Tilson disappeared and it’s a good idea for you to make friends with them. You never know when you might need their help.”

Sowah agreed. Ghanaians made a big deal of “greeting” the local authorities, whether that be the police or the traditional chief of a district. “That is a great idea—thank you. But I think before we do that, we should pay Kweku Ponsu a visit.” He looked at Labram. “Do you know where he lives?”

“Most people do,” Labram said. “His house is at the top of one of the hillsides, so you can’t miss it.”

Kafui asked to be excused as she needed to get back.

“Of course,” Sowah said. “Thank you for everything, Kafui.”